Busybee
Norgdom
Perth MusicNice Box Interview
Tony Pilt
NiCe BoX
Q Does NiCe BoX have any recordings out or coming out? Can you tell us about the name, release, tour, and experience while recording?
NiCe BoX released their debut EP “…and where were you last night” on August 30th and was followed up by a World Tour of Perth that seen us play at Mundijong in the south to Yanchep up north and most major venues in between. NiCe BoX recorded the EP at Groovehead in Maddington recording was done by Stevie C from the Rollerskates in only 7 hours for the five tracks listed on the EP. Mick Stephens of the B Movie Hero’s did mastering. The whole recording experience was very exciting and a learning curve for us all as we had just got a new drummer Daniel Frame that had joined the band only 2 weeks before recording.
Q Can you tell us a little about the band and it’s history? Has the band changed since forming?
The band formed back in November 2002 with members Tony Pilt (guitar Vocals), Paul James (Bass, Vocals) and drummer Luke Hall. The end of November saw an ‘altercation’ between Luke and Paul resulting in the introduction of Jimmi Luxa on Bass, vocals to allow us to meet our debut show booking at the Hyde Park hotel in January 2003. March 2003 WAM nominated NiCe BoX track ‘Buy me a Pony’ for Song of the year 2003 which gave us the grounds to build the EP. July 2003 Enter Daniel Frame; former drummer of Perth band Chillum has been a welcome addition to the band.
Q. What is the songwriting process for the band? Do you write the lyrics and music together or one first then the other?
Song writing is usually done with both at once, we are all competent musicians so melodies come easy to us all. Lyrics on the other hand come a little harder, we try to write songs about everything and yet nothing at the same time. The kind of songs you will love and tell everyone about how funny it is or the same song could insult and disgust you. We have been described by critics as both a comedy act and shock rockers.
Q. When playing live shows, is it important to make every show a spectacle or does it just happen naturally. Do you feed of the crowd’s reaction or do you try to create a reaction?
Every show is a spectacle! Being a spectacle is the basis of our shows but not in the usual ‘Tuff Punk’ type shock rock manner but the ‘what the…these guys are ridiculous’ and that’s before we start playing anything. As far as crowd response is concerned we don’t ask for it we demand it. If the crowd is a little sluggish we have no problem with yelling out to them until they respond, people seem to like it, well when it comes from us anyway.
Q. Is there a story behind the name NiCe BoX? Is it from looking at too much porn or just coincidence?
I have to admit it was on a quick flick through a smut magazine at a friend’s house where I came up with the name. But it was the play on words that made it stick, it’s two common words that when placed together conjures a twisted perverted smile with interest to what it really is, and to us it’s the name of our band. What does NiCe BoX mean to you? Is the question we ask when asked why NiCe BoX.
Q. There is a lot of interest in Perth bands and Perth music at the moment, do you think there is a particular Perth sound and is it very different from bands from the eastern states?
The interest in Perth bands covers a very broad spectrum of music to say Perth has a ‘sound’ is to kill any body that is doing anything different from the ‘sound’. I don’t think that the music is a great deal different to eastern states I think it maybe it’s more about the intrigue of Perth the isolated city. In saying that I don’t remember the last time I saw a bad band in Perth, I may not like what they do at a personal taste level but the music is always performed well.
Q. What Bands have the greatest influence on you and who are your favourite bands at the moment both from Perth and elsewhere?
I don’t think that there are any particular bands that influence us, I like the crunch and grind raucous type genre, Jim man likes the more laid back acoustic reggae styled genre, whilst Dan likes the heaviest darkest music. Favourite Perth bands, well I can’t speak for the others but I can tell you I like JSP, a blend of grass roots blues and Indie rock. I also like the Magoos as they describe themselves ‘ terror core’ and also the more popular Local pricks, Rollerskates and Loo-eze De’ath.
Q. What is your favourite live music venue in Perth? Do you prefer small pub shows with a small audience or bigger shows with lots of people cheering you on?
I would have to say the Rosemount is our favourite; we always feel comfortable there and get a great response from everyone. I love the feeling of a huge crowd, the sound of a deep roar from a massive audience is priceless, but I also like the quite show where some smart arse is yelling insults at us cause that adds to our show if I can insult someone in the audience it makes everyone else take notice and in turn creates a better response to the rest of our set, people like to watch someone else be humiliated, and as I said earlier we look ‘shock/strange’ and are prepared to get on stage like it so we cannot be insulted too easily without a humorous comeback line.
Q. Do you have any gigs coming up that you would like more people to come along to?
A. Yeah we are having a little break for a couple of weeks, Both myself and Dan are having birthdays soon so we have organized a birthday bash at the White Sands on Saturday November 29th we will be playing around nine o’clock so we can get pissed and enjoy the party
December 15th, 2007 at 10:04 pm
Nice Box brought a sound and style to Perth that will never be replaced. Political correctness and a fear of not being what a record company wants, prevents the said. Songs were written about what people thought, but were too frightened to say. When the boys ripped up a venue they did it in their typical style. Frontman, Tony Pilt, would abuse a crowd if they weren’t responding. Drummer, Danial Frane, would smoke on stage as he played a rigourous set. As the director of Johnny Rock Entertainment I would often book the band. The best thing about booking Nice Box was the ease of the booking. Despite the fact the boys are “out there”, they approched bookings with a professional disposition. Nice Box always provided posters and flyers for every gig they ever played for Johnny Rock Entertainment. The posters would feature a picture that the boys had either located or taken themselves. One time I recall the boys presenting me an image of drummer, Danial Frane, crashing through a wall of a timber framed house with a chainsaw. He was dressed in overalls covered in blood, a hockey mask and a dred lock wig. The poster was appeared at a Northbridge venue, where the boys headlined a Saturday night four band spectacular. Tony would dress as a charactor simular to Dr Suess’s cat in the hat. Bass player, Jim, appeared as an arabian terrorist. Who would dare try that nowadays??????…Love em or hate em, they’re Nice Box and they are forever. Good on ya boys and thanks for all the gigs and memories over the years….Johnny Rock