One More Weekend: Melbourne’s Loveliest Lads Talk ‘Talk’

“Fuck the system”, Jason says. 

I am surprised. Several minutes into our zoom call, and it is the first words he has said other than “yeah”, “sick” and “good”. 

“You beauty”, frontman Connor laughs next to him, rolling his head back to look at the scratched ceiling of the garage-cum-rehearsal-room. He pauses. The band’s unofficial marketing and PR strategist is eager to make the most of this audience.

“Wait, can we swear on this? Because if not, we’ll say ‘fluff the system’”.

Fluff the system. It’s a sentiment featured heavily throughout their first album, We Used To…, released in 2019. And what a stellar debut it was. From start to finish, it’s full of massively catchy anti-establishment tunes, heavily infused with the influence of the late 2000s pop-punk scene. Some of my personal favourites include: ‘De-Icing My Car’ (for when you’re angry at your high school boyfriend), ‘Boxheads’ (if you’re contemplating chucking a sickie), ‘Listen’ (when you’re deciding whether to buy the latest iPhone), and ‘Faceless Names’ (to feel like you’re getting ready to go to school a-la opening credits of an early-2000s teen movie).

 

 

 

 

 

 

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One More Weekend consists of Connor Dougan (vocals and guitar), his brother Leith (bass guitar), Tim Aslett (lead guitar), and Jayson Riley (drums). The boys’ “ridiculous” on-stage stamina meant they played 152 gigs in about two years – which also means they’ve had heaps of opportunities to refine and tighten their sound.

But the pop-punk pigeonhole the band made with We Used To… doesn’t sit comfortably with them now, Connor says. While We Used To… is a tight debut , the band’s new single ‘Talk’ marks the beginning of a new era for One More Weekend.

The fast-paced tune is about that awkward moment when you run into an ex, and the unresolved tensions that are sometimes best left behind.

“You might even be thinking, ‘Oh, it’d be good to catch up with them’. And then you do, and its just…” Connor sighs and cringes, “and it’s just odd.”

Whilst still markedly within the “pop-punk scale”, a phrase Connor punctuates with indignant air quotes, ‘Talk’ combines the tight musicality of the band’s first releases with an inspired hard rock feel. This is a point of departure from One More Weekend’s punk roots, a sound that’s updating with each new release. 

“And I don’t mean like when a pop-punk guy tells you ‘the next release is completely different’ and it’s just the same thing,”, Connor warns me.

For their next handful of singles, One More Weekend is drawing inspiration from many artists – from The 1975, to City and Colour, there is even discussion of a heavier version of Powderfinger.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Following the release of ‘Talk’, One More Weekend sold out two shows at The Tote in Melbourne. At the mention of these, drummer Jayson speaks up.

“Sick… it went off-” he said, “It was freaking wild, honestly”

Having sold out both the early and late shows, fans from the first session hid in toilets and snuck past security to hear an encore. Connor and Jayson have a surprisingly solid recollection of the night, despite an estimated 1:3 shot to song ratio.

It’s a scene Sydney can hopefully recreate soon, but Connor is eager not to give too much away. As well as his songwriting expertise, he brings to the band a heightened level of marketing prowess – committing to a four month cycle of hype-building, releasing music and videos, and touring. It’s designed for maximum appreciation of the heart and soul One More Weekend pour into their music. And, to be honest, I reckon they deserve it.

Find them all over social media – Instagram (@onemoreweekendband), Facebook, YouTube, and join their mailing list for extra updates.