SharkArm. Rachel Cullen photo
Sydney skuzz rockeers t SharkArm have been gigging for years with an album and two singles to their credit. The big news for locals is that they're bringing Queenslanders Gravel Samwidge, and Sotu Australians Molly Fet Circuit for gigs at MoshPit (August 15 from 2.30pm) and The Link and Pin in Woy Woy (August16.)
SharkArm haven’t fronted the Bar for an interview so this seemed like a good reason for Robert Brokenmouth (who plays in Molly Fet Circuit) to ask a bunch of questions. SharkArm are Damian Iowa (drums), Nathan Iowa (guitar and vocals) and Josh Shipton (bass.)
I-94 Bar: Let's start gently. What's the band name about? And, I know Sydney is your home town, but you seem quite focused on the place in the present tense mixed with the historical sense? What's going on?
Nathan Iowa: The name SharkArm comes from an infamous 1935 Sydney murder case which I read about in a book by John Birmingham called “Leviathan”. That book covers the seedy history of Sydney that we were never taught at school. I love history and it turns out that we used to catch the Bundeena ferry past the “murder house” twice a day while going to school.
Our music is loosely based on all of the seedy shit and general fuckwittery that our hometown has provided so far. Sydney is promoted as this bright, shining example of modernity and culture when just under the surface, it has a very dark past indeed.
I-94 Bar: How did the band come about, and evolve into what it is today?
Nathan Iowa: SharkArm originally started in 2012 with Keith Hamlyn on bass. Keith and I were both living in Bundeena during parts of the late 1990s and always seemed to be on the same ferry. The SharkArm name came about 10 years later when Keith and I ran into each other at one of Josh Shipton's legendary “Sideshow Alley” extravaganzas at the Lansdowne Hotel one Sunday afternoon and it was the usual thing of "we should do something!!".
Josh Shipton (bass) and I played in a band called Meatsafe around 2007-2008, but SharkArm (mk1) was originally a quartet with Josh, and my brother in law, Louie Cullen (RIP) fulfilling the harder guitar parts, especially for our cover of Nashville Teens' 'Tobacco Road”. My brother Damo played drums (of course) and we released a 7" picture disc at Blackwire Records during that phase. I’ve found a few at the bottom of the wardrobe if anyone's interested.
SharkArm went on hiatus after 2014 due to my substance abuse issues and reformed as a duo in 2019 SharkArm (mk2) as Josh had severed some tendons in his arm and couldn't play bass...so I set up a loop pedal and triggered my bass lines (as well as playing guitar and singing.)
As a form of rehabilitation I asked Josh again to join a few years later and he said yes. We consider SharkArm a cheap form of therapy. I vent my spleen and Josh gets to bring his bass playing back to pre-injury levels. Josh is an excellent bass player in high demand these days.
I-94 Bar: Nathan, you're known informally as “The Butcher of Iowa”. Are you wanted in the USA?
Nathan Iowa: Butcherofiowa is the email address provided to me by my lovely partner Rachel Cullen back in the MySpace days when I was completely useless with anything tech. Butchery also pays my mortgage and is my default guitar style, so if anyone in the USA wants me for anything musical, SharkArm comes as a package deal and you'll get all three of us.
I-94 Bar: What was your first instrument, and do you still have it?
Nathan Iowa: My first instrument was guitar for a short period ... I didn't want to learn “Three Blind Mice”. I played drums until I was 15 when I heard the Pixies, Nirvana, Swervedriver and the first Fudge Tunnel album. I got Damo to learn drums so I could play guitar again. (Jane's Addiction should also get a mention). When we heard Fudge Tunnel for the first time, we both thought "we sound like that already!.. Let's form a band."
I-94 Bar: What's your favourite on-stage rig?
Nathan Iowa: Guitar is my favourite instrument and my current rig is a 50 watt Mesa Express into a 4 x 12. I also use a Roland JC 120 combo for stereo imaging. Pedals are mainly stacked boost/od into slapback delay then reverse delay into reverb then tremolo and out to the Mesa channel boost. Less is more ... or is more of less??
I-94 Bar: If you had the means to play a gig anywhere, where would it be? And, who with?
Nathan Iowa: I personally would love to do a show with Swervedriver, Mclusky, Scientists, and X. Playing The Metro in Sydney or any larger room at full capacity. I really only have one standout gig I've played and that was in 1998 at an overflowing Sando Hotel one Saturday arvo with Harpoon.
I-94 Bar: Five most wicked gigs you've ever seen?
