Friday, September 23, 2011 – Bendigo Weekly www.bendigoweekly.com.au b.entertained • 31

sic business, Cavaleri put the guitar but self titled EP. ben cameron down and picked up a job as a brick- “It was quite nerve wracking ENTERTAINED ie’s labourer, while plotting what to because I wasn’t sure how the world THE emergence of do next. would receive it,” he says of their first Nathan Cavaleri as “I just totally escaped music,” he release. says. However, the crowds have the people’s guitar “It can be a dark time when swelled over the short lifespan of prodigy during the you’re finding yourself creatively Nat Col and The Kings, which has again. eased the pressure on Cavaleri. early 1990s, is well “They (his parents) said ‘Let’s just “You get a heap of adrenalin and known. finish school and work out what you a massive sense of invincibility when want to do in life’.” you play in front of a huge crowd,” He ignored the chorus of easy he says. First appearing currency, telling him to do every- “When we played Byron Bay at on Hey Hey It’s Sat- thing from a instrumental Blues Fest, we had about 6000 to urday like a junior album to covers. Instead, Cavaleri 8000 people in front of us. Tommy Emmanuel, followed his heart to a place far re- “I was way more nervous when Cavaleri initially moved from the constant buzz of we did our first gigs in Newcastle last captured the coun- showbusiness. year, it was 100 people. try’s hearts, then guitar legend BB “I realised I really wanted to get “I was like ‘Wow, I can see all King’s, who quickly took him under his back into it, but do it my own way, your faces!’.” wing. and forget all the people who are Despite starting very early in life, From here, the next few years of trying to tell me there’s only one way winning over an intimate crowd re- Cavaleri’s life was like a Hollywood to success,” he says. mains a challenge. script. Alongside a US tour with King “(It was about) following the “It’s hard work,” he says. there was a Disney movie appear- herd, which I’m glad that stuff didn’t “I’m pretty sensitive to crowds, ance, a White House visit, a pash seep in.” but Col, he doesn’t really give a shit. with a 12-year-old Jessica Alba; even After flirting with the Dirty “I would ask him ‘How do you Jimmy Page wanted a signed copy Skanks, the new Cavaleri project is switch off from that, how do you not of his work. Nat Col and the Kings, a collabora- care what people are thinking?’ It could have been a case of far tion with fellow Skank and former “And they just say ‘We’re happy too much, far too soon, but what Screaming Jets drummer, Col Hatch- just playing music, as soon as you Cavaleri did next has been far less man. let the fear into you then people will documented. Their second EP Simple Things, sense it.” With it now common place for is also a tribute to close friend Greg It’s probably why Cavaleri is precocious talent to be pushed into Clark who passed away in recent aware older fans will approach Nat the limelight through the likes of X months. Clark was a mentor, an Col and The Kings with a degree of Factor and the ilk, the second chap- “iconic sound guy” who brought Hey Hey baggage. ter of the Cavaleri story is more time- Cavaleri and Hatchman together. “It can get in the way some- ly than ever. Their first meeting was memo- times, but the good thing about my The world was seemingly at his rable – not long after after Hatch- management back then is that they feet, but his parents went the other man had been beaten to a pulp after got me mixing with credible artists,” way: with the ear of the right people a Jets’ gig in Darwin. he says. in the business, they yanked him out “He drove from Newcastle with “I was never doing anything of the spotlight. Those people were two busted eye sockets, completely super cheesy, although a young and his wife Jane. numbed out by Panadeine Forte and kid playing a guitar, there’s a bit of “Fortunately, my first record he’d just had a face reconstruction cheese there, but you can’t escape it. deal was with Jimmy Barnes’ wife,” basically,” Cavaleri says. “But that’s all about re-branding, Cavaleri remembers. “He set up his kit and in typical the people who enjoy my music nat col & “Thankfully they weren’t sharks, Hatchman style he went hard... and I stylistically back then, would defi- because mum and dad... put a heap knew within the first four to six bars nitely connect with Nat Col and the of trust into them. we’d be partners in crime for a long Kings.” “So we’re really thankful they time.” Nat Col and the Kings play The the kings had good hearts.” Cavaleri is a lot more relaxed Torrumbarry Hotel on Friday, Sep- Nathan Cavaleri and Col Hatchman. Taking one foot out of the mu- about Simple Things, than their de- tember 23. 63 DAYS TO GO Fenella has one crazy week Proudly supported by Ben Cameron “It involved organising scripts, answering phone Bendigo pop singer Fenella calls,” she says. ENTERTAINED Wagener’s singing skills were “Sometimes it was just exposed to thousands of Mel- getting Luke Darcy’s coffee or bourne listeners last week. tea in the morning. MORE ONLINE AT Last Friday morning, track “Luke Darcy is just a gem, BENDIGOWEEKLY.COM.AU PLUS EXCLUSIVE Raise Hell from her debut EP he’s the nicest bloke, but he’s Fenella, was played on the quite a serious man.” GIVEAWAYS ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE top rating The Hot Breakfast On Thursday however, morning show on Triple M. things amped up a notch or • pays homage to his heroes• Northeast “Everything has turned two when McGuire took Wa- Party House to psych-out The Newy • Old Buzzard upside down in the last week,” gener aside and asked about Marc Leon shares his tales of rock • The Golden Vine Fenella says. her career ambitions. to quiz you for a good cause • Ben Jackson blows “It’s been the craziest “I just said how I’ve been them away at The Palais • Get the early line up for the whirl wind of a week... I’m writing and recording all my Bendigo Blues & Roots Music Festival •Flo Rida tickets completely overwhelmed.” life,” she says. still up for grabs on the b.entertained facebook page• The song not only im- “And he asked if I had a Bendigo’s Fenella Wagener pressed show host Eddie Mc- CD.” Guire, but music identity Ian She gave him a copy of “Molly” Meldrum. Fenella and didn’t think much went on air with McGuire, After ringing up the After being given the op- more of it, until the next Darcy and Kenny star, Shane show, and hearing a snippet portunity to fill in temporarily morning. Jacobson. of Raise Hell live on air, Molly on the Hot Breakfast produc- “On Friday he said he’d “The producer got me Meldrum said her work was tion team, the 20-year-old been listening to my songs into the studio, I nearly faint- “very, very good” and was Journalism student was up and that he was blown away, ed, I nearly died, I didn’t know keen to meet with Wagener at 4am each morning for her and he wanted to play them what to think, I was freaking early next week. new radio gig. on air that morning,” Fenella out,” she says. The down to earth singer Although the job turned says. “I couldn’t even turn up will also meet with McGuire out to be a little less glamor- Just before the show the volume on the micro- about future opportunities ous than it sounded. wrapped at 9am, Fenella phone, I couldn’t speak.” with McGuire Media. PARTY AT THE VINE Cool undercover Beer Garden available for all types of functions and meetings, at no cost if you book between now and March 31 2012. Private bar, and a range of catering options that can be tailored to your needs.

Call 03 5443 6063 2309 Tuesday–Sunday after 12pm Golden Vine Hotel 135 King St, Bendigo