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AARON SCHEMBRI LAUNCHES ALBUM WITH AUSSIE LEGENDS 0

How did 25-year-old singer, songwriter, guitarist Aaron Schembri convince some of Australia’s most legendary artists to not only sing and play on his debut album ‘City Lights’ but also perform at the upcoming launch gig in September? Australian Musician editor Greg Phillips phoned him up and asked that very question!

Aaron Schembri is one of those musicians you’ve most likely seen and heard but didn’t even know it. He’s one of those humble guys, a hired hand around town that is more concerned about doing a great job for the artists he’s playing for rather than seeking the spotlight himself. He’s played guitar alongside everyone from Renee Geyer and Ross Hannaford to Normie Rowe, Russell Morris, and many others. Unbeknown to most, quietly and steadily Aaron has been working away in the background for the last four years on his own debut album. It’s called City Lights and to celebrate the occasion of his first album, he called on many of the legendary artists he has played with to join him on the recording. A testament to the type of guy Aaron is, anyone who was available had no problem accepting the invitation … but more of that later … let’s first find out who this Aaron Schembri guy is!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aaron with Kevin Borich

Aaron took to the guitar early in life and was playing in his first pub band by the age of fifteen. Inspired by his grandfather, Aaron was schooled in all kinds of pioneering rock n roll. “My grandfather had the Chuck Berry records and Dion, all the great rock ’n’ roll records,” recalls Aaron of his childhood. “Then dad had ACDC, The Stones, ZZ Top … so I had a great range of where it all started. As I got more into guitar I was into Mick Taylor from The Rolling Stones but really, the one for me was Chuck Berry, his songwriting and his stage presence was on another level. If it wasn’t for Chuck Berry we wouldn’t have The Stones, The Beatles, and AC/DC. He could tell a story in under 3 minutes.”

The more Aaron developed his guitar chops, the more he got into guitars. Although he has played many different guitars throughout his career, currently has two main instruments are a Gibson SG, ’61 re-issue and a Gibson ES345, which get a workout more than his Strats and Teles. His very first electric guitar was an SG which his father bought for him. “My dad got it for me when he realized I was doing music seriously and it was an Angus Young model SG with the logo at the top and on the tailpiece and I still have it.  I actually got Angus to sign it a couple of years ago. So that’s going to stick with me forever that thing. Amp-wise, a Fender Deluxe is my go to amp. I’ve tried Marshalls and didn’t feel it was me. I just have a little pedalboard with tremolo and hand-made Tube Screamer. The stuff I do is not complicated so I don’t need a spaceship pedalboard.”

Returning to the topic of his debut album, it’s a project which Aaron began four years ago. The concept was always to utilize the many great artists he has worked with throughout his career, the problem was not so much getting them to agree, it was finding gaps in each of their schedules to come into the studio to complete their parts. Aaron’s patience paid off as he has managed to secure the services of; Normie Rowe, Ross Wilson, Russell Morris, Colleen Hewett, Phil Manning, Kevin Borich, Wilbur Wilde, Mark Gable, Mike Rudd, James Cupples, and John “Swanee” Swan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aaron with Ross Wilson

Aaron also co-wrote “Living Hell” with James Cupples and had begun co-writing a song with Ross Hannaford “Don't You Worry Now”, which features Daddy Cool’s Ross Wilson singing the lead vocals on this album.  “Each track has a different inspiration behind it, covering all aspects of my inspirations from reggae, rock, blues, and country. The artists on the album have also been big inspirations to me musically. As much as they are my peers, I’m a huge fan of their craft,“ Aaron said. “I first met Ross Hannaford when I was 17, we jammed together a venue called Musicland. We hit it off and started doing duo gigs together and even had Ross guest-spotting in my band over the years. I had worked with most of these artists before, I played bass for Normie Rowe at the Go! Show concert at the Palais Theatre. Phil Manning, Mike Rudd, James Cupples I work with regularly. Everyone was all for the concept and the idea of the project and it all just fell into place for me.”

