Rocking In The Outback With LUCIUS BORICH From COG

Interview by Kris Peters
Thrashville has quickly become one of the must-attend music
festivals on the Australian calendar.
Not only is it situated miles away from any form of civilised life
– meaning noise restrictions and the like are non-existent – but it
is also a damn good festival featuring a splattering of the best in
Australian music from major headliners through to
up-and-comers.
With this year’s line-up – set down over September 8 and 9 at
Dashville in the Hunter Valley – comprising a host of talent
including CIVIC, Shady Nasty, Crocodylus, Bloody Hell, Downgirl,
Wildheart, Operation Ibis, Deadshowws and more, it is the reuniting
of two of this countries heavyweight acts that is generating most
interest.
Progressive rock outfit COG and funk/rock/metal masters Mammal
headline over both nights, continuing their successful partnership
at the top of concert-goers wish lists.
HEAVY caught up with COG drummer Lucius Borich to find out what
they have planned for the show, starting with the fact Thrashville
is pretty much in the middle of nowhere.
"It's perfect for us," Borich smiled. "The Great Outdoors. Maybe it
comes from watching that show The Leyland Brothers when we were
younger or something... there's also a bit of that touring a lot
back in the day we would go to a lot of places that were not just
in the cities as well. We all love getting off grid so to speak and
connecting with nature and getting out there, and I think to play
music in that kind of environment is pretty good. It's the right
fit. We've always been inspired by the natural realm and that is
infused in a lot of our music as well. It looks like it's gonna be
a good spot."
COG have a well earned reputation as one of the best live acts
getting around, so the spaces of the outdoor environment with no
noise restrictions should elevate the band to yet another
level.
"We'll just do what we love to do best I guess, and hopefully the
power will stay on and the generators won't break," Borich laughed,
"and we'll be able to get through the set unscathed and have a top
night. To do more of those community based gigs in those
environments and help the music industry in those regions and bring
some quality music to those parts of Australia is a much needed
thing and we love doing it. If it's right, if the dates are right
and the timing is right we're all about it. We love doing
that."
In the full interview, Lucius talks more about what COG will
deliver at Thrashville, the importance of Australian only festival
lineups, renewing their long term association with Mammal,
negotiating each respective bands views on life, politics and
society, new music in the works, the new vinyl album editions and
more.