The Fred Band are a Brisbane based band that have been around since approximately between 1991 and 1992. Footage from them performing in 1991 can be found on youtube through this link.
In Fred's own words, he only ever uses his first name and that applies to this blog as well! Comprised of four members, their stage act consists of firstly, Fred who pretends to be Rocky Outcrop, a 'failed country music superstar'. Wayne Pryce, is a man dressed as a woman wearing a dress and a blonde wig, pretending to be Coral Outcrop, Rocky's 'beloved sister'. She was also meant to have her own superstar career in playing the lagerphone and an instrument called the Josephine, however, was held back by too much facial hair. Big, bad Brenton (aka: bull dozering baby eating bastard from Brisbane), who is also my father played bass in the band before his passing nearly two years ago. He was the 'homeless child in the gutter that Rocky took under his wing.' Their drummer is, 'whoever is available at the time' Fred says.
At a Fred Band gig, you have no idea what's about to happen next and whether you should stand back in case Coral Outcrop is about to stand on a table and someone from the crowd is going to start pouring alcohol down her instrument they call the Hosophone, twirling it around over her head, spraying everyone in the crowd, or worse, you might see up her dress.
The only way to describe the Hosophone is literally a garden hose with a funnel connected to the end. As a Trombone player in another band, Wayne manages to make sound out of the Hosophone blowing into it, swinging it in circles above his head. During most of the set, Wayne beats on a Lagerphone with a stick which is his own homemade version, beer cap tops nailed to a large stick. Having watched many Fred band gigs, you can expect Fred dressed in his usual cowboy hat fully immersed in his stage character; Rocky Outcrop, to make some captivating announcement leading to Coral's moment of using the Hosophone, 'Ladies and Gentlemen you're about to witness the unthinkable, something that will change your life forever'. If Coral isn't on a table, as a member of the audience, everyone stands back because you simply know you don't want to get in the way.
With their classic songs, like 'You Haven't Seen Ugly' and 'That Fart Smelt' they play in Brisbane on stage expressing sheer humourist lyrics through slamming country punk rock music which breaks down into shredding guitar solos.
To paraphrase Fred they are not working on anything new and, they also 'plan for doing the same in the future' with Bob Lee as their new bassist who takes my dad's place in honour of their dear friend. If you're lucky, you can still catch their gigs around Brisbane in the tightly knit Brisbane music community with a few familiar faces always appearing there.
Their next show is a free gig on the 18th of December; Blutes Bar Fortitude Valley. If you're looking for a live show to watch where restrictions of COVID are compensated by pure entertainment on the stage in front of you, the Fred Band in all their originality and full of character, this is the best show for you.