Today I would like to take the Time to say Welcome To a Young Band From Australia.....Powerage
Welcome on Behalf Of Jambonie.com

Shaz: Firstly could you please introduce your band and Members....
Our band is called Powerage and it consists of Ben Crawford (drums, vocals), Zac Crawford (lead Guitar, lead vocals), Jeremy Minett (rhythm guitar, vocals) and Nikk Minett (bass, vocals)
 
Shaz: Could you tell me how you got Your Name and why?
We decided on the name Powerage, around 5 years ago, when we first started. We were starting an ACDC cover band at the time and we thought “Powerage” was suitable as it was the title of an older album of heir’s and the “Power” and “Age” factor had a likeable coincidence as we were all aged 9 - 14

Shaz: What is your Musical background...(Who is you and your band members? Tell your story.)
We are two sets of brothers, Jeremy and Nikk Minett and Ben and Zac Crawford, who all grew up in the same small town of Hinton and met each other at Hinton Primary School.
Ben and Zac – We have been involved in music ever since we were little as our Dad was always in bands and there were instruments lying around the house all the time. We tried a few instruments growing up, taking piano lessons and trumpet lessons, but that didn’t last long. Then Zac moved onto guitar and began teaching himself after a few weeks and I (Ben) started getting Dad to teach me a few beats on the drums. A few years later I got more serious and furthered my piano studies while focusing on the drums in Powerage. Zac up until recently also started playing the drums in one of our other projects which he really enjoys.
 
Nikk and Jeremy - basically we started playing music at primary school where we attended with Ben and Zac in Hinton. At the time we would go up to Ben and Zacs house after school to have a jam. At the time I (Jeremy) was having guitar lessons with a friend of dads in our street but Nikk could play very little bass and had to be shown what to do at the practises. Nikk decided to have lessons a few years into the band. We both now contribute to songwriting and backing vocals in the band as well.
Our dad was a bass player in his younger years in a Ramones concept band and we to got into music through him.
 
Shaz: Where have you performed? What are your favourite and least favourite venues? Do you have any upcoming shows?
We have performed here there and everywhere but our favourite venues would be playing on big stages at festivals.
A few of the memorable performances over the years have been
Playing at the Channel 9 NRL Footy Television Show grand final (which we won) at the Sydney Entertainment Centre when we were 10 -15 in front of 10,000 people
Performed at the World Final of the Global Battle of the Bands in London in 2008 where we placed 2nd out of 37 countries
Performing at our hometown Newcastle Knights Rugby League stadium each year in front of around 25,000 people
Performing the main stages at the Royal Easter Show in Sydney in 2009

 
Shaz: What genre of music do you consider your work to be and who are your major influences?
Our music is rock and we gain influence from many bands like The Foo Fighters, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, 30 seconds to Mars, Jet, Wolfmother and Paramore.
 
Shaz: How has your music evolved since you first began playing music together?
When we first started writing music, our songs were predominately influenced by 70’s and 80’s bands but over the last year our sound has been evolving and taking in influences from a wider range of bands. When listening to our recent works and comparing them to more of our older songs you can see an improvement in our song writing whether it be lyrics, structure, melodies or technical ability.

Shaz: What are your songs about? (What specific themes do they cover?)
Our songs are about a lot of things; relationships, conformity, corruption, betrayal, greed and many more. I like to hope that listeners have their own opinion about what the song is about and they can relate to it.
Shaz: What has been your biggest challenge as a band?
The biggest challenge was finding a lead singer for the band after our first vocalist, James Naldo left in early 2006. We held many auditions and even had our own radio show called “Looking for a Lead”.
 
Shaz: Are you a member of any music organizations?
APRA, (Australian Performing Rights Association)

Shaz: Who handles your daily business activities? (Bookings, promotions etc.)
Brenda and Ian Crawford, mine and Zac’s parents.

Shaz: What are your long-term career goals?
Have several album releases, tour Europe and America, play sold out shows get a Grammy,
Shaz: Do you have Any Major tour Plans?
At this stage we don’t but when we get back from Jamaica we will most likely start planning.
 
Shaz: Do you have any endorsements? If so what companies?
Sabian, Gibson, Ernie Ball

Shaz: If you could play music in front of a large audience where would that be?
The Isle of Wight festival in 1970 would have been great ha-ha but now perhaps Madison Square Gardens
 
Shaz: What type of media exposure has the band received?
Overseas radio, email interviews, Internet magazine articles, appeared on Australian radio station 2mmm and did a live acoustic performance in the studio in Sydney, Featured in Australian magazines and newspapers, Interviewed on SBS TV The Crew program and have had our songs played. Appeared on Channel V, TV promotions for local and regional Shows, i.e. The Royal Easter Show, Also the exposure we receive from myspace, youtube, facebook and twitter.

Shaz: If you could tour with another band who would that be and why?
The Foo Fighters or Paramore. They are great bands with fantastic songs and most of all put on high energy live shows.
 

Shaz: How big a part has The Internet played in promoting you as a band and getting your music Out there?
 
It has played a very large part in getting our music out there and building our fan base. We could never have hoped to have reached as many people as we have done without it

Shaz: Is there anything you would like to add Guys for your fans......
We really appreciate everyone who is and continues to support us and our music both here and overseas. We are committed to taking our music as far as we can and to get to play to as many people around the word as we can.
 
Thank you so much guys for this Chance to get to know you all and for taking the Time Out to do this with us.....
 
We Wish you success in all you do and Hope to See you On Tour soon....
On behalf of Jambonie.com Shaz