Something To Crow About

Sydney rock band Crow have reformed with their classic line-up. Fronted by contributing songwriters Peter Fention and Peter Archer, and backed by drummer John Fenton and bassist Jim Woff, Crow return to the Australian music scene with new album Arcane.

 

We're giving away two copies of their new album and three double passes to their gig at The Tote on Friday July 9. To win, tell us in the comments box below about your favourite Crow memory.

 

 

 

THIS IS NOW CLOSED.

Comments

Posted by Anonymous on June 30, 2010 @ 10:30am

I first saw Crow live as a support to Buffalo Tom at the Prince of Wales way back in the 90's. It was my birthday, although i forget which one. As I had no idea who they were at the time, my boyfriend and I chose to sit in the front bar instead of take a risk with the support acts. During a rare lull of conversation that seemed to pervade the entire front bar, we felt a low rumbling bassline snake it's way up and over the standard grunge fare accompanying us at the bar. We looked at each other, rose from our seats and dashed to the band room, where we were assaulted by the stalking brooding presence of Jim Woff and Peter Fenton. There's was a darkness that perfectly complemented the Prince at the time. Crow were the perfect precursor to Buffalo Tom's melancholic sun tinged pop, and the Tom were fantastic. But it's Jim Woff's enigmatic presence and that burst of amazement that comes from discovering fantastic music that has stood the test of my memories.

Posted by Paul Elliott on June 30, 2010 @ 3:41pm

Most crows don't even live a year, having died in the egg or as nestlings. In my study population of American Crows in Ithaca, New York, just about half of the nests succeed in producing young. Of the young I band in the nest a week before fledging, about half are alive and with their parents the next year. Of course some have disappeared and not died, but that's a pretty good survival rate for birds anyway. Once they survive that first year they have a good chance of making it for several years more. None of my birds try to breed when they are one year old, and some are six years old and still helping their parents. Average age of first reproduction for females is 3.3 years, and males average 4.9 years. Breeders have about 93% yearly survival. My survival data (biased towards the short side by those that disappear) indicate that some crows should live to be 17 - 21 years old [note this is a change in the prediction from what I have had posted before Dec 1998, based on reanalysis of survival data]. The oldest known wild American Crow was 29 1/2 years old (see Dilling, 1988, Ontario Bird Banding Association Newsletter 33: 2-3.). The second oldest known, however, was only 14 years, 7 months (Clapp et al., 1983, Journal of Field Ornithology, 54(2): 123-137).
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I don't have a Crows memory having not seen them I would really like to though and a free double pass would ensure that I have a favourite memory of Crow to talk about in the future. Thought the info about the other Crows would enhance your day.
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Posted by Dave on June 30, 2010 @ 6:42pm

Saw them in Sydney at the Notes's launch, hope they get in some practice for the Tote.

Posted by Dave on June 30, 2010 @ 6:43pm

Saw them in Sydney at the Notes's launch, hope they get in some practice for the Tote.

Posted by Jane on June 30, 2010 @ 7:56pm

A long time ago I was playing a Broken Machine on high rotation. An intense moody song to soundtrack an intense moody time for me.

Posted by Kape on July 1, 2010 @ 2:31pm

Saw them recently at the Applecore Backard Festival in Thornbury. It was a great performance and the new material sounded very promising. But what struck me is how many Australian faces on the alternative scene (from the 90s to the current day) I recognised, paying their respects. Their influence is clearly felt.

Posted by julie bennett on July 3, 2010 @ 10:14pm

Just listening to my favourite songs in my car.... with windows up and singing along as loudly as i can

Posted by Daniel on July 5, 2010 @ 9:32pm

I could never really understand the comparison with Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, these bands are coming from different places altogether. Seeing Crow in their new incarnation will be good. The photo makes it look like they are ready to sell me some real estate from the God Fearing Shareholders of the Lord!

Posted by Nobus on July 6, 2010 @ 2:41am

I first saw Crow with my brother at the Annandale Hotel in Sydney in the mid 1990's. The venue was packed, both the auditorium and bar sections, but we managed to squeeze our way relatively close to the stage. The gig was awesome and my most lasting memory of it was when Jim Woff started pumping out the bass intro to Railhead and the crowd went ballistic! After the gig we ran into Tim Rogers from You Am I (who was there to see Crow as well) and he broke the news to us that Bob Stinson from The Replacements had died. All up, a very memorable night out.