Live at The Zoo, Fortitude Valley, 23 July 2020
In August 1991, singer/guitarist Tim Steward, bassist Kellie Lloyd and drummer Tony Blades formed Screamfeeder in Brisbane, evolving out of a previous band formed in Townsville called The Madmen. Screamfeeder quickly became a fixture on the local circuit and their debut album “Flour” was released in 1992. Follow-up album “Burn Out Your Name” brought them to national attention in 1993, with national and European tours following.
In 1995 Tony Blades left the band and Dean Shwereb became the new drummer. Third album “Fill Yourself With Music” garnered further airplay and in 1996 fourth album “Kitten Licks” took the band to new creative heights. Largely written collaboratively in the rehearsal room, the material on “Kitten Licks” had an undeniable new sense of cohesion and energy, and boosted their profile to new heights.
Poised on the edge of breakthrough success, in the late ’90s Screamfeeder were stymied by a record deal with an American label who insisted on a delayed American release of “Kitten Licks” before they could record new music. While the band released the covers record “Home Age” during this time, it would be four years before they could extricate themselves from the American deal and release their next album of original material.
“Rocks On The Soul”, released in 2000, marked a stylistic departure from the band’s indie rock sound, bringing in more electronic textures. Second guitarist Darek Mudge was brought onboard and Screamfeeder’s sixth album, “Take You Apart” was released in 2003. The band played and recorded occasionally from then on, but in 2011 they played a “farewell gig” at Woodland when Dean Shwereb made plans to move overseas.
Both Tim Steward and Kellie Lloyd made solo records and had other projects, including Steward’s We All Want To and Lloyd’s Majestic Horses and Warm Guns. But it wasn’t long before Shwereb returned home and since then Screamfeeder have again held their place as a mainstay in the Brisbane music community, releasing their seventh album “Pop Guilt” in 2017. Their eighth, “Five Rooms”, is due out in 2022.
Screamfeeder were previously featured on Live Delay in episode 139 back in 2015. This set you’re about to hear was recorded at one of the very first gigs back after Brisbane’s initial COVID-19 lockdown was lifted. While the audience had to be seated jazz-club style, as you’ll hear their enthusiasm was undampened.
Recorded by Scott Mercer
Mixed by Jonathan Virgona
Special thanks to live engineer David Nolan
Show production, engineering and host: Scott Mercer
Originally aired via Zed Digital, 7-8pm, Sunday 12 December, 2021