THAT HALF BARBARIC TWANG

The Joker, the Space Cowboy and the Rock Man 

What do you get when you cross two of Australia’s most recognised television actors with a musical wizard? A troubadour trio of conscientious ‘vagabonds’ – 160 years between them – who want to bring their ‘bad ass gospel’ country music to the most remote and marginalised people in Australia. They seek fame-less perfection through their unique sound and dedicated audiences. But they also dream of one day hitting the big time – Nashville.

David Field (The Joker), respected Australian actor (Chopper, Two Hands, The Rover, Secret Daughter) walks a tight rope between reality and fiction, constantly the comic whose band mates hassle him about his disappearing acts, his affliction with fake horse betting and his love for honey bourbon rum. A railway family upbringing in Parkes, NSW, he dreamed of being a champion hockey player but ended up on the stage. He’s Australia’s answer to Harry Dean Stanton and constantly recognised in public wherever he sets foot.

Geoff Morrell (The Rock Man), also a respected and recognised Australian actor (Lord of the Rings, Ned Kelly, Blue Heelers, Cloudstreet, Oscar and Lucinda) whose ‘walkabout’ antics for remote and obscure rock collecting drives the band members crazy. He’s known to frequent highways, riverbeds and graveyards in search of his beloved gems. A solitary man who likes to paint orcs and elves and lives with his whippet Ian.

Tim Oxley (The Space Cowboy), is never recognised by the public and always seen clutching a pink Billabong backpack that contains the band’s takings. Also known as the accountant for his responsible nature, he is the band’s humble musical backbone. He’s been known to dress in drag and frequent suburban shopping malls busking solo to day drifters and the disabled. He has played with Nick Cave and Nirvana and the band have nothing bad to say about him. 

David Field, Geoff Morrell and Tim Oxley are The Number 4 Band and write their own original music and songs. They each play a menagerie of instruments (banjo, mandolin, guitar, harp, drums) and they despise covers. Right now in an era of cover band madness that has infected our once vibrant live music industry and turned our venues into gentrified gambling dens, these lads are out to change this.

The band continue to tour, the more remote and obscure for them the better. In fact, their preference is to turn up unannounced and busk and jam to people on the street. Their sole interest is to share their unique music to those people who normally never get the chance to see live music. The audience could be a hundred or it could be one, it does not matter to them. They do their pub gigs and place a hat on the bar for donations, selling their newly released self-titled CD as well. Venues normally feed them and accommodate them and their little earnings buys them petrol and spending money. David likes a little punt on the horses and occasionally he’ll come out on top generously donating the winnings to the band’s coffer.

They are bringing music to the bush. And they also dream of playing Nashville’s ‘Grand ‘Ol Opry’ – country music’s hall of fame.

Pubs excite them, but it is the street that really gets these boys pumped. If you tell them that they will play a retirement home, children’s hospital or mental asylum, well, lets just say they are over the moon.

Through their larrikin humour, political and concerned story telling they are creating a new wave of excitement across the west leaving behind smiles and some good ole feeling. Oh and quite a few hangovers. Along the way they meet some quintessential Australian characters, a window into the sunburnt country with its oddballs and strange country folk on the fringes of society.

Even though both David and Geoff are constantly pulled aside for ‘selfies’ and their face recognition from Aussie films, stage and TV, humbly they oblige their admirers. These guys are not two actors on a merry pseudo ‘ I am a rock star’ jaunt… they are in fact master musicians and songwriters out to entertain and have fun. And alongside their band mate and musical guru Tim Oxley, fun they have. They say laughter is the cure of many things, and these guys are laughing all the way to the heavens and taking their disciples along for the ride.

The film follows the band as they tour Australia’s outback, revealing an intimate portrait of  love, friendship and madness (Think Werner Herzog meets Jim Jarmusch). This is an exclusive window inside their personal and professional lives through their passion for music. It is a kind of off-the-wall road movie in style, very candid and raw and un-technical. It’s all about capturing the mood and feel of these incredible characters, being hypnotised by their music and showcasing some of the most beautiful and sweeping cinematography of our hidden Australian landscapes.

“They will do anything for bread and jam”!