Frankston rock band the Gnomes will celebrate both Christmas and a huge year bookended by gigs at the Barwon Club.
The Gnomes will be part of a huge lineup at this weekend’s BC Breakup gig, just their second gig at Geelong’s premier rock ‘n roll venue and also the site of their first gig with their current lineup at the end of 2024.
Hailing from the Mornington Peninsula, the band includes lead singer/guitarist Jay Millar, guitarist Ned Capp, bassist Olly Katsianis and drummer Ethan Robins.
With a sound belying their youth – Millar and Capp are 19, Katsianis is 21 and Robins is 22 – the Gnomes pump out classic 60s-style rock and roll with a modern garage edge.
Born out of frontman Millar’s solo project created for his VCE Music studies, the band coalesced over the past couple of years as the four young musicians connected via a local music hub.
“Everyone in the band went to different schools, so we met through Singing Bird,” Katsianis said.
“It’s a music studio, so you can record your music, do rehearsals and practices there. It’s also a live music venue, so it does gigs there, so it sort of has the whole package.
“And every member of the band has been going to gigs there since we were 14, 15. It’s one of the last places around that does all ages gigs, which is pretty awesome.”
Since Robins joined last year the Gnomes have recorded and released their debut 12-track, self-titled album, supported acts like the Cosmic Psychos, Hockey Dad, the Skegss and Eddy Current Suppression Ring and packed Melbourne bandrooms at their own headline shows.
With another EP planned for release early next year, Katsianis said the band were loving
“Jay’s just got heaps of music backed up, so we’re always talking about the next album, what’s going to suit, and then the album after that,” he said.
“We’re really keen on recording, finding out track lists and what songs work well together in an album order. It’s just fun to do that stuff.”
The Gnomes are at the BC Breakup at the Barwon Club band room on Saturday 20 December. Visit barwonclub.com.au/gig-guide for tickets and more information.
