SNOUT -----------by Jason Wallace
While Snout may have disappeared from undiscerning Australian music lovers’ eyes in recent months, lead-man, Ross McLennan, has been playing the part of quiet achiever, out of range of the limelight. But, with both new line-up and material, he is now keen to return to the national music scene.

Snout, during this low profile period supported The Cruel Sea at Richmond’s Corner Hotel last November. At the gig, Ross’ brother Link (of Meanies fame) accompanied Ross on guitar, replacing Greg Ng, who Ross says was probably ill on the night. Greg was the trio’s guitarist since 1994, but recently left the band.

Ross explained that he enjoys the occasional performances with Link, but is glad it isn’t a regular commitment. "I think he kind of regrets he hasn’t been free when there’s been a position vacant, but I like the fact it’s been a fun, once-in-a-while, thing. We shared a bedroom, for I don’t know how many odd years, we don’t really need to be in the same band."

Of Greg’s departure, he says: "It was an amicable affair. It won’t make the tabloids." He explained Greg had been writing his own material (Ross writes all of the material for Snout) and was keen to go it alone. "At the same time, I think he’s totally sick of touring. It does take a toll on your health, when you do it heavily. Even though we haven’t for quite some time. I think he was just experiencing the cringe factor whenever it was mentioned.

Apparently, Greg has plenty of mates from which to comprise his own live band. "Both Anthony (Paine, Greg’s replacement in Snout) and I have offered to play bass, I think he is pretty keen on Anthony doing it, I can understand why he wouldn’t want me."

The addition of Anthony to the Snout team has allowed Ross to work seriously on some new material, knowing the group members, completed by Ewan McCartney on drums, are all committed, although Ewan does play on the side with Rebecca’s Empire and The Grapes, while Anthony continues to play with his other band, The Hired Guns. But, with all members enthusiastic about pursuing Snout’s succeed, they have begun recording a new album. "It remains to be seen what’s going to happen, because it’s a very different band. It’s very up in the air at the moment, which is kind of scary and good at the same time."

Two additional events over the past year may cause subtle changes in Ross’s output on the new album: he attended the Mushroom Music songwriters workshop and also wrote and recorded the soundtrack for The Loved Ones, a documentary on the Lort Smith animal hospital to be screened on the ABC this year.

At the songwriter workshop, he collaborated with Phil Kakalus (The Blackeyed Susans) and Machine Gun Fellatio. Ross confesses to being a power freak, demanding full control over his band’s music, thus, he found the experience "a bit scary. The kind of thing which I’ve always cringed at, more out of ignorance than anything else. But I think it was a really good thing to do in the end."

Ross claimed the workshop, the workshop helped him hone his concentration, discovering that, if given a space of time, space to work in and distinct guidelines, he can surprise even himself with what he can contribute to a song. "When I write songs. I either get elated or really angry and depressed and its actually, over the last six months, not been fun to do. I think this (workshop) made me see it as fun."

Ross claims immersing himself in serious composition, culminating in his work on The Loved Ones soundtrack has been his salvation over the last year. Apparently, Ross used to play in concert bands while still at school. "For The Loved Ones I had to write something vaguely Glenn Miller sounding and played cornet on it, I taught myself how to play, badly." Fans won’t get to see Ross pull out the cornet at future gigs however. "I gave up the cornet because it screwed up my teeth. I had root canal trouble when I started playing, so I gave it away."

After warning he is not the most eloquent spokesperson about the documentary, he says, "I guess it’s sort of a story about being loved. A lot of people in it are frail and often alone and the animals mean quite a lot to them."

Check out Snout’s new guitarist at the Sunny Sedgwick Music Festival, which takes place over March the 3rd, 4th and 5th of March, 2000.