Anty Horgan for PM

Anty Horgan is busy. But it’s fine. He prefers it that way. When Forte rings him he is at the Bank, getting life back on track after a massive European tour with the Bennies – 30 tour dates in 32 days. Post tour blues are real and he’s keeping busy to avoid them. “It’s like post holiday blues, post tour blues are about twenty times worse”, Horgan says.
There isn’t much down time for the band though. They’re back on the road for a month, taking their Natural Born Chillers album around Australia in June/July.
It’s all decisively not chill.
Horgan admits he’s bad at striking that party machine and chiller balance, “If I’m not doing something I feel a bit useless,” he says. “The other guys are more the natural born chillers. I’m the natural born part, and they’re the chillers.”
He explains that while touring Europe was non-stop, performing almost everyday meant a routine formed. When they hit 11 cities in Australia, they’ll have a bit of a breather between shows.
Onboarding a new band member wasn’t so hard for them on their last tour leg either. “New blood creates new energy,” Horgan says. Nicholas Williams replaced veteran band-member Craig Selak, bringing an infectious energy to the band while romping around Europe. “Every turn of the corner he [Williams] was fucking excited.”
Horgan hints this will also influence new music. After this tour, they’ll likely be in writing and recording mode again.
However, for a rather raw and non-political band, some of Natural Born Chillers feels just that, political. Particularly ‘Dream Killers’ and ‘Apathetic Revolution’. And with their previous stance on legalization, will we see Anty for PM?
“We wanted too! When we started doing promo for Natural Born Chillers we made billboards and set up a political campaign. I looked into what it was going to take for us to do it. It wasn’t that far fetched for us to become a political party. We sort of ran out of time and it just fell by the wayside. It would’ve been hilarious.
“All we needed was 500 signatures in Victoria and we needed to write a letter that was our statement and we needed an office and that’s pretty much it.”
Horgan also revealed to Forte that he was behind the Natural Born Chillers cover art. With their previous record, Wisdom Machine, being graced with the work of Horgan’s dad and fellow label-mate Chris Cowburn, it feels like a family affair. “I like collage, and was kind of mucking around and was like ‘everyone I’ve got this thing, do you want me to have a crack at doing the album art?’”
Maybe it’s another way of keeping preoccupied.
One thing’s for certain, the boys will be busy enough again soon.
Catch the Bennies / Anty Horgan’s PM Campaign with guests at Howler in Melbourne on July 6, Worker’s Club in Geelong on July 7 and at the Sooki Lounge in Belgrave on July 8.
More info here: www.thebennies.com.au
Written by Darby-Perrin Larner