A CONVERSATION WITH... PACIFIC AVENUE
One month after The Great Escape, we look back at the iconic artists we met during that weekend. Meet Pacific Avenue — the rock band that reminds you of all the ways you can fall in love.
Credit: Pacific Avenue on Instagram
“We’re always told to stop writing love songs, but we just want to keep writing love songs. Whether you’re falling in it or out of it, people always feel love, for a friend, for a partner, for themselves. It’s universal.”
For fans of rom-coms from Sleepless in Seattle and The Wedding Date to To All The Boys I’ve Loved and Love, Simon, you’ve found your musical match in Australia’s Pacific Avenue.
With their retro outfits, dynamic stage presence, and beautifully catchy songs, it’s easy to fall in love with love (or at least the idea of it) by listening to this four-piece.
But don’t get it twisted, because if you ask them what they sound like they’ll say, “We’re rock’n’roll! Well, rock’n’roll with a twist of indie rock…” as vocalist Harry O’Brien says.
Whether you call them rock’n’roll or the guys with the “really cool hair” (as one fan described them), Pacific Avenue is a band to remember. Starting out in their hometown of Kiama, originally Harry and Ben Fryer (guitarist) met at a busking competition. “We tied for second”, Harry says, “and we decided to team up because we liked each other’s sounds, simple as that!”
After joining forces with Dom Littrich (drummer) and Jack Kay (bassist), and with some help from a street sign, Pacific Avenue in all its glory was born.
These surfers have been making waves (pardon the ocean pun) throughout Australia’s music scene, taking advantage of the overwhelming urge of the masses to go to any and all live shows. “Live shows have changed since COVID, not just ours. People want to put on the best show every single time to make up for lost time,” Harry starts.
“Since the big venues in Australia closed for so long, and the small venues opened up first, it really let the smaller bands get a leg up in the scene. It really transformed and diversified the whole music scene in an unexpected way,” Jack finishes.
Their debut album, Flowers, was released only a week prior to The Great Escape and it finds them crafting love songs once more in a new dimension. This release finds heart-aching piano ballads like “Wake Me Up” and “Someone’s Asking” — both pieces that could only be categorised as cathartic yearning. “I still get goosebumps whenever we listen to it or play it” Harry says.
Listening to it live or on recording leaves you imagining your own rom-com, as the album mirrors the ebbs and flows of duos like Lara Jean/Peter and Annie/Sam. With bangers like “Leaving for London” and “Modern Lovers” paired with the aforementioned piano ballads and a sprinkling of everything in between, this album (and all of Pacific Avenue’s music) could make your heart grow three sizes in a single sitting.
“It’s sick, being able to listen to your own music so often and still love it. Especially knowing what’s behind it and who’s behind it. We really have made it this far because of the support in our hometown” says Jack.
Credit: Jared Leibowitz
All of us standing there after their show in our multi-coloured outfits brought such a wonderful contrast to the unfortunately grey skies Brighton offered in that moment, a beautiful continuation of their vibrant performance. Love was really in the air at that performance, as so much of their latest album was designed to be danced to at a festival.
These four are like enchanting puppeteers with how the crowd reacts beautifully to every note coming from the stage. Don’t worry, Pacific Avenue uses their power for good as they create such a welcoming atmosphere through their music and stage performances, making such a splash on this side of the pond.
But they’re also using their time at The Great Escape to be inspired by other up-and-coming acts and exist without a place to exist without constraints, even just for an afternoon. “It’s incredible to see what the new standard for music is — it really makes you want to work harder,” Jack says.
If this is the base level for what Pacific Avenue can do, then there’s no doubt there are going to be so many more love songs yet to come.