Nudity is now “few and far between”, says lead Leroy Macqueen, who formed the gonzo-pop duo with his girlfriend, drummer and vocalist Kat Friend in 2013.

They made their first EP Novo’s in the front room of their house in Newcastle while they were still getting to grips with how to play their instruments. 

The musos relocated to Los Angeles in 2015 where they recorded Introverted Extroverts with producer Bill Skibbe, who worked with The Kills and The Black Keys.

Last year, the band launched their own record label Summer Camp Records.

“Back in the day like every single show (I’d get naked) to distract from the fact we couldn’t play,” Macqueen says.

“These days few and far in between - it started happening less in America because a lot of venues were 16 plus and also it’s America.

“I mean I can’t be the naked guy forever, I’ll end up getting  old and no one will want to see that.”

Macqueen, whose inspiration includes KISS (KISS is his favourite band in the world), Freddie Mercury and The Stranglers, is no less a performer with his clothes on.

“When we first started, we hadn’t really mastered our instruments, we relied a lot on stage banter and banners and all different kinds of noise and whistles, just different things that would get us through a show and blow people’s minds while we were still honing our instruments.

“There’s time and a place for boring music but that’s definitely not The Gooch Palms.

“If I see a boring band I feel like I’m getting the flu and I definitely don’t want people to feel like they’re getting the flu.”

The Gooch Palms have “frequent flyers to the max” after more than half a dozen tours in the last 12 months including two in the States, three in Australia and a tour of Europe and the United Kingdom.

They will play at Ballarat’s Karova Lounge on Sunday, February 26 at 7pm with supports Tropical Snakes, Electric Mud and Robot Fox.

Tickets are $15 plus booking fee.

To book or for more information visit www.karovalounge.com.