STRYDER is four hot young musos from the Sunshine Coast making hard-core rock cool again.
Formed in November 2009, the band members – Jet White (vocals, keyboards), Dave Johnsen (lead guitar), Bo Lowrie (bass guitar), and Franko (drums) – are born performers and prolific songwriters .
They’ve got the goods to rock out everyone from ‘tweens in short skirts to babyboomers reliving their youth.
One minute, they’re setting the stage on fire with all guitars blazing and flaming drumsticks; the next, they’re showing their mellow side with oh-so-cool keyboards and tender vocals lamenting lost love.
Their songs worship their musical roots in the rock gods of the Seventies – Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and Hendrix – but also pay homage to the likes of modern-day rock devotees Wolfmother, Jet and AC/DC.
Two of the band members – Jet and Bo – already have Caloundra Music Festival main stage experience under their belt, having played four rock and pop covers from The Killers and Franz Ferdinand, with the Kawana Waters State College Rock Band in 2009. Several hundred festival-goers were on hand to hear them play first-up on the big Sunday program.
Having tasted festival stage glory, the two mates surged forward in forming their new band with another school friend, Franko, and neighbourhood pal Dave.
Their first gig, jokingly billed as Stryderfest, was held at home in Bo’s garage in January 2010, attracting 50 neighbours, family, friends and supporters. Two sets later, Stryder – named after Robert Plant’s dog – was born.
The band followed their debut with another open-air concert for Australia Day at Kawana Aquatics and Lifestyle Centre and
are busily rehearsing for upcoming battle of the band contests and gigs.