Nathan Iowa: The best gigs I've ever seen were Shellac in late 93 at the Annandale Hotel , Fugazi every time they played The Metro, The Church at The Metro, Mclusky in 2003 at the Annandale, and X with Ian Rilen around the same time at the Annandale Hotel. I miss the Annandale Hotel. Swervedriver gets a mention also.
I-94 Bar: AC/DC or Boris?
Nathan Iowa: Bon Scott era AC/DC hands down.
I-94 Bar: Best thing about Sydney?
Nathan Iowa: History and weather.
I-94 Bar: Worst?
Nathan Iowa: Overdeveloped housing prices and traffic.
I-94 Bar: Best place in Australia?
Nathan Iowa: Dunno, too many to mention that I've been to over the decades. I do like the coast though.
I-94 Bar: Worst?
Nathan Iowa: Cunnamulla QLD. Had a cunt of a time in my brief stay there nearly 40 years ago. Sorry Cunnamulla.
I-94 Bar: You folks are now a classic power trio - what's next?
Nathan Iowa: Since Josh joined SharkArm (mk3), the music is a different beast. More fluid, more dynamic and we can fuck with the tempo. We can expand on songs if we want and are not constrained by a robot (loop pedal) bass line. SharkArm has a new batch of five songs that need to be documented. We'll be recording a new 12" EP soon.
I-94 Bar: You have a couple of gigs coming up in Sydney, with Adelaide's Molly Fet Circuit. This is the second time you've dragged these ugly bastards up - what's the attraction (if, indeed, there is one)?
Nathan Iowa: It's gonna be great to play with The Molly Fet Circuit again. They make some outrageous noise with outrageous lyrics that crack me up. Both Robert and Shaun are lovely fellows. You wouldn't think that from the music.
I-94 Bar: What was the reaction to the last shows you did with them?
Nathan Iowa: The punters that saw them play with SharkArm last time were in awe. Utterly ridiculous and fantastic simultaneously.
I-94 Bar: Just how many bands are you in? And, why?
Josh Shipton: I honestly don’t know because it changes but it’s around 13, and I guess the reason is that I like lots of different types of music and like playing lots of different types of music. I’m lucky enough to play a bunch of different instruments to a passable level and have some interesting ideas so I guess I’m just making hay while the iron’s hot. And if I can do a project I will.
I-94 Bar: I see you have quite a collection of solo releases on your Bandcamp page. Including a new one. What's going on? Are you unable to stop making music, just sit down and have a cup of tea and a bun?
Josh Shipton: Well, I have a LOT of ideas and a little home setup and a more professional setup with Mitch Johnson from the Blue Eyed Ravens and I’m just always trying to find new sounds and with that comes projects and albums. The last one was from a six-day residency at Balmain Town Hall and I made one track a day from the day’s improvising. I’m hoping to do a guitar album with Defektro soon, and "Throat 4" is also in the works, and the next Blue Eyed Ravens album is finished and launched. I quite love a cup of tea and a bun. I think the secret to creating prolifically is taking one day off a week and truly resting.
I-94 Bar: What was your first instrument, and do you still have it?
Josh Shipton: Oh, it was a recorder and no, unfortunately. But I do have my second instrument which is a terrible Yamaha keyboard. That’s still in my house. Might make something outsider with it. Imagine … Wesley Willis grindcore!
I-94 Bar: What was the first music you heard which made you sit up and decide: "I gotta make music?"
Josh Shipton: The Beach Boys. "Good Vibrations", in particular. I was listening to that on repeat when I was about five-years-old and it still kicks my arse as a piece of composition and arrangement. Who the fuck ends on a pre-chorus? I blamed this song for everything before Genesis P. Orridge made it cool.
I-94 Bar: What's your favourite on-stage rig?
Josh Shipton: Guitar: Fender Hotrod Deluxe; Bass: I love my Ampeg BA210: A 450w 2x10 combo. It sits like a wedge.
I-94 Bar: Favourite instrument?
Josh Shipton: Right now? Not the most practical, but I have this Queen Elizabeth II memorial English Breakfast tea tin that’s been converted into a twin oscillator. It’s very silly and I have made some very beautiful and awful sounds with it.
I-94 Bar: Fave pedal/s?
Josh Shipton: Again, not super practical but I have this Electro-Harmonix Screaming Bird treble boost which basically makes everything sound like high frequency horror and it really makes me smile.
I-94 Bar: If you had the means to play a gig anywhere, where would it be? And, who with?
Josh Shipton: Blue Eyed Ravens at the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall.
