New band takes off

BELGRAVE rockers Phil Smith and Cousin Ronnie will launch their latest outfit and new single at Burrinja this Friday.
The pair started The Realistics about 12 months ago.
“I did a solo album and needed a band to represent that and it’s gone on from there,” Smith said.
The band has played a few gigs in the hills, including Emerald’s PAVE Festival.
“But really we’ve just been putting our toe in the water until now, until we consolidated the product,” Smith said.
The Realistics features Phil Smith on lead vocals, guitar and keys, Cousin Ronnie on bass guitar and vocals, Zol Almady on drums and Steve Scott on keys and vocals.
Their first recording, My Little Baby, features four original songs.
“We’re hoping to sell a bucketload of these because we want to go to the States,” Smith said.
“We find that this sort of music would go well over there and it’s such a small market here that it’s probably better to go offshore and then come back.”
They plan to release an album later this year.
“We’re probably half way, two-thirds of the way through the album at the moment,” Cousin Ronnie said.
He and Smith have been playing together for 10 years.
“Phil needed a bass player to put a band together for a friend’s wedding he was doing many years ago and asked me to do the job,” Cousin Ronnie said.
“It was intentionally supposed to be just a one-of, and it just grew from there.”
Smith said the hills music scene was tight knit.
“It’s a little bit like Woodstock used to be – a little hamlet up in the hills with a lot of artists and music,” he said.
“There’s always something interesting going on. But we need more people going out to more live gigs. That’s what we need to keep the scene going.”
Mt Dandenong’s Alex Legg will open the night’s entertainment.
“He’s a great singer-songwriter,” Smith said.
“We’re hoping people will come out to support the new band, and new product and local musicians.”
Phil Smith and the Realistics and Alex Legg will hit the stage at Burrinja, 351 Glenfern Road, Upwey, on Friday 20 February from 8pm.
Tickets are $10 each, or $15 with a copy of the CD.