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nabilone@bigpond.com

Discography

Nabilone- (Self titled)- 1998 Doublethink- 2005 Doublethink- 2008 (reissue – includes new single Welcome to Australia)

Compilations/ Collaborations

Scotty Landers/Signs and Wonders- 1999 Talloonee/ Compilation for Tasmania’s Forests- 2004 Wollongong Music Scene Vol 2- 2005
Members:
Jay Hall- Guitars, Nathan Burling- Vocals, Danny Glasgow- Drums

Biography

One of the more politically driven bands of the Wollongong local scene, Nabilonespent fifteen years (off and on) promoting their brand of leftist alt. rock before ongoing line-up problems sounded their death knell.

Nathan Burling (vocals) and Tyrone Halliday (drums) first formed Nabilone in 1994 after the demise of their previous band THC(originally called Wasted Youth). Bringing in guitarist Jaylon Hall (Blind Patriots) and bassist Rebecca Mayhew (Splat) they took their name from a synthetic version of THC (and thus linking their new band to their old). Beginning like most other bands at the time, Nabilone played psychedelic garage rock with a few Nirvana and Mudhoney covers thrown in for good measure.

In 1995 Burling, citing environmental and ethical concerns, adopted a vegan diet, inspiring Hall to soon follow. This lifestyle choice would prove crucial to the lyrical direction of the band as it began taking an overtly leftist political approach with animal rights, environmental destruction and social injustices becoming regular themes.

The band headed to Troy Horse studios in late 1995 to record their first EP. They invited local engineer Pete Conran (FUgG, The Surprise Arm, Radioshack 5) along, who proved invaluable insofar as initiating the young four-piece into the inner-workings of a recording studio.

The band’s first foray into recording however, proved fraught with complications. In particular the recording suffered problems with the drum tracks and, as ProTools was a few years away yet, the cost of repair was too expensive. These first recordings remain unfinished and unreleased, though there are plans to release them in 2011.

In 1996 Nabilone entered and won the regional leg of the National Uni band competition, which gave them the local support slot for Powderfinger, and consequently some much needed recording funds. 
Halliday vacated the drum seat around this time, and was replaced with Shannon Freidrich (Scalene). Meanwhile Burling’s time was being diverted into the establishment of The Blue Water vegan café at Thirroul, while Mayhew had formed Bracode on the side. The combination of replacing the drummer and external pursuits delayed Nabilone’s recording plans, and it wouldn’t be until 1998 that the band entered Powerhouse studios to record what would ultimately be their debut self-titled EP.

Following the release of Nabilone, Mayhew had become increasingly involved in her side project and it was mutually agreed it was best if she left to focus her attention on Bracode. This made way for Damien Lane (Dropping Honey, Gilded Kiln) to fill in on a temporary basis. The new line-up worked up a few more songs before Freidrich's commitments to Scalene would force the drum seat to become vacant yet again. This time Chris Ireland (Karma) was called upon and the band began showcasing their new material at local shows.

In late 1999, Burling, who had become increasingly involved in political activity, organised Wilderfest Wollongong: an environmentally themed festival to raise funds for The Wilderness Society and The Greens. It was here that the band was introduced to fellow-vegan and bass-player Andrew Smetanin (Pans Daughter, Naiad). Smetanin had left Naiad and was looking for a new project. Smetanin’s politics and musical interests fit the Nabilone consciousness and he was thus drafted into the line-up freeing Lane of his temporary duties.

Smetanin’s experience in Naiad together with his solid bass-playing and creative song-writing took the band up a level as the band began writing for their second recording.
By 2001 though, personal differences forced Ireland out of the band, once again leaving Nabilone sans drummer. The remaining three entered a makeshift studio in Jamberoo and spent time writing for an album. The band recorded the songs over and over without a drummer, getting the structures down pat.

The band eventually brought drummer Danny Glasgow (Pounderhound, Gilded Kiln, Damn Fine Gentleman) into the fold and entered Damien Gerard Studios. Russell Pilling assisted the band in engineering the album, and the resulting Doublethink was released independently in 2005.

The new-look Nabilone began gigging again, supporting the likes of Hard-Ons, Celibate Rifles and Choirboys and many local bands before retreating to the studio again in 2006 to record the single ‘Welcome to Australia’ and B-side ‘Kuradji Man’- a protest song about Sandon Point in Wollongong which was a  collaboration with local bard, Robert Goldspring. ‘Welcome to Australia’ would later appear on 2008's re-issue of Doublethink.

Despite finally getting an album out and stringing together a run of solid shows, relations between the members had soured significantly. The band had long survived on Burling’s tenacity and dedication:  organising rehearsals, arranging gigs, paying for studio time. All the usual tasks involved in keeping a band together primarily fell to Burling. Now supporting a young family, the financial toll was becoming too burdensome - Burling had paid for Ireland’s kit, most of Hall’s amp and pedals and the bulk of Doublethink.

Smetanin was the first casualty. Burling recalls: “Basically, after years of organising and paying for almost everything my patience was wearing thin. With the birth of my first son my time became very limited. I could no longer tolerate Andrew's unreliable ways. He would drop off the radar for days and we could not contact him. The end came when we had a practice booked at Kickstart Studios and Andrew would not return calls or texts to confirm the booking. When I finally got in contact with Andrew, I was less than happy and gave him an earful and he quit.”

Following Smetanin’s departure, Nabilone floundered. “My patience with Jay and Danny was also wearing thin,” says Burling "as neither had made an effort to find another bass player.” In the end Hall’s brother Jimmy Carr (The Jimmy Carr Band) was brought in temporarily, though Burling says he was the one to make the suggestion – Hall simply hadn’t thought of it.

In the meantime, band practices became a logistical nightmare, with Hall refusing to rehearse anywhere but his flat, relegating practice sessions unplugged, lest the neighbours complained.

In a last ditch effort Burling brought in fellow vegan and bassist Jason Grossman for a rehearsal. Though Burling was pleased with the results, it was clear that Nabilone was on its last legs. In 2009, Burling called an official end to Nabilone though the band had played its last show more than a year prior.

As of 2011, Mayhew plays drums for Babymachine, whilst Glasgow now plays in blues band The Damn Fine Gentlemen. Smetanin and Ireland went on to form Mind at Large, and Burling is working on a heavy project called Dead Deities, which will record in June 2011.