The China (Mandarin) side of our website went live late last night. Check it out. Hit the Chinese flag or the menu and let it roll. We’ve also added a translation section (row of flags on the right hand side – where, funnily enough, it says “Translator”). The site can now be read in 48 different languages – which should come in handy at some point…
Midi Festival crowd, Beijing May 2011.
Have a great weekend.
Fires out.
New China version of our website coming soon. Working away feverishly on a Mandarin language side to our site. It’s a tricky process. We’ve tried a few different layout options & we’re still going. Translation is another challenge. Thing about something like Google translation is that, apart from being way better than nothing, it can warp what you’re trying to say by misplacing a word or two, here and there. Any suggestions are more than welcome as we work through this thing (leave a comment below or hit us on Facebook).
Backstage at Midi Festival, Beijing 2011.
We’re getting closer to firm tour dates in China. Chinese New Year celebrations are currently in full swing – so most businesses seem to be in ‘shut-down’ mode for a couple of weeks, much like ‘the west’ around our Christmas/New Year.
Fires out.
Kevin Radomski set to tour China with The On Fires in May 2013. We first met Kevin on tour in the US in 2010. He came on board for shows in Texas, including the ‘South By South West’ festival in Austin. We had a fantastic time staying at Kevin & Stacey’s place in Houston & rehearsing at Kev’s studio with his buddy Chris Bourke on bass. Later in that year, the guys came to Poland with us for Seven Festival (near Gdansk).
Kevin Radomski on stage with The On Fires, Seven Festival Poland 2010.
Kevin has traveled the world for the past couple of years as drum-technician for Jane’s Addiction drummer, Stephen Perkins. Jane’s have a rare gap in their tour schedule & Kev’s available to come out on the road with us. Late 2011, I flew to Brisbane for ‘Splendour In The Grass’ to hang back-stage & watch Kevin work his arse off for Janes. After the festival we spent a few days checking out Brisbane & the Gold Coast (got to pat some Kangaroos) before he flew out for the next tour leg.
Fires out.
Kent Aberle, our US and China tour drummer 2010 through 2012, is poised to open his brand new drum shop in Atlanta. It’s 2 weeks to the grand opening of the ‘ATL Drum Collective‘. In addition to a mountain of consignment stock, the guys have some great plans for the store including concerts, drum clinics, teaching workshops & so on. It’s a gutsy move in this ebay retail age – but their focus will be on community, membership, expert service and quality collectable gear (do I sound like a sales guy?). Maybe I’ll get a job there…
That’s Kent (on the left) at ATL Drum Collective.
Good on ya Kent – we’re proud of you!
Fires out.
Live footage from China – Chang Jiang Festival, April 2012. First song in the set, Coming Home (Betrayer album).
Chang Jiang is a large festival which takes place near Shanghai on the banks of the Yangtze River. More live footage of the show there on Youtube.
Fires out.
Fantastic windsurfing acrobatics by world famous Caesar Finies. Sofa Movielab in Germany, shot this amazing footage to our song ‘Motherf*cker’ – released on our ‘Coming Home’ EP, 2008.
This video remains one of our biggest Youtube hits. Ceaser is indeed the master.
Fires out.
Last night the Yarra Hotel, Johnston St Abbotsford, re-opened as a band venue. The night was sold out – the new owners testing their new PA, bar & renovations on a packed house. Word has it, they’ll assess how last night went & prepare for a full-scale opening early March. Great to see a major band venue opening in Abbotsford. We’re planning to spend some quality time down there.
The Yarra Hotel, Johnston St Abbotsford during renovations.
Fires out.
Feb 2009, the Australian Defense Force flew us to the Solomon Islands to entertain soldiers and police, deployed there as part of an international peace-keeping force. It was a profound and life-changing experience, vividly remembered. We lived with the soldiers, stayed in their bunkers & played shows at the main military and maritime bases. But as well as that, we were taken out to remote villages to play for school kids & communities. Just awesome.
The On Fires playing for school kids – Solomon Islands Feb 2009.
The ‘Hokey Pokey’ was a big hit.
Fires out.
European tour poster artwork for April. We’re opening for The Vagrants on a tour through Germany and surrounding countries. After Europe we’re heading to China for a tour including some amazing festivals. Dates announced soon.
We haven’t toured Europe since midway through 2010 – and it’s fair to say we’ve missed it. We’re also excited about going out on the road there with the mighty Vagrants. It’s gonna be awesome.
Fires out.
Chang Jiang Festival, near Shanghai – April 2012. We had the sunset time-slot. Started at dusk & finished an hour later at night. An amazing crowd & huge stage with several giant video screens.
The next China tour coming in May this year, after Europe in April. Dates announced soon.
Fires out.
