THE BAND 
What’s the story behind the band name? 
Actually we choose The Currency because it is a convict term for the children born here as opposed to Sterling, those born in Britain. The Currency lads and lasses as they were called were a tougher breed than their European counterparts due to the weather, food and work here.

When did the band begin and how did it come about?  
We came into action when me and Alice and also Marko who had just joined Mutiny bumped into Travis at the drum shop he worked in and discussed our mutual love of celtic and punk music. We got a group of our favourite players together and auditioned vocalists until we found Justin who was born in Belfast but grew up in Adelaide so he gives us a very Aussie celtic sound. We started gigging just under a year ago.

How would you describe your sound to the average Joe on the street? 
We are a celtic punk band with a colonial Australian sound. There is Ex Living End drummer Travis Demsey and Mutiny bassist Alice Green suppling a massive rhythm section and then guitars, mandolins, tin whistle, accordion and fiddle play some exciting melodies while Justin belts out convict ballads.

What’s your current release? Tell us a little about it… 
We are currently recording our debut album which should be out early next year. It is a pretty good representation of our live set and has both folk and punk rock type songs. One of the ballads is Victoria Rose about a skinhead who has just come out prison and wants to see his daughter.

What image do you think / hope your music conveys? 
I see the songs as stories in the Australian ballad tradition, and the music is energetic and fun and designed to get crowds dancing. There's some politics but its all done in a personal and poetic manner. The most political song on the new record is 888 about the removal of workers rights.

In five years time the band will be…  
Doing what we do. We don't have too many grand schemes. Most of us have toured overseas before and Trav has a couple of platinum records so we don't feel we have anything to prove.

OFF THE STAGE 
What was your first introduction to music that made you think seriously about playing it? 
Seeing Midnight Oil when I was fifteen.

What was your first band name and what style did you play? 
I was in a art punk band called The Grots and we were pretty grotty.

Tell us three albums you couldn’t live without in your collection
London Calling, Rum Sodomy and The Lash & The Specials. Classics!
 
Best piece of musical advice you’ve been given 
Keep it simple stupid!

Two groups/artists you’d love to take out on the road 
Our mates Fear Like Us who have just moved down from Newcastle and I also like The Auralees, a local three piece.

Favourite song of your group? 
Gates of Hell

The thing you most look forward to just before a tour is 
getting on the road

The thing you least look forward to before a tour is 
paying the rent when I'm not even going to be around

When your not doing band related stuff, what are you usually found doing? 
Reading

RIGHT NOW 
What’s getting the most spins in your stereo right now? 
Justin bought the new Dropkicks album and I like it a lot, lots of cool banjo bits. Against Me is also on high rotation with The Currency crew.

Tell us a band or artist everyone should check out and why… 
Roaring Jack because they were doing this style of music in the 80s, well before their time considering the popularity of Flogging Molly and all that lot these days.

If you could change one thing about the music industry today, what would it be? 
There should be more returns to the artists.