Checkered Past puts new spin on classic rock cover shows

NORTHERN Rivers cover band Checkered Past has been packing out pubs with high-energy sets of rock classics.

Formed late last year through local networking and online ads, the five-piece played its first show at Mary G’s in Lismore on New Year’s Eve.

The band is based around Ballina and Byron Bay and features Polish singer Kasia Pudlo on lead vocals, with Romain Bigead, Angus Kay and Zachary Walsh on lead, rhythm and bass guitar, and Matt Mallard on drums.

“Our lead singer is really good, she has a background in live theatre and really projects her voice,” Mallard said.

“She’s writing her own lyrics, and the plan is to start throwing in some of her original songs.

“At the moment we’re playing 1960s classics from the Rolling Stones and Creedence Clearwater Revival to more modern stuff like The White Stripes and The Dandy Warhols.”

Live shows are a creative outlet from the band’s day jobs in property development, IT and hospitality.

They played to full houses in Lennox Head, Lismore, Kyogle and Yamba across August and September.

“We’re an eclectic group who put our musician faces on during the weekend to entertain people,” Mallard said.

“They say it’s hard to start a band and even harder to keep one together, hopefully this is just the beginning for us.

“We like to think we’re a bit edgier than a lot of cover bands; it’s a fine line between being cliché and playing music that people want to hear.

“The biggest compliment you can get is a repeat booking and we’re already planning to go back to a lot of the venues.”

Checkered Past will play at Club Evans RSL on Friday, September 12.

The band can be contacted on 0405 321 849 or through its Instagram.