Mushroom Music Publishing

Writing a concise biography of Chris Altmann is hard. It’s hard to decide on what he’s best known for, for example. Perhaps “Multi-Instrumentalist” is the most fitting title, but that doesn’t allow for the other vital facets of his artistry; he’s also a songwriter, a performer, a band leader, a collaborator, and session musician. “Multi-Talented” may be a better depiction.

Altmann has been fascinated with music since he was old enough to reach the keys on a piano. His parents helped along his interest by purchasing him his own turntable for his 5th birthday, where he gave up many afternoons building forts and riding dirt bikes on the family’s Adelaide Hills dairy farm to play records by The Beatles, Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, Slim Dusty, Flatt & Scruggs and later on ACDC. By the age of 19 he had already mastered the guitar, banjo and pedal steel as well as developed into a powerful vocalist. Performing as a member of the Altmann Family Band in different country fairs and competitions triggered his desire to be onstage, and he went on to form country rock tinged group The Drowners, who gained a following in the Adelaide music scene. Spurred on by this success, the band relocated to Melbourne.

Influences from this hard rocking city led the group off in different directions, leading to the formation of The Vandas. After gigging extensively around the country and releasing several EPs over 5 years, the group caught the interest of Liberation Music, who released their debut long player, Slow Burn, in 2008 to much critical acclaim. When not on the road with The Vandas, Altmann regularly features as a side man and session player in many well-known Melbourne acts, including Tim Rogers, Van Walker, Shackleton, Susannah Espie, Barb Waters, Mick Thomas, Cindy Boste, The Idle Hoes and Pete Ross. Other career highlights include sharing stages with Australian music icons Lobby Lloyd and Jimmy Barnes.

He has always maintained his interest in the country music of his childhood, which has led to the conception of his new solo band, Que Paso. Something of a Melbourne “super group”, the band features Altmann on lead vocals and drums, dobro player Jeb Cardwell (Backwood Creatures, Johnny 7), acoustic guitarist and mandolin player Mike Hager (The Idle Hoes), lead guitarist Paul Thomas (Weddings Parties Anything, Huxton Creepers) and double bassist Zane Lynd (Subaudible Hum). The sound is influenced by the Texas border town grooves of Doug Sahm and Jerry Jeff Walker, combined with the up tempo country rock beats of Chuck Berry and Levon Helm. With their combined appreciation of bluegrass music, the band will also feature a break away set of old time string music, with Altmann highlighting his banjo capabilities as well as his fiddle playing (an instrument he took up at the beginning of 2009).

The plan for Chris Altmann in 2010 is to release his first solo album in September on his newly formed record label, Ridin’ High Records, followed by a National tour. The album, titled “Que Paso”, is Spanish for “What Happened”, a tongue-in-cheek reference to the change from the hard rocking style that fans have come to expect from Altmann’s better known group, The Vandas. Altmann will also be working on new songs with The Vandas, with the intention of releasing a follow up to Slow Burn.