Last rehearsal today. A secret show in Beijing tonight before the tour kicks off officially Thursday in Shanghai. Check the Shows page for details.
Kinda tired today. Small remnants of jet-lag creeping back. Adrenalin beginning. Max is still getting changed. She just tipped a whole bunch of foot powder over the merchandise. Trying to get it out of the t-shirts. That stuff goes everywhere. The flat smells like foot-powder.
Max repacking t-shirts.
Checkya tomorrow.
Fires out.
During the week we recorded this video for Strawberry Festival, Beijing. ‘Great Escape’ is this year’s festival theme – so they wanted us to record a story about one of the band’s great escapes…
Rehearsal again this afternoon.
Checkya later.
Fires out.
Kent arrived in the early hours this morning. His plane sat in a holding pattern for 40 minutes before landing, with some other delays at the airport. We all met up around midday today & lugged our gear around to a rehearsal studio 10 minutes away. It was freekin great to blow out the cob-webs. It dawned on us that we hadn’t played live since November & not with Kent since June last year. It’s all been writing & studio work since then.
The On Fires, Midi Fest Beijing 2011.
We played through the first half of the set, repeating everything 4 or 5 times. One of the new songs was in there & blew us away – a Happy Mondays inspired thing that slow-funks it’s way through to a big stadium-style chorus. We’re feeling great now. I think we were getting a little down or something, getting all the media & other stuff done with a big tour looming. But, after today’s rehearsal, I think there’s a vibe that this thing is gonna be huge. It was great to see Kent again too. He’s such a great drummer & team player – long lost family member returned.
Out to shmoozeville tonight, meeting at 8.
Checkya later.
Fires out.
Slow start to the day today after last night’s session at a bar down the street. Didn’t get enough work done. Up early tomorrow to make up. Went out tonight to the Red Theatre to see a Kung Fu acrobatic show. Spectacular. Last night out before things get moving. Kent arrives from Atlanta in a couple of hours. Several days of tour rehearsal starting tomorrow.
Checkya later.
Fires out.
Had a great pre-tour night tonight. Still drunk – but on the mend. What did we do. Oh yeah, we ate. Chinese food is so good. Scotty, you’d love it man. Chilli blast from hell. Then what. Beer. Then wondered down the street to the public toilet. Naked flame would take out half the suburb. Held breathe for as long as possible. Not possible not to breathe in there. Made it out & rejoined the crew. Max went to the ladies – which apparently wasn’t so bad.
Went to great bar after that. Saw a great band. Had philosophical discussion about the direction of entire human race. Where we’re headed, what we’re doing. Where the peace is. More and more beer. Left the bar, got lost. Went back & called Badr (my discussion partner). Luckily he came out & directed me home. And here I am. Sobering up to Jeff Buckley. This is gold I tells ya. Gold.
I met him at Gaslight Records in Melbourne the year before he died. I’ll never forget it.
Checkya later.
Fires out.
Lost luggage came late yesterday. Guitar & suitcase now in possession and ready for tour.
Right now we’re on our way to the Great Wall just outside Beijing. Video coming.
Checkya later.
Fires out.
Long haul yesterday. 24 hours door to door – and here we are in Beijing. It’s a hazy sky out there. Been out for a food-sourcing walk & found we’re staying pretty close to where we were last time.
Marty, a few minutes ago on Tom & Tara’s balcony, Beijing.
Check the video below & re-live the plane ride & luggage fiasco at the monolithic Beijing airport.
We’re a bit jet-lagged but feeling OK. Waiting on a call from the airport about where the guitar and suitcase ended up…
Checkya later.
Fires out.
Waiting for the boarding gate to open. One hour to flight time. Up at 5 to catch Tamworth flight here. Hoodoo Gurus playing in my head. Next stop – Shanghai layover.
Checkya from China,
Fires out.
It’s our last night in Australia before leaving for tour in the early hours of tomorrow morning. Doing last minute stuff like diverting phones etc. No panic. Checked through all the gear & equipment over the weekend. Everything seems to be in order. In fact, it’s unusually calm – like before the storm. Unnerving.
Max on stage, Midi Festival Beijing 2011 (Kent in background).
This time tomorrow we’ll be coming in over the East China Sea. Then a Shanghai layover, Beijing at midnight. Mayhem closes in…
Checkya tomorrow.
Fires out.
PS – the dog knows something’s up. He’s on us, sticking close.
Arrived in sunny Tamworth yesterday arvo. Stayed in Nerandara Thursday night. Eventually found over-priced accomm on busy Easter eve. Lady at the hotel wasn’t happy about the dog sleeping in the van & gave us attitude, Aussie-outback-country-service style. Went to the local RSL & tried to eat massive dinner. ‘Well done’ steak still moo-ing, sent it back for a blast but still moo-ing. Woke at 5 & hit the road again. Egg & bacon roll at West Wyalong. Beautiful weather all the way. Midday, ordered beef burger at Coonabarabran, ended up with Barramundi but found out too late. Petrol stop at Gunnedah, attendant speaks only in mono-syllables, not happy about working Easter Friday or living in Gunnedah…
Max on video set last week.
Finished the video clip for the latest single last night. Everything ready to go for China tour. Leaving early Monday morning.
Checkya later,
Fires out.
