Tablewaiters

Tablewaiters were an Australian Post-punk band active from 1980 to 1986. They were founded by Tony Ameneiro on synthesiser and Graeme Synold on lead vocals; by 1981 they included Gye Bennetts on drums, Ian Robertson on bass guitar, and Ed Lee on lead guitar. By 1984 they were joined by Phillip Hyrwka who replaced Bennetts on drums. After Tablewaiters' disbandment Ameneiro pursued a career in visual arts. Tablewaiters had undertaken various national tours and supported both national and international artists: Simple Minds, The Psychedelic Furs, Split Enz, INXS, Midnight Oil, Machinations, Laughing Clowns, Models, Hunters & Collectors, Eurogliders, and The Birthday Party.

Tablewaiters
Graeme Synold (centre), Tony Ameneiro (right), Ian Robertson (background)
Trade Union Club, Sydney, 1982
Background information
OriginSydney, New South Wales, Australia
GenresPost-punk, New wave music, pub rock
Years active1980-1986
LabelsPowderworks
Associated actsJohnny Kannis Band, The Hitmen, Roddy Radalj and The Surfin' Caesars, The Psychotic Turnbuckles, The Agents
Past members
  • Tony Ameneiro
  • Graeme Synold
  • Gye Bennetts
  • Ed Lee
  • Ian Robertson
  • Phillip Hyrwka

History

The founding members, Graeme Synold and Tony Ameneiro, met in Sydney in 1980 while studying art at the Alexander Mackie College of Advanced Education.[1][2] One of the band's first appearances was as a support act to Sardine v[3] at the Civic Hotel in Sydney in 1980. Various line up changes settled down in 1981[4] with Gye Bennetts on drums (ex-The Agents),[5] Ian Robertson on bass guitar and Ed Lee on guitar,[6] along with Ameneiro on synthesiser and Synold on lead vocals.[7][8]

The line up of Ameneiro, Bennetts, Lee, Robertson, and Synold recorded material for an album, Gate, with Lobby Loyde in 1981 at the Alberts recording studio in Sydney. The album was never released[9] because of financial problems. Various bootleg copies were in existence from the master tapes, though they are of poor quality as the recordings had not reached the mixing stage. The intended single, "Between the Lines",[10] and "Access", was never released. There were also a previous series of recordings with Colin Newham of The Reels.

Tablewaiters were managed by SCAM (suss city artist management), which also looked after Sardine v, The Sunnyboys, Machinations and Local Product.[11] Loyde also produced material by other SCAM artists including: The Sunnyboys (extended play, December 1980), Machinations (November 1981) and Sardine v's single, "Sabotage".[10]

Bennetts left Tablewaiters after the Gate recordings and was replaced by Phillip Hyrwka on drums. Hyrwka was previously drummer for Agents, the same band which had Bennetts earlier.[12][13][14] Rob Barnham became Tablewaiters' regular manager. A publishing deal was signed and in 1984 they recorded and released a double A-sided 7" single, "Scattered Visions"[15]/"Small Quiet Children", through Powderworks Records & Tapes.[16][17] The cover artwork for the single was by Ameneiro.

With the pub rock scene in its heyday, Tablewaiters performed several nights a week, both in support spots and as a headline act. Being Sydney-based they were regulars at The Civic Hotel, The Trade Union Club,[18] Governor’s Pleasure at the Rocks, as well as at many suburban venues. In Melbourne, they had several residencies at Macy’s in Toorak. Several tours and important support spots included playing with Simple Minds,[19] The Psychedelic Furs,[20] Split Enz,[20] INXS, Midnight Oil, Machinations, Laughing Clowns,[21] Models, Hunters and Collectors, Eurogliders, and The Birthday Party.[20]

After some more self-funded studio recording the band broke up in 1986. After Tablewaiters' disbandment Ameneiro pursued a career in visual arts.[2] Ed Lee moved to Wollongong, where he has been in several bands there including ATE.[22] In 1992 Ed Lee and Tony Ameneiro recorded and released a self-funded, self-titled album under the name Chihuahua Chihuahua.[23] Bennetts was later a member of various bands including Johnny Kannis Band (1988), Roddy Radalj and The Surfin' Caesars (1989), Hitmen D.T.K. (1989–90), The Psychotic Turnbuckles, and Klondike's North 40.[24]

Discography

Singles

Some of the early work was produced by Colin (Polly) Newham and Lobby Loyde.

