The Basics Take Aim At The Lucky Country

‘Australia is a lucky country, run by second-rate people who share its luck.’

When Australian writer and historian Donald Horne wrote those now-immortal words exactly fifty years ago, there is no way he could have foreseen the dripping irony completely overlooked by ‘Team Australia’ half-a-century on.

Recently returned from their regular world travels, The Basics – sick of watching the soap opera of mediocrity that has become Australian public life – have decided to do something about it, beginning with the release of The Lucky Country, a rock’n’roll rant against the age of entitlement and the leadership gulf in the Abbott-Shorten-Palmer-Milne circus.

Kris Schroeder, along with bandmates Wally De Backer (aka Gotye) and Tim Heath have ever railed against the mainstream, and The Lucky Country is yet another bold step in their fascinating career, once again throwing trends to the wind by channelling Bragg, Dylan and Garrett in a pointed message that they want heard.

“We’re songwriters, but we’re not just here to talk about love, heartbreak and getting drunk,” says Schroeder. “We believe in reflecting something of the society we live in, and right now there are a lot of people who seem to think that they’re better off sticking our heads in the sand and pretending the rest of the world isn’t there. It’s about time someone stood up and said that valuing education and believing that being aware and informed is important, doesn’t make you a ‘hippy’. Wanting to leave the planet in better shape for our children doesn’t make you a ‘bleeding heart’. Thinking that respect for other cultures enhances our nation rather than diminishes it doesn’t make you unpatriotic.”

“Whether it’s politicians, newspapers or ‘shock-jocks’, we’ve got this toxic culture that has been fostered on “what’s in it for me” – it’s as if this ‘Doctrine of Prosperity’ that’s been preached in churches for years has filtered down to the rest of us. It’s been encouraged for so long for quick votes and ratings – like “You’ve only got two cars? You should have six!” – and maybe someone needs to take Australia by the wrist, give it a shake and say “WAKE UP”. And why not a bunch of musicians to do it?”

The Basics will spend the Christmas/New Year period taking the new EP on the road to many corners of the “Lucky Country”.

THE BASICS THE LUCKY COUNTRY TOUR

Tickets on sale from 9:00AM, Friday October 31st

December 16/17
Newtown Social Club
Newtown, NSW

December 19
Sol Bar
Maroochydore, QLD

December 20
Old Museum
Brisbane, QLD

December 27
Corner Hotel
Melbourne, VIC

December 31
Princes Wharf 1 “A Taste of Tasmania NYE”
Hobart, TAS

January 1
Cataract Gorge “The Basin Concert”
Launceston, TAS

January 3
Rosemount Hotel
Perth, WA

January 4
Mojos
Fremantle, WA

February 13
Aurora Spiegeltent @ The Garden Of Unearthly Delights
Adelaide, SA