Taranaki students rock on to success

Last year, New Plymouth band Suburban Goons didn’t place at all in a national music competition - now they’re one of the top 20 bands in the country.

The quartet from New Plymouth Boys’ High School are sitting in the top 30 (20 bands, 10 solo artists) of the Smokefree Rockquest event after winning the best band title at the Taranaki regional finals.

They have since submitted their five best songs and are awaiting an announcement to be made on Monday as to whether they have made the top 10 for the national finals. The band put their quick rise to success up to taking in the judges’ criticisms from their failed first run.

‘‘Granted it was only our second gig last time,’’ singer and guitarist Sam Egli said.

‘‘We just broke down what the judges said to us and really hashed out each point.’’ The band, who have a mixed range of influences from Led Zeppelin to Mac DeMarco, all agreed that their attitude to the competition had helped their success.

‘‘A lot of the bands at the regionals took it really seriously,’’ lead guitarist Toby Hooper said. ‘‘I think some of them just forgot to have fun with it.’’

‘‘As a band we don’t really play for ourselves,’’ bassist Liam Clow said. ‘‘No five minute solos from anyone, it’s about the entire product.’’

As for their style, both singer Egli and drummer Jesse Irving take a lot of influence from Mac DeMarco, while guitarist Hooper revels in the old school legends like Jimmy Page and Jimi Hendrix.

Hooper, Clow and Egli all agree that the slightly younger Irving on drums, although usually quiet, is an ‘‘animal’’ when he plays.

‘‘You know, like the guy from the Muppets. Animal,’’ Clow said, ‘‘he’s like that.’’

All members contribute to writing songs and Egli said that was key to the sound they have.

‘‘I’ll confess I was the stereotypical lead singer writing love songs for a bit, but not so much anymore,’’ he said.

Egli said their song Eros was probably their most popular and was actually a re-hash at one of their earlier songs called Sore, appropriately reversed for the second attempt at the Rockquest event.

PHOTO: SIMON O’CONNOR/FAIRFAX NZ Guitarist and singer Sam Egli said the whole band contributed to writing songs.

Jesse Irving 15, left, Liam Clow, Sam Egli 17, Toby Hooper 16.

All the band agree selflessness was the key to success, no 20-minute solos for these guys.

The quartet have had exponential success at Rockquest after not placing at all last year.

Youngest member Jesse Irving stays pretty quiet, unless he’s got a pair of sticks in his hand.

Toby Hooper and Liam Clow are pretty in sync, having played together for a year.