I-94 Bar: Five most wicked gigs you've ever done?
Josh Shipton:
- Solo vocals at Essence Festival in Canberra.
- Curating and hosting the Sydney Cringe Festival at The Red Rattler.
- Conducting the Josh Shipton Orchestra at Annandale Creative Arts Centre.
- Defektro Vs Josh Shipton at MONA (he used my voice through an MRAD speaker cannon).
- Playing in all three bands for my 50th at the Red Rattler.
I-94 Bar: Five most wicked gigs you've ever seen?
Josh Shipton:
- The Cure in 1992 at the Sydney Entertainment Centre.
- Crowded House"'Farewell To The World" in 1996 at the Sydney Opera House.
- Alternative Nation in 1995 at Eastern Creek.
- Mr Bungle in 1997 for the Disco Volante tour at Selina’s.
- They Might Be Giants every time I’ve seen them, I’m not choosing, I don’t have to, you can’t make me.
I-94 Bar: AC/DC or Boris?
Josh Shipton: Negativland.
I-94 Bar: Best thing about Sydney?
Josh Shipton: The bit in "The Rocks Ghost Tour" where the guide tells you about the guy who stood at his hotel window naked, cut his penis off, threw it at a crowd of onlookers and bled out. Also the monorail.
I-94 Bar: Worst?
Josh Shipton: Lime bikes and Barangaroo.
I-94 Bar: Best place in Australia?
Josh Shipton: The Tasmanian Arboretum where you can see platypus in the wild! I also saw a bumblebee there.
I-94 Bar: Worst?
Josh Shipton: Barangaroo.
I-94 Bar: How have you survived 14 or so years in this band?
Damian Iowa: Well it is said that blood is thicker than water, and while this can be the case at times I think it's the love of music and the confidence in each other to make good music together that really drives me.
I-94 Bar: What was your first instrument, and do you still have it?
Damian Iowa: I remember a tin whistle being one of the first instruments that I attempted to play, as it was just lying around the house when we were kids. Needless to say I did not pursue this, nor do I still own it. I did get a brass Ludwig snare shell from my high school at the time for $10 which I still use to this day. It was in the music storeroom where we jammed at lunch times and the music teacher was more than happy to sell it to me, he was a good teacher.
I-94 Bar: What was the first music you heard which made you sit up and decide: "I gotta make music"?
Damian Iowa: I remember listening to “Three Hours of Power” on JJJ in my early teens and hearing 'Meantime' by Helmet and thinking - this is the sort of music I want to make.
I-94 Bar: What's your favourite on-stage rig?
Damian Iowa: A decent house kit with my 18" Pearl Export floor tom, Ludwig snare of course with wooden top rim and my cymbals preferably on my own stands 'cause I know I can set everything up the way I like them.
I-94 Bar: Favourite instrument?
Damian Iowa: Ummm, drums. Although I am learning to fumble my way around a guitar lately working on my solo D.I_Protodon stuff and am finding this quite satisfying.
I-94 Bar: Fave pedal?
Damian Iowa: My Tama Iron Cobra kick pedal, I like it so much I bought the double pedal version so keep an ear out for that in the future.
I-94 Bar: If you had the means to play a gig anywhere, where would it be? And, who with?
Damian Iowa: This is a tough one. I saw Opeth play at the Sydney Opera House recently. They have a new drummer and if I could play as good as him I would love to have been in his position, I reckon that would be pretty epic.
I-94 Bar: Five most wicked gigs you've ever done?
Damian Iowa: Every gig is a good gig, but I'd would have to agree with Nath about the Harpoon support we played in the '90s - that was a great night and hopefully there are more to come.
I-94 Bar: Five most wicked gigs you've ever seen?
Damian Iowa:
- Dirty Three in the mid 90's at Metro Theatre
- Fugazi at Metro Theatre around the same time
- Red Fang Manning Bar Sydney Uni 2018
- Haken at Manning Bar Sydney Uni 2025
- Opeth at Sydney Opera House 2025
I-94 Bar: AC/DC or Boris?
Damian Iowa: AC/DC all the way.
I-94 Bar: Best thing about Sydney?
Damian Iowa: National parks and waterways, it's a beautiful city outside of the rat race.
I-94 Bar: Worst?
Damian Iowa: The rat race.
I-94 Bar: Best place in Australia?
Damian Iowa: Winton Queensland, there's dinosaurs there!
I-94 Bar: Worst?
Damian Iowa: Well I drive a lot for work, so I'd have to say Sydney roads.
