Daniel Gaffney returned from Sweden in 2004 with a Swedish proverb that would in turn give birth to his band’s name. “There is this phrase and one of the words in it is ‘Trivs,’ which sort of refers to be doing well,” remembers Gaffney. Six years later their name could not have truer meaning as the foursome are gearing up for the Canberra leg of Groovin’ the Moo. I caught up with half of the band – drummer Gaffney and bassist Michael ‘Bonesy’ Bones – to chat about their recent good fortune.
triple j’s Unearthed initiative has spawned the careers of many independent Australian bands including Art vs Science and Washington. THE TRIVS have shared a slice of the Unearthed pie, winning a slot at Canberra’s Groovin’ the Moo alongside such musical alumni as Vampire Weekend, Tegan and Sara and Silverchair, the latter of which are also famously of Unearthed notoriety.
“I almost didn’t pick up the phone,” laughs Gaffney, waiting for his coffee to arrive. “I was studying and I hate answering withheld phone calls and when I did answer it, I was a bit Shirley at the start. I was like, ‘wait a minute, is this a prank call?’ I was still a little suspicious of it and I was listening on the radio all the next day.”
With over 23,000 registered artists on the Unearthed website and more logging on by the day, The Trivs’ win is a mammoth feat, a fact not lost on the band. “Our last EP [For Your Health] has been up on triple j for well over a year and it was really quite odd to happen to get the phone call,” says Gaffney. “I suppose there were other competitions that came through town and you’re like ‘maybe, maybe we’ll get this one,’ but I suppose we just got the nod this time.”
“I’m fine with it though!” agrees Bones. “As far as the lineup goes it is pretty amazing and quite shocking.”
triple j experts have identified some of The Trivs’ clear influences as ‘Strokes-y’ guitars and Silverchair-type vocals. However head honcho Richard Kingsmill cannot deny that put together, their sound “stands on its own merits of style.” The band are certainly looking forward to displaying their goods alongside Groovin’ the Moo’s eagerly anticipated lineup.
“We are trying to get some new songs ready for it,” smiles Bones. “We don’t have an entirely new set. They picked us for the songs we already have. It would be good to have something new and something fresh though.”
“I’m usually quite reserved,” says an excited Gaffney. “I’m like ‘oh no, I don’t want to be a nuisance,’ but this time I’m gonna be a nuisance!”
The Trivs’ current EP For Your Health is available now at Landspeed with their second release due out midyear. Catch Gaffney and Bones alongside bandmates Miller Ralph and Byron Fay at Groovin’ the Moo on Sunday May 9 at the University of Canberra Meadows. Tickets through Moshtix.
