Bundaberg band The Electric Banana will play at The Waves on Friday night during the bushfire relief fundraiser Operation Phoenix.
The Electric Banana started in Bundaberg 2007 after founding members John Sankowsky and Matt Farthing were discussing the live music scene and the type of music played.
This conversation coincided with a local venue being in need of a last-minute act.
The boys put together a different list of fun pub rock covers on the back of an envelope and played the gig as a three-piece drums/bass/guitar line-up.
Audiences who love their cult movies would recognise the name The Electric Banana from the movie This Is Spinal Tap, a comedy documenting the bands American comeback tour.
Matt said The Electric Banana show was “a lot of energy, a lot of fun, a lot of musical ability and not the same thing twice”.
With a foundation of great pub rock covers mixed with audience requests and suggestions based on whims or flashbacks to the 70s and 80s, The Electric Banana won’t disappoint when it comes to song choices.
“The cover tunes are electric guitar based, and if they’re not originally, they soon become so,” Matt said.
All band members are multi-instrumentalists with roles in the group often swapping.
“Audiences can never quite work out if the band plans to do half the things they do or not,” Matt said.
“This is a credit to the musicianship of the members during impromptu song performances and improvisations.”
The band’s line-up has included Matt Farthing (bass guitar/lead vocals), John Sankowsky (electric guitar/vocals) and Dane Costigan (drums/vocals).
In 2012, the boys welcomed Andy McLucas to the fray on guitar and vocals when John moved to work out of town.
“Andy, brought with him a youthful repertoire and stage presence,” Matt said.
Electric Banana play for Operation Phoenix fundraiser
On Friday, January 17 The Waves Sports Club is hosting a fundraiser called Operation Phoenix to celebrate the courage and dedication of firefighters and to raise money to help them keep up the fight.
The event starts at 6pm and all profits from every keg of Great Northern Crisp plus $1 from every meal served will be donated directly to the Bundaberg Rural Fire Service.
The Electric Banana with Matt, Dane and Andy start at 8pm and will be rocking event and the venue through to midnight.
One great band, one great cause and two great reasons to get out and enjoy some live music this weekend in Bundaberg.
For more information on where the boys are playing next, check out their Facebook page and don’t forget to click over to the Bundy Gig Guide’s Facebook page for all your live music gigs this weekend.
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