  • "Between the Lines" / "Access by Invitation" - Alberts (November 1981)
  • "Scattered Visions" / "Small Quiet Children" - Powderworks Records (POW 0227) (1984)[25]

Compilations

References
  1. "Tablewaiters". Reverbnation. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  2. "Ameneiro, Tony". Trove. National Library of Australia. 2012. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
  3. Gibson, Patrick. "Tablewaiters". No Night Sweats - Sydney Post Punk Memoirs by Phil Turnbull. Archived from the original on 19 July 2010. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  4. Elder, John (1982). "Waiting for the Tablewaiters". In Jerry Lacey (ed.). Rock Australia. Sydney: Magazine Promotions. National Library of Australia. p. 73. ISBN 0-90955-822-1.
  5. McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'James Griffin and the Subterraneans'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86448-768-2. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
  6. Nimmervoll, Ed. "Tablewaiters". Howlspace – The Living History of Our Music. Archived from the original on 27 July 2009. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  7. Walker, Clinton (1982). Inner City Sound. Glebe, NSW: Wild & Woolley. National Library of Australia. p. 143. ISBN 0-90933-148-0.
  8. Spencer, Chris; Zbig Nowara; Paul McHenry (1987). Who's who of Australian rock. Noble Park, Vic.: Five Mile Press. p. 366. ISBN 1-87597-150-5.
  9. "Tablewaiters". Inner City Sound. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  10. Holmgren, Magnus. "Lobby Loyde". Australian Rock Database. Passagen.se (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 29 September 2013. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
  11. Collins, Sally. "David McComb & the Triffids". Prose and Poetry. The Triffids Official Website. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  12. "Agents – 'Manhattan Project'". 45cat.com. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
  13. Spencer, Chris; Zbig Nowara; Paul McHenry (1987). Who's who of Australian rock. Noble Park, Vic.: Five Mile Press. p. 4. ISBN 1-87597-150-5.
  14. "Agents – 'Seven Samurai'". 45cat.com. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
  15. ""Scattered Visions" at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  16. "The Tablewaiters – 'Scattered Visions'". 45cat.com. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
  17. "N.F.S.A. listing". National Film and Sound Archive. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  18. Ed St John, ed. (1985). The Big Australian Rock Book. Neutral Bay, NSW: Megabooks. National Library of Australia. p. 19 photographer Laura Lee. ISBN 0-95906-150-9.
  19. "Events and venues". The Canberra Times. National Library of Australia. 2 December 1981. p. 38. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  20. Worksheets giving performance details by Tablewaiters:
  21. Campbell, Linda (17 April 1982). Ed Nimmervoll (ed.). Juke Magazine. p. 9. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  22. Nimmervoll, Ed. "ATE". Howlspace – The Living History of Our Music. Archived from the original on 27 July 2009. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  23. Spencer, Chris; Zbig Nowara; Paul McHenry (1987). Who's who of Australian rock. Noble Park, Vic.: Five Mile Press. p. 67. ISBN 1-87597-150-5.
  24. Holmgren, Magnus; Georgieff, Didier; Regan, Craig; Bennetts, Gye. "The Hitmen / Hitmen D.T.K." Australian Rock Database. Passagen.se (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 28 September 2012. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
  25. "Tablewaiters - Scattered Visions/Small Quiet Children". Discogs. Zink Media, Inc. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  26. "Fast Forward vol 11". Spill Label. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
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