Shutterspeed: Hill Street Smarts.

Shutterspeed play the Quad Park in Kawana on Saturday.

    After four years it seems that Brisbane based outfit Shutterspeed are on the verge of the successes they so richly deserve. Their smart blend of the finest the pop, rock, soul and country traditions are willing to serve up came to a head with their debut album Hill Street Blues, and the band have never been busier on the live front.

    Since running through the East Coast leg of the Big Day Out Shutterspeed have been following their own live muse, playing their own headlining gigs through the South East Queensland area as well as the odd jaunt interstate.

    “It’s been fun. I think of late I’ve been enjoying things more than I ever have. It’s good to go out and play, it’s what bands are supposed to do,” guitarist and vocalist Andrew Petersen jokes. “I really enjoy doing those festival things. You kind of grow up going to them, and it’s always somewhere in your head to play at one of them someday. So to do that was kind of an achievement.”

    “The stages are nice and big, the foldbacks and sound equipment actually works… There’s a lot of room which is nice when you’re lugging around a Hammond organ.”

    Shutterspeed have had an almost Spinal Tap-esque revolving door of bassists over the past few years, and the line up looks like changing once more.

    “I don’t know what it is. This time it’s quite simple. Adam’s girlfriend is pregnant, and I think that should take precedence over playing in band, as much as it pains me to have it happen. We’ve had three bass players now, and they’ve all had good excuses, and we’re still friends with all of them.” he laughs. “It’s a great thing for him and his girlfriend. These kinds of things happen, and I’ve incredibly happy with the way the band has been recently. I think it’s the best it’s been ever.”

    Something that has transferred into the way the band are working and creating together.

    “It takes a bit of time to get to understand each other and learn just how talented some people are and give them their space to let them show that. I think the bottom line is that everybody is a genuinely nice person too. You can get on and all laugh together too, and it makes things a lot easier. Talk to me when we’ve been on tour for a whole year and things might be a bit different…”

    The line up change has happened at the time the band are due to head back into the studio to record Hill Street Views’ follow up album.

    “We’re planning to start recording around July. It’s probably the best time for a change in personnel if there has to be one, because it would be frustrating to do demos and start recording and the have to start again with someone new. If it’s got to happen, I’m glad it’s happening now.”

    Writing for the new album is, understandably, well on it’s way.

    “It’s getting there. There are a couple of new songs in the set already, so we can kind of see how it goes in the scheme of things. There’s quite a batch actually. It’s a question of getting together and nutting it all out to see how the pieces fit together. It’s going to be interesting to see how it’s going to pan out. Songs are written, but they’re not really in a band format as yet, so we’ve got to see what the band does to them.”