'Roadie Of The Month' 19 / 20
Name?
Ben Doyle
Hometown?
Southend, ESSEX, UK
Currently Reside?
Newquay, Cornwall, UK
Role?
Guitar Tech / TM / Backline Tech / SM
Years on the road?
23 (26 inc playing)
First band you ever worked for?
REEF
Any mentors in the industry worth mentioning?
Ian Laughton FOH / Shaun Martin TM / Jason Fearnley SM - 99.9% of the crew I work with are legends. The bad eggs don’t stay around long.
Favorite AUS venue?
Forum Melbourne
Favorite AUS Bar or Restaurant?
Marys Burgers recently or Home Thai (old management)
When and where was your first OS tour?
95 all over Europe in a band called ABOVE ALL / Tech wise was 97 straight to the US with REEF around New York state.
Favorite OS country to tour?
JAPAN / USA / AUS ….Endless list of territories that I love!
Favorite OS venue?
There are just too many. I’m going with Crystal Ballroom in Portland. I mean, it has the worst load in and the crowd gets divided into drinking and minors on a sprung dance floor and the stage is the size of a dairy lea triangle BUT everything I love is on that street and Burnside skatepark is at the end of the block.
Favorite OS Bar or Restaurant?
Rossi's Liquors / 412 North State St / Chicago, IL 60610
Last three bands you have toured with?
Two Door Cinema Club / Muse / Amy Macdonald.
What three tools are the most important to your role?
Head torch / key winder / cutters. Decent switch cleaner too as poor contact covers 90% of stage issues.
What are the three things you can’t leave for tour without?
Passport / Phone / wallet. I can work out the rest. I’ve had the same petzl carabiner forever for my laminate, so that’s always a must take too.
What’s your drink of choice after the truck is packed?
Jack Daniels / Ice / Dr Pepper zero mixed hard.
Who’s the most played artist on your iPod?
Currently it’s one of your boys ALPHA WOLF - lots of great bands coming out of Australia ATM
What’s your favorite band / album of all time?
Suicidal Tendencies - Suicidal Tendencies
What’s your favorite Book / Podcast ?
The Argos Catalogue 77-85
Any great websites out there for people to check out?
Try this one : It’s about the UK ESSEX hardcore/metalcore scene of the 90s.
https://thenandnowessexhc.podbean.com
What do you do when you are not on the road?
Father / Food / Surf / Skate / play-record guitar / walk / enjoy the outdoors / Pour drinks how I like them and burn wood on my fire.
Words of Wisdom?
Be nice, polite and respectful. It pays back tenfold.
You can contact me on?
royaldoyle@mac.com




July 2020
1/ Name?
Luke Stabb
2/ Hometown?
Wodonga
3/ Currently Reside?
Melbourne
4/ Role?
Guitar Tech / Stage Manager
5/ Years on the road?
8
6/ First band you ever worked for?
To tell you the truth, I can’t remember
7/ Any mentors in the industry worth mentioning?
Cam Batten, Dugald McAndrew, Ant Milne and Pat Meyer, they are all a bunch of supremely talented individuals
8/ Favorite AUS venue?
I like the Forum a lot now that there’s a lift.
9/ Favorite AUS Bar or Restaurant?
Any good Ramen place or Vietnamese restaruant
10/ When and where was your first OS tour?
Japan with JET in 2017
11/ Favorite OS country to tour?
France or Spain, anywhere with great food really
12/ Favorite OS venue?
It’s cliché but Red Rocks is amazing
13/ Favorite OS Bar or Restaurant?
Quimet Quimet in Barcelona
14/ Last three bands you have toured with?
Ocean Alley, John Butler Trio+ and Violent Soho
15/ What three tools are the most important to your role?
An X-acto Knife, My pretty ebony string winder and my overwhelming cheerfulness
16/ What are the three things you can’t leave for tour without?
Water bottle, some sort of over engineered and far heavier than it needs to be tool case and a backup pair of Ray Bans
16/ What’s your drink of choice after the truck is packed?
Coffee
18/ Who’s the most played artist on your iPod?
Usually who ever I’m working for at the time
19/W hat’s your favorite band / album of all time?
Muddy Waters with Led Zeppelin a close second
20/ What’s your favorite Book / Podcast ?
