The second part of our conversation with Super 8 Diaries co-creator Matt Richards, on DIY name-calling, inspiration and explaining things to Mum. Read PART ONE. (Pic: Matt Richards)

The first Super 8 show has gone down in folklore for Eddy Current Supression Ring's performance. Even the band themselves noted recently in interviews that it was the point where they realised things were getting a bit out of hand for them.

Yeah. They are a great band and we only just missed out on having 'em again at the Sydney launch due to a conflict with a pre-booked show.

Will you film the Sydney performance?

Yeah. The last three songs of every act.

Why the last three?

Cause we are short on camera crew! We are shooting all of When Chimps Attack though, as it's rumoured to be their last show ever.

Ha. I thought you were going to say "because that's when they get going" or something. So does this mean there'll be another Super 8 DVD?

Nah. We have a live DVD planned for early next year in collaboration with the Rockus guys in Perth. So the aim is one song live from all the bands that have played our shows, plus all of theirs. A bit of a digital live document. No interviews though.

What has the reaction to the first run of DVDs been like?

Very good responses to the first run. 5 star reviews. No distributor. I will continue to push mail order sales overseas through indie blogs and web review sites. Podcasts, that sort of thing. We will get a distributor for the next one though.

I take it that the idea is based on similar DIY DVD's you've been into over the years? And considering the subject matter and ethos, do 5 star reviews really matter?

The idea is kinda based on what some guys - Bifocal Media - in the US were doing about 7 years ago. No-one has really done it that much since. It's costly and time heavy, so it needs a large dose of love. Reviews are just good for added exposure and kudos from your parents.

"See Mum, the dole does help" :)

Nah. Same as the musicians. The generation gap means that without recognised press they often don't think that the work we do or create is legitimate.

One last thing I'm interested to ask before you go. I had a conversation a while ago with a band member from an outsider hip hop/indie kind've group. He was mentioning how a lot of the DIY crowd always say in interviews how they eschew scenes and are never really supported by anyone but themselves. But he said then that cliques are everywhere in music and none more so than the independent DIY scene. And that when the bands in that scene complain about such things, en masse, that it's actually offensive and unfair to the bands that really ARE outsiders.

(Pause)

Was on a call

Ha. That's ok.

The whole point of DIY scenes is finding people who's music you dig to play shows with because you can't get shows elsewhere. Just because someone can't get a show anywhere else doesn't mean they have a right to join a certain scene. There is no scene police. It's just a case of similar aesthetics. If you don't dig something and the crowd doesn't dig it you are not gonna ask 'em back just cause they have nowhere else to play. I know what you mean though.

(Pause)

Uh oh...Warner (records) are coming to the launch.

I guess he was talking about some bands celebrating or wearing their DIY status as a badge of difference to the "mainstream". But by virtue of declaring that status, they're actually just announcing they're part of a different collective. Which effectively takes away that status to the bands that truly are loners and so have to be DIY by default. But don't necessarily espouse the fact.

I don't think the whole DIY thing is so clear cut like it used to be. There are bands around for sure who are like "WE ARE DIY, VEGAN, ALL AGES, STRAIGHT EDGE, NO LOGO". But people seem to be relaxing a bit more and just embracing culture and community.

Would a left of centre indie funk/hip hop outfit doing something different fit in the Super 8 world? Or folk? Or metal?

Absolutely. We are open to everything. Whether we like it or not is another matter. But we would never slap a label on it and say "WE DON"T DO RAP". I'm really proud to have ALPS OF NSW and QUA playing this show. I would have loved for some fully blown hip hop stuff.

Will you keep doing these style of shows do you think? Could you see it becoming a regular thing?

Nah. We'll do a Perth launch if we don't end up broke from this one. Other than that we would just do a once a year Trainwreck Melbourne party. PS: Check this kid out: http://www.myspace.com/yamaboys The 'Backwards Cap' track. He was gonna come play Sydney too. Alright. I gotta get one more call or they'll sack my arse. You can print that!

One more question. Re: Warners. Does this make you A&R? :)

Ha. No way. If some kids get some exposure due to us then that's a plus. What they choose to do with that exposure is up to them.

Super 8 Diaries - Sydney Launch Details

Trainwreck 20/20 Production Team

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