Amaya Laucirica

Missed gigs

Have there been any gigs you regretted not seeing? I’ve had a few.

Like the time Calexico and Neko Case were supporting Nick Cave at the Enmore Theatre in 2003. My partner and I who were totally unaware of the support acts playing, spent their performance time drinking in the front bar prior to the Bad Seeds taking the stage. But in the end, I still got to see Neko Case play in Melbourne a few years later so it didn’t end up being all too bad.

There were also a few missed opportunities in Melbourne to see Rowland S Howard perform, whom I really regret not seeing now. I’ve been currently obsessed with listening to Teenage Snuff Film over and over again after seeing the Autoluminescent documentary.

In December last year, a friend encouraged me to go check out Broadcast, which of course wasn’t known at that point, would be their final shows.

I didn’t make the show, but I’ve been obsessed with listening to Haha Sound by Broadcast lately. They have such an incredible and original sound, and Trish’s voice and melodies are really something special. It keeps me going back and pressing play over and over again.

So there have been great gigs I’ve missed. But it’s reaffirming to know that records, and really good records for that matter, have the ability to outlive your lifespan for a really long time. The records that stay with you and you remember. And although quite different in style, Teenage Snuff Film and Haha Sound have those qualities of being albums of deep significance by continuing to create an impact.

Broadcast
 

Rowland S Howard

Anywhere There’s You

For our headline tour in October, we’ll be taking an EP on the road with us to sell at the shows. Entitled ‘Anywhere There’s You’, the cd consists of two outtakes from the record ‘Early Summer’ and two live tracks that were recorded at the album launch in Melbourne last year. Here is the artwork I recently completed for it. All photos taken by the super talented Lauren Bamford.

Beautiful Art

Whilst perusing the internet over the last few days, I’ve stumbled across some stunning artworks.

In particular, the following pieces by Aboriginal artists Gloria Petyarre and Rosemary Petyarre. I could be hypnotised by these pieces, they are truly something.

Bush Yam Leaves by Rosemary Petyarre. Courtesy of Central Art Aboriginal Art Store.

Bush Yam Leaves and Seeds by Rosemary Petyarre. Courtesy of Central Art Aboriginal Art Store.

Bush Medicine Leaves by Gloria Petyarre. Courtesy of Central Art Aboriginal Art Store.

Lauren Bamford

I did some photos recently with my good friend and wonderful photographer Lauren Bamford. Here is a photo from the session. Am hoping to use one of the photos for artwork I’m putting together for a new EP.

Tour Diaries - Week Four: Katoomba

At the Clarendon Guesthouse, Katoomba April 7 2011. Picture taken by Bleddyn Butcher.

Tour Diaries - Week Three: Ballarat

Looking out from the car on the road to Ballarat, the landscape was looking like it was from the wild west, but we were far from it. We were on the Western freeway to Ballarat. Something a bit odd was in the air, a big truck passed us by with an open load of animal hides. J.P Shilo was in the car, DJing a soundtrack for the trip covering Sonic Youth covering the Carpenters to Anita Lane. The sun was setting and from the car we thought we spotted something similar to a UFO in the sky so we pulled over for a look. It didn’t turn out to be a UFO, but the sunset was still nice.

It ended up being a really good show, which was reviewed very nicely here.

Thank you Ballarat. Hope to be back soon!

Tour Diaries - Week One: Brisbane and The Gold Coast

Friday March 25

Day two of the tour finds us in Brisbane, and in the afternoon we rock up to Tym Guitars shop in Fortitude Valley for Adalita’s instore performance. Tim who runs the store is the loveliest guy and he initially started off by doing guitar repairs from his home in Brisbane and got so in demand that he opened up shop. Tym also custom make their own guitars, amps and guitar pedals. Below is a picture of the ‘Big Bottom’ pedal that was custom designed by Dean Turner from Magic Dirt and Tim.

The shop even has their own rehearsal rooms (apparently The Lemonheads christened the first rehearsal there) and also have a great selection of records for sale. Definitely worth a visit if you’ve never been.

Adalita’s instore show goes down a treat, and after the show Adalita tries out some effects pedals before we head off for soundcheck at the Old Museum.

The Old Museum is an amazing old building built in 1891 and has stories of ghost living in the building. True story.

Picture by Maikaduriel courtesy of FasterLouder

The room has filled up quite nicely by the time I hit stage and the crowd are pleasant and attentive during my set. It turns out to be a good show, and a great excitement fills the room when Adalita hits the stage. Adalita is on fire tonight, and the crowd are highly appreciative, especially when she encores with ‘Ice’ which delights many of her Brisbane fans.

After the show, Adalita and I are taken on a ‘ghost’ tour of the building and one of the highlights is getting to play the beatiful old pipe organ that is upstairs in one of the auditoriums.

The Brisbane show proves its going to be a hard one to beat. Tomorrow, we take on the Gold Coast.

Saturday March 26

We approach the Gold Coast famished, and tuck into some Thai takeaway that proves to be the worst Thai food ever that we decide it can only be described as “not even Thai” food. Dinner aside, we rock up to the Shark Bar and proceed to sound check.

There’s many a bikini clad lady displaying on the Shark bar TV screen which proves quite a contrast when an advertisement for Adalita’s show comes on. An approach to welcome this kind of environment is a good dose of humor and possibly a few drinks. Which tonight I have to be careful of as I’ll be driving back to Brisbane tonight quite early in the morning, but I do relish the little I can drink tonight with a sense of slight achievement. It’s the end of week one, and we’ve made it through unscaved and pretty chuffed everything has turned out with Adalita being a great Tour Manager and me well, not getting lost too many times driving on the road.

But its not over yet. I go on stage to a decently filled room and my set goes down fine.

I sit and watch Adalita’s show in the crowd tonight and she peforms a great set. A couple starts dancing in the front of the room, and many girls seem to know the lyrics to a few of the songs from the record especially ‘The Repairer’. As always, ‘Perfection’ seems to hush the crowd as they listen with the utmost attention. ‘Going Down’ is a highlight of the set and has the dancing couple going ‘off’.

At the end of the show, I hang out with Adalita selling some cds and meet some lovely people. Its a nice end to the weekend.

Its quite late by the time we hit the Pacific Highway back to Brisbane. With all the darkness looming on the highway, listening to Spiritualized’s ‘Laser Guided Melodies’ seems quite hypnotic and meditative. The first week of tour has come to an end.

Tour Diaries - Week One: Byron Bay

Thursday, March 24

This was my first ever trip to Byron. It took a while to get there too, getting lost a few times driving in from Brisbane airport into Fortitude Valley (yes it was me driving). One bizarre turn off the main road leads us to a cul-de-sac facing the river complete by one standing old fisherman. We know we are not in the depths of Fortitude Valley, but a few more turns and oddly, we are in the thick of it. We pick up Adalita’s hire guitar amp from Tym’s guitars (a great music shop!) and set onto the Pacific Highway to Byron Bay.

Adalita warns me this highway can get a bit feral, so my eyes are peeled to the road. (Many) cars are zigging and zagging in and out of lanes without indicating. But once the landscape turns green and we start nearing Byron, those rolling hillsides make it all seem worthwhile.

Byron is pretty touristy and you can understand why. There are smells of the old school hippyville, but there’s also the retail chain outlets that hints at the commerce that has arrived and slightly invaded the ‘scene’.

We arrive at the Great Northern and load in our gear. Its show one starting to unravel.

After sound check there is a visit to the beach and spottings of giant lizards (well none for me, I boringly nap through all this action). And then before you know it its door time and Adalita and I make our way to the green room for pre show preparation. This preparation is concentrated and meditative, tonight involving vodka, lime and soda.

My show goes down well, I think. Tonight its hard to tell, I feel like I’m warming up and theres a few empty spaces on the dark floor but the crowd are inviting enough.

Adalita’s show goes down well and I realise from side of stage its been a while since I’ve seen her play a solo show and am in awe of her energy and command. She encores with a song she co-wrote with Raul Sanchez called ‘Taxi Club’  and it goes down a treat.

During some of Adalita’s banter before we perform ‘Good Girl’ about going on the road solo with me, a heckler yells out from the audience “Who’s driving?”. This heckler turns out later to be none other than Tex Perkins.

After the show we hang out with some people and then eat food on the balcony overlooking the main bustling street of Byron. The scene is a little ‘schoolies week’ which is amusing for about two minutes or so.

On departing Byron the next day we decide to go to the Beach (which I hadn’t seen yet) and it’s pretty special.

The yin yang beaches of Byron, I will miss your warm water.

Next stop, Brisbane.