Well it had to come sooner or later, Punk Downunder�s first ever interview. And what better band to do it with the first time, Wiseacre.� And what better persons to do it with, none other than lead guitarist of the band Tim Harrison plus front-man Jimmy.
Done on August 12, 2000!

Here�s the transcript. Enjoy people�..

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Matt: Let's get straight into why you are our next feature at Punk Downunder, the CD Launch? Tell the millions and millions of fans out there what's going down on the 25th and 26th of August, we want to hear the real deal from you cause I hear something about a showbag, how do you get one and what's in it?

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Harro: For this Cd launch were going for a fun theme - heaps of games and fun things to make it different from a normal show. Instead of just selling the new CD, were offering a showbag with cool things like a Wiseacre frisbee and yoyo etc. You'll have to wait till the night to see exactly whats in it, but there will only be a limited number of them, and we won't be selling them at any other shows.

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For the over 18s show on the Fri night at QUT Campus Club we've got the awesome Knaw, Gold Coast psychobilly band the Neocreepers and all the way from North Queensland the Thirdgear Burnouts. At the all ages show on the Saturday afternnon at Station 13 we've got Girls Germs and Community Cervix playing as well as the Thirdgear Burnouts again. All great bands.

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Matt: I saw you guys on Saturday night at the Arena with Bodyjar and you played a couple of new songs and the title track of your new e.p. "Over Reaction" is great! Musically is that what the album is going to be like?

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Harro: It's just a 5 track EP, and each of the five songs are quite different, but I guess it is a bit more rockin' overall compared to the first CD. We spent more time on it and were pretty happy with it.

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Matt: Any strange covers we should look out for?

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Harro: Nup this time we just decided to pick the five best songs we had at the time and spend as much as we could to get those five songs sounding relatively OK.

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Matt: Actually our very own webmaster from would you believe Melbourne has a very very serious question for you guys...he is a Royal Crown Revue fan. You do a cover of the John Williamson song 'Rip Rip Woodchip'. Is the environment a passion of yours or is it sorta tongue in cheek?

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Harro: John Williamson is both a legend and a fuckwit as well, but Rip Rip is a great song with a real message and although

I don't chain myself to trees, you gotta listen to the lyrics, but we mainly only play it for the fun of it and because so many people call out for it.

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Matt: I'd just like to say I like the "Tie me Kangaroo Down Sport" one better for the pure fact of the wobble board. Obviously the idea of the wobble board coming from Rolf Harris, I've seen you guys 2 or 3 times (shame on me) and it seems to me you use the same board every time (hopefully you do because this will end up being a wasted question). What exactly is it and who found it? Because it does makes a great sound.

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Jimmy: I work for a construction company and its just a sign I stole from a refurbishment at West End - glad you like it. We went through a couple of others before finding this one.

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Matt: Speaking of instruments there is Jimmy and Yohanna on the horns. How did you both get into the brass?

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Jimmy: I inherited the trumpet from my brother and played in school in the beginner band. I gave it up in year nine cause I couldn't stand the bloody thing. Now looking back I'm glad I did learn the basics cause it's the only instrument worth having in the band! Yohanna sold her soul for her 'bone. As a result no one � no one dares to cross her path, for they will be burnt. She plays a mean 'bone doesn't she?

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Matt:Hell yeah she does, being a former trumpet player I know my bones, and yes she does play it mean. Did you have ska-influences as kids? If not, What did you listen to then? What bands do you listen to today?

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Harro: I grew up on a whole lot of styles of music but not much ska until about 5 years ago when I got right into it - Specials, Madness and Bosstones etc and since then all the new stuff. I listen to as much other styles of music like rockablily and punk and stuff as I do ska these days, but generally prefer old school bands like the Clash and the Ramones, for most bands these days just take influences from bands such as these. But there is a lot of great new music out there, you've just got to search for it.

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Jimmy: Johnny Farnham was my main man when I was a real young tiger - but luckily my tastes improved and I started listening to more punk and ska thanks to Harro. Nowadays I listen to some dance and beats, to the other guys disgust.

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Matt: Wasn�t everyone a big fan of Johnny�.Do you go to gigs at the local venues and join the mosh or skank it? I gotta say I don't like skankin' that much but I do like the running round in the circle, circle pit I think it's could. What do you like to see the crowds do when your playing? Get up maybe?

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Harro: I hate the mosh, love the circle and don't mind skanking a bit to a really good band. I love seeing the circle skank

when we play, but as long as people get up and have a good time I don't care what their doing.

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Matt: I saw you play at my school a while back, yes I went to Padua, because you were the prize for the school who fundraised the most money for Lifeline. Do you still get invloved or wnat to get involved in charity stuff like that? Maybe not play at school were the teachers were going crazy when the students went 2

feet near the stage.

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Harro: Yeah if we are able then we would like to help out charities like that. That school show was great, I wish we'd play at schools more often.

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Matt: If you still want to get involved in charities there is a charity here at Punk Downunder runned by me. Bands give us there merchandise and cd's to giveaway.

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Just kidding�.Everyone in the bands sings a bit, mostly you Jimmy though, but I got one criticism though. Why on earth is the volume of Yohanna's mic so low (I know she sings into the one for the horn) she screams her guts out and you can just hardly hear her. Were you aware of that, what's the story there?

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Jimmy: It's not on purpose cause the girl can sing and play 'bone damn well, but to our dismay none of the venues ever have enough mikes for us all to sing and play into. So we have to compromise - don't worry were working on it.

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Matt: You guys went interstate a while back. Where exactly did you go, who did you play with and how were the crowds?

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Harro: We went to Sydney for a couple of shows with The Last Hemeroids and The Mad Dash. It was a great weekend with pretty good responses from the average to good crowds.

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Matt: What touring plans do you have for the future? Maybe an east coast tour with Girls Germs. Also any supports coming up with major bands that we should now about?

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Harro: We want to go back as soon as we can, but due to work/uni commitments may not be till the end of the year. We really want to go to Melbourne, hopefully sooner than later. Unfortunately we have no big supports lined up at the moment!

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Matt: What's the best international and local band Wiseacre

have ever played with? Why did you or do you like those guys so much? Also what band do you really want to score a spot with?

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Harro: That�s such a tough question. Me personally, probably the Bosstones because they were my favourite band for so long and it was such a big score for us to open at such a big show. Or the Living End (picture left)because that was the first big support slot we ever had and it was a huge boost for us. Locally there are so many awesome Brisbane and Australian bands that we play with all the time that I couldn't possibly name them all.

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Matt: Before I go, one last plug for your CD LAUNCH.

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Wiseacre: Anyone who is up for a good old fun night with heaps of great bands then come along to QUT Campus Club at 8pm

on Aug 25 or Sat 26th at Station 13 and you won't be disappointed! Get there early coz last years launch at Milton Bowl was sold out and many missed out! It's gonna be FUN FUN FUN!

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Matt: Cheers Wiseacre.

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Wiseacre: Anytime, thanks Punk Downunder.