Toby Richardson is a 30 something Perth resident, living in the inner northern suburbs and recording his rock and roll ideas and dreams from the comfort of home. He has recorded two albums of material as a solo artist and is currently recording songs for a Hidden Shoal EP release. Toby also recorded as part of 90’s Perth band Mustang!, releasing the EP “Jacuzzi International Presents Mustang!” through Survival Records in 1994.
The spark that started Toby Richardson’s musical journey was given by the inexorable flame of the Perth Rock Scene. Seeing bands like The Stems, The Marigolds, Chad’s Tree, The Healers and touring acts such as Ed Kuepper and The Yard Goes On Forever in the late 80’s captured his imagination. This was a revelation of the immediate power and excitement that live Rock and Roll can create – and what a great setting it gives for drinking a beer.
With his brother Mark playing in bands Chant and Be Happy and Grin, Toby decided to give it a crack himself. In the informal nature of the rock industry then, it was almost like he’d busted out a few chords, and he and his cronies had hit the stage. Running on borrowed equipment and Austudy cheques his first band Pool Flotation Device played 3 gigs, got a decent review and broke up.
Toby then joined already established band Mustang! Other band members were Chris Gorman on drums, John Henderson (later Mike Staude) on lead guitar, Chris Gorman on drums and Hamish Fitzsimmons on bass. At that time Toby and his band mates were influenced by artists such as Teenage Fanclub, Pere Ubu, Urge Overkill, Television, Big Star, Captain Beefheart and Dinosaur Jnr. Mustang! soon got a decent following through art school crowds and bit of harmless hype in local rock press. They also had some catchy tunes and plenty of volume - Toby now suffers from Tinnitus as a result. Some of the venues they played at were The Shenton Park, The Old Melbourne, The Grosvenor, The Firm and The Loft. Their Rock cohorts were bands such as Baked, O!, Wormfarm, Bluetile Lounge, Wooden Fische and Benji.
Of this group of bands a collective known as Jacuzzi International was formed. This was basically a good excuse to party, also an easy way to organise gigs. The name was simply derived from the enjoyable practice JI members had of sharing a Jacuzzi with friends at JI parties.
Influences
Deerhoof, Of Montreal, the Beach Boys, Big Star, Dom Mariani, Sonic Youth, Husker Du, Wolf Parade, Black Mountain, the Wrens, the Shins, Miles Davis, Parliament, James Brown, the Meters, Link Wray, the Fiery Furnaces, Captain Beefheart, Bailter Space, the Clean, Straightjacket Fits, Betty Davis, Sufjan Stevens, Sly and the Family Stone, Stevie Wonder, Bloc Party, Todd Rungdren, Utopia, ACDC, John Coltrane, Booker T & the MG's, the Skull Snaps, Thelonius Monk, Neil Young, the Black Keys, Steve Malkmus, Guided by Voices, Dimmer, Graham Central Station, modest Mouse, Lightning Bolt, Wire
Website
http://music.hiddenshoal.com/artists/toby-richardson/
