Charlie Freak

Charlie Freak in 2016.

**Charlie Freak** was an indie pop band from Auckland Central from 2013 until 2016. Consisting of Leith Towers (vocals, guitar), Reuben Grant (guitar, backing vocals), Ethan Moore (bass) and Callum Lewis (drums).

## History

### Formation (2013)

Towers, on the formation of Charlie Freak, said: "*Gabe and I used to be in a prog metal band… We sounded kinda like Animals as Leaders, and like 10 people came to our shows. And then I became a raging alcoholic and forgot how to play guitar, so now we just do sorta poppy rock songs".* The band is named after the Steely Dan song of the same name from the album Pretzel Logic.

### *Are You Think?* & Auckland all-ages scene (2014-2015)

The bands debut EP, *Are you Think?,* was released on the 12th of March 2014. On the 2nd of August 2014, "Cradle the Sun" was released as a single with "Love Her While You Can" as the b-side. The band played at AGEOLD on the 13th of December 2014 alongside acts such as Die! Die! Die!, P.H.F., Miss June, Heroes for Sale, Desperate Models, and Fields\*. On the 1st of May 2015 the band opened for Miss June's all-ages *Matriarchy* EP release show alongside Desperate Models and Courtney Hate. Around this time "How Clean is Yr Collar" was released as a single.

### First breakup & *Made in Nippon* (2015-2016)

For most of mid to late 2015, Charlie Freak was on hiatus after a breakup post on Facebook.

Without any warning, the band released their debut album, *Made in Nippon,* on the 13th of December 2015. The album was released on cassette through Sticks and Stone Records, limited to a pressing of 100 copies.

Exactly one month later, on the 13th of January 2016, the band uploaded a music video for "Tears Enough", directed by Matt Hunter. On that same day, they were Mac DeMarco's support band at King's Arms tavern with Yukon Era. On the 28th of May 2016, the band was featured as one of the acts at 95bFM's Fancy New Band showcase at The King's Arms, with Courtney Hate and Yukon Era.

### *Sweet Tooth / Out of Fashion* & second breakup (2016)

On the 2nd of April 2016, the band supported Maple Syrup's *Ace & Gab's Honeymoon* EP tour at Ellen Melville Hall alonside Courtney Hate, Ralwuss, and Title Pending. On the 24th of June 2016, the band supported Clap Clap Riot at the Old Folks Association. "Sweet Tooth" and "Out of Fashion" were released as a double A-side single on the 14th of July 2016 with a release gig at Cassette Number Nine, and support from Smokestank Girls. On the 6th of August 2016, the band played at Gabriel Everett from The Moots' festival Messed Up 2016 with Mermaidens and Yukon Era.

Charlie Freak stopped playing together in November 2016

### Depot Sound & legacy (2017-2018)

After the band's breakup, Depot Sound posted a live session on the 23rd of November 2016 that the band had performed, where they debuted new, never released song "What a Lovely View". In late 2018, the band posted on their facebook page "I regret everything and nothing" with a link to their entire discography available for download, including the never before released demo, "Make My Life". The post and the facebook page have since been deleted.

### Other projects (2014-Present)

Moore's Dirty Pixels started in 2014, put on hold for Charlie Freak, released an EP "Spacesuit" May 22nd, Towers played the guitar solo on the EPs title track. Dirty Pixels has released two more singles, *On Ice / Transistor Lady* on the 26th of March 2018, also featuring Towers on the second track, and "Bluebirds" on the 31st of August 2018, feauturing Keria Paterson of B-Lush and Polyester on drums.

Towers collaborated with Laszlo Reynolds on their EP, *Flight Booked (Quite Good),* released on the 17th of November 2018.

## Members

### Final lineup

* Leith Towers - vocals, guitar (2013-2017)
* Reuben Grant - guitar, backing vocals (2015-2017)
* Ethan Moore - bass (2015-2017)
* Callum Lewis - drums (2013-2017)

## Discography

### Singles

* *Cradle the Sun* (2014)
* *How Clean is Yr Collar?* (2015)
* *Sweet Tooth / Out of Fashion* (2016)

## Links

The band has deleted almost all of their social media accounts and streaming services.