However, the track that is closest to Aaron’s heart is the one celebrating his real hero, his grandfather. “I sing two of the songs on the album,” he explains. “There’s a bit of a ballad, with an Everly Brothers feel. I wrote that for my grandfather when he passed away because he was the only musician in the family and we had a great connection. When he passed away that song just came out. I didn’t change anything from when I first wrote it.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With his City Lights album recorded and on the verge of release, what does Aaron hope people get out of listening to it?
“There are a lot of people of my age who don’t know a lot about Australian music history. I have some of Australia’s greatest artists on my album, singing my songs. So hopefully there’s a connection between my generation, what’s happening now and hearing and learning what has happened in the past. There’s a big gap between my generation and that generation and my dream is to connect both and get people to appreciate those who have come before.”

For a special ONE NIGHT ONLY at MEMO Music Hall, Aaron launches his debut album with appearances from his guest artists and his seven-piece band. The night will consist of three sets, including some of the artist's classic Australian hits, that first ever duet between Colleen Hewett and Russell Morris, and the tribute to Ross Hannaford, performing the song that he and Aaron began writing together before Ross became unwell.

$5.00 from each ticket sale will be donated to Aaron’s charity of choice “Support Act: The Heart and Hand of Australian Music” assisting the health and welfare for the people who are doing it hard within the music industry.

Website: www.aaronSchembri.com

GIG INFO
Date: Wed 25 September
Time: Doors 7pm, Show 8pm
Tickets: www.memomusichall.com.au

General Standing Room, $45.00plus bf, A-Reserved Seats $58.00 plus bf, Premium Res. Seats — (13 Available), Guarantees an allocated seat in the Premium Reserved Section (front & Centre) $68.00
Venue: MEMO Music Hall – 88 Acland Street St Kilda

 

  • Josie Morrison

SPIDERBAIT ANNOUNCE SINGLES BOX SET AND FORUM GIG 0

 

To celebrate their hit-laden career, legendary Aussie rockers Spiderbait have announced a one-off show at Forum Melbourne on November 9, with tickets going on sale at 9 am Thursday, July 11.  And another exciting announcement for long-time fans – the show will be paired with a brand new, limited edition 7” vinyl box set of singles, SPIDERBAIT – SINGLES and will be available exclusively at the show.

The story of Spiderbait is an unlikely but heartwarming one – three friends from a small Australian country town taking on the music scene and emerging triumphantly 25 years later, friendship intact, and now one of the biggest and best rock bands on the national landscape. Taking inspiration from far-reaching influences from all sides of the musical spectrum (everything from Slayer to The Bangles), Spiderbait took their fervent thrash-pop from their tiny hometown of Finley in NSW down to Melbourne and immersed themselves in the rich, fertile creative scene.  From there they quickly consolidated their status as national treasures, with their popularity spanning three decades with no signs of abating.  Spiderbait has released seven acclaimed albums, which have all racked up gold, platinum or double platinum status and have combined Australian sales of over one million units.  As if that wasn’t enough, they have also racked up pretty much every accolade there is to achieve on the Australian scene, having taken home numerous ARIA Awards, chalked up a number one single (their 2004 cover of Leadbelly’s Black Betty) and even topped the prestigious triple j Hottest 100 (for Buy Me A Pony, 1996).

The upcoming show at Forum Melbourne is sure to please old and new fans alike, as drummer and vocalist Kram enthuses, “For the first time we’ll be performing every one of singles in order of release, from Circle K way back in 1990 to now.  It’s been great to look back at all these singles, from number 1s like Black Betty and Buy Me a Pony… to my personal faves like Calypso, Stevie and It’s Beautiful….

They are like a diary of our lives bringing back memories from all the time we’ve been playing together.  The same three country kids who formed a band for fun and ended up having this fucked up, brilliant, unexpected adventure…so to all our fans, come celebrate with us at the Forum in November, it will be a special night.”

Thrilled to be dropping the SPIDERBAIT – SINGLES 7” vinyl box set in conjunction with the show, complete with original mixes & artwork, Kram explains why they chose to add an unexpected song into the mix, saying, “We included Old Man Sam from 1991 – which wasn’t actually a single back then but might as well have been, as weirdly and wonderfully it became our first big hit song!  I’ll never forget the first time we played the song at Big Day Out in Sydney.  This was a big moment for us as we went on stage a bit nervous, it was a massive crowd of thousands at the Sydney Show Grounds and when we did Old Man Sam, the whole crowd sang it and went nuts.  That day we came off stage a very different band than the one that went on 45 minutes before.  It’s amazing and dare I say fucking awesome how one song can do that.”

