My Dream Interview
By Amy McKavanagh (Year 11, Northern Beaches States High School)
As part of News Limited’s My Dream Interview contest, and with the support of the Townsville Bulletin and JCNN@school, local high school students were recently asked to conduct their ‘dream interview’. Northern Beaches State High School (NBSHS) Year 11 students Amy McKavanagh and Marnee Kaspersson jumped at the opportunity and were rewarded with a phone interview with the lead singer of band Nine Sons of Dan, Jay Bainbridge. The Venue in Townsville came to life in June when Nine Sons of Dan played as support act for Simple Plan.
Photo: Marnee Kaspersson and Amy McKavanagh from Northern Beaches State High School
What many people have been asking is: ‘Who are Nine Sons of Dan?’ On May 29, my schoolmate Marnee Kaspersson, journalist Kylie Davis and I got the great opportunity to do an interview with the lead singer of the band, Jay Bainbridge.
The band consists of five members: Jay Bainbridge (lead singer), Daniel Cox (lead guitarist), Alex ‘Pidgey’ Pundyk (rhythm guitarist), Wil Edgar (bassist) and Morgan ‘Flakey’ Blake (drummer). The band’s single She’s So Fine reached Top 40 in the charts and they recently released their new single Diamond Skin. The band met in Coffs Harbour where each member was in a different band competing in a battle of bands.
While they were at Griffith University, the drummer, Flakey, was doing a degree in Popular Bachelor of Music and he asked Jay and the rhythm guitarist, Pidgey, to play for a project. The rest of the members were gathered from there.
“The origins of the name ‘Nine Sons of Dan’ proved to be most interesting,” Jay explained. “It’s a dedication to nine exchange students that we were all partying with when the band started.
“They were all hanging out with us when we had to name our band for our first show and someone yelled it out. Dan Murphy’s is a liquor store that was down the road.
“So basically what we did was we named it after the nine friends and Dan Murphy’s liquor store like an inside joke but it stuck.
“We have a lot of people who ask us about it because it’s an interesting name, so we really love it.”
Photo: Jay Bainbridge, lead singer of Nine Sons of Dan
The band recently finished the Rock the Schools Tour around Australia, which was a way to connect to kids who wish to join the music industry.
“It’s such a privilege to be on it. I think if you are starting a band, starting out, it’s the best way of getting a whole bunch of people into your music and meeting a whole bunch of new fans,” Jay said.
“We played in front of 500 kids every single day for six weeks.”
The band got in on the Simple Plan tour through persistence from their manager Marc Mancini. Although they missed out on the main tour, their manager got them in on some of the extra shows, one being the Townsville concert.
“We were just so excited. We all grew up listening to them (Simple Plan) and playing their music,” Jay said.
“Having a chance to play alongside them at a show and to be the only band that’s playing on that night was just a dream come true. It was super cool.”
So who is the most annoying band member, I wanted to know… “The most annoying band member... oh my gosh, I don’t know if there’s one. I think we’re all sort of... we’re all annoying in our own ways,” Jay admitted.
“Have you guys hung out with your friends for too long and you just kind of get sick of them after a while? Basically it’s like a really extended six-week version of that... I wouldn’t be able to single anyone out for sure, even I get annoying.
“Actually I’m pretty sure I’m the most annoying one on tour, so probably me.”
Just as every band has its annoying members, they also have their ladies’ man as well. I wanted to know who that was too…
”Ah... at this moment... on this tour... it’s definitely Pidgey, our rhythm guitarist. After each show he just gets swamped by girls trying to get autographs, so he’s a bit of a heart throb.”
Interviewing Jay from Nine Sons of Dan was a privilege and, if you hadn’t heard of them, then I suggest you buy their music now! The band really has talent; they’re down-to-earth and just might really be the next big thing.