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STR.
 Let me allow Josh Mann (guitar/vocals) from local punk stalwarts STR to set the record straight for all you cynics out there. "Its funny, when I've told some people that STR is breaking up, I've gotten the reaction 'You mean again?'. So I have to explain that we have never broken up before, we just had a couple of members leave: we weren't done with STR at that time, and it took us a while to get new members and get everything together. We had a bit of a break, but we had unfinished business and we needed to finish it properly."
As the advertising for the big finale goes "After seven years, three CDs and hundreds of shows, the end is nigh." STR will be missed by countless punters here (as well as all over the east coast) so why give up now, so soon after the release of their first full-length album?
"We feel as though we've pushed it about as far as STR can go. A couple of members can't put it first any more, and I think when you are doing a band seriously it's got to take priority in your life. So we thought if we can't do it a 100%, then we might as well not do it at all... If everyone was keen, I would have kept going and done another album, but I know it's not to be and I've come to terms with it now."
However, rest assured that there will be a few new bands to fill the void in the local live scene. "I've started a band with Dan Jones [Seraphs Coal] called For God So Loved the World; we've finished the demo recording and are aiming to play a few live shows later this year. There's plenty of expectation around that band, because we've all come from well known local bands. It's also got Footy [Matthew Horvath] from Stolen Youth and Matt Grebs [7/10 Split], so it's going to be great playing with those guys."
Apart from this hardcore punk band, Mann will also keep a hand in more melodic pop-punk as a member of In Fiction. Not to be outdone, drummer Gareth Woodfield has joined Franchise Life and bassist Adam Frawley is reported to be in the midst of setting up his next musical project. However, the surprise is vocalist/guitarist Nathan Humphris; "I expect that next thing you'll hear from him will be something quite abstract. I heard he's selling his guitar to buy a synthesizer, so you might be hearing Nathan with some keyboard sounds."
So what is it that makes Mann most proud of what has been achieved in STR? "It would have to be the fact that we were able to pull it back together after losing two members, up until then we hadn't had to work that crazy hard. Before Joel [Bourne] and Jethro [Robinson] left we'd had a really good run, it seemed that everything had just been handed to us on a platter. But those guys left when we were just peaking, we had been offered a US tour and got a record label and manager, so when they left it just hurt so much because all we had been working for was so within reach. We could have so easily thrown in the towel; the thought of, in essence, having to start again was so depressing. But we did find some great new members and build it all up again and recorded a new album that took some risks. So I'm really pleased with all that."
Mann reported that for this last gig ever they are going to play "a long set with about nine or ten songs that we haven't played in years, along with the dozen songs from our modern set list. So I'm really looking forward to it, I'm hoping it'll be an awesome tribute to those who have stuck with us for the years. And I'm not going to say who, but there could be a surprise appearance from a mystery man or two up on stage..."
Scott Berry
 | STR's play their all-ages farewell show at Fowler's Live on Fri 7 Oct with Embodiment 12:14, Mere Theory and In Fiction. |
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