Full name: Haley McKee
Age: 29
Hometown: Perth, Australia via London
Where do you live now: Melbourne, Australia
Bands you are drumming in currently: Super Wild Horses
Bands you were drumming for in the past: Pageants
What you do for a living: Bake cakes
Full name: Amy Franz
Age: 30
Hometown: Perth, Australia
Where do you live now: Melbourne, Australia
Bands you are drumming in currently: Super Wild Horses
What do you do for a living: Jewelry buyer
Tom Tom Magazine: When did you start playing drums?
Haley McKee: About 2 years ago
Amy Franz: About 3 years ago
Tom Tom Magazine: Reason that you started playing drums?
Haley McKee: Always watched the drummers play at gigs / Wanted to bash things.
Amy Franz: I’ve always loved watching drummers too and a great beat is probably the first thing that will draw me to a song. I had a play on a friend’s kit and it felt natural so I kept going.
Tom Tom Magazine: What is your favorite drum set-up? Why?
Haley McKee: High drum stool and low floor tom for maximum bang
Amy Franz: Not too many drums, I like a simple set up. We like to set up in a ‘V’ shape on stage with the kit at the front so we’re not separated from eachother on stage. I’m really digging watching bands with 2 drummers at the moment, the Dirtbombs did this really well, there’s a band from Sydney called Machete Moon who I saw for the first time recently and thought were great too.
Tom Tom Magazine: What would your dream kit consist of?
HM: Brady drums *swoon* made from Australian jarrah wood
AF: I’ve always wanted to fool around with making my own cymbals and there’s a guy here in Melbourne who makes beautiful kits, they’re so warm and resonant, (he’s a master saxophone repairer too!) – I guess my dream would be to work with him to make a set with a big Motown sound with cymbals I’ve made myself.
TTM: What do you consider to be the most challenging thing about the drums?
AF: Being in a two-piece that likes to play loud, I think the challenge is trying to create a big sound to compensate for lack of bass and other instrumentation.
TTM: Most notable show you ever played?
HM/AF: We’ve had some great supports recently with Best Coast, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Thee Oh Sees and Eddy Current Suppression Ring. Just played the Big Day Out, which is a huge festival over here. That was pretty surreal.
TTM: Who are your favorite drummers?
HM: Jim White for his Octopus arm style
AF: Simon Barker, a jazz drummer from Sydney, is mind blowing and a real inspiration. Jim Black for his amazing use of other percussive elements like beads and shells and bells etc… Art Blakey, Steve Shelley.
TTM: Where do you shop for your drum gear?
HM: Ebay or second hand swap shops
AF: I’ve colleceted a lot of bits and pieces from kind friends over the years who were really supportive when I started drumming. So I guess they’ve been my shop!
TTM: What would you recommend to a new drummer starting off?
HM: Plug in some early Cure and play along
AF: Don’t be scared to make noise even if it doesn’t make sense at first!
TTM: What are some of your other hobbies / interests?
HM: Trying to make the perfect fish taco, watching bands, drawing in the garden, baking cakes.
AF: Leatherwork and macrame
TTM: Who are some of your favorite lady drummers right now?
HM: Sarah from Reading Rainbow is fun to watch and Steph Hughes from Dick Diver has an amazing style. I like learning from all drummers regardless of whether they’re male or female though.
AF: Locally, Steph is amazing, also Straight Jacket Nation, Karla from Beaches, Eden from San Franciscan band Royal Baths
TTM: Who are some of your favorite bands right now?
HM: The Royal Baths, Subtle Turnhips, White Fence