DUTCH TREAT

There’s nothing like the energy of youth. Melbourne’s Sand Pebbles are probably the only band in the world to have five members born in five different decades, from the ’50s to the ’90s. Despite having released four albums, the band had done just three interstate shows – two in Adelaide and one in Sydney. But then the Pebbles got a new member, drummer Wes Holland, born in 1990. “Now I’m in the band and the new record is out, I decided to book a show in Sydney, which led to a show in Canberra,” Wes reveals. “Then a tour. My next challenge is getting us booked on the Austin Psych Fest bill … how hard can it be?”  

Wes instantly became one of Howzat!’s favourite drummers. He hits hard, adding muscle to the Pebbles’ mysticism. Being the “young fella” and “new boy”, do the other guys make Wes do menial tasks? “They tried for a while. Apparently, asking for the band rider is the job of the youngest member. Then I started to give them back some attitude. Now they take their orders from me.”

Wes famously made his live debut with the Pebbles playing tambourine at Basement Discs. “I’d just purchased a drum-mountable tambourine from a music shop,” he recalls. “On my way home, I bumped into the band outside Basement. Their drummer hadn’t shown and they wanted me to step in. I was shitting myself: what if my tambourine playing was out of time? Anyway, it was packed. I was sweating. A guy came up to me afterwards and said, ‘Dude, you’re the first person I’ve ever seen play a drum roll on a tambourine.’” Suddenly, the Sand Pebbles had a new drummer.

Who’s been Wes’ biggest drumming influence? “There are three: Keith Moon is the best musician who has ever lived. And the best dressed. Bobby Gillespie did more with two drums than most do with 20. And Scott Asheton, having to sell off pieces of his drum kit to survive, until all that was left was a ride, a snare, and a bass drum – and it still sounded incredible. What a guy.” 

Sand Pebbles launch their fifth album, Dark Magic, at Northcote Social Club on Saturday. Aside from Wes, who is the most magical Pebbles member? “It’s so hard to say,” Wes smiles. “Andrew Tanner is the most handsome frontman of his generation. The sounds that come out of Ben Michael X’s amplifiers hurt my soul, in a good way. [Guitarist and singer] Tor is the most mysterious person I know. And [bass player] Chris [Hollow] has the most magical personality trait I’ve ever seen – he enjoys awkwardness. He thrives on it.”

There have already been plenty of glowing Dark Magic reviews. Howzat! called it “deliciously dippy, a little bit hippie and often trippy”. What’s been Wes’ favourite description? “MOR psychedelica.” The album opens with a roll call of the months: “April warned May about June and July … September’s your friend, she is gentle and kind …” What month would the Pebbles be? “November – the month of the Scorpio. There are three Scorpios in the band, which basically means we’re forever holding grudges. It certainly keeps things interesting.”