“Because each night is a different hotel, a different city, when we sit down together we get a chance to slow down and have conversations not necessarily involving logistics and other aspects of touring,” says Jack Ladder & The Dreamlanders keyboardist, Neal Sutherland.
“It’s a great way to see a new city or place; to hunt out a good cafe or restaurant,” says Dustin Tebbutt. Andras Fox agrees: “If you’ve only got a few days in a new city, food is perhaps the best way to get to know a place. I’m way more likely to be seeking out a good eat these days than a record shop.”
“Normality isn’t something that can really be found on tour,” concedes Twin Beasts co-frontman Giuliano Ferla, “but sitting down to a lush meal with your friends can go really far in restoring a bit of morale.”
“Any chance to sit and eat with friends without having to rush is good,” adds Jess Ribeiro. “I love food so am always looking for clean local produce in new places.”
Last year, Fox covered a good portion of the European continent with his frequent collaborator Oscar Key Sung. Italy was a standout. “I could go on about the carb-based gods that are pasta and pizza, but I’d prefer to tell you about the cuore di bue tomato,” he says. “Thin skin, darker than blood on the inside, hardly any seeds. Torn apart by hand, doused in olive oil, salt, some basil. Can’t think of anything better I’ve eaten in my life. Honestly.”
Jack Ladder & The Dreamlanders joined Florence + The Machine on their November arena tour. Although a support act, they received lavish treatment. “There was catering at each show,” says Sutherland. “We began with a delicious meal in Perth consisting of slow roasted beef cheeks, roast chicken, varying salads and chef searing salmon fillets to your liking.”
America is one of the biggest markets for touring musicians. It’s also well known for its gargantuan meal sizes and general disregard for good health. “It made me appreciate Australian meat and fruit and veg,” says Ferla. “It’s hard to pace yourself [in Ameica],” says Sutherland. “So it’s a blowout at first, followed by regret, then a more measured approach ordering entrees or kids meals.”
However, Stateside dining certainly has its positives. “The Rueben Sandwich from Katz’s Delicatessen is a definite must-eat,” says Viglantes guitarist/Kirin J Callinan drummer Dave Jenkins Jnr. “It is actually the best sandwich– no, the best thing I have ever eaten. We have a habit of late night feasting in Kirin’s band. American diners are great for that.”
“We went to Russ and Daughters in the Lower East Side of New York,” says Ribeiro. “I ate the matzo ball soup and it felt like what I imagine a blood transfusion to be like. I could feel it going through my body, like I was a blow up doll being blown up.”
Of course, there are plenty of great places to eat closer to home. “There’s Holbrook Bakery halfway between Melbourne and Sydney where they have pretty good chicken and salad sandwiches,” Ferla says. “The place is part of touring lore.”
“Melbourne is such an amazing city for food,” says Tebbutt. “Favourites recently have been Auction Rooms, Borsch Vodka & Tears, and this fish and chip shop on Brunswick St. called Hooked.”
“Trippy Taco is probably my number one go-to if I am feeling especially dusty after a long flight or a big night,” says Jenkins Jnr. “You can fix any ailment with tacos and chipotle.”
But no matter how great the dining options are, you’re inevitably going miss some aspects of eating at home. “[I miss] taking my time,” says Ribeiro. For Ferla, it’s the autonomy of cooking whatever he feels like. “At least once a week I’ll make a massive batch of lentil soup. I miss that.”
“A few of us grow herbs and vegetables – Tim [Jack Ladder] even has chickens,” says Sutherland. “No matter how good a restaurant is, it won’t be catering for your every day palate.”
Indeed, plenty of musicians lament how unhealthy they wind up after a lengthy tour. But staying healthy on tour isn’t impossible. “Personally I see-saw a lot,” says Fox. “Healthy one day, binging on drinks and less healthy food the next.” “Eating salads sounds boring next to having deep fried donuts or aquariums,” says Sutherland, “but it becomes a part of touring to be able to keep it up.”
“When we started touring, I think we felt we had to play into the expectation of what a touring band is and party lots,” says Ferla. “But it’s really better for personal health and for the health of the band if you pace yourself.”
“My hot tip would be to establish a healthy-ish routine as quickly as possible,” says Jenkins Jnr. “Pick a couple of physical exercises you can do anywhere in the world, backstage or in a hotel room, and stick to it.”
Indeed, a bit of determination goes a long way. “[Me and my friend] did an extensive tour last year supporting Missy Higgins,” says Tebbutt. “We had both decided not to fall into the five-beers-a-day cycle. On the rider we just had two bottles of good wine each night, which we put straight in the car. We took an esky full of healthy stuff for breakfast each morning, and tried to get a run or swim in each day. When we got back we were healthier than when we left, and had both accumulated a nice collection of wine.”
Meanwhile, for The Dandy Warhols drummer Brent DeBoer, keeping healthy is made relatively easy. “Peter (Holmström, guitar) carries a Ninja Blender on the road. Each day he combines beets, celery, cucumber and other vegetables with a lot of ginger and a combination of fresh squeezed orange juice and coconut water to make what we have all coined ‘Pete’s Chunky’. A pint of that cures all of the damage from the night before, and gets you ready for the inevitable damage to come.”