I love a bit of Philip K Dick or anything Anthony Bourdain wrote. As far as podcasts, you can’t go past the Fretboard Journal, Drum History or 99% Invisible.
21/ Any great websites out there for people to check out?
I’m giving www.clickspringprojects.com a bit of a work out at the moment. Also www.instructables.com is such a great concept and always worth checking out.
22/ What do you do when you are not on the road?
I eat a lot, travel as much as possible and build things of questionable quality from wood in my workshop
23/ Words of Wisdom?
Always carry a spare pair of socks, you never know when you might step in a puddle
24/ You can contact me on?
Email: lukelstabb@gmail.com
Phone: (+61) 403 881 343


Photo: Christie Stabb
Photo: Oyster Kilpatrick
* Top photo by Ian Laidlaw
February 2020
1/ Name?
Brad Fulton
2/ Hometown?
Horsham, Victoria
3/ Currently Reside?
Melbourne, Victoria
4/ Role?
Guitar Tech. Backline Tech. Occasional TM
5/ Years on the road?
5
6/ First band you ever worked for?
As a guitar tech: Ceres. @weareceres
7/ Any mentors in the industry worth mentioning?
Christian Walsh.
Watching Christian work is what made me want to become a tech and I’ve learnt an incredible amount from him.
8/ Favorite AUS venue?
The Forum, Melbourne.
9/ Favorite AUS Bar or Restaurant?
Bar: Crowbar (Syd & Bris)
Cafe: True North, Coburg, Melbourne
10/ When and where was your first OS tour?
2017.
North America with Make them Suffer.
11/ Favorite OS country to tour?
Canada
12/ Favorite OS venue?
Barrowlands, Glasgow.
13/ Favorite OS Bar or Restaurant?
Bleacher Bar at Fenway Park, Boston.
14/ Last three bands you have toured with?
DMA’s, Violent Soho, The Jungle Giants.
15/ What three tools are the most important to your role?
Soldering Iron, Multimeter, Tuner.
16/ What are the three things you can’t leave for tour without?
Headphones, laptop, my roadsick key chain.
16/ What’s your drink of choice after the truck is packed?
Ice Break double shot.
18/ Who’s the most played artist on your iPod?
Dealer (@thedealersound)
19/ What’s your favorite band / album of all time?
Misfits - Walk Among Us
20/ What’s your favorite Book / Podcast ?
Podcast: Axe to Grind.
Book: Deathbeds - Wesley Eisold
21/ Any great websites out there for people to check out?
22/ What do you do when you are not on the road?
Nap as much as possible, smash a lot of coffee, get real fired up at AFL games (Go Cats), watch copious amounts of NBA (Go Celtics), play heaps of Rocket League on Nintendo Switch and hang with friends.
23/ Words of Wisdom?
'Attach yourself to people who are funny, distance yourself from uptight squares'
- Patrick Kindlon
24/ You can contact me on?
Email: brad.fulton27@gmail.com
IG: @breadpls
W/ DMAs @ Manchester Arena
Photo by @shaneobenson
Stage Systems Melbourne, 2018.
W/ Violent Soho - Good Things Festival.
Photo by @ian.laidlaw
W/ Jungle Giants at The Forum Theatre.
Photo by: @charliehardy
Luke Stabb and I out shopping in prep for some Ocean Alley shows.
Alex Nicoli & I w/Gang of Youths - Laneway 2019
Photo by @ian.laidlaw
* Top Photo *
W/ Hockey Dad, Yours and Owls Fest 2018.
Photo by @ian.laidlaw
November 2019
1/ Name?
Jo Bushing
2/ Hometown?
Brisbane 4178
3/ Currently Reside?
Brisbane 4034
4/ Role?
“Cotton Slinger” Merchandise Management and Driver / TM Assist.
5/ Years on the road?
15-20 But in this current role 5
6/ First band you ever worked for?
I think the first band to ever Pay me for working with them was the Kidney Thieves (Now known as Osaka Punch)
7/ Any mentors in the industry worth mentioning?
I have had the opportunity to learn from and work alongside so many incredible Mentors
Norman & Kate James, Nick Kapos, Elisha Boland, Madeleine Spencer, David & Courtney Robertson, Matt Young, David Haley, Dallas Frasca, Dale Harrison, Will O’Brien & Sabrina Lawrie...just to name a few.
8/ Favorite Australian venue?
