Sydney City Trash

Sydney City Trash is a Sydney-based Country/Punk band consisting of Mitch Hell (vocals, lyrics), Matty Brown (lead guitar), Paddy Finn McHugh (rhythm guitar), Jamie Mongrel Skjeme (bass), James Eric Bones (fiddle, mandolin) and Austin Ringo Citizen (drums). Three of its six members grew up in the small town of Tamworth in rural New South Wales, which is also Australia's Country Music Capital and their country roots are frequently reflected in the band's lyrics. The band has been described as the "saviours of Australian Country," and are widely respected for their "bitingly satirical and dense storytelling lyrics." To date, the band has released three studio albums: Classic Country Hits (2005) and Once Upon A Time in Australia (2007) and Terror Australis (2009)
History
Vocalist and Lyricist Mitch Hell was raised in Tamworth in rural New South Wales. After moving to Sydney and fronting various punk, straight edge, hardcore and Oi! bands he met up with former high school mate and fellow Tamworth survivor Paddy McHugh in spring of 2001. The pair wrote their first song the now famous 'Whiskey in the Sun' in the early 2002 and recorded several incarnations of this song over the next year mostly as a joke, poking fun of where they were raised. However it wasn’t until 2003 with the addition of another Tamworth survivor Matthew 'Browny' Brown the band really started taking shape.
The three Tamworth boys dragged in whatever musicians they could find and busked on the streets of Tamworth during the 2003 Country Music Festival, playing mainly covers by Merle Haggard, David Allen Coe, The Descendents and The Clash. After the festival and inspired by the thrill of performing the boys went into 'Hilltop Studios' in Tamworth to record a demo with the idea of getting a real band together.
The demo worked and by mid 2003 the boys had recruited a drummer Angus Howie (also a Tamworth survivor) a bass player Michael 'Pig' Barnett and even a fiddle player Jim Bones whom was then playing guitar for death metal band Punisha. All six of the boys rehearsed and in late 2003 went back in to 'Hilltop Studio' to record their first EP the now legendary "Classic Cuntry Hits."
Over the next year the boys worked hard playing any gig going and writing as much as possible. They became inspired by old Australian bush and folk bands such as Redgum, Roaring Jack and the Dingo's. They were also heavily influenced by Celtic punk bands such as the Pogues and Flogging Molly. All these influences were used and shaped to make the bands first full length album 'Once Upon A Time in Australia' which was released on Scott Mac of Toe to Toe's label Sold Our Souls. The album was released to much success and sold over 25,000 copies. Off the back of this the boys played across Australia with the likes of the Fireballs, Flogging Molly and even performance artists Dirty Sanchez.
Continuing to work hard the boys suffered some casualties of the road. They lost drummer Angus Howie to the glitzy world of TV Ratings and he was replaced by Irish born Ozzy Citizen. With a new energy the boys set about writing for their newest Album.
Another set back the boys had to replace bass player Pig after his tragic death in 2009 (RIP Brother). He was replaced with good friend Jamie Mongrel from various south coast punk bands, most notably Run For Cover.
It was with this new line up the boys went in to record at the 'Brain Studios' in Surry Hills, Sydney in early 2009 for their latest release 'Terror Australis'
Most recently the boys have been seen playing in Australia with good friends Damien Dempsy Gary Og and Decklan O'Rourke and touring as hard as ever playing to their fans from Tassie to Queensland.
In latest news drummer Ozzy Citizen turned out to be anything but a citizen and after 6 years dodging immigration was deported to Ireland in 2010. He is due to return after a mandatory imposed period and SC Trash will once again be back in force with his return. In the mean time the boys will be taking a break from touring and working on plans for Ozzy's return.
The Dream lives on!
Guitarist Paddy McHugh has also begun an exciting new side project called 'Paddy McHugh and the Goldminers' with a debut CD available on iTunes from December 2010. If you like the Trash check it out at http://www.paddyandthegoldminers.com

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