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Rogerthat quote sheet

***The long-awaited debut album from these hard-to-categorise rockers
Over the years, we at Rave had Rogerthat pegged as a soul/funk surfer outfit and psychedelic reggae-rockers. By the time they released Green Room, the single preceding this album, we were using words like fuzzy and bluesy, with both Bob Dylan and Cream references. Whatever is the right tag, it’s clear this Gold Coast outfit have learnt a few valuable lessons by looking backwards. And they put them to good use here. In one sense, they’re like more recent acts Kings Of Leon (in Somewhere Between) and Gomez (in You’re Not Alone), cherry-picking their influences and somehow jamming them together organically. But (good thing too), they’ve found their own method of cobbling these different sources together, from the counter-cultural blues-rock of White Lines homing in on the late ‘60s and early ‘70s and the lazy-afternoon, semi-reggae lope of Crazy Times to the marimba shimmer of The Velvet Sons. They reach for the outer limits with the stoned-hippie acoustic strum of Grow Your Gardens, until a big guitar chug zooms in on the pastoral patch. Then there’s the strange static that permeates Tangerine Bird. Hmmm! But there’s no denying these guys have developed a style that definitely engages, regardless of what we call it.
Rave, BILL HOLDSWORTH, 12 Aug 09

www.abc.net.au/oztrax Aug 12 09
Following a European tour, Rogerthat returned home to commence work on their debut album, The Desert’s Call. Recently released, the album has given the band another excuse to hit the road. Having just completed another European assault, this time touring through France, Rogerthat have returned to Australia for a national tour in support of the new album. Fans of wild-haired and bearded, Aussie Rock will find much to enjoy on ‘The Desert’s Call’ as well as at their increasingly popular live shows. The word is spreading about Rogerthat. Find out why, by sampling “Green Room” from ‘The Desert’s Call’, right here.

TSUNAMI Aug 7
ROGERTHAT
The Desert’s Call
(Sureshaker)
Rogerthat are a hard one to peg. With a blend of raw reggae ... and psychedelic, I cannot help but hear late ‘60s/early ‘70s rock n’ roll through their work. Green Room screams of The Rolling Stones ... and vivid memories of Mr. Blonde cutting off the ear of a bound and gagged cop in Reservoir Dogs flood the mind as Stealers Wheel’s resonates through Nineteen. The reggae does, however, shine through on some songs, with The Velvet Sons, White Lines, Crazy Times and track 10 (Into The Unknown) all teeming with the rhythmic off-beat nature of the genre. The Desert’s Call is an eclectic production ..without doubt enjoyable.
(Sleeve)

SCENE (July 15)
‘The Desert's Call' Rogerthat
(Sureshaker)... it all makes sense when you learn that Rogerthat spent several days at a time, unguarded and unkempt, in deserts. The long, Amish-resembling facial hair that each band member appears to sport is a tell-tale sign that they've spent copious amounts of time touring from coast to coast, eating and sleeping in a beat-up Ford Transit van. 'The Desert's Call' tells the tale of this life on the road, with tracks such as 'Somewhere Between' and 'When The Night Is Gone' creating some beautiful word-imagery that hints to the mystery and isolation that these guys felt while away. Their previous release had included bluesey and reggae influences, however 'The Desert's Call' redefines the band's sound, presenting a more clear-cut psychedelic rock out. http://scenemagazine.com.au/index.php/reviews/cd-reviews

RAVE
19 (single review)
"... safer that we let them wander around, beards and arse length hair akimbo, belting guitars continually and trying their hand at some Woo hoo - Sympathy for the Devil style vocals. 19 is a groovy tune combining a soft bridge a hard rock drum solo and several catchily repetitious verses into it's two minutes - more than most contemporary, time aware rockers can in four."

