Exploding in the city

Jane Emerick
Lake Bolac’s The Exploders will release their second album at Geelong’s National Hotel next week, promising fans a “more complete experience”.
Members TJ Allender and Paul Doery say Easy and the Sun follows their first CD with “an album, not just some songs put together.”
“Don’t get me wrong,” Allender says, “it’s still The Exploders and people who liked our first one will like this one, too, maybe even more.”
Allender and Doery met while growing up at Lake Bolac, in western Victoria, and started writing songs in 2002.
Three years later they released their selftitled CD.
Their melodies and catchy songs earned the band high rotation on Triple J with singles Stepping Out and My Country Brain.
The Exploders has also had the honours of playing at Splendour in the Grass, Falls Festival and The Great Escape.
But Allender says the band is now ready to take its music to the next level.
“We’ve stepped things up and done this album in a studio, so it sounds a bit more professional,” he says.
“It’s written as an album and it’s recorded as an album with a little bit more continuity. It’s good.”
To gain a professional sound, The Exploders recorded Easy and the Sun in Texas with Stuart Sikes, producer for Cat Power, Modest Mouse and The White Stripes.
Threetime WAMI Producer of the Year Dave Parkin was also on the production team.
Allender and Doery are excited about showing fans the latest effort.
“It’s cool, even psychedelic in parts,” Allender says.
“It was just the way it came out.”
The Exploders kicks off its eight national dates in Brisbane before heading to Sydney, Melbourne, Geelong and Adelaide.
Dukes of Deliciousness and The High Heals will support The Exploders’ CD launch at the National Hotel next Friday.