“Flower punk” band Sand Pebbles are more like a storm in a bottle; with their new album- their fifth thus far- Dark Magic, they’re smashing stages and rattling cages with fire-and-brimstone Aussie rock. T-SQUAT’s Laura Main chatted to newly commandeered drummer/vocalist Wes Holland.

Getting a new member is a pretty big change for a band- what was the inspiration behind this bold move? How has the sound changed now with the new addition?

When The Sand Pebbles asked me to join the band, I naturally just assumed it was for my vocal abilities. I thought they wanted a charismatic new frontman…turns out they just wanted a new drummer, so I’ve remained at the back of the stage since. I’m pretty bitter about it, to be honest. Fuck those deceitful pricks.

The band has played on the Marngrook Footy Show a few times. Are you guys keen footy fanatics?

Our bass player Chris [Hollow] actually used to play football for St Kilda alongside the show’s host Gilbert McAdam. Just before they introduced us, they showed footage of the worst goal Chris ever kicked in the AFL. We were stoked they asked us to play… but Chris was spewing they didn’t show his Goal Of The Week.

How have things changed in the industry since your earlier days?

Having only been in the industry for a couple of years, I thought I’d ask other guys in the band this question: the dashing yet reserved Andrew Tanner [guitar/vocals] answered: “It’s not getting any easier”, while the reclusive Ben Michael X [guitar] could only offer: “I’m better looking”.

The new album features some fantastic contributions, like the very talented Will Carruthers from Spiritualized. How did these come about and what was it like working with new faces?

Will is one of my favourite bass players in the world. He lives in Berlin, making him one of seven cricket fans in Germany. When the Ashes were on here a while ago, he just started gloating to me about England’s performance on the field. Next thing you know, he’s putting the Carruthers touch on one of our songs and the final result was insane. It’s easily the loudest Sand Pebbles song on record… and it’s a ballad.

You’ve all been playing gigs and touring for a while now- what are some of the weirder things you’ve seen during your time in the Sand Pebbles?

We’ve seen some pretty crazy things: on-stage hypnotism, witchcraft, animals beings exorcised…and that’s just from watching Ben.

Are there any other big changes coming up or magical new things on the burner for the band?

I’d like to think so, but clashing egos, incompatible star signs and conflicting hopes and dreams will probably mean the Sand Pebbles never commit another note to tape again.

Dark Magic is out now though Remote Control/Dot Dash. You can catch Sand Pebbles at any of the following venues on their album launch tour:

Friday December 2 – The Front, Canberra w/ The Sun Blindness
Saturday December 3 – Goodgod, Sydney w/ The Sun Blindness and Astral Kaleidoscope
Friday December 9 –  Byron Bay Brewery, Byron Bay w/ Black Cab and The Windy Hills
Saturday December 10 – Eight Miles High Festival, The Zoo, Brisbane w/ Black Cab, Grand Atlantic and heaps more.
Saturday December 17 – Grand Pooh Bar, Hobart w/ with Hey Mook!
Friday December 23 – The Espy Front Bar, Melbourne w/ Matt Sonic and The High Times, Buried Feather + more
Friday January 6, 2012 – The Nash, Geelong w/ Black Cab

Words: Laura Main