Spiderbait are a very special Australian band with an abundance of fans across multiple generations and this exclusive show at the Forum Melbourne will be a victory lap for the group, and they’re excited to be taking all their fans along for the ride.

SPIDERBAIT – SINGLES vinyl box set will be available to preorder as a ticket & vinyl bundle, and will be available for purchase at the show.

Spiderbait is Janet English on bass, Kram on drums and lead vocals, and Damian Whitty on guitar.

SPIDERBAIT – THE SINGLES EXCLUSIVE SHOW

Presented by Triple M Melbourne

SAT 9 NOV | THE FORUM, MELBOURNE VIC | 18+

Tickets available from www.ticketmaster.com.au | 13 61 00 | All Ticketmaster outlets

SPIDERBAIT – SINGLES VINYL BOX SET TRACKLIST

1. Old Man Sam / Circle K
2. Monty / Jesus
3. Buy Me A Pony / Calypso
4. Glokenpop / Shazam
5. Black Betty / Fucken Awesome
6. It’s Beautiful/ Straight Thru the Sun

  • Shop HHM

FENDER LAUNCHES VINTERA SERIES: VINTAGE-ERA STYLE & TONE 0

Today Fender announced the launch of the Vintera Series, a line of vintage-inspired electric guitar and bass models that embody a period-specific vibe, including the Stratocaster®, Telecaster®, Jaguar®, Mustang®, Jazzmaster®, Jazz Bass®, Precision Bass® and Mustang Bass. Each model delivers the authentic look and feel of its era, as well as decade-specific tones from the `50s, `60s and `70s.

“The Vintera series celebrates the different vintage eras of Fender with the fundamental design of the Stratocaster, Telecaster and Precision Bass remaining largely the same, but with each decade assuming its own unique feature sets,” said Justin Norvell, EVP of Product at Fender. “Depending on your feature preferences, bands you love and the era that you grew up in, each of these decades has a different appeal in terms of sound, colours and pickups.”

Selected international media were treated to a Vintera Series preview last week in which Allen Abbassi, Fender Product Manager for Electric Guitars and Basses talked us through the range. The Vintera name is an amalgam of the words Vintage and Era and that’s exactly what these instruments provide in both look and sound. There are 15 new models in the Vintera Series, and as Allen outlined last week, “This is the Classic series evolved … Vintera replaces the Classic Series.” There are actually 21 different new models in total, however, six of those are Modified (Currently known now as Classic Player model).

Allen explained that the Classic series was an umbrella that contained many sub-series such as Road Worn, Classic, Classic Player and even some lacquer models. With the new Vintera series, Fender is narrowing it down to two major families of models. A vintage style model, such as a Vintera Vintage Strat and a Modified model like a Vintera Strat Modified (pictured below). “The Road Worns and lacquer stuff is going away and won’t be part of the Vintera series,” Allen said. “However in the near future, they’ll be carrying on the legacy of Road Worn models but releasing them only as limited editions.”

50s Vintera Vintage Strat Sea Foam Green

50s Vintera Modified Strat Daphne Blue

“The vintage models are obviously just that, “ Allen said before describing the new series in more detail. “If you get a Vintera 5os Strat, 6os Strat, Vintera 50s Tele, you’re going to get very era-specific specs, so that means 7.25-inch radius, gloss finishes on the neck, vintage style frets. One thing that you will notice is that all of the pickups have been upgraded. We worked with our pickup guru Tim Shaw… There’s really some important nuances between the different decades that actually effect the tone and in this new Vintera Series, we were very careful to make sure that was represented here…. If you look at a 50s Strat, that means it’s using formvar wire, bevelled magnets … they’re staggered. All this stuff goes into the construction of the pickups. So you are going to notice that if you pick up the 50s, 60s, or 70s Strat, each one has a distinct take on the Fender tone. As you move into the 60s, it changes from the formvar wire into enamel wire, the stagger remains the same but we lose the bevel on the Strat pole pieces. Then in the 70s, it’s flat stagger pole pieces on the Strat pickups… Each model from the Strat to the Jag to the Jazzmaster and all the basses has a Tim Shaw designed, upgraded pickup that sounds a lot more 50s, 60s, or 70s than it did when it was in the Classic series …The Modified models feature the same era-specific pickups but wound a little bit hotter for more of a modern sound, still vintage but a little more gain and oomph.”