Max Watts (Max Froffs) in Melbourne. Run by the amazing Leroy and crew. As there are too many amazing venues in Brisbane to mention just one.
9/ Favorite Bar or Restaurant?
I was always torn between Sabotage Social and Crowbar, but with the closing of Sabo, Crowbar Brisbane !
10/ When and where was your first OS tour?
I am yet to tour overseas. Am passport ready, just waiting for the right opportunity.
11/ Favorite aspect of my Role?
Merchandise is more important now than Ever before. With spotify, itunes and the like taking the value out of the music people spend their lives and money creating. Along with the resurgence of Vinyl records. People purchasing a physical copy of Albums is essential. With the cost of touring etc, forever increasing. It ends up being the merchandise sales that the Artist’s eventually see in their pocket. That may explain why you walk into a Merch Emporium at some shows these days with huge selections of clothing and unique items available. Buy it, please! Keep all of us in the position to keep making music and Travelling around like Carni Folk. Unpacking Vans and trucks to put on a memorable show for everyone, then long after you have all gone home. Packing and repacking, to head to the next one.
14/ Last three bands you have toured with?
Butterfingers
Then i doubled down with the Phil H. Anselmo and The Illegals & King Parrot tour and Emperor & Ruins
Elefant Traks- 20 years Celebration
15/ What three tools are the most important to your role?
T pins, Gaff Tape, Pen/sharpie
16/ What are the three things you can’t leave for tour without?
Thongs (Im a shoe hater like Ean Redman) , Roadsick Laundry bag (gotta keep the stank away from the fresh), Dice (for those Hurry up...and Wait moments)
16/ What’s your drink of choice after the truck is packed?
An Ice Cold Lager
18/ Who’s the most played artist on your iPod?
Tool & Radiohead
19/ What’s your favorite band / album of all time?
Tool- any album basically
20/ What’s your favorite book / Podcast ?
Podcast would be Ricky Gervais with Karl Pilkington. Book: anything by Henry Rollins & Charles Bukowski
21/ Any great websites out there for people to check out?
Outside of work Im a bit of a gardening nerd. PlantSnap is an app that you can take a photo of a plant and it identifies it. Music wise.. THE FACTION
22/ What do you do when you are not on the road?
I sell merch at local shows and support my local music scene.
23/ Words of Wisdom?
Go Experience More Live Music
As adults, other than going on a Roller coaster. That nervous excitement you get that gives you butterflies in your stomach can also be experienced when you are standing in a crowd and a band play the first note of a song you Love.
24/ You can contact me on?
jobushing@gmail.com
Last night of the Biggest tour I've done to date. 27 dates in 32 days in a 12 seater with a trailer. From Melbourne to Cairns and back.With King Parrot & Child Bite
Byron bay with Cog, Hammers & Roadsick
One of my set ups in Max Watts Melbourne for Psycroptic & Archspire
Home briefly from tour to do washing (good old roadsick laundry bag to the rescue) The fluffy Muppet Midnight was happy to see us
June / July 2019
1/ Name?
Christian Ustarroz
2/ Hometown?
Los Angeles, CA
3/ Currently Reside?
Los Angeles, CA
4/ Role?
TM / Stage ? Tech
5/ Years on the road?
5
6/ First band you ever worked for?
Fenix TX
7/ Any mentors in the industry worth mentioning?
Yogi, By far the most solid if not the most solid guy I've ever met touring
8/ Favourite US venue?
Palladium Worcester, MA
9/ Favourite US Bar or Restaurant?
Ye Rustic Inn!
10/ When and where was your first OS tour?
2016 with Unwritten Law
11/ Favourite OS country to tour?
Brisbane because the Lone Pine Sanctuary and the killer burger joint next to the Zoo
12/ Favorite OS venue?
Fowlers Live in Adelaide, R.I.P
13/ Favourite OS Bar or Restaurant?
Anywhere that has steak w/peppercorn sauce, chips and Tooheys or VB. Extra sauce!
14/ Last three bands you have toured with?
With Confidence
Runaway Kids
Unwritten Law
15/ What three tools are the most important to your role?
Gaff tape, tuner, more gaff tape
16/ What are the three things you can’t leave for tour without?
Laptop, sandals, baby wipes
17/ What’s your drink of choice after the truck is packed?
Chocolate milk or beer
18/ Who’s the most played artist on your iPod?
