The Empty Threats
We chat with The Empty Threats ahead of them taking the stage for Punk Ass Kids’ (PAK) 10th Birthday!
You’re hitting the stage for Punk Ass Kids’ (PAK) 10th Birthday! Tell us more about this event.
I think it’s an amazing lineup. A lot of the bands [playing] are at the same stage in that big touring circuit and I feel like PAK have always been good at supporting bands that are about to get to that next bracket. The first festival I remember seeing by PAK was their WinterFest, before Amyl and the Sniffers really kicked off. I guess we’ll see what happens with all these bands after this [event]. It’s going to be a real treat.
The Empty Threats took out Best Live Act in SA at the National Live Music Awards. The five of you seem to enter your own world when you perform. How do you feel on stage?
That’s kind of spot on. We’ve got our own world for 45 minutes or however long we perform for. You can do whatever you want. Sometimes, you come out of it and don’t remember exactly what you’ve done. You get into this weird zone with each other. It’s quite nice.
Why is it important for the Empties to be an exciting live act?
We’ve always really enjoyed good live music. The Adelaide music scene and some cool touring bands before COVID really influenced us. It was like, ‘Oh, we want to have that same excitement’. Then, over the last 18 months and especially with touring, [we’ve] really concreted that idea. We’re playing to our strengths – and they come over time. We’re not necessarily a young band anymore. It’s taken time to build that confidence.
You’ve worked closely with PAK for a few years now. As an artist, why is it important to have independent labels working out of SA?
When we first started, there wasn’t a huge number of labels. They come and go… it’s harder to grow things within South Australia. Sam [Szabo, PAK Records co-owner] and I had this stubborn mind about it, where we were like, ‘Let’s just keep pushing and pushing’. The longevity of [labels] is the most important thing. Each state has their own thing in terms of big labels and big bands. It’d be cool for Adelaide to get there eventually.
It feels like we're making progress. It seems to be an exciting time right now in Adelaide…
Yeah, it’s funny though. Even at BIGSOUND, people were saying, ‘There’s something in the water in Adelaide’, and it does make me wonder because people have been saying that for years -- even when we first started. It always feels like Adelaide is on the brink. Hopefully, this time, we can push past that edge. I think because we were all stuck here over COVID and all our good artists didn’t leave is why there’s this cool, cultivated scene happening. And I think Adelaide will always breed amazing artists.
What’s next for you guys?
We’ve got the Teen Jesus & The Jean Teasers tour and we’re playing with a cool band called Porpoise Spit in Melbourne for their album launch. Then, we’re doing another festival in Melbourne. We’ll take January off to write some more music and kick-start the next year!
Sounds like a busy end of year! Have you got any final birthday wishes for PAK/Punk Ass Kids before their big event?
PAK has been really supportive of the scene for a long. You only have a 10th birthday once!
