ROCK and blues band OATH will play its final show Saturday night at the Millicent Gliding Club, ending a seven-year stint by the band.
The band’s drummer Ken Lane and bass player and vocalist Don Lucas said the band would still hold private jam sessions but conceded it was becoming difficult to make time for gigs.
For those wondering, OATH is an acronym.
“It stands for Old As The Hills, or Old And Try Hards, depending on who you ask,” Mr Lane said.
“Jack (Lane) our lead singer has also been busy as he has a second band,” Mr Lucas said.
The pair recalled how band members harmonica player Terry Bishop and guitarist Chris Copeland met playing golf.
“We had spoken about getting together for a couple of years and then down the track we had our first jam session,” Mr Lucas said.
“When it happened we took a picture because we could not believe it,” Mr Lane said.
The first performance was at Bompas of Beachport, with Mr Lane saying OATH did “a couple of dozen” performances before its first paid gig.
Since then the band has played across the state, although most gigs have been based at Beachport, Millicent and Robe.
“One of our first gigs at a footy club was a bit awkward as once the older crowd (left) all the young kids were waiting for some ‘doof doof’,” Mr Lane said.
“(Another) was at a winery where we played in the gazebo – it was absolutely freezing,” he said.
“Still, the organisers were nice people and we got to eat the spare cake at the end.”
When it comes to its set list, OATH plays a mix of classic covers and original songs, and members vote on what does and does not get in.
“When we go to Robe it’s always a great show as they do not get a lot of live music up there so it is a lively crowd,” Mr Lane said.
“We have built up a bit of a following,” Mr Lucas said.
Both band members also said Bompas in Beachport and the Grand Hotel in Millicent were vital to their gigs.
“We’re grateful to the Grand for all they have done for us and if it was not for the jams at Bompas we may never have gotten up (playing paid gigs),” Mr Lucas said.
“About 18 months ago, or two years ago, live music was booming around here, there was something happening each week,” Mr Lane said.
“It goes in cycles – it has just dropped off again, but the summer is usually good,” Mc Lucas said.
The cover charge of $10 and other proceeds from Saturday night will go to the Royal Flying Doctors Service and The Junction.
This is the second fundraising gig OATH has played, with Mr Lane saying the band raised money at the Millicent Community Club for local man Jarred Mackey, who had been in a car accident.
As for life after the band, Mr Lucas and Mr Lane said they would “just go back to playing golf”.
OATH’s final show starts at 8pm and will feature support bands Incarnation and Low Expectations, which is fronted by OATH vocalist Jack Lane.
The Millicent Gliding Club is located on Mount Burr Road, near the intersection of Agricultural Bureau Drive.