Not only has Fender put a lot of time and effort into the sound of the instruments but they’ve also thought a lot about the look and more specifically the colour range. Fender’s Vintera Series models feature a wider breadth of vintage colours, including Mocha, Fiesta Red, Seafoam Green, Inca Silver, Burgundy Mist and Ice Blue Metallic. For nearly every decade correct model, there’s also a counterpart “modded” version that offers fresh features not available at the time of the first release.

For the promotion of the new range, Fender has come up with a wonderful 30-second digital commercial that introduces the instruments and overall feel of the Vintera Series, plus three artist performance videos, releasing on a later date, featuring contemporary, eclectic musicians. Each performance harkens back to a specific decade to showcase the vintage-inspired guitars and basses as well as the sound and style of the era. In addition to the performance videos, Fender captured each artist’s influences from the era of their performance, individual music style and what compelled them to pick up their first guitar and play.

Christone “Kingfish” Ingram taps into his blues roots, bringing viewers back to the `50s with a classic Seafoam Green Stratocaster and a cover of “I Put A Spell On You” by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins. Singer-songwriter Curtis Harding brings back the soul of the `60s playing a cover of Tommy James and The Shondells’ “Crimson and Clover” on the Ice Blue Metallic `60s Jazzmaster. Reminiscent of the Woodstock Era, Mexican garage punk band Le Butcherettes, shredded on the `70s Telecaster Deluxe in Mocha for their punk rendition of “Ever Fallen In Love” by The Buzzcocks.

Models include:
• Vintera Series `50s Stratocaster – $1,799 – $1,899
• Vintera Series `50s Stratocaster Modified – $1,999
• Vintera Series `50s Telecaster – $1,799
• Vintera Series `50s Precision Bass – $1,799 – $1,899
• Vintera Series `60s Stratocaster – $1,799
• Vintera Series `60s Telecaster Modified – $1,799 – $1,999
• Vintera Series `60s Telecaster Bigsby ® – $1,999 – $2,099
• Vintera Series `60s Jazzmaster – $1,999
• Vintera Series `60s Jazzmaster Modified – $2,199
• Vintera Series `60s Jaguar – $2,099
• Vintera Series `60s Jaguar Modified – $2,299
• Vintera Series `60s Mustang – $1,799
• Vintera Series `60s Mustang Bass – $1,899
• Vintera Series `60s Jazz Bass – $1,999
• Vintera Series `70s Stratocaster – $1,899
• Vintera Series `70s Telecaster Deluxe – $1,799
• Vintera Series `70s Telecaster Custom – $1,799
• Vintera Series `70s Telecaster Thinline – $2,099
• Vintera Series `70s Jazz Bass – $2,099 – $2,199

For detailed specs, additional information on new Fender products or to find a retail partner near you, visit www.fender.com. Join the conversation on social media by following @Fender.

70s Vintera Tele Thinline Candy Apple Red

  • Josie Morrison

U2 ANNOUNCE AUS & NZ JOSHUA TREE TOUR 2019 0

 

Following the highly successful 2017 tour in celebration of the band’s seminal album, The Joshua Tree Tour, 2019 will see the band make a much-anticipated return to New Zealand and Australia for the first time since the record-shattering U2 360° Tour in 2010, as well as the first Tokyo,  shows since the Vertigo Tour in 2006. The Joshua Tree Tour 2019 will also bring U2 to Singapore and Seoul – for the first time ever – with what promises to be very special concerts from “the biggest band in the world” (The Guardian).

Special guest Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds is confirmed as support for the dates in New Zealand and Australia with Noel saying, “We, NGHFB, are beside ourselves. The Joshua Tree 2017 Tour was some of the most fun we ever had. It will be both an honor and a pleasure to share the stage with our friends and comrades once again. It’s gonna be a ripper!!!!!”.

Released to universal acclaim on 9th March 1987 and featuring hit singles “With Or Without You”,“I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” and “Where The Streets Have No Name”, The Joshua Tree went to #1 in the U.K, Ireland and around the world, selling in excess of 25 million albums, and catapulting Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr “… from heroes to superstars” (Rolling Stone).

