Wednesday 12 June 2013

"The Cicada (That Ate Five Dock)" by Outline

Reranked Position: #2

Last updated: March 09, 2014

Appearances

  • All-Time 1989: #99
(Special thanks to Mark Gibson of Australian Music History - your website is really something special... it's not only a great resource, but is allowing people that haven't seen each other for years to get back in touch and reunite.)

And of course a crazy-obscure Australian band had to show up at some point during this list... I just wasn't expecting it to be the third song in.

What the internet can tell me about Outline is fairly limited. They formed in 1979 and disbanded in 1982. Apparently one of the band members, Phil Rigger, joined Dee Minor and the Dischords for a gig at The Annadale on May 25, 2013. The song in question, The Cicada (That Ate Five Dock), was released as a single in April 1981, and included in their only album, Maybe It's A Game, in 1982.

Watch their PV:

I was most certainly not born in the 1980s (1990 girl here!), but I wish I grew up in the 80s. Naturally, I'm left with many questions...
  • How how how how how the hell did Outline not end up with any mainstream success? Seriously! Cicada has all of the trademarks of a number one hit: catchy sound, notable lyrics that demand you screech and sing along to them (EEE EEE EEE EEE! EEE EEE EEE EEE! Cicaaaahdaaaah... cicaaaaaaahdaaaahh... Cicaaaahdaaaah... cicaaaaaaaaahdaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh... THAT! ATE! FIVE! DOCK!), around the 3 minute ballpark lengthand a decent enough PV definitely suited for television.
  • Why Five Dock? Why Drummoyne? Why not Newtown or Redfern or Woolloomooloo or Darlinghurst or Glebe? I'm not a Sydney native, so I have no idea.
  • (To anyone that was in Outline, should they ever stumble upon my little project here:) WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY DID YOU DISBAND? The fact that one of your songs was remembered eight years after it was released is a testament to your awesomeness. Also, why did you guys never consider reforming? Did you even know you were included in the Hottest 100?
It's little gems like this that make me want to reorganise my place so I have some room to set up a vinyl player and find fantastic music like this... Is it strange that I do have a small vinyl collection even though I have nothing to play them on?

Addendum @ 3:00 am 9th March 2014: OUTLINE HAVE REFORMED!!!!!!!! *arm flailing* I am much excite, and I need to internet moar. Find Outine on their official page (complete with mailing list!), Facebook and Reverb Nation.

6 comments:

  1. Hey Sarah, thanks for the great comments. As things happen, we were ripped off by a manager at the end of the bands career and we just decided to stop. We have lived in different parts of the World over the last 25 years but have decided to get back together for the benefit gig for Kev Stanton and we will be doing another couple of gigs later this year. We have a number of other things planned as well, so stay in touch. My email is phil@monstereomusic.com Thanks again

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    Replies
    1. Hi Phil, so great to find Cicada today!
      Don't know if you'll receive this.
      Absolutely S H I T how your manager ripped OUTLINE OFF!
      ALL THE BEST
      FEEL GREAT WATCHING YOUR VIDEO.
      All the best Haiddee.

      Delete
  2. Hey Sarah - thanks for all the kind words. Will tell you the story of how I wrote that song when we meet up........you're coming to see us aren't you? John

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I will be, now that I've got my life sorted out - just make sure you guys send gig dates out on the mailing list that I just signed up to on your website :)

      Delete
    2. Hi John, thought to hit, Cicada, after watching Phil Haye today, on tv.
      OUTLINE popped up.
      So great to see the Cicada video!
      Don't know if you'll receive this.
      All the best Haiddee
      Sad I missed the reunion.

      Delete
  3. who knows why some of the best bands ever to play live in australia break up !! and some of the best are also never able to catch the right wave at the right time ! thems the breaks !!

    ReplyDelete