## References

1. ↑ Are You Think? by Charlie Freak (Ep, Indie Rock), Rate Your Music, Gallifrey, 8/12/2014, https://rateyourmusic.com/release/ep/charlie\_freak/are\_you\_think\_/
2. ↑ New Band of the Week: Charlie Freak, OK Music Blog, https://okmusicblog.wordpress.com/2014/04/14/new-band-of-the-week-charlie-freak/
3. ↑ Cradle the Sun by Charlie Freak, Rate Your Music, https://rateyourmusic.com/release/single/charlie\_freak/cradle\_the\_sun/
4. ↑ Matt Hunter - Charlie Freak, Vimeo, https://vimeo.com/129392901
5. ↑ AGEOLD 2014, undertheradar, https://www.undertheradar.co.nz/gig/42003/AGEOLD-2014.utr
6. ↑ MISS JUNE SECRET ALL AGES HOUSE PARTY, Facebook event page, https://www.facebook.com/events/633441106757639/
7. ↑ Miss June Announces 'Matriarchy' EP Release Tour, Undertheradar, https://www.undertheradar.co.nz/news/9558/Miss-June-Announces-Matriarchy-EP-Release-Tour.utr
8. ↑ How Clean is Yr Collar by Charlie Freak, Rate Your Music, https://rateyourmusic.com/release/single/charlie-freak/how-clean-is-yr-collar/
9. ↑ Made in Nippon by Charlie Freak, Rate Your Music, https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/charlie\_freak/made\_in\_nippon/
10. ↑ Charlie Freak - Made in Nippon, S&S, Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/stickandstonerecords/photos/a.1657737437822522/1690468804549385/?type=3&theater
11. ↑ Video: Charlie Freak - Tears Enough, Undertheradar, 13/1/16, https://www.undertheradar.co.nz/news/10655/Video-Charlie-Freak---Tears-Enough.utr
12. ↑ Tears Enough, Charlie Freak, Vimeo, https://vimeo.com/151284821
13. ↑ In Review: Mac DeMarco, Tearaway, 18/1/16, https://tearaway.co.nz/in-review-mac-demarco/
14. ↑ bFm Fancy New Band Showcase – Kings Arms, The 13th Floor, https://www.13thfloor.co.nz/bfm-fancy-new-band-showcase-kings-arms-concert-review/
15. ↑ • Maple Syrup (WLG) Auckland All Ages Show •, Oldies, Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/events/194865397560534/
16. ↑ Live Photos: Clap Clap Riot and Charlie Freak - Old Folks Assn, Auckland, Undertheradar, https://www.undertheradar.co.nz/news/11315/Live-Photos-Clap-Clap-Riot-and-Charlie-Freak---Old-Folks-Assn-Auckland.utr
17. ↑ Charlie Freak with Smokestank, Eventfinda, https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2016/charlie-freak-with-smokestank/auckland?fbclid=IwAR1CorKXYoY7AluGaNDOmx1LPAbvtHToNOmjbyjHMXFIeZAYmDSj\_kzGPjA
18. ↑ Photos from Auckland's Most Messed Up Underage Festival, Vice, https://www.vice.com/en\_au/article/mvnpxx/photos-of-messed-up
19. ↑ Messed Up 2016, Facebook Event, https://www.facebook.com/events/1782529968650019/
20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 Fresh Talent: Dirty Pixels, NZ Musician, https://nzmusician.co.nz/features/fresh-talent-dirty-pixels/
21. ↑ Charlie Freak - What a Lovely View - Live at Depot Sound, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCdD35sHn88
22. ↑ Dirty Pixels: Spacesuit EP, NZ Musician, https://nzmusician.co.nz/music/dirty-pixels-spacesuit/
23. ↑ Dirty Pixels - On Ice / Transistor Lady, Bandcamp, https://dirtypixels.bandcamp.com/album/on-ice-transistor-lady
24. ↑ Dirty Pixels - Bluebirds, Bandcamp, https://dirtypixels.bandcamp.com/track/bluebirds
25. ↑ Leith & Laszlo - Flight Booked (Quite Good), Bandcamp, https://laszloreynolds.bandcamp.com/album/flight-booked-quite-good