The Checks By Moonlight

by Joe Dodgshun // October 5 2009

Technology is a funny thing. You never realise how much you depend on it until it turns on you and bites you in the ass. Hence my frustration when, having the chance to interview the leading man of one of New Zealand’s most entertaining rock bands, the conversation was cut short about 8 minutes through by a sudden, unwanted dial tone. At first, my immediate thoughts (in conjunction with several other choice expletives) were, “wow, I’ve finally made someone hang up on me”.

However, over the phone, Ed comes across as one of the nicest musicians I’ve ever had to opportunity to interview so I persevered. Sure enough it goes straight to voicemail. Dead mobile battery. Damn. Several hours of missed calls and confusion later, the rest of the interview is set up via email.

Ed later confirmed the errant behaviour of his phone. “Yeah, it just cut out, even though one bar on my phone usually lasts an entire day.” At the same time he was pleased to report that the first show on their nationwide tour had well and truly gone off. “The Wellington show was amazing. The crowd were there to have a good time and we were more than happy to be the icing on the cake for a room full of people who were after some fun.”

It would be nigh on impossible to not have fun on such a night. In addition to a crowd now familiar with tracks off Alice By The Moon, which was released in June, they were joined by Christchurch electro-punk-whatsits, Bang!Bang!Eche!, as well as Dunedin based synth-rockers, Knives At Noon.

According to Knowles, their new material has been accepted with open arms, “It’s been good, people are willing to embrace it and we love playing it so it’s been going really, really well.”

Alice By The Moon saw The Checks build on their trademark brand of blues-soaked garage rock. Delivering a varied mix of styles, using tools as far ranging as horns, handclaps and harmonies The Checks still maintain the intensity of Hunting Whales. Knowles acknowledges that it was more a natural progression than anything planned, which led them to the diversity experienced on Alice. He mused that for the next record they will probably just use it as a stepping board to take their music in whatever angle they please.

When pressed on whether they have been working on any new material recently, Knowles says the material they are working on now has a distinctly bluesy feel, but that the jamming process has been an ongoing one.

“Yeah, well we never really stopped to be honest, even from Hunting Whales to this one and the next one; we just always like to keep on writing. It’s what we like to do, so we’re definitely still working on stuff and hoping to hit the studio again when we’ve got some stuff ready, not too many plans to hesitate on the third album.”

As to the direction of the next record, Knowles elaborated: “the new music that we are making is still too young, too supple to know if there is more of a theme than the last record. Either way, we never try to make things fit into a sound or theme. We just make what we want, what turns us on. Because without being turned on you have nothing.“ ‘

Luckily, it seems fans will not have to wait another two years for the new album, which will come out “when it’s all sitting in balance, I’m not sure when exactly, but I wouldn’t say too far off.”

In the meantime, The Checks are enjoying their newfound freedom from the hindrances of record labels, having financed and recorded their latest release (on their own Pie Club Records label). Financially they’re just chugging along says Ed, “It’s a nice way to be in a band. It’s not always the easiest, most practical way but it’s definitely enjoyable and if you can get to the stage where you could work like this with the financial backing, well, then that would be ideal.”

Then, if the right one came up, would The Checks consider signing another record deal? “It depends man,” replied Knowles, “if they said well, we’re going to tour you around the world for four years then I’d probably say yes”.

On that subject, The Checks are getting itchy travel feet once more. “In terms of overseas release of Alice By The Moon - we would love to tour the world again. We had such a good time with the first record, I think we may just have to do it again.”

Local fans need not fret though, if you are not able to make it to a Checks gig during their October tour they will be playing here at the end of lectures Tea Party/Stein along with Luger Boa, The Mint Chicks, State Of Mind, and local bands, The Jasper Sweeney and Soulsystem. Knowles is a bit fuzzy on whether he has previously attended the Tea Party but says that from the sound of it, it is going to be a phenomenal event.

In addition, The Checks will also be playing at the three-day New Year’s extravaganza that is Rhythm And Vines. It is at this moment, and as Knowles is telling me about a rumour about Justice playing, that his phone cuts out. Several days later he continues where he left off, proving an unlikely Justice fan. “I think we all like the music Justice play - I wouldn’t say I am a fan of all electronic music, but Justice are a definite exception. They really know how to blow people away. Their music is so insanely impressive.”

The Checks, unlike many bands that play the festival, are planning to stick around Gisborne after they play on December 29, “every year it’s a great place to welcome in the New Year. The vibe is always so calm and happy.”

The Checks made it to No. 13 in the New Zealand Top 40 Album charts with Alice, five higher than Hunting Whales, although, unfortunately, had no luck at the 2009 APRA silver scroll awards recently held in Christchurch. With a huge range of artists covering the songs of nominees, who would Knowles have cover one of their own songs? “The New Zealand band that I would most like to hear cover one of our songs would have to be The Brain Slaves. They are an Auckland band that live in Sydney now. They are really wicked and I just think that they would have the balls to pull it off. Either them, or the d4.”

Finally, in an attempt to keep up with (more or less) current events, I asked Ed what the collective response of The Checks would be if Kanye West happened to be in the crowd at one of their gigs and jumped up on stage, somehow managed to steal the microphone and said ” Yo, no disrespect to this song, this song is good, but Beyonce’s is better.” His response surprised me.

“I would not care. I would be so happy just to be on the same stage as him. He is an absolute inspiration! And just because he lost the plot for a minute doesn’t mean that he should be so hated. Sure, what he did was a tad to the left, but the outburst comes from the same energy pool that provides everybody with such great music and that passion should be embraced by the public.”

That response for me sums up Knowles and The Checks for me - always with a surprise around the corner, an ace up the sleeve, and delivered with true passion. I, for one, am looking forward to what they come up with next.