Melbourne quartet Kingswood recently released their double single, “Ohio” / “She’s My Baby.” Featuring blaring guitars mixed with a flirtatious falsetto vocal, “Ohio” was just featured in the new Netflix show Bloodlines. “She’s My Baby” is anchored by a thundering shuffled beat beneath a bold circular riff along with a roaring chorus of ’70s guitar and unabashed vocals.
The indie foursome released Microscopic Wars in Australia last year, which reached #6 in the charts and was nominated for Best Rock Album at the ARIA awards. They were nominated for Best Live Band with Rolling Stone AU and have just been nominated for Best Rock Work at the APRA awards as well.
Kingswood has been playing all major festivals in their native Australia including, Groovin The Moo, Splendour In The Grass, Falls Festival and Big Day Out.
The band recently relocated from Australia to LA. Ghettoblaster caught up with vocalist Fergus Linacre before the band relocated to talk to him about his hometown, and presumably, what he’ll miss most about Melbourne, Australia. This is what he told us.
What’s your town’s nickname?
It doesn’t really have one but some people call it ‘Old Melbourne Town’.
What’s your nickname for your town?
Why do you live there?
It is an amazing city and great place to live, with a thriving musical culture.
Did you grow up there? If not, what brought you there?
Yes, born and raised Melbournian.
What’s the weirdest thing that has ever happened to you there?
I got egged by a passing car on Brunswick Street, I laughed.
What is your favorite local attraction (monument, park, etc)?
The Royal Botanic Gardens, they have an outdoor cinema there too.  What is your favorite local event or festival?
The Aussie football Grand Final, it’s like our super bowl. That or the Melbourne Cup horse race.
What is the best time of year to be there?
December/January, our summer.
Who is your favorite local celebrity?
Nick Cave.
Where is the best place to drink and what’s their specialty or happy hour?
Bimbo’s in Fitzroy, they have $4 pizzas.
Who has the best jukebox (and what’s in it)?
The Exford in the city, trashy pub but best jukebox for sure, everything from TLC to ACDC.
Do you play music there? If so, where is your favorite place to play?
The Forum theatre, my favorite place to play in all of Australia.
Does where you live influence your music?
Of course, indirect influence, what’s around you, how you live, your culture. It can all effect your music just as much as listening to or seeing an artist.
What is your favorite place to see live music and what was your favorite show there?
Easy, Midnight Oil at the Forum about 13 years ago, made me want to be in a band.
What is your favorite local band?
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard. Awesome psych band the keep pumping out great albums.
What is your favorite diner or restaurant and what is their best dish?
Salt’n’pepper squid from Ripples, my local Chinese joint.
What is your favorite record store and what was your best find there?
Greville Records, a Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds record signed by Warren Ellis.
What is your favorite local publication (alternative weekly, zine, website or blog)?
Beat magazine, free and weekly, it covers all the musical happenings of Melbourne and beyond.
What is your favorite local shop?
On Chapel Street in Windsor there is a weird shop with old medical instruments and stuff like that, can’t remember the name but always good to pop into.
If you could live anywhere else, where would that be?
New York City, spent a bit of time there and loved it.
(Listen to the double single at Spotify here and purchase on iTunes here
https://open.spotify.com/album/6phiK3g6X1P74t8j4tSURn
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/ohio-single/id978184318)