Josh Pyke has embarked on a nation-wide ‘Lone Wolf’ tour, packing his bags with his entire catalogue of tunes, including those of his latest record ‘The Beginning And The End Of Everything’, to city and regional supporters alike.
For those eager for a little more insight into the day-to-day realities of touring, Josh Pyke is graciously documenting his travels, in words and pictures, exclusively for Music Feeds readers in his Lone Wolf Tour Diary.
Here in part four of the diary, Josh Pyke reveals how he passes the time on the long tour drives between shows, talks about the colourful locals he’s met on the way and remembers some of his favourite shows on the tour so far.
Wednesday, 25th June – Jetty Memorial Theatre, Coffs Harbour
After a brief two nights at home, it was time to pack the carry on, re-stock the merchandise box and hit the road again. Four shows in a row this week, first stop being Coffs Harbour at a beautiful little theatre called the Jetty Memorial Hall.
The show tonight is sold out and once again I feel bloody lucky to have such an amazing fan base. The cool thing for me, after doing this for so long, is watching the demographic of punters change. It’s interesting for me, that I seem to have more under 18 people coming to shows now than ever before. My guess is that their older siblings or even their parents introduced them to my stuff, and so I’m getting whole families showing up now. I love it!
The show tonight is beautiful, such a great little theatre with lovely acoustics. Performing is a funny thing, you really need to learn to roll with the punches, and so when a woman in the front row stands up and tells me I should invite the girl sitting behind her (who she didn’t actually know) up to sing a song with me, I decide to roll with it, and invite as many people as are willing (including Jack Carty), to jump up and sing Middle of the Hill with me.
It turns into one of my favourite moments on the whole tour.
After the show, Jack and I tried to emulate the amazing portrait his girl Tash had done the week before at the Byron Theatre. Our effort was sub-par to say the least!
Thursday, 26th June – Pier One @ Panthers, Port Macquarie
Off to Port Macquarie today, after a good breakfast, and good coffee, we’re ready for the drive. On the way we decide to listen to a podcast that Carty has been getting into called Hardcore History. It’s a revelation for the tour party. All of a sudden we’re all nerding out on history and kick starting conversations about the clarity of hindsight, and I’m having a million ideas for new themes in songs. I love the way getting turned onto a new idea, or perspective, can open the doors of creativity so quickly.
We arrive at the accommodation and kill a bit of time with some putt putt golf on the hotel’s slightly decrepit course. Kinda reminds me of National Lampoons Vacation. Nice to be out in the fresh air after the drive though. For the record, Jack beats me.
We head over to the venue to discover another sold out show!
I’ve played in Port Mac a few times, and it’s lovely to see a few familiar faces, and also meet some people who’d travelled a fair way to see the show. After the show, we decide to drink some whisky back at the hotel, and the rest is a blur!
Friday, 27th June – Manning Entertainment Centre, Taree
We’re off to Taree today, somewhere I’ve never played before. I’m playing at the Manning Entertainment Centre, which is a beautiful theatre, but kinda big and in the roll of the dice that touring is, tonights show hasn’t sold super strongly.
It’s just the reality of touring, and one I’m very familiar with, where you do a million interviews, sell shows out before and after, but some gigs just don’t do that well. Like I said, touring is a roll of the dice every time you leave home. It costs a lot of money to go and play a show, and when a show doesn’t do too well, it really puts in perspective how fortunate you are when they do go well.
One thing I am very principled about though, is that no matter if you’re playing to 3500 people at the Melbourne Zoo, or 150 people in Taree, you put on the same show. You never lose sight of the fact that the people that came paid to see you and expect to be transported for the couple of hours you’re on stage, so you have to give it your all every time. You can’t give off a negative vibe.
With that in mind, as I got on stage, I decided that if this was going to an intimate show, I’d make it even more so by inviting people to come and sit on stage with me during the show. A whole gang of the audience jumped at the chance, and sat in a semi circle around me on the stage, and I hope it was as special for them as it was for me. It actually became one of may favourite shows on the tour!
Saturday, 28th June – Cessnock Performing Arts Centre, Cessnock
Last show of the run tonight, and after doing some laps at the local aquatic centre to counter act all the sitting around in cars being history nerds, we head off to Cessnock. Another beautiful regional arts centre.
There are so many of these venues around the country, that are well staffed, with great gear but that don’t seem to get heaps of really contemporary original music shows coming through. Lot’s of tribute shows, and some opera and theatre shows, but it doesn’t seem like heaps of bands or solo artists make it into these venues too often. It makes me more determined to head back to some of these spaces as soon as possible.
It’s absolutely freezing today, with storm clouds rolling in and whist we wait shivering at the stage door to get in, I get recognised by a bunch of locals celebrating a birthday…at least I think that’s what they’re doing, or else Cessnock is rocking some seriously transgressive styles!
Another lovely show, and as always, it’s awesome to catch up with everyone after the show, including some familiar faces that have travelled all the way from Sydney for the show. I can’t tell you how flattered I am that people make that kind of effort to see me play…again, it makes me feel supremely lucky!
After 4 nights away, I’m keen to head home to my family, so we head off early the next day to enjoy a few days at home. Next stop is two sold out shows at the Milton Theatre, a beautiful space that I’