After touring in support of their fourth LP, Watch Me Disappear, in late-2009 the band initiated a multi-year hiatus. “I guess it was a bit like long service leave,” says Donovan. “We’d been at it for a decade and a half and didn’t have any time off, always on that one project.”
When there’s a relentless writing machine like Glenn Richards in your band, however, it’s a safe bet that any period of rest won’t last long. “Glenn had some songs, so we just started working on an album, and from the time we started to the time it came out it was probably three years.”
The result was the band’s 2014 release, Havens Dumb. Despite being embraced by their adoring fanbase, the album received mixed critical feedback. Though, it’d take more than an unflattering write-up to unnerve Donovan.
“We didn’t have any expectations of charting,” he says. “The making of it was pretty much total freedom and doing whatever we wanted to do. You can’t take those things too seriously. We are our own worst critics. I don’t think I have read a review that is harsher than what we’ve been on ourselves. It’s not hard to remain grounded in this band.”
Given Richards recently relocated to Tasmania, the recording was a bit more demanding than in the past. “Some of it was recorded down there, and some up here,” says Donovan. “It was all over the place, really. A few of the songs on the album are demos that we touched up, but we all ended up getting together in Melbourne and worked it up basically.”
There have been instances of disparity between fan responses and media attention throughout Augie March’s entire history. The first time one of their songs charted, fans weren’t impressed. Then, when the next one was a commercial flop, it was met with lashings of acclaim.
“I remember something popping up on Twitter at one point,” says Donovan. “Triple M were having this program called Songs That Should’ve Been Hits, But Weren’t, and one of our songs was on it. I just thought ironically, ‘If they had’ve played it at the time it probably would have been a hit.’ You know they’ve got a big audience, it could have lit some fires.”
The March are gearing up for a co-headline show with The Drones this weekend, which they’ll follow with an appearance this year’s Queenscliff Music Festival. There might even be another round of national touring to come. “There are ruminations and things like that, because the last tour we didn’t get absolutely everywhere and we didn’t play in your typical rock music venues that we do like playing at. So there’s talk of doing something a little more traditional in that regard.”
Either way, this weekend’s gig at the revitalised Croxton Park Hotel is sure to be one to remember. “I like thinking of it as a menu,” says Donovan. “I’d like to think we’d be the main course and [The Drones would] be the dessert. But you know, who really eats dessert these days?”
Earlier in their career, Augie March were renowned for being somewhat difficult on stage. However, they’ve recently turned a corner, putting more effort into developing a captivating live show.
“I just saw the setlist,” says Donovan. “We’re trying a few new things, so we are being a bit more prepared this time around. I’ve looked at it, and dare I say it will be a typical Augie March performance.”
BY JOHN KENDALL