*** "Green Room just has so many layers, all of which sound like they’re taken from an old, slightly dog-eared and decomposing-round-the edges twelve-inch cardboard sleeve ... Green Room’s so engaging to listen to on repeat" Rave Magazine, March '09
*** “Touring so hard that their van broke down, garage rock outfit Rogerthat have hit the tour circuit as the headlining act this time around in support of their April-released debut album The Desert’s Call. Following the success of recent shows at the Annandale, the Oxford Tavern and various other venues around the country they’ve added a couple more stops to the itinerary, one of which is Spectrum on Saturday 4 April. Following footsteps of most Aussie bands, they’re heading overseas mid-year to Europe, so if you missed them first time around, make sure you catch this because it may be the last opportunity for a while.” Drummedia Sydney 10 March '09
*** “Psychedelic of the energetic rather than lysergic model. Rolling drums, spiralling – sometimes spiky – guitars and some near Jim Morrison-model howling. For a band who apparently create most of their noise together in a self-converted shipping container and got themselves to Europe picking up some good support spots on the way, the Rogers are making music worthy of note and notice.” Drummedia Sydney 25 November '08
***“Wow what a night! one last hurrah for humankind and then a litany of consensual rape, pillage, loot and murder as we fight amongst ourselves, whittling our numbers down to the very last one. It was sheer dumb luck that happened their grinning carapaces: scruffed, bedraggled and matted with fur upon our murderous postscript tonight. In sight alone they quite reminded me of that hapless busload of hippies from the Texas Chainsaw Massacre (the original, not the remake) we could easily imagine what would happen next: this was Adelaide afterall, we all know how to make our interstate travellers feel "welcome". RogerThat. They're just the breath of fresh air we needed, smoking out the room to an intangible haze. Here walking the water and swimming the land, the second coming of the mad 70's blunt groove. Yup, if ever there was anything lacking from our apocalypse as envisioned in childhood, it's in the sights THEY bring to our feverish minds. Bikini girls on Harley's, swallowing swords and spitting out fire. Cattle skulls, eye sockets knotted with the interweaving movement of the rattlesnake, trodden on by a metal studded boot, doused in gasoline and set alight. If ever there was a diagonal slide into sweet oblivion that needed magnifying with guitar, bass, drum and electrified amp, they would be the one to deliver it. They're an authentic 70's sound ripe with decadence and decay. They're the sound of spiralling petrol prices, political scandal, a ready supply of heroin, roaming bikie gangs, botched invasion attempts, one raised finger to the man, a surfboard hitting that wave and fucking it all. They fly that freak flag up on high and into the sky. Swaying like the breeze, mind whistling like leaves, it's all in the way Jesse on vocals (with his Amish beard and anti-establishment grooves) make THIS band the very Zeitgeist of it all!” Spoz blog
http://spoz.blogspot.com/2008/11/roger-that-kytes-of-omar-live-ed-castle.html
*** “The Zoo - Sat Sep 27 Although they’re on a writing break between huge European and Australian tours, Gold Coast psychedelic rockers Rogerthat find time to pack their xylophone and head up the M1 to wow the Zooies with lashings of hook-laden groove and hairy blues. With two EPs and an album on the way, the seventies-styled bearded rockers exude a headliner’s stage presence, having played this year’s Big Day Out and the massive Quicksilver Pro show at the Gold Coast. They open with some island-style before rocking out with Hanging On, where the band and audience float along the waves of Lach Leckie’s rolling basslines.” Rave Magazine October ‘08 James Stafford
*** “First on stage was Rogerthat. Having imbibed a heavy dose of Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Hendrix and Jefferson Airplane, Rogerthat put on an energetic opening performance. They had the audience dancing and succeeded in thoroughly warming up the crowd. By the end of their set they had also definitely won new fans.
Vocalist Jesse Bailey had the psychedelic lead singer dance moves down pat, engaging the crowd and enjoying himself. The crowd also enjoyed yelling their support for Jimmy Young on guitar, the other charismatic stand out of the band. Bass player Lach Leckie got his groove on, and looked like he was having a great time. Playing Chasing the Sun and Jefferson Lane amongst other songs, those that checked out Rogerthat clearly got their moneys worth, judging by the dancing and occasional skipping that occurred.” www.fasterlouder.com.au March ‘08
*** “The music scene, like the arts in general, is indeed full of interesting characters and I wonder if it really is all about image, who you know, who listens to you and who you are influenced by. Or is it about talent, timing, technique and how you sound. I loved the fact that one minute I could be holding a civilised conversation with the guitarist of Roger That and seconds later, when the kid on the drum kit hit it, the same (yet changed) man was fervently and furiously blistering his fingers on his guitar strings.” Bendigo Advertiser March ‘08
*** “These "Vanilla Gorillas" are getting bigger and bigger, featuring on Triple J's Unearthed Charts, and delivering a hot performance at the BDO. With influences like Marley, Hendrix, and The Doors, the result is some seriously psychedelic rock and roll. 'Chasing the Sun' oozes a funky reggae vibe that is bound to get your groove on. lt also comprises some impressive guitar solos. Watch out for these "Colourful Minds." Scene Magazine 6 Feb ‘08
*** “reggae/rock quartet Rogerthat bring us a smooth as caramel sound that eases into the ears like warm syrup. Their new mini-album, ‘The Vanilla Gorillas’, is a pleasure to listen to. This easy funk with a side serving of ‘60/’70s-style Woodstock feel has a production akin to a live gig. These boys are bound to win a huge fanbase with this offering.”
Tsunami Mag Feb ‘08