Growing up always Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana and Silversun Pickups. Currently too many its Throphy Eyes, Fever 333, Julia Micheals, Ruby fields, Beartooth. Just all over the place
19/ What’s your favorite band / album of all time?
Nirvana, Nevermind
20/ What’s your favorite book / Podcast ?
Book: Child called it / Podcast: Howard Stern or Gary Vee
21/ Any great websites out there for people to check out?
Try not to spend time online / Live in real life
22/ What do you do when you are not on the road?
Lead at Event Production Company, Stage / Lighting / Sound builds
Also do construction builds and recording studios
23/ Words of Wisdom?
Be a good person and nice to every new person you meet on the road. Don’t be a dick!
Also, if you hot bag make sure its double bagged
24/ You can contact me on?
IG: @custarroz
Tech for Strung Out, restringing Chris Aiken's Mr. Sparkle bass
Bandwagon driver for Strung Out Vans warped tour 2017
March / April 2019
1/ Name?
Elisha Boland
2/ Hometown?
South Sydney, NSW
3/ Currently Reside?
Melbourne, VIC
4/ Role?
Touring Road Merchandise Manager
5/ Years on the road?
Been on and off for 11 years but full time for 2 years now
6/ First band you ever worked for?
Cant nail it down but would be either In Hearts Wake, Bermuda or The Bride.
7/ Favorite AUS venue?
Toss up between the Opera House in Sydney for the views or The Forum + The Corner in Melb for the humans / vibe
8/ Favorite AUS Bar or Restaurant?
Crowbar on tour or B.East / The Alderman off
9/ When and where was your first OS tour?
Europe / UK winter 2017 with Northlane
10/ Favorite OS country to tour?
Germany for sure
11/ Favorite OS venue?
I recently loved Olympia in Paris. Leaving the venue during the day is important for sanity so the proximity to cool shit was 10/10.
12/ Favorite OS Bar or Restaurant?
Lucky dog in Williamsburg. Bury me with the bar dogs and pickle backs
13/ Last three bands you have toured with?
Parkway Drive, Gang of Youths and currently with Tash Sultana
14/ What three tools are the most important to your role?
T pins, a desirable personality and patience
15/ What are the three things you can’t leave for tour without?
Peli kit, clean underwear and my laptop
16/ What’s your drink of choice after the truck is packed?
Hendricks gin, tonic + lime please
17/ Who’s the most played artist on your iPod?
Last few months Don Broco and Everytime I Die has been getting very thrashed
18/ What’s your favorite band / album of all time?
Too hard to narrow down but - The Flatliners back catalogue, Wilhelm Scream - Mute Print, The Gaslight Anthem - Handwritten, Defeater - Letters Home, The Neighbourhood - I Love You, OWTH - Home
19/ What’s your favorite book / Podcast ?
I try and read a book a tour so last one I knocked off was The Tattooist of Auschwitz. Podcast-wise i go back and forth between Anxious and Angry + Casefile
20/ Any great websites out there for people to check out?
21/ What do you do when you are not on the road?
Try and have some semblance of a normal life - sleep, coffees, beach, spend time with my forever patient and understanding boyfriend + mates
22/ Words of Wisdom?
We’re pretty lucky at the end of the day to be able to do a job that takes us all over the world so I try to check myself and be grateful for it all. Even if it’s 3am on a tour bus leaving the UK and Granville has an acoustic guitar again
ALSO - chicks can be roadies too
23/ You can contact me on?
elishaboland@icloud.com for business or @elishaboland for shinfo
One of my absolute favourite displays and runs with Parkway Aus tour 2018. And a very tired Boland after 4 back to back monster shows.
Walking around Paris on a day off on the most recent PWD Euro run 2019. My sanity was restored after walking the streets with the crew and getting out of the bus / venue loop.
Nuremberg in Germany during the Northlane Euro run 2017 - Left the venue with the angels in Ocean Grove to explore and ended up finding a lot of places that served as points of interest to WW2.
Day one on Warped Tour 2018 for In Hearts Wake in California. Before all the eye bags and bad tan lines took over.
Out the front of The Triffid in 2015 with In Hearts Wake quickly learning the importance of getting your gear to the truck on time. Turns out Fishy COULDNT strap 2 merch boards to the back of a 3 tonne.
January / February 2019



