Blackjack Attack

Rip It Up, Issue 218, 1 October 1995, Page 6

Blackjack Attack

At the Zoo Studio there’s Blackjack’s guitarist Paul Martin and new drummer Pete Westbury. The studio is the base for local label, Hark Records, whose latest release is the second Blackjack album Kicasso D’Muse. Until recently these offices were shared by Rock 93 FM, a radio station programmed by Grant Hislop with a massive 30% Kiwi music. It was Hislop’s enthusiasm that put the station, the studio, the label, and Blackjack firmly on the Waikato map. Like Hislop, Martin and Westbury are obsessive music fans. “I’ve been a music fan since I was five years old,” says Paul, “It’s a full-time habit, an addiction.” “We’re both CD junkies," adds Pete.

Paul Martin is known for his popular heavy rock show The Axe Attack on Rock 93 FM (Tuesdays Bpm), and he also runs bus trips for fans to international concerts in Auckland. He’d done 30 at the last count. “Never any trouble selling a bus out,” says Paul.

He sees the local scene as very healthy. “Doing The Axe Attack I get tapes from all these young bands. There’s awesome bands, a good popu-

lation of young bands. Psyclops from Cambridge just got demo of the month in Australia’s Hot Metal.” It’s in the Waikato region that Blackjack have a large following from airplay and pub gigs, and even 15 lunchtime school concerts.

Blackjack have been through some changes lately. Pete joined in January. He played in notable Taranaki bands'the Nod and Sticky Filth. But there's now a new face fronting Blackjack. Kerry LeLievre from Tauranga has replaced vocalist Gavin Dempsey who left in August. “Initially we were devastated when Gavin told us he was throwing his cards in,” says Paul. But with Kerry LeLievre in the band. “We're happy little campers,” says Pete. It had not been easy earlier this year. Paul explains:

"It was difficult for a while. We weren’t even practising as Gavin wasn’t into it. He was always indecisive. It always made everything that bit more difficult.

“Kerry’s got to grips with all the songs,” says Paul, "And since we’ve been rehearsing with him we’ve come up with some new songs.” The new singer plays sax and guitar. “Kerry couldn’t get anything together in Tauranga,” says Paul, “Everybody smokes too much dope.” “Just cabbage heads,” adds Pete.

All the band write, many of the singles have not been Gavin’s compositions, but as Paul Martin knows, “It’s a bit freaky getting out there pushing Kicasso without Gavin.”

Blackjack start their North Island tour in midOctober.

For the band the new album is miles away from their debut album, when they were thrown in the studio after winning a Battle of the Bands. When they recorded Kicasso d'Muse the band had more input and higher production standards were achieved. “After touring the songs had been road tested. Our songs are still quite diverse, heavy and mellow, but that’s the way the band’s always written,” says Paul. There’s a bright future for the new line-up. There’s even talk of recording a new EP for New Year release. Paul's happy,’’Everybody’s going in the same direction. Everybody’s wanting the same thing.”

MURRAY CAMMICK