*** “For all the reggae/rock fans out there you’re sure to enjoy the cool tunes from Rogerthat. My fave is ‘Hanging On’ from their EP ‘The Vanilla Gorillas’.”
Courier Mail Jan 5th ‘08
http://blogs.news.com.au/couriermail/brizbands/
*** Rogerthat (pictured) have every reason to be grinning at the moment, after scoring a slot at this year’s Big Day Out, but their final outing before stepping up on the cavernous stage is a date at The Step Inn, Sunday where they play with Melbourne’s Custom Kings.” Rave Magazine’s featured gig Jan 7th ‘08
*** “rockers Rogerthat (pictured) play The Miami Tavern on Saturday night. The show, which is expected to sell out early, encores the acts’ crowd pleasing performance at the Wonderland festival, in Currumbin Valley last month. Rogerthat – James Young, Daniel Briffa, Lachlan Leckie and Jesse Bailey – played Wonderland and captured the gig on Super 8 film for their upcoming music video. They scored with a drum-tight version of Cream’s down-tempo anthem Sunshine of Your Love smack-bang in the middle of their set. Saturday’s show comes at the top of Rogerthat’s second national run in support of their new EP, Vanilla Gorillas.” Gold Coast Bulletin Dec 7th ‘07
*** “Next up, Rogerthat. Bassist Lach Leckie and drummer Dan Briffa opened the set with a strong bouncing jam that really got people interested (and looking up from the bar). Guitarist Jimmy Young and singer Jesse Bailey joined their band mates on stage and began to deliver their fast, reggae inspired rock tunes. Whilst Bailey’s vocals seemed to take a while to warm up, the three with instruments really made up for it, with Hendrix-esque guitar riffs and bass lines that moved back and forth between thumping and soulful. Roger That were playing music that people could dance to with no worries, yet the ever-so-slightly growing crowd seemed content to sit on the floor and watch, even with Bailey asking for a dance. Having never played to a Melbourne crowd before, Rogerthat really proved themselves first time round, and by throwing in a Cream cover, ‘Sunshine Of You Love’, they even had people singing along.” www.fasterlouder.com.au - Nov ‘07
*** ”Heading downstairs to the main room we were greeted by the sounds of ‘Rogerthat’. There were lots of guitar riffs, great vocals and smooth drumming. Jesse Bailey the vocalist said the crowd tonight is their biggest yet! I was impressed with this band ... The band seemed very connected, high vocals, talking vocals, whistling in songs – Jesse has a big voice. They did a cover of ”I’ve Been Waiting So Long By” the band Cream. They did the song justice, very energetic. And after their set they were signing cd’s for impressed punters.”
www.melbournelive.com - Nov ‘07
*** “Onstage Rogerthat were sporting authentic 70’s haircuts and attire. This appeared to be their favoured musical decade too as they ripped into a set of funk inspired rock. The lead singer had a sweet voice and a good range, while their guitarist had enough licks to keep the songs afloat. Their cover of The Police ’s “I Can’t Stand Losing You” was reasonably handled, and one of many nods to the music of the Caribbean during their 30 minute set.” www.fasterlouder.com.au – Aug ‘07
*** “Therefore it widens my eyes somewhat to see the ever-dreaded 'sold out' sign hanging from the front door of the Zoo and many angered patrons being turned away. As I assure a lovely, yet seemingly pressured bouncer chap that my name is indeed on the door and no, I'm not trying to bust through the Wacol-type security that is the Zoo's door chick, “the first chords from Rogerthat ring out from upstairs. Tonight illustrates what a tight and dynamic group of musicians they are as a live unit. Their clever licks and pin-point rhythm section are impressive and the large audience gathered at the front, captivated by their reggae/roots grooves.” Rave Mag - Brisbane – ‘07
*** "the quartet Rogerthat ... with their blend of rock, funk, and rap. Although they sometimes can sound like early Chili Peppers, they do the trick to say the least, particularly on 'Chasing The Sun'.” Time Off – Brisbane - June 21st ‘07
*** “Definitely showing a lot more experience than ever, both in writing and performing,” Time Off – Brisbane – Aug ‘07
*** Winner of Best Single in the Byron Bay’s “Pocket Rocket”, Battle of the bands. Judged by Jon Butler and Tex Perkins. - NSW wide
*** “I really like Rogerthat...Chasing The Sun is amazing...I'd love to have that band in Amsterdam, any plans?”
Jeroen – booker for the Winston (in Amsterdam)
*** “The band have toured with some of Australia’s hottest acts. Travelling from the beach to the snow and across the Nullarbor desert the bands “DIY” attitude has made it known their reggae and 70’s psychadelic rock should not be missed.” Qmusic/Bigsound
*** “I usually don't like what a lot of bands do with reggae these days. These guys pull it off nicely, I love the vocals and the instrumentalists are just spot on. The guitar solos had me frothin’ and I was just groovin’ through the whole track. Another top effort from these lads!” Triple J - stokedpaz Oct ’06
*** Winner of the “Troccadero Big Gig Showcase” Invitation Only, QLD wide.