Nick Allbrook

Nicholas Allbrook (born 23 November 1987) is an Australian psychedelic rock musician, singer, songwriter. He is best known as the frontman of Pond, and a member of musical duo Allbrook/Avery. He was a touring member of Tame Impala before leaving the band in 2013.[1]

Nick Allbrook
Background information
Birth name	Nicholas Allbrook
Born	(1987-11-23) 23 November 1987 Subiaco, Western Australia, Australia
Origin	Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia
Genres	Psychedelic rock, psychedelic pop, neo-psychedelia, glam rock, funk, alternative rock
Occupation(s)	Musician, singer, songwriter
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, bass, flute, drums
Years active	2006–present
Labels	Modular Recordings
Associated acts	Pond Tame Impala Allbrook/Avery Mink Mussel Creek Peter Bibby

Biography

Early life

Born in Perth, Western Australia, Allbrook grew up in Fremantle for the first 4 years of his life. He then moved with his parents to Derby, a town in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, where he lived until the age of 12.[2] After spending 8 years moving around the Kimberley, Allbrook moved back to Perth where he spent the majority of his teenage life. Whilst living in Derby he attended Derby District High School.[2] Allbrook also attended Christ Church Grammar School in Perth, graduating in 2004.

Allbrook has a brother and sister, both "quite a bit older."[2]

During the main part his life in high school, music never came up as an interest for Allbrook. He was focused on skateboarding from year 8 to year 11, then became invested in soccer. Towards the end of year 12 he made friends with another student and started listening to music. At about the same time, his parents bought him a guitar, and he began to attend lessons with a local Perth teacher, though he has stated that he was "awful" at the time.[2]

In 2007 he bought a flute off eBay, and figured out how to play using the internet.[2]

Career

Early

Whilst beginning to play in a school band with his friends, Allbrook was interested in and listened to a lot of The Who and Led Zeppelin. It was around this time that he started to write his own songs, but he did not begin to record his own music until a couple of years later when he had a tape recorder.

Electric Blue Acid Dogs / Mink Mussel Creek

In 2005 Allbrook's first serious band, Electric Blue Acid Dogs, formed out of his and his friends' interest in alternative music. To begin, the lineup was Allbrook, and his two friends Steve and Nathan. They performed blues covers and recorded songs on tape recorders.[2] Later, the band were forced to change their name to Mink Mussel Creek enter in band competitions due to the drug reference ("Acid"). At the same time, they recruited Sam Devenport to be their drummer.[2]

It was through one of these competitions in 2007 that Allbrook first met Kevin Parker, when Mink Mussel Creek battled the Dee Dee Dums (which would later become the basis of Tame Impala). Parker drummed for the band whilst they waited for Devenport to arrive, and the band decided that Parker should permanently become the drummer, allowing Devonport to pursue his acting career.[2]

From 2007, Mink Mussel Creek, which finally settled as Nick Allbrook on vocals, Shiny Joe Ryan on guitar, Steve Summerlin on bass, Richard Ingham on synths and Kevin Parker on drums, slowly began gaining popularity in the Perth music scene.[3]

In 2008, after receiving an AUS$10,000 government grant, Mink Mussel Creek recorded its first album. However, due to circumstances out of the band's control, primarily concerning a problematic producer and dysfunctional recording process, the album was never released.[3] The album was eventually leaked on the internet under the title Kingdom Tapes,[4] and the band members went their separate ways with other musical projects.

2011 saw Mink Mussel Creek reform and re-record their much awaited album, Mink Mussel Manticore. The album was recorded live at local Fremantle venue, the Norfolk Basement, and released on USB wristband. As of 2014, the album has also been reissued online and on vinyl.[3][5]

Tame Impala

Kevin Parker and Allbrook performing with Tame Impala in June 2010

After supporting Parker as a live member of Tame Impala for 5 years (2008–2013), Allbrook departed the band to "screw his head back on" and focus on his other projects.[6][7] His place as bassist was replaced by long time friend and fellow musician Cam Avery.

