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The
Biography
page
May 6th 2001
GRASSHOPPER SHOWSTOPPER is an eclectic, infectious, exciting southeastern suburbs 'Heavy Fusion' band that fuses ideas and confuses conventional structures to give an explosive stage presence and sound. With thick low end, juicy melodic choruses, experimental dissonance and solid driving back beats, GRASSHOPPER SHOWSTOPPER is a band to watch out for!
Forming mid 2000, GRASSHOPPER SHOWSTOPPER has managed to grab the attention of many people from Springvale to Swan Hill, from Lonsdale street to Launching place, because of their unorthodox sounds and energetic stage performances. Playing their first storming set at the Royal Melbourne Show, in the Theatrette of the Government Pavilion, GRASSHOPPER SHOWSTOPPER show cased their self dubbed style of "Heavy Fusion". The boys then went on to strut their stuff at 'The Venue' jam night as the head lining act, packing the small community hall to the rafters. Then in such an early performance of such a young band, the inevitably, exciting happened! GRASSHOPPER SHOWSTOPPER won the Commercial Lounge's Battle of the Bands 3 GRAND FINAL, beating off over 100 bands.
"In order to get the full GRASSHOPPER SHOWSTOPPER experience you can contact the band at grasshoppershowstopper@hotmail.com. And if you have the time, check GRASSHOPPER SHOWSTOPPER out at www.grasshoppershowstopper.freeservers.com"
The sound and ideals of this band is a heavy fusion of Emo, Pre punk, Post Hard-core, Melodic and Eastern Jazz, Acid Jazz, Straight Bee Bop, Swing, Latin Groove, Folk, Funk, Hip Hop, Rap, Rhythm and Blues, Hard Rock, Pop, and Rock'n'Roll, and a hint of Classical for good measure.
GRASSHOPPER
SHOWSTOPPER is an enthusiastic congregation of four talented individuals
from the southeastern suburbs. Their instantly recognizable
faces and unique playing styles, have appeared in the local area in the
last three to four years in such bands as Karma, Nailed, Monsterbator,
Lesche Nyne and even Brad Meekoms psychedelic ensemble, The Electric Gipsy
Band. All of these bands possessed elements of originality
and spontaneity, which has become the roots of who GRASSHOPPER SHOWSTOPPER
are.
-Keeping the back beat together of such an original band would seem initially difficult, but GRASSHOPPER SHOWSTOPPER's drummer Christian “Roachie” Diaz, is one who has no problem. A popular individual and an all round leader of local social gatherings, Roachie is well known for his amazing technical skills and knowledge of drumming theory. Roachie is an individual not scared of pushing himself to the rhythmic limits. He is influenced by nearly every good musician around and strives for perfection; using & modeling grooves and patterns is a personal specialty.
-A very hard worker, with a keen eye for slapping and popping, Stuart “Disco Stu” Prendergast manages to muster up some brilliant bass lines. Having a fresh passion for theory and melody, Disco Stu complements the band quite nicely, deriving influences from a variety of sources, including Primus, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Directions in Groove and Eminem, and any musician willing to push there own personal skills to the limit (he thrives off the passion of his band mates). If you get an opportunity check out his slap and pop sequences on the bass, you shall be impressed. Also his original tonality is addictive.
- Brent “Geezer X” Graham is the youngest member of GRASSHOPPER SHOWSTOPPER and the one who initially got the ball rolling. The guitarist, who learnt to play music on a bass, draws most of his influences from such bands as Helmet, Tool, Dire Straits, Nirvana and the political agenda of classic punk rock band Bad Religion. The Geezer is also a big fan of employing effects pedals wherever he can. He is not afraid to liberally turn any and every knob in his arsenal of guitar equipment in order to get a wacky and unheard of sound. Brent, although at times very hard on himself artistically, finds great pleasure in exploring musical theory (in a tonal sense) and his advance understanding of modes and harmony can be easily justified, just open your mind!
-And to complete such a picturesque musical entourage, a vocalist with class and (as the Beastie Boys sing) "skills to pay the bills" is imperative. Being able to find good quality flares and old school adidas tracksuits in thrift shops is nearly as hard as singing Beethoven's Fur Elise up a minor third. But GRASSHOPPER SHOWSTOPPER's lively and extremely active singer, Craig “Too Far” Paterson, can do this extremely well. A vocalist from way back, Craig has served his time in coffee shops, choirs (traveling the world to perform), and on stage in many varieties of bands and ensembles, and is all pepped up for any GRASSHOPPER SHOWSTOPPER show. Too Far has an excellent tonal quality, which he displays with ease. His soulful and power packed vocals sore over the music. Something else Craig displays is ENERGY, I don't mean to be rude but this guy has too much! *laugh*
Gig History
1st October
Melbourne Show (Freeza Stage)
6th October 2000- guest opening act at the Muso Network's Jam Nite
13th October 2000- Out Break 2000 Battle of the Bands (2nd place)
16th October 2000- Commercial Lounge Battle of the Bands 3 (1st Place)
21st October 2000- Dave's 18th Birthday Bash
28th October 2000- Freeza Dandenong Battle of the Bands Heat 2 (1st place, door prize, won for bringing largest crowd)
11th November 2000- Freeza Dandenong Battle of the Bands Grand Final (4th place)
20th November 2000- Commercial Lounge Battle of the Bands 3 Grand Final (1st Place)
10th December 2000- The Arthouse, w/ Perx & Addiction 64
4th January 2001- The Greyhound Hotel, w/I.O. and Reve
13th January 2001- The Home Hotel, Launching Place Vic.
25th January 2001- Edward's Tavern, GRASSHOPPER SHOWSTOPPER's 'Stupid Conversations' EP launch w/Stoppage.
26th January 2001- OZ DAY ROCKS 2001, Dandenong Park, w/Tragically Un-hip & Doctor Smunk.
7th January 2001- The Arthouse w/Prawns with Horns and Fungus.
10th February 2001- Launchstock 2001 (Launching Place Cricket Club Fundraiser) w/The Launch Lounge Lizards.
17th February 2001- Jess Melvin's 17th Birthday Party, St Oswalds Uniting Church Hall.
22nd February 2001- The Esplanade Hotel w/Fungus and Jolt.
24th February 2001- Springvale Summer Festival w/Doctor Smunk.
22nd April 2001- The Arthouse Hotel w/Freaky Jason & Kz5.
16th June 2001- The Venue, Punk VS Metal Fundraising gig w/ Josh Wins Again, FLD, Karma, E{x}hail, Carnage, Doctur Smunk and many others...
"In order to get the full GRASSHOPPER SHOWSTOPPER experience you can contact the band at grasshoppershowstopper@hotmail.com. And if you have the time check GRASSHOPPER SHOWSTOPPER out at www.grasshoppershowstopper.freeservers.com"
This bio was written and is continually updated with the sole intention of giving you the reader and/or listener some idea of what GRASSHOPPER SHOWSTOPPER is really about!
Brent Graham