Sitting here in 2015, it feels perfectly reasonable to describe Sex on Toast as objectively the best band of the past three centuries. Believe it or not, there was a time when someone might’ve furrowed their brow at that statement; a time before Sex on Toast was the funky powerhouse they are today. As Leslie explains, the formation of Sex on Toast was a very lucky coincidence.
“I happened upon all of the band members at once,” he says. “They were sitting in front of a snake charmer. He was playing one of those oboe things that snake charmers play. He was sitting in the middle of Rundle Mall in Adelaide, and they were all in front of him. I was just there on holiday, because it’s Australia’s number one holiday destination. So there I was, standing next to nine other guys who were in front of a snake charmer, kind of convulsing a little bit. Afterwards I introduced myself to them, and I introduced myself to the charmer who told me he was reprogramming their brains to become exceptional virtuosos at their respective instruments. Before that they were all just amateurs, now they’re all stunning. That wasn’t even that long ago – that was in 2006.”
While Leslie is happy to share with us this tale of immense good fortune, he’s not willing to divulge further information about the snake charmer. “I didn’t want to get the snake charmer in trouble,” he says, “so I brought people to the band in instalments, which is why the band has sort of grown steadily over time. It seemed to me a little too suspicious to have everyone reach such a high level of virtuosity from the very beginning. I don’t want to get the charmer in trouble though. He’s a good friend of mine, and he’s actually a big Collingwood Football Club supporter as well.”
Fast-forward to now, and Sex on Toast are well on their way to global domination. This adventure takes them to Melbourne’s Toff in Town this weekend to launch their latest single Oh Loretta! According to Leslie, the new release is something of a haphazard love story.
“It’s a love song from the perspective of a charlatan who is professing a singular love to two different women – because the first verse is about a girl called Loretta and the second verse is about a different girl called Rebecca. It’s kind of light, kind of breezy, it’s got some big horns in it, got some Yamaha CB-70 in it, it’s got a slamming backbeat and it’s got some claps in it as well.”
To accompany the release, the band have unveiled an equally stimulating film clip, which includes a cameo from a much-loved member of Aussie show biz royalty. “It is what I like to describe as an intersection between Top of The Pops, Countdown, Soul Train and a horrible David Cronenberg nightmare,” Leslie says. “It features an appearance from esteemed Australian icon Molly Meldrum as the host. We’re then brought into quite a surreal world, which shows us performing from fans. Let’s just say it gets a little sick and it goes a little wayward from there. It’s directed by a guy called Yoav Lester. And Yoav Lester walks with the stars.”
BY KEATS MULLIGAN