Pond

In 2008 Nick Allbrook, Jay Watson and Shiny Joe Ryan had the idea of an "ego-free project where they were able to get anyone they wanted to play whatever they wanted."[8] That project was to be known as Pond. To date, Pond have released eight studio albums: Psychedelic Mango (2009), Corridors of Blissterday (2009), Frond (2010), Beard, Wives, Denim (2012), Hobo Rocket (2013), Man It Feels Like Space Again (2015), The Weather (2017), and Tasmania (2019).

The band, like many other of the Perth group's bands, features an ever-changing lineup. Currently, Pond is Nick Allbrook (keys, flute, vocals), Jay Watson (bass), Joe Ryan (guitar), James Ireland (drums)[9] and Jamie Terry (keys, guitar, bass)[8] The band has also previously featured Kevin Parker (drums, 2008–2011, mixing and production, 2012–present) Cam Avery (drums, 2011–2014), Nick Odell (congas) and Richard Ingham (guitar.)[8] Julien Barbagallo, current drummer for Tame Impala, occasionally fills in for bass guitar.

Peter Bibby and his Bottles of Confidence

In October and November 2013 Peter Bibby recorded his first album Butcher/Hairstylist/Beautician (2014). Nick Allbrook played drums[10] for this album as well as contributing his voice and playing the keyboard at times.

Allbrook/Avery

Allbrook/Avery is a musical project between Nicholas Allbrook and Cam Avery, formed in 2011. It began when Allbrook, homeless at the time, moved into the back room of Avery's house. They discovered a mutual love of lo-fi music and began writing together.[11] He has stated that, "Allbrook/Avery’s just a lot more of a relaxed… gradual process of me and Cam writing songs and sharing them with each other and recording them with whatever people we see fit."[2]

To date, the duo only have one album released, Big 'Art (2011). Another album, recorded with 4 members of The Horrors in one week in 2013, has been "filed away" with "no release date as of yet".[12] Allbrook has said that he "doesn't know where it is", while Avery has said that it is in "post-production".[13] A third album has also been mentioned.[7]

Solo career

In 2014, Allbrook released his first solo album with Spinning Top Records titled Ganough, Wallis & Fatuna. In 2016, Allbrook released a second solo album titled Pure Gardiya. In 2019, he released his third solo album titled Wabi Sabi Bruto Bruta.

Discography

as Nicholas Allbrook

• Ganough, Wallis & Fatuna (2014)
• Walrus EP (2015)
• Pure Gardiya (2016)
• Wabi Sabi Bruto Bruta (2019)
• surf ii (2019)

with Pond

• Psychedelic Mango (2008)
• Corridors of Blissterday (2009)
• Frond (2010)
• Beard, Wives, Denim (2012)
• Hobo Rocket (2013)
• Man It Feels Like Space Again (2015)
• The Weather (2017)
• Tasmania (2019)

with Mink Mussel Creek

• Mink Mussel Manticore (2011)

with Allbrook/Avery

• Big 'Art (2011)

References

1. https://pitchfork.com/news/50810-tame-impala-lose-bassist-nick-allbrook/
2. "Cool Perth Nights : Articles". www.coolperthnights.com. Archived from the original on 4 October 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
3. "Mink Mussel Creek news merchandise and tours – Spinning Top Music". spinningtopmusic.com. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
4. Vidani, Peter. "BOOTLEGS". tameimpala.tumblr.com. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
5. ""Mink Mussel Manticore" VINYL – Spinning Top Music". spinningtopmusic.com. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
6. "Tame Impala – Hey friends, fans and followers, We have big... | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
7. "Nick Allbrook opens up on "sentimental" Tame Impala departure". Retrieved 3 October 2015.
8. "Pond news merchandise and tours – Spinning Top Music". spinningtopmusic.com. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
9. https://lnwy.co/read/all-5-members-of-pond-on-their-new-album-tasmania/
10. "Peter Bibby – Butcher/Hairstylist/Beautician". Discogs. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
11. "Allbrook/Avery news merchandise and tours – Spinning Top Music". spinningtopmusic.com. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
12. NME.COM. "Pond members collaborate with The Horrors on new album | NME.COM". NME.COM. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
13. "the AU Interview: Nick Allbrook of Pond (Perth) talks pop music, festivals and being lazy. | the AU review". the AU review. Retrieved 3 October 2015.