NEW South Wales band The Rubens was hoping for somedown time toward the end of summer.
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But their popularity with the Triple J Hottest 100 audience meant they we busier than ever.
The band’s lead single, Hoops, from their second album topped the Hottest 100 in January.
Made up of brothers Sam (lead vocals), Elliott (keyboard) and Zaac Margin (lead guitar) as well as Scott Baldwin (drums) and William Zeglis (bass), the band was completely surprised at the HOttest 100 result.
“Triple J are ruthless (when it comes to the Hottest 100),” lead singer Sam Margin said.
“They don’t care if it’s the most nerve-wracking thing in the world, they keep (the Hottest winner) a secret from everyone.
“Michael Gudinski couldn’t get anything out of them and was on the same page as everyone else.”
The band was called down to the ABC studios after their gig at the Australian studio and were live on air when they found out the final result of the countdown.
“I remember our manager Joel was ever the optimist,” Sam said.
“He was saying we were definitely in the top five or six and I always wanted to punch him.
“There were a bunch of Aussie and US people I convinced were above us. Our aim was to beat My Gun (number 10 in 2012) and then we got number 1, it was ridiculous.”
The Rubens have had a packed schedule since March with overseas shows and Australian tours including the Groovin the Moo festival in April and May.
They also have a couple of shows in the UK as well as a series of gigs back in Australia in June.
“The crowds look enormous from all accounts and the people we know who have done the Groovin festival tour have said it’s really fun,” Sam said.
“There seems to be an inclusive and fun vibe on the tour that you don’t usually get with festivals. Like, at Splendour, you won’t hang with Kanye but Groovin is a bit more of everyone getting to know each other.”
Splendour in the Grass is one of the biggest highlights in Sam’s career so far.
The first time we played there (in 2012) in the tent and thought it was going to be empty. It was a huge experience,” he said.
“The next time Frank Ocean cancelled so we played just before Lorde.
“In 2015 it was close to the biggest festival crowd we had played for. I just don’t expect people to be there.”
But the band’s popularity is clear with last year’s Australian tour also helping to prove it.
“It was one of the biggest ones we have done, in terms of capactiy, because of all the regional towns,” Sam said.
“People remember the bands that make the effort and look forward to you coming back.
“In Australia there is the major cities but there's so much more. Our first time in Darwin we sold 300 tickets and came back (next year) and sold 1000.
“People give a shit when you make the effort to get someowhere.”
