OSCARLIMA

Oscarlima formed in Melbourne in 1995 after a chance meeting between three old school friends in a Fitzroy bar. After much talk and possibly too much beer Ken Lawson aka Elroy Falcon (guitar/vocals), Nathan Weston aka Charlie Lima (bass) and Stew Denmead aka Sven Grinner (drums) had established their raison d'être - to write their own songs and to have a setlist ready for a gig in their native state of Tasmania in 6 weeks.

Apart from a near plane crash all went according to plan. The band played a set of high energy three chord originals to a surprisingly receptive Hobart audience. Within 12 months these songs would become the blueprint for their first independent release, an ambitiously titled EP called 'Bainmarie Dream in Polychrome'. The rough and ready five track disc struck minor airplay on triple J and Melbourne community radio. It was the last track ''Over'' which had respected Melbourne label Rubber Records wanting in. The band signed a deal with Rubber which led to their next EP 'Charismacola' - a slightly more polished affair and which featured the track ''Adds Life'' produced by acclaimed musician Charles Jenkins (Ice-cream Hands, Mad Turks from Istanbul).

For the next two years the band would struggle to find 'their sound'. No longer satisfied with simple, guitar, bass and drum approach, Oscarlima spent hours upon hours writing and demoing songs in Denmead’s garden shed. The outcome was over 50 sonic ideas and stylistic experiments, sketches which culminated in the recording of their first album. To help get this collection of new, more eclectic sounding tunes realised, Oscarlima enlisted the services of US producer Jonathan Burnside, and in 2000 the band’s first long player 'Desert Caravan' was released.

With great reviews, four tracks (''Bare Hands'', ''If You Wanna Be My Friend'', ''Sell It To The World'' and ''Things That You Say'') gaining high rotation on triple J, and a tour with Australian rock legends Midnight Oil in the can, things were looking pretty good. But like so many promising acts, poor record sales (and limited resources invested in the band by Rubber Records parent company BMG) meant that at this junction Oscarlima were to destined to slip through the cracks. With a desire to keep writing and producing music on their own terms Oscarlima left Rubber Records amicably in 2001 and started their own label Crush! Records.

The next offering was a self-funded recording titled 'The Limas De Milo'. Recorded with Shane O’Mara at his Yikesville Studio, it was released in 2002 to much acclaim. ''Either Way'' (featuring Rebecca Barnard), ''Who Likes the Sun'' and the ''Someone Like You'' all gained high rotation on the nations broadcaster and other regional and local stations. The band continued to tour up the east coast of Australia and interstate. No longer strictly a three piece the band, Oscarlima regularly maintained guest musicians to help replicate the sounds they had put down on record. Talented local songsmith Danny McDonald, esteemed keyboard player Mark O’Connor and arty guitarist Sunny Luenig were all recruited at times to help out. Along with road crew, and guest musicians touring and became expensive all to too consuming. It was about this time also that Lawson, Weston and Denmead began to have families their own. Their day to day commitments meant that in early 2004 the Oscarlima heart all but stopped beating. Apart from a Rubber Records anniversary in 2008 the band has not played live since.

Oscarlima announced its reformation for The Melbourne Divide, a curated label showcase event presented by Popboomerang Records as part of the 2016 City of Yarra Leaps and Bounds Festival, and they were joined on stage for a few songs by Danny McDonald from Jericho.

Members

Ken Lawson [Elroy Falcon] (guitar/vocals), Nathan Weston [Charlie Lima] (bass), Stew Denmead [Sven Grinner] (drums)