While it's true Brisbane is home to Knievel's "worst ever gig", singer and guitarist Wayne Connolly says that's not why the Sydney trio have avoided our city so much in recent years.

"[In 1997], supporting our favourite band, Teenage Fanclub," Connolly remembers, "we played the most appalling show to what was probably the largest crowd we ever stood in front of. We were using borrowed gear and doing it without a soundcheck... I think we destroyed our reputation in Brisbane forever!

"But we actually haven't played any gigs for the last year-and-a-bit. I've been busy putting together a small studio in Kings Cross so I've spent a fair bit of time on that. Also, Nick [Kennedy - drums] is now playing in at least half-a-dozen bands - he's in The Cops, Centipede, Big Heavy Stuff and more - so he's hardly available."

Connolly also admits to feeling a certain sense of anti-climax after taking the band through America and Japan in 2002.

"When we went overseas a few years ago, we toured America and Japan and that was a huge goal for me. I'd always wanted to do that and it went so well. Once you've done that you think, 'Well that's the premier achievement'. You know, that was the thing we'd wanted to do from the very early days, so when it happens you don't know where to go from there. We weren't too sure."

Knievel's slow return to the live scene kicks into another gear when they step onstage at The Troubadour this weekend with local country act Halfway. Connolly says they'll no doubt draw heavily on songs from last studio album The Name Rings A Bell That Drowns Out Your Voice (2000), play tunes from B-sides collection No One's Going To Understand In My Way (2003) and preview some newer, unreleased Knievel material.

But while they've had plenty of time to think about new songs, Connolly admits they still have a lot of work to do before fans can expect another Knievel album.

"We've been writing lately and we've got a lot of songs and ideas... but there's never any rush from us! We'll record another album when we feel we have enough songs. Hopefully that will be at the end of this year."

So what's holding them up?

"Well, we're a little confused about what direction we want to go in at the moment," Connolly reveals. "Our last few records have been pretty melancholy and, honestly, I'm at the point where I don't want to play sad songs live anymore. It's just too tough.

"I want to write more upbeat songs but I seem to have this pre-programmed mentality where I want to write downbeat songs. I just can't do it! Maybe I need to go for a jog or something?"

Knievel play The Troubadour Saturday Mar 5.

NICK COPPACK

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