"The Best Band You've Never Seen"

 I can only tell you three things about them: they are called The Von Trolley Quartet (that may not be the correct spelling), they used to be called Toast and, despite the name, there are three of them. Take a close look at the picture and you will notice that two of them - the drummer and "guitarist" - are playing what appear to be toy instruments. Bolstered by an electric bass, they somehow create a mighty racket which is strange but wonderful.
Here, you see The Von Trolley Quartet playing at an obscure bandstand tucked away in a hidden corner of a field close to Avalon. The music they made is very difficult to describe, but would make a great soundtrack for the film "Oh! Brother where art thou?". Think of a mix of bluegrass, vaudeville and Ukrainian folk, if you can. The Von Trolley Quartet aren't just about the music, however. The two, ahem, older gentlemen in the band - the ones playing the toy instruments - punctuate their manic strumming and beating with a clown-like schtick which conjures up images of Laurel And Hardy, Marcel Marceau and The Marx Brothers. Backed up with the sort of kipper ties that clowns wear, which flip up when a string is pulled. They were playing in such an obscure part of the site that a crowd of only around 50 people witnessed them. But all those people were visibly in the grips of hilarity. If you're still out there, Von Trolleys, come and find us - we want to know more about you.

Steve Boxer
Official Glastonbury Website (U.K. ,2004)

The Mild Nutters of Rock

Playing boosting rock'n'roll with their head in their bottoms (or rather their heads down) with instruments for 7 year old children, it is possible! These absurd Australians do it. And the audience wants more, in the Concerct House in Neuchatel, a little after midnight... a thick smoke fills the theatre. The musicians of von Trolley Quartett have just faced their first day in contact with the street. They prepare to go on stage to animate one of the unforgettable nights of Buskers. Two German girls are trembling with impatience: they had a short glimpse of the show of the Australian artists the afternoon. "But there were too many people! We followed only bits of the spectacle. It had this insane touch, this is why we waited until now."
The four musicians/comedians fill the stage with power. Their trousers are too short, their seriously old-fashioned bowler hats definitively out-dated, their ties well too long and their glossed waistcoats much too tight.
The aces of the ridiculous launch in to a improved version of "the Inspector Gadget", clutched to their absurd instruments which resemble vaguely one ukulélé, low, an electric banjo and a battery for children of less than 7 years.

AC/DC version banjo
"We come from Australia", proudly announces the banjoplayer, before starting a burlesque dance of the kangaroo and launching out in a challenge which consists in passing its right leg over the left during 47 minutes, while turning on itself. Welcome in the absurd and irresistible universe of the great musicians with the microscopic instruments!

"Are you ready to rock' roll?", asks the tiny dwarf. The crowd is all excited. The jolly fellows put on wigs, black glasses and tackle a boosted piece of AC/DC in a disorder of delirious acrobatics.

The audience, literally charmed by the band, wants more. "If you thought we are sexy, pay here!", announces the champion of the miniature guitar, in French language that does not resemble anything at all. The lights are put on again. The spectators leave a parallel dimension which they wish to regain... as fast as possible!

Virginie Giroud- L'EXPRESS(Neuchatel, Switzerland)– 17/08/2006
(translated from French originally titled Du loufoque dans le rock)

“Marvelous manic mayhem: The Von Trolley Quartet just has so much going on.... Like a crazed persistent voice in the back of your mind, this Aussie madness is a well honed music of attrition. It’ll melt down everything you thought you knew about rocking out. The formerly Vienna -based, vintage-inspired clown quartet is irreverent musical genius personified; melding gypsy, classical, jazz and circus genres to miraculously reveal a perfect ACDC rendition (and more) from carefully scrambled notes.

With an original spin on tricks, stunts and jokes, they’ll have your cheeks drilling with pain after more than an hour of compulsive laughter. With shrunken instruments they play soft then loud, slow and at break neck speed. They fuse hi-fi with the high arts. Alas, they are now in Perth and then to Dubai by popular demand, but they’ll be back. And you must go! “


Mike Gribble - The Advertiser Newspaper Review
(Adelaide, Australia) – 10/03/2007

“…..The Hall was set for a second half that can only be described as completely different, these 3 musician/clowns had the audience in stitches of laughter!
The Von Trolley Quartet is comprised of three Australians (two Bathurst boys) who are based in Vienna, but currently in Australia for the Festival Season.
      
They describe their genre as street theatre, busking and circus all rolled into one.
      
However comedy and music underpin their ‘act’ and their clever medleys were interwoven with well crafted sight gags and slick delivery.
      
This was an Unforgettable night of entertainment…..”

By Robert Smallwood
Western Times (Bathurst, Australia)
Thursday April 17 2006