City Sharps

Suburban Sharp

Melbourne band City Sharps debut album: Suburban Sharp

This album is a tribute to all things Sharp, legendary front man Chane Chane belts out the title track Suburban Sharp in a pure Oz Rock style.

CD now for sale in the online store and at Vicious Sloth

The story of the City Sharps

Chane Chane: vocals

Brass, Strings, Harp, an original Sharp & Gang Leader
Chane Chane was an original sharp at 14 shaved his head and left home, 15 became first Melbourne Sharp to have a Bowie cut, at 16 started his own gang Wests Rd Sharps- Ascot Vale, then aligned with the Anderson Rd Sharps- Faulkner, by 17 he and WR Sharps joined up with the biggest gang on the Broadmeadows line the A.N.A’s- Glenroy and then he formed Oak Park Boot Boys. Music was his refuge from his manic lifestyle, he was obviously a Bowie fan (calling himself Chane Bowie most of his skin/sharp days) he had an eclectic mostly British glam collection from Pavlov’s Dog, Sparks, SAHB, Roxy Music to Bolan and ELO, (he also did a painting apprenticeship and like all aussie teens, grew up with ‘Countdown’) at 18 became Punk to escape the violence, started up La Femme, who went on to record 2 albums, appear many times on Countdown and other TV shows. As well as being an amazing live act, La Femme toured with Iggy, The Ramones and many others became a Rock & Punk legend and has had a 35 year musical career.

Tone Biondo: guitar

Gibson 71 Les Paul custom, 69 SG custom Fender 59 Music Master, 63 Stratocaster, 68 Telecaster, 64 Duo Sonic 2, 63 Jaguar Gretch 66 Astro Jet & Gretch White Falcon & an ex- Sharp.
Tone by 1976 was in his first year at Jordanville Tech, where it was tough and full of Sharps. However having his older brother already establish at the school made his transition easier. Between lots of brawls and some school work, music class was his salvation. Mrs. Paskey his music teacher and mentor took him under her wing with her 1963 White Falcon guitar. She gave him the chance to play guitar as she did with his brother and many others. To this day, playing guitar is Tone’s passion, whether playing in bands, recording or just at home in his zone. He is possessed by guitars and the endless color of sounds, it runs in his blood and it keeps him Sharp.

Sam Biondo: bass

Fender 68 P Bass, 63 Jazz Bass, Gibson Thunderbird, an original Sharp, from Jordanville home of the Holmesglen Sharps.
Sam went to the notorious Jordanville Technical Secondary school, at the age of thirteen I got into music, 1974 I attended the Peaches and Cream Festival Australia day weekend in Cobram. This was the first time I saw live bands outdoors such as Skyhooks, Daddy Cool, Billy Thorpe and Buster Brown. That weekend changed my life, music became my vice. At school every given moment I would be hidden away in the music room jamming with Sharpie mates Matt Sanford (RIP), Shane Ryell, Mark Warrich and Anthony Baker who later became respected musicians. 1975 I was in a Heavy Rock band call Black Diamond we played the local school socials doing supports with all the big name bands of the time. As a young local band we amassed a huge Sharpie following from gig to gig. We entered a local battle of the bands in 1976 the winners would have a prime spot playing at the most popular Zodiac dance We won! The band that came second was a band called “The Boys Next Door” (Nick Cave etc) we went on to play the Zodiac Dance along side with Rabbit and Supernaut. Black Diamond went on till 1982 playing the Melbourne gig circuit. After I joined Magna Carter, Dio Chan an 80s Metal band, Go Man Go a psychobilly band in the 90s. In 2000 founded(?) underground bands Goldfish and System Error, come 2008, back to my roots, City Sharps!

John Corniola: drums

Zildjian Cymbals, good old Rogers Drums, Vaer Sticks & DrumTek & an ex- Sharp.
John grew up in North Fitzroy, music was a major factor amongst his older brothers as they each played an instrument forming a band named “Storm” influenced by many Australian rock bands of the 60′s & 70′s era…they regularly performed at Collingwood town hall to various halls around Melbourne. At age 9 John went along to many of their shows in the hope to inspire him to appreciate music and to learn an instrument. Instead what followed was a first hand witness of the sub culture of local gangs enjoying live music as they did their thing! John recalls the fashion the dancing and attitudes amongst the gangs. Most of all he can’t clear the memory of that all in brawl after a show in the car park of the Broadmeadows Town Hall back in 1975 as his brothers rushed him home out of harm’s way. Being exposed to this whole new world John found it inspiring enough to purchase a Connie from a hard earned paper round! Next step was to learn an instrument. Let there be drums he decides! Starting formal lessons this was the beginning of a journey into the unknown. In 1978 John formed a band together with some school mates that lasted well into the mid 1980′s. This was an insightful experience sharing the stage with the likes of Cold Chisel, Rose Tattoo, Billy Thorpe, Australian Crawl, the Angels & Dragon. He went on to join Daryl Braithwaite in 1989 touring extensively throughout Australia and overseas, he is still active in the national live scene and memorable moments on the road continue to unfold. John quotes “City Sharps simply Rock the hardest”

The album

CD now for sale in the online store – exclusive offer before its official release

Song list and comments

The Legend of the SUBURBAN SHARP
Chane did get drunk with Orson Wells & admitted to listening to Lennard Teale, so he got the (Voice Over) gig.

SUBURBAN SHARPS
Us, us, hooray 4 us, this song took 20 mins to write at our first rehearsal and we recorded it in 2 takes.

GANGBUSTERS
The dark side of being a Sharp, and Tone really in his element.

IS THIS ANYTHING
For all the conspiracy theorist, everything is a conspiracy, and something the media have stoped saying, everything is something, but not what it seems, doctor.

DAMED IF I DO
I saved my last girlfriend from her booze soaked messed up life, but when I was critically sick she dumped me & threw me out, then slagged my name to all my acquaintances, dammed.

I’VE GOT A SECRET
To be or not to be, real or fake, cool or hot, what you hiding from yourself, it’s so 70’s sounding.

KINGS OF THE WORLD
Sam had this bass groove that we all hooked on to, & you know that manic moment, we all been there, and shouted to one and all, when we were. . . .

I AM AGAIN
Written when I nearly died, sick and alone, good pick yourself up song.

ANOTHER DRINK (will make it better)
Experience helps, I know what I think.

JUST LIKE YOU
Part murder mystery, part reality, part personal, John had a beat that married tone’s riff.

THESE THINGS
Everything, every time, all your memories, do you, do you remember ?

30 MINUTES (till the end of the world)
This is what will really happen. ps. I love U

City Sharps events and publicity

24th June

3PBS:  Sunglasses at Dark with Phil MacDougall, Thursday, 8pm – 10 pm

Play & interview City Sharps on 3PBS, playing the album every show since 3rd of June

4th July

Skins & Sharp’s Exhibition opens Sunday from 2pm

Kustom Lane Gallery, 8 Luton Lane, Hawthorn

11th July

3RRR: JVG Radio Method with Jon von Goes, Sunday, 2pm – 4pm

City Sharps interview and playing live to air on 3RRR.

18th July

Skins & Sharp’s Exhibition

City Sharps play live between 3pm – 5pm

21st July

3PBS: Shock Treatment with Kev Lobotomi, Wednesday, 8pm – 10pm

Playing the album every show since 26th of May

City Sharps play Live to air on 3PBS.

Interview on Skins ‘n’ Sharps Exhibition