BIG DAY OUT; Nothing for Kate
by Daniel Clarke
The Advertiser, January 31 2002

A HUGELY successful 2001 could not prevent Something For Kate from breaking an unwanted record. After being nominated in six categories for the ARIA awards, SFK failed to take home a single trophy, perhaps going down in history as the band that has lost the most ARIAS in one night.

"Powderfinger won most of them and deservedly so," bass guitarist Stephanie Ashworth says. "It was such a huge album for them. 

"It's really nice to be nominated in (these) categories and I think that was enough for us."

With the release of its much-played third album, Echolalia, and another on the way, SFK has enjoyed a jump in popularity and a greater reputation on the Australian music scene. But along with the success has come criticism about the so-called pessimism of singer/songwriter Paul Dempsey's voice and lyrics. Ashworth wants to set the record straight. "We've often been misconstrued as a very negative, pessimistic band because of the way we present the songs," she says.

"Paul's a tall, dark-haired guy with a raspy voice who gets very emotionally involved with the songs, and people immediately think he's got problems and issues," she says.

"But if these people actually read the lyrics, he's saying some very positive things. The main theme that runs through the latest album is about apathy and seizing control of your situation whether it be good or bad. I personally don't think Paul's voice has ever been monotone."

Ashworth says the band has toured almost non-stop since Echolalia's release and it won't stop now. SFK will play in Adelaide tomorrow - the first time the three-piece has done so with the Big Day Out. Ashworth says that the festival is a "great thing for any band to be involved in because of the variety of music".

Does she believe the Big Day Out still holds the importance and interest of years gone by?

"I guess this year the lack of international acts is going to be the case because of what happened in America," Ashworth says. "But I think it's still as big to everyone as it used to be in that there's a new generation of people going to it for the first time. It's become an historical event in this country for music so therefore it is still as important as it ever was, even though it's changed a bit over the years."

Something For Kate plays on the Orange Stage from 2.45pm.