The Blackwater Fever

The Blackwater Fever
Origin Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Genres Blues, grunge, garage, roots
Years active 2005–present
Labels Waterfront, Plus One, P-Vine
Website theblackwaterfever.com
Members Shane Hicks
Andrew Walter
Jed Walters
Past members Rick DeMarco (Drums)

The Blackwater Fever are an Australian blues guitar-drums group, which formed in Brisbane in 2005. They were awarded Best Blues & Roots Act at the 2006 Sunshine Coast Music Festival. They issued their debut five-track extended play, Abused Blues, in January 2006 by the founding duo of Shane Hicks on vocals and guitar; and Rick DeMarco on drums.[1] The tracks had been recorded live-in-the-studio at OPM Studios, Brisbane.[1] Hicks and DeMarco co-wrote "Blackwater", which provided the band's name, Hicks later recalled "[we were] brain storming for a band name we were having a hell of a time trying to come up with something. One of the first guitar/drums songs we wrote together was called ‘Blackwater’ and it’s about people catching a fever from drinking tainted water. Put all that together and you have our band name! We found out later that it was a term for severe malaria…. And because we were going for a dark swampy bluesy sound, we thought…. Perfect!"[2]

By 2008 The Blackwater Fever had gained national radio exposure from youth radio station Triple J, on the Home & Hosed (October) and Roots 'n' All (November) segments,[3][4] and from that station's Unearthed competition for new unsigned bands.[5] In November 2008 they released their debut studio album, Sweet Misery, where DeMarco had been replaced by Andrew Walter on drums.[6] Sputnikmusic's Nick G felt "the instruments are very well played in this. The drum pops and keeps a nice rolling beat all the way through. The guitar plays is very easy on the ears and whines and squeals to keep things interesting. If I had to pick out a flaw with this album I would say it's in the lyrics. They are very simple and some songs just don't have many in them."[7]

By late 2010 the line-up was a trio with Hicks and Walter joined by Jed A. Walters on bass guitar and keyboards.[5][8] However their second album, In Stereo (June 2011), had been recorded before Walters had joined, "[Jed] didn't contribute to this album but he'll definitely be making a big contribution to the next one."[8] Their third album, The Depths, appeared in March 2013.[9] Luke Saunders of Reverb Street Press compared it with the previous two albums "[its] another intriguing step forward following the solid foundations the band laid on their dark and gritty debut, Sweet Misery (2009) and its more refined, equally accomplished follow-up, In Stereo (2011)."[10]

Critical reception

Radio station, PBS 106.7FM reviewer described Sweet Misery as including a "harrowing growl, a tortured electric guitar and the rhythmic stomp of an unrelenting drum kit. If you close your eyes you can almost smell the swamp and feel the moonlight on your face... Breaking your heart one minute only to pick you up with an irresistible rocker the next."[11]

2013 Bio: The Depths is the third album by Brisbane based Australian band, The Blackwater Fever. Recorded, mixed and produced by the band from their home studio, Parallel Sound, the album represents an evolution in songwriting and production.

“The Depths is our best release yet and the first we have made entirely under our own steam. It was a huge learning curve with much trial and error but in the end I think the result has vividly realised our ideas and vision. This is how we will make albums from now on.” – Shane Hicks (Vocals/Guitar)

The 14 tracks journey through blues, soul, trip-hop, story telling, instrumental and rock n’ rock, all forged together with their unique, dark, atmospheric sound. The album also marks the duo becoming a three piece, bringing bass and organ into the fold.

“DARK RIVER OF VITRIOLIC ROCK’N’ROLL” – Time Off

The band have performed at major festivals such as The Big Day Out, Blues Fest, Peats Ridge, Festival Of The Sun and Valley Fiesta. They have opened for the likes of The Black Keys, Heavy Trash, Birds Of Tokyo, The Datsuns, Calling All Cars, Tame Impala, Violent Soho, Mia Dyson and The Mess Hall.

The Blackwater Fever have had considerable radio airplay with Triple J, Triple R, PBS and internationally in the USA and Europe. Their music has featured on the HBO and ABC television networks and been the soundtrack for Benetton and Quiksilver campaigns, plus Australian feature films, The Tunnel and The Crossing.

“A TOUGH, PASSIONATE GARAGE BLUES ALBUM THAT IS SATISFYING FROM BEGINNING TO END EVEN AFTER THE UMPTEENTH LISTEN.” – Tsunami Mag

Members

Past member

Discography

References

  1. 1 2 3 Blackwater Fever (2006), Abused Blues, National Library of Australia, retrieved 28 April 2015
  2. ↑ "Q & A Time with The Blackwater Fever". The Points Sunshine Coast. 29 January 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  3. ↑ "Playlists: Home and Hosed". Triple J (Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)). 14 October 2008. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  4. ↑ "Roots 'n' All on Triple J". Triple J (Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)). 20 November 2008. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  5. 1 2 "The Blackwater Fever". Sputnikmusic. Jeremy Ferwerda. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  6. 1 2 Blackwater Fever (2008), Sweet Misery, Plus One Records. National Library of Australia, retrieved 28 April 2015
  7. ↑ G, Nick (19 September 2012). "The Blackwater Fever – Sweet Misery". Sputnikmusic. Jeremy Ferwerda. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  8. 1 2 Birdie (14 December 2010). "The Blackwater Fever". Beat Magazine. Furst Media. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  9. 1 2 Blackwater Fever (2013), The Depths, Plus One Records. National Library of Australia, retrieved 28 April 2015
  10. ↑ Saunders, Luke (9 April 2013). "[CD Review] The Blackwater Fever – The Depths". Reverb. Reverb Magazine Online. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  11. ↑ "The Blackwater Fever – Sweet Misery". PBS 106.7FM. Progressive Broadcast Service. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
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