The Joshua Tree Tour is a celebration of the original album and tour of the same name undertaken by U2 in 1987 and features the complete album played in sequence along with a selection of highlights from U2’s extensive catalogue of songs. The innovative staging includes a specially commissioned series of haunting and evocative films from Dutch photographer, film-maker and longtime collaborator Anton Corbijn – whose iconic photography accompanied the original recording  – in brilliant 8k resolution on a 200 x 45-foot cinematic screen, the largest high-res LED screen ever used in a touring show.

Bono said “It’s only taken me 30 years to learn how to sing these songs and it’s great to be able to say that I’ve finally caught up with the band. Our audience has given the Joshua Tree a whole new life on this tour. Doing these shows has been very special for us, a lot of emotion… From the despair of how relevant some of the dark songs still are, to the joy, pure fun of the staging… it’s quite a ride. And now we get to do it all over again. Auckland, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Sydney, Tokyo, Singapore, Seoul… We’re coming for you”.

“We really, REALLY wanted to bring The Joshua Tree to New Zealand, Australia and Asia” added The Edge. “We promised we would and finally, now we can say that we will see you in November… It’s going to feel like a homecoming and we are very excited”.

The Joshua Tree Tour 2019 kicks off in Auckland on 8th November and will visit Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth, before moving on to Singapore, Tokyo and Seoul. Tickets for the NZ/AU shows go on sale on Tuesday 11th June  2019 (times vary per city). U2.com subscribers will have first opportunity to purchase tickets starting Tuesday 4th June through Thursday 6th June with a 4 ticket limit (see www.U2.com for details).

In a first for any artist performing in New Zealand and Australia, and to ensure fans have the best access, stadium floor tickets for all the band’s NZ/AU shows will be paperless with delivery via mobile devices 72 hours prior to the applicable show. There will be an 8 ticket limit for general public sales.
In Japan, reservations for U2.com subscribers will begin on Tuesday 4th June. Pre-orders via PIA and ePLUS begin Friday 14th June, and general sale for both performances will begin Saturday 20th July.  There will be a 4 ticket limit for subscribers and an 8 ticket limit for public sales.

In Seoul, the ticketing presale for U2.com subscribers will begin on Monday 10th June with tickets on general sale Wednesday 12th June. There will be a 4 ticket limit for subscribers and an 8 ticket limit for public sales.

Date and venue information for Singapore show soon to be announced.

NEW ZEALAND / AUSTRALIA / JAPAN / SOUTH KOREA 2019 TOUR DATES:

08 November              Auckland, NZ              Mt. Smart Stadium
12 November              Brisbane, AU              Suncorp Stadium
15 November              Melbourne, AU            Marvel Stadium
19 November              Adelaide, AU               Adelaide Oval
22 November              Sydney, AU                 Sydney Cricket Ground
27 November              Perth, AU                    Optus Stadium

04 December              Tokyo, JP                    Saitama Super Arena
05 December              Tokyo, JP                    Saitama Super Arena
08 December              Seoul, KR                   Gocheok SkyDome

For complete tour and ticket information, visit: www.u2.com

  • Josie Morrison

DIESEL ANNOUNCES SUNSET SUBURBIA TRILOGY + AUSTRALIAN TOUR 0

DIESEL ANNOUNCES SUNSET SUBURBIA TRILOGY + AUSTRALIAN TOUR

Diesel at Melbourne Guitar Show 2018. Pic by Jason Rosewarne

Australian hit machine Diesel has today announced the Sunset Suburbia project: a trilogy of EPs leading into an album in 2020. And to coincide with the release of new music, Diesel will hit the road once again this October. With his powerhouse band, Diesel will showcase songs from all three Sunset Suburbia EPs, plus hits and fan favorites spanning 30 years of music making.

Diesel says, “Suburbia has always held a strange fascination for me. I remember designer cul-de-sacs strewn with shotgun shells in Chandler, Arizona; little vignettes of skateboarding around closed service stations on weekends in Perth; some guy in the hot tub in his backyard where I’m riding my bike over the rail overpass in Sydney. I love going into where people live — the sights, the smells, the little repetitive things that make their world. It’s kind of a bittersweet thing but it’s the stuff of life and it has a way of making songs.”

After more than 30 years of recording, Mark Lizotte (Diesel) has found a more direct route from inspiration to revelation.
“I’ve really enjoyed [recording the EPs] as it elongates the recording process, allowing for each EP to take on a uniqueness. I’ve always been a bit bummed when getting to the end of making a record, and this in a way delays gratification, making 3 ‘mini albums’ on the way to an LP. I’m also really excited at the prospect of releasing each one as limited edition signed and numbered 10” vinyl to complement the tour.”

On Sunset Suburbia (Vol. I) (out 19 July), this union of spontaneity and experience yields four of the most instantly arresting songs of Diesel’s multi-platinum career: the kind of exhilarating FM radio hits that sealed his reputation as a 1990s pop-rock auteur with Hepfidelity, The Lobbyist and Solid State Rhyme.

“There’s a lot of lost innocence in these songs. ‘By The Scars’ is pretty much about one or two years in my teens when a lot of things happened… I lost my virginity, I had two guys with balaclavas point a shotgun at me at a gas station… It’s about the time you basically realise the world isn’t as safe as you thought.”

Vol. I of Sunset Suburbia follows last year’s top-20 retrospective, Diesel 30: a double CD which was led by the FM radio embrace of ‘Give Me Saturday Night’.

The second Sunset Suburbia EP will drop later this year, Vol. III is currently under construction, and an album, featuring even more new songs, is due in 2020. Be sure to catch the evolution of Diesel’s ever-expanding horizon as he and his band roll out Sunset Suburbia to a city, town or suburb near you.

DIESEL SUNSET SUBURBIA TOUR AUSTRALIA

OCTOBER – DECEMBER 2019

GENERAL PUBLIC ON SALE NOW

Thursday 10 October
20 Years At The Brass Monkey
Brass Monkey | Cronulla, NSW Tickets on sale Monday 2nd September
* Solo show

Friday 11 October
Central Hotel | Shellharbour, NSW
centralhotelshellharbour.com.au

Saturday 12 October
Manly Leagues Club | Manly, NSW
oztix.com.au

Friday 18 October
Entrance Leagues | Bateau Bay, NSW
oztix.com.au

Saturday 19 October
Wingham Akoostic Festival | Wingham Showground | Wingham, NSW
akoostik.com.au

Friday 25 October
Gateway Hotel | Geelong, VIC
oztix.com.au

Saturday 26 October
York On Lilydale | Lilydale, VIC
oztix.com.au

Friday 1 November
The Juniors | Kingsford, NSW
seatadvisor.com

Saturday 2 November
Hornsby RSL | Hornsby, NSW
hornsbyrsl.com.au

Saturday 9 November
Bridgetown Blues Festival | Bridgetown, WA
bluesatbridgetown.com.au

Sunday 10 November
96FM Kickstart Summer Concert w/ Jimmy Barnes
Ascot Racetrack | Perth, WA
ticketmaster.com.au

Friday 15 November
The Triffid | Brisbane, QLD
oztix.com.au

Saturday 16 November
Southport RSL | Gold Coast, QLD
seatadvisor.com

Friday 22 November
The Gov | Adelaide, SA
oztix.com.au

Saturday 23 November
Get Your Blues On | Renmark Riverfront | Renmark, SA

Friday 29 November
Lizottes | Newcastle, NSW
lizottes.com.au

Saturday 30 November
Lizottes | Newcastle, NSW
lizottes.com.au

Friday 6 December
The Basement | Canberra, ACT
oztix.com.au

Saturday 7 December
Paddington RSL | Paddington, NSW
oztix.com.au

Friday 13 December
Lizottes | Newcastle, NSW
lizottes.com.au

Saturday 14 December
Lizottes | Newcastle, NSW
lizottes.com.au

Sunset Suburbia (Vol. I) EP Out Fri 19 July through Bloodlines

Pre-order  available here

Sunset Suburbia (Vol. I) tracklist:
1 By The Scars
2 I’m With A Girl
3 Coming From You
4 Wake Up With An Angel

  • Josie Morrison

HAKEN AUSTRALIAN TOUR INTERVIEW 0

 

 

 HAKEN

By Peter Hodgson ( I Heart Guitar)

Haken aren’t like all the other prog bands out there. In a genre that has ironically come to take on certain stylistic hallmarks that it seems like every prog band needs to have, the British quintet manage to remain actually progressive. Where many prog bands aim for utter precision, Haken aren’t scared to get groovy in amongst the odd time signatures and noodly interludes. Their latest album, Vector, is a technicolour ride through their collective imaginations. Produced by the band and mixed by ex-Periphery bassist and producer Adam “Nolly” Getgood, it’s a complex and diverse yet cohesive experience – and one that fans will be able to experience live in June as the band brings their Vector Studies tour to Australia.

This is the band’s second tour of Australia (although several members did make a sneaky trip out here with Mike Portnoy’s Shattered Fortress project), and the tour is also taking in Auckland and Adelaide. “That’s because of feedback we got from the last tour,” vocalist Ross Jennings says. “We didn’t want to miss the middle of Australia this time – but now we have to skip Perth!” Guitarist Richard Henshall is also a bit miffed that the tour will miss Perth: “We played Perth on the Mike Portnoy tour, but it’s so difficult logistically. But it’s a beautiful city and I’m sure one day we’ll return.”

The Vector Studies tour is, obviously, a vehicle to promote the Vector record. “We’ve been travelling with this Vector Studies concept for the last couple of tours and now it’s Australia’s turn,” Jennings says. “Last time we toured Australia we’d only just released Affinity, so there’s a whole bunch of new material for people to hear now, and we have a programmed light show now so everything is going to be a step up from last time. You can expect a really intense Haken show as usual.” Henshall adds, “When we were writing Vector, we had a larger-than-life sort of feeling, and when we toured the US on the first leg of shows for the album, we wanted to really take the production up a notch to reflect the music. That was the first time we’d done it, which was November and December last year and it really took our whole stage show to another level and really lifted the music.”

It’s a big leap from the band’s early days. “I remember turning up at shows and there would be one purple light on us for the whole show,” Jennings says. “Yeah!,” Henshall adds, “It would really affect the way we performed as well because when there’s nothing happening onstage it really puts a damper on the whole show, for us and the fans.”

“We take a lot of inspiration from cinema,” Jennings says. “Sometimes when we’re writing we try to visualise images in our heads. TV is the new cinema now and Netflix has taken over the business in a way: people aren’t going to the cinema any more, they’re binging on epic productions like Game of Thrones. Affinity, for example, that album was heavily influenced by a lot of 80s sci-fi, and that’s a great passion across all of us in the band. That stuff has always seeped into our concept albums as well.”

“I love Asian cinema,” Henshall says. “I love kung fu films. One of the best recent kung fu films was The Raid. I like a lot of sci fi stuff, independent films… Bladerunner 2049, Arrival…

It would be unfair to talk to Australian Musician without throwing in a whole bunch of musician talk, especially for such a musicianly band. So guys, what gear are you bringing with you? “On the last album, Diego started a new deal with Arturia and they’re an amazing company that do a lot of retro softsynth stuff,” Henshall says, “but they also do a hardware synth called the Matrix Brute, and that was really instrumental in creating the sound that Diego came up with on the album. It’s quite an amazing piece of gear, actually. It looks like something out of 2001: A Space Oddyssey.” Henshall’s guitar of choice is a Strandberg headless custom 8-string, while co-guitarist Charlie Griffiths will be bringing his Kiesel 8-string. “We travel with a Fractal Audio AX-8 pedal,” Henshall says. “They’re tiny! They fit into a laptop case so you can just throw it in the overhead on the plane, and we get the same tones every show. There are no micing issues at all, no bleeding issues onstage. It’s probably a dream for whoever is mixing our shows! We can just take the sounds from the album and bring them right to the stage. Flying between each show can really kill us when it comes to baggage fees, but theoretically we could just show up for a tour with a gig-bag and a laptop case. I wear the same clothes every day, so…”

Bassist Conner Green used to use an AX-8 but at the moment he’s running a pedalboard of doom, featuring a bunch of Darkglass pedals running direct into the mixing desk. “The Darkglass pedals are especially nice,” Henshall says. Drummer Raymond Hearne uses Natal drums. “On the last tour he had a see-through acrylic red Natal kit and he’s never sounded that good before!”

HAKEN June 2019 Australian and NZ Tour Dates:
Wednesday 5th June – AUCKLAND Galatos
Thursday 6th June – BRISBANE The Brightside
Friday 7th June – SYDNEY Factory Theatre
Saturday 8th June – MELBOURNE Max Watts
Sunday 9th June – ADELAIDE The Gov

Tickets:
ON SALE NOW
From: http://davidroywilliams.com/tours/hakentour/

  • Josie Morrison