Life throws up all sorts of ugly challenges – nobody said it was going to be easy. What role has rock’n’roll played in your life in terms of helping you get through the tough times?
Me at my lowest isn’t fun to be around. Music has always been the light at the end of the tunnel and a great stabilizer. It’s how I self medicate. Communally, it also allows a rare opportunity to be of benefit to others in need.
As well as The Nation Blue, you’re the frontman and driving creative force of Harmony and Pale Heads. Do you feel compelled to make as much music as you can while you’ve got the chance?
That’s my agenda. For the last ten years I decided to say yes to every possible opportunity and work as hard as I can. I write, record, mix, self release, organise tours and have started making film clips too. As of next month I am going to say no to everything for a while and take a break. I think I need to develop some alternate theories and establish a new set of parameters to work within. I am working on a new performance piece where I generate beats using boxing gloves, contact mics, and a sparring dummy with a sampler. It’s physical and weird.
The Nation Blue are performing with Adalita at this show. Is it essentially a Nation Blue gig with added Adalita vocals/ guitar? Or have you come up with a special setlist?
Adalita is going to join us on a few songs. We toured with Magic Dirt every year since we moved over from Tassie in 2000. Our drummer Dan [McKay] plays in her band and she is our favourite Australian musician. It’s always an honour to share a stage with her and we are sorting out the setlist as we speak.
Also on the lineup is White Walls, Deep Heat, Bonnie Mercer and Tankerville. Tankerville is a gross pub on Johnston St. It’s also a new band featuring members of Graveyard Train, Cherrywood and Bodies. What can you tell us about them?
The line up is amazing. Bunch of gross familiar faces in Tankerville. I haven’t seen them yet, but they sound as ragged as those efforts in the smokers area that spit teeth at students waiting to cross at the lights.
Are all of these bands personal friends? Do you think you could’ve stuck around playing music so long if it hadn’t been for the wide community of friends you’ve picked up along the way?
Yeah they are all friends. Some recent and some long time. I enjoy operating in isolation for the most part. Scenes are boring. All of the bands on the line up are strays too to certain degrees. I do find inspiration in authentic expressions of personality and all of these bands do that well. I will make music till the end, but being fortunate enough to play along side great and interesting musicians make it a lot more enjoyable.
The Nation Blue have been around for 19 years, but it’s been over five years since you guys put out an album. Are there plans/ hopes for more Nation Blue releases in the future?
We are working on an album at the moment for release next year. We recorded in January and I have been staring at the hard drive not wanting to dive in and start mixing yet. From memory it sounded better than any of the other TNB records to date. Next year we will try to play more than two shows in a year and pretend to be a band better. Illusions.
BY AUGUSTUS WELBY
