UP TO SCRATCH

Mum’s the word for DJ Snes Mega, the newest member of Australian band The Bennies, as he tells

THE NEWEST member of Australian punk rock party-starters The Bennies, DJ Snes Mega, hopes his mum doesn’t catch wind of this article.

He was eight or nine years old the first time he tried his hand at DJ-ing on his mum’s record player.

“It was like a big wooden unit with a radio in it,” he said.

“You see a film clip with someone scratching and they don’t explain that you need a certain kind of turntable.

“After trying to do it for about two seconds, the whole thing just stopped working and I just put the lid down and put it away and hoped someone else would think they had broken it.”

Snes said he had always had an urge to make noise, teaching himself several instruments.

While he was growing up around Melbourne he played with several bands as a DJ and guitarist, even sharing line-ups with The Bennies before really getting to know them.

“Four or five years ago I met them through some mutual friends,’’ Snes said.

“After one of their shows one night I chewed their ears off saying they should have a DJ.

“I ended up jamming with them a bit and doing some occasional shows with them at festivals.”

He had been a ring-in for the band until his place in the line-up was solidified at the end of last year.

“We did supports for Andrew W.K. a couple of months ago and that was going to be a massive party so they wanted the full brigade — horns, a DJ and everything all together,’’ Snes said.

“We had so much fun, as we usually do, and after the second show in Sydney we all had a bit of a team huddle and they said ‘It’s time to get you on board permanently’.”

Being an official band member means Snes is now included in the songwriting process.

“We’ve recorded a few new songs and we’re playing them on this tour,’’ he said.

“They have been received really well and they have definitely got a different twist.

“There are a few different influences in there now, with me and [Nicholas Williams] now on bass, but overall you can tell it’s The Bennies straight away.”

Snes said he brings a fresh set of ears and a diversity of styles and influences to the band, who are heading to Hobart next month.

He said the members of The Bennies, who are known for their partying and onstage antics, were full of good energy.

“We just got back from Sydney yesterday and my face is still aching from laughing constantly,’’ Snes said.

“There’s a lot of stupidity. After a couple of long nights, delirium sets in and the nonsense that goes back and forth is hilarious.”

But being a Bennie is not all play.

“As much as there is a lot of fun and silliness going on, everyone knuckles down and actually puts out a fair bit of work, so it’s a really good environment,’’ Snes said.

“If you’ve had a bit of a hard day, as soon as everyone starts throwing a few high fives around and starts jamming, you can’t stop smiling.”

The Bennies have played the first two shows of their six-stop national tour.

“It’s been incredible,’’ Snes said. “We’re on a buzz from that and there’s lots of excited energy.”

The Bennies will headline mini punk festival, Damage: House

Party, at Hobart’s Brisbane Hotel on February 1. The line-up includes US bands Red City Radio and No Trigger, local acts Squid Fishing, Break Through and Knife Hands, and Sydneysiders Idle Threat.

It will be Snes’s first time joining the The Bennies in Tasmania.

“I’m definitely keen to get over there and get among it with them and throwing around some high fives and a few air horns.”

Damage: House Party is an 18+ event. Tickets are $47.45, available from oztix.com.au