Despite their tender years, The Earlybirds have already graduated from a growing presence on Auckland's hard-to-please live music scene to their first album. By Paula Yeoman.
The Earlybirds arrive on stage with the swagger of a band that has been playing together for decades. A wave of sound erupts from the drums, the guitar, the bass, and lead singer Filip Kostovich takes hold of the microphone oozing the confidence of a young Mick Jagger.
At just 19, Kostovich is the youngest member of the five-piece. After years of playing Auckland's live circuit, he and his band have earned a reputation as one of the hottest acts in town.
Now The Earlybirds' star is set to rise even higher with the release of their debut album Favourite Fears, 11 tracks of soaring pop-rock, including the singles Runaway and I Killed the DJ.
Kostovich, guitarist Michael Cannon, bassist Jared Aisher, guitarist Kane ter Veer and drummer Sean Patterson hail from what has long been known as the hub of Auckland's cultural and arts scene, Devonport.
They're often lumped into the "Devonport sound" category, alongside The Checks and Finn Andrews from The Veils.
Although Kostovich and Aisher prefer to not put a label to their music, they are more than happy to rattle off reasons why some of Auckland's best bands have emerged from this quaint suburb on the North Shore. "It's in the water," suggests Kostovich.
"I think it's the North Shore is really community-based, especially in Devonport where they push the arts a lot," offers Aisher, 20. "It's easy for a band to start up and get recognised because everyone is so enthusiastic about it."
The Earlybirds came together when they were in their mid-teens, when Aisher, Cannon and Patterson were in a school band and decided they needed a singer.
Kostovich had dabbled in school choirs but had never taken singing seriously until receiving a call from someone at Auckland's legendary recording studio, Stebbings, saying they were on the lookout for "budding young singers".
"He was the first one we auditioned," recalls Aisher. "He was quite an attractive young man," he jokes, trying to remember what made them choose the fresh-faced singer, who at age 15 was a year or two younger than the trio.
"Usually when people audition, they sing one song, but he did three songs and connected them together in a medley. That impressed us, because we wanted someone who understood music. And you know, for someone at 15 to bridge together songs in that way was clever."
So, with a medley of Jack Johnson's Banana Pancakes, Daniel Powter's Had a Bad Day and Maroon Five's Sunday Morning, Kostovich made the cut.
Guitarist and backing vocalist ter Veer completed the five-piece and The Earlybirds took flight, quickly building an online following on MySpace. Through sheer determination and bucketloads of on-stage charisma, the band also began winning over Auckland's hard-to-please live audiences.
Nationwide tours have since followed, including a recent one with Kiwi music stalwarts The Feelers and The Jordan Luck Band. It sounds like fun - and it is, says Aisher, but it's much more than just getting up on stage and belting out a few songs.
"We sometimes practise five times a week, for five hours. You have to put time into it. Practise is important. But then again, some people can play for years and not be tight together. So you also just have to understand each other as musicians. It's not a half-assed job. You have to be committed."
So much so that the band members (ranging in age from 19 to 21) have put study on hold to focus on their music. "We want to put as much time into this as possible," says Aisher. "It's been a dream of ours for a long time. It's what we want to do, so we might as well take a shot at it."
Unsurprisingly, youth is the theme that runs throughout The Earlybirds' debut record. For the band, it is about capturing a time and place in their lives the best way they know how - exerting energy and plenty of it. "We hope that liveliness comes across," says Kostovich.
And while you would assume that having youth on your side is a good thing, Aisher says it has sometimes been a disadvantage.
"There have been weird situations where people thought we were the opening band for The Earlybirds, or their little brothers."
"And a lot of people think Michael is 13. Except he's the oldest in the band," laughs Kostovich.
But Kostovich says that by the end of the gig, it's usually a different story. "We've proven ourselves, I guess. We did a couple of shows with the Stereophonics at the Powerstation a while back.
"On the first night we got on stage and there was no one in that square in front of the stage. By about four songs in, they'd all moved up and the floor was full. That was pretty cool."
The band has gone to great lengths to capture their stage magic on the album. "A lot of the time people think the answer is volume, but our album isn't the loudest thing out," says Aisher. "It's just tapping into that same feeling that you get on stage.
"We wanted to make the album as big as possible and to make the songs as explosive as possible. When you have that in mind, and you have a good producer like Greg Haver, then you get it done."
They may be young, but it is obvious these guys take what they're doing very seriously. Favourite Fears isn't just a debut album they've rushed out to tick boxes, it is the culmination of five years of dedication.
But beneath the grounded demeanours that both Kostovich and Aisher display, it's pleasing to see two young guys having the time of their lives. They light up when the conversation moves from record deals to girls. "We've got girlfriends," they chime together.
"But no girls on tour," states Aisher. "It's a no-no," chips in Kostovich. "Sometimes the girls just don't understand music - [or] being in a band, really," he adds.
And what of the stress on them, a bunch of young guys travelling the country playing night after night to a bunch of enthusiastic young female fans? Once again, the smiles break out.
"We've had screaming, but we've never had fainting," says Kostovich. "People ask us to sign their phones and shirts. I'm like, 'Why would you want us to do that? It's just going to ruin it!"'
"And you're split when a 15-year-old girl comes up and goes, 'Oh, can you sign my chest?' and her dad is standing right there," laughs Aisher. "It's like 'What do I do?"'
But back to more pressing matters and the album, which hits shelves tomorrow.
"We just want people to listen to it and to enjoy it," says Aisher. "And hopefully to gain some respect," adds Kostovich.
Something tells me they'll both get their wishes.
Favourite Fears is out now.
