First of all, I am an Australian (and yes I like NZ music!), but something that just doesn't make sense is why New Zealand bands neglect touring Australia (and visa versa). BOTH Australia and NZ have amazing musical acts, and yet these acts would rather play at shitty venues in shitty little towns, than take a 3-hour plane trip across the Tasman and play bigger and (dare I say) more deserved gigs! Too many times have I seen inspiring Aussie acts playing at an RSL along the east coast, when they could be sharing their music with a whole new group of people! I should also mention that for most Aussie acts, flying to NZ would attract a lesser travelling time than if they were to fly to a much more popular option (Perth), something to think about!
You have no idea how much I would love to see HDU (over here they are tremendously respected), and when hear about them playing shows in NZ that would attract only a tiny portion of the crowds that they would play to in lets say Sydney or Melbourne, well it really kills me!!!!!!
And just before I get criticised, I do realise that there are a great deal of factors that conspire to make my perfect vision more complicated than I have cared to mention, but I should draw everybody's attention to US/Canadian bands - when they tour their own countries, they usually swing in a few shows in their neighbouring countries!
OZ and NZ must to stop this jealous music game they are both playing and start sharing! When and only when we do this can we become the creative music force of which we are truly capable!
Please note: I am not against bands playing small town shows!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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One of HDU now lives in Melbourne. ...
One of HDU now lives in Melbourne. Rumours are they will be doing some shows over there soon.
Carriage H have been asked to play a noise/garage rock festival in melboure.
the Datsuns are always going over there to play.
NZ bands do play Aussie Mate,
And one more thing. Bands in NZ never play small towns always the same 4 or 5 centres.
//And one more thing. Bands in NZ never ...
//And one more thing. Bands in NZ never play small towns always the same 4 or 5 centres
thats because small town punters won't pay to see bands, making it a complete loss to go to these places cos you'll just lose money hand over fist. Its only really in the major centres where you can afford to tour.
oh? so my heart felt spiel was for ...
oh? so my heart felt spiel was for nothing?
although, you might have slightly mis-understood what I meant by 'neglect'.
But still, the essence of what I was trying to say is that both countries should try and create more a of singular music community.
ok. but it comes from further up also. ...
ok. but it comes from further up also. How many Aussie bands come here for our big day out? Loads. How many NZ bands get to play in Aus for the BDO? this year....one.
Heaps of nz bands neglect US and move ...
Heaps of nz bands neglect US and move to aussie for a better air play..
could we come and crash in your lounge ...
could we come and crash in your lounge mr. pooas while we jack-up a few gigs and break into the oz market...
I fully dig what yer saying =)
sure ed... as long as my band can crash ...
sure ed... as long as my band can crash in your lounge room!
Where in Aussie are you mate?...
Where in Aussie are you mate?
I am in Brisbane... not the most ...
I am in Brisbane... not the most exciting place in Australia... but things seem to be happening here (finally!!!)
what sorta music do you play...
what sorta music do you play
kinda straight up and down indie ...
kinda straight up and down indie rock... 2 guitars, bass, drums...
OK. So you fork out $500 per member of ...
OK. So you fork out $500 per member of tour party (for flights) plus an extra couple of hundred for excess baggage to take your guitars, amp heads, cymbals etc. Fly into a strange city, hire a vehicle at minumum $90 per day (you'll need a van of course to fit said gear and other gear you've hired) and fuel to power vehicle. Hiring backline approx $200 - $250 per day. Accomodation at an average backpacker for at least $20 a head per night. If you don't take your own sound person you'll need to hire one at $50 - $100 per gig. When on road sound man will need per diem min $10. Don't forget you'll be breaking strings and sticks and they dont grow on trees!
Unless you have a booking agent you'll also need to factor in international toll calls to organise gear, accomodation, venues, domestic travel etc.
Now you're ready to start playing your "bigger (and dare I say) more deserved gigs" across the Tasman. Of course no-one's ever heard of your band so even if they do stumble across posters for your bigger and more deserved gig (posters arent cheap either.... did the venue even bother to put many up?). You may get a handful of regulars rather put out that they had to pay to get into their local.
Even considering "deeply respected" acts like HDU (I dig those guys too), the likelyhood of costs being covered are slim to say the very least.
I think maybe its more than just jealousy and a 3 hour flight that are putting bands off crossing the ditch. Mmmm?
This model works both ways with bands well known in Australia having no profile in NZ ie Motorace, Eskimo Joe, Gersey etc.
A little more support from the industry (record companies, radio, tv) would go a long way to help.
okay, I understand and agree with most ...
okay, I understand and agree with most of what you're saying... kind of. I must repeat though, that the essence of what I was saying is that there needs to be a more joined AUS/NZ music scene.
And, oh, since you decided to draw quotes from my manifesto, I thought I might do the same.
"and just before I get criticised, I do realise that there are a great deal of factors that conspire to make my perfect vision more complicated than I have cared to mention, but I should draw everybody's attention to US/Canadian bands - when they tour their own countries, they usually swing in a few shows in their neighbouring countries!"
I do understand all these factors deadc, I am in a band, and never once did I say or mean to imply that such a task falls upon the bands alone. I think that if a band is big in Australia or New Zealand, to a saturation point so to speak, that the progressive next step is across the Tasman! And that is something bands and record labels and whoever else should start to realise.
Oh yeah, what you said about HDU and other such acts not meeting costs, let me tell you what a load of crap that is. All of my friends know who HDU, bailter space, king loser and flying nun are... and I am in Brisbane, one of the not so with it capital cities. If HDU can afford to go and tour over in the UK, they can afford Australia too. Do you think Australians are immune to good music? No of course not!
And just one more thing... you could have said 'betchadupa' to me lets say 3 weeks ago, and I wouldn't have known what the fuck you were talking about. But since touring Australia twice over, they are breaking out of obscurity... think about that!
Oh, just one more thing... me and a few friends have come up with a bit of an idea, and I think I may as well tell nzmusic about it... What do you guys think of an AUS/NZ band exchange? Where bands from either side of the Tasman kind of swap places for a while. Of course, it would have to be well publicised within the music community... but yeah.
Anyway, something to think about at least.
In Brisbane, there is a band called the ...
In Brisbane, there is a band called the Jandals (sorry NZ is I spelled it wrong), made up of Australian members, who cover NZ, flying nun music, and on stage they all wear jandals (in Australia we call them thongs; and having gone to their shows I can tell you that they are dearly loved around here. So, maybe you Kiwi's have to realise that us Aussies like your music more than you think we do!
Cool,bro.the jandals...i like it!It's ...
Cool,bro.the jandals...i like it!It's great that you guys are into Flying Nun stuff.There's some good shit there.But N.Z. music is much more than just F.Nun.There are heaps of great non-Nun bands in the land of Kiwi.
Also,to go from Canada to the states and vice versa,you don't have to get on a plane.Big difference,that,costwise at least.
Betchadupa would certainly have lost money on their oz (BDO)tour,but you gotta spend it to make it,right?