Images and words from Alan Dearling
The Gnomes are from the Melbourne suburb of Frankston, Australia. I had heard in advance that, “They have the swagger of The Easybeats and a vibe of Cavern Club era of the Beatles.”
Now I have witnessed them live at a gig in the legendary Golden Lion venue in Todmorden, I believe that a lot of their exuberance comes from their youthful total commitment to their musical performance – they are garage-punk-hippies – and wonderfully evoke the vibe of the mid 1960s and the spit and venom of the mid 1970s. At the Lion, it was a rock ‘n’ roll grunge freak-out. I think that it was more Ramones than Beatles…
Jay Millar was a solo Gnome until he approached some like-minded players from Frankston’s rehearsal hub, Singing Bird, and with Jay on lead vocals and lead guitar, Ned Capp on guitar, Olly Katsianis on bass, and Ethan Robins on drums, Gnome became a band.
The Gnomes provide a weird, genre-blending mix of styles and have created what they call their, “… stomping, hi-energy performances.” The Community Broadcasting Association of Australia have stressed their: “…keen vocal and instrumental abilities and punchy sound” adding that, “The Gnomes now, if the ever-increasing number of kids dancing up front every time they play is any indication, are set to bring their Bayside Beat to today’s international pop scene in a big way.
Most definitely Byrds/Beatles/Stones /Easybeats /Monkees inspired…”
Monkees meet the Goodies!!!! ‘Magic Man’ official video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0AIZGXCZwE
The Gnomes – ‘The Price Of Smoke Blues’ (Live from Happy) has had 42,278 views on Youtube and here is a comment on 6th Mar 2026 #GarageRock #Music #TheGnomes:
“Gnome sweet home! Frankston’s fab four stopped by to bless us with a blistering Live from Happy session of ‘The Price Of Smoke Blues’. Pure 60s-inspired garage grit meets NOW energy, absolutely flippin’ stomping!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4Xvn2w59Ds
David Thompson says:
“Tonight’s musical extravaganza comes courtesy of The Gnomes from Australia and I have to say they were absolutely amazing. Imagine The Beatles in Hamburg with some Punk rock/garage thrown in for good measure! I absolutely loved it!!”
Fast and furious….‘Thinking of me’ from the latest EP, ‘More’ was one of their live highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3mVP9MoRd9WatANoonq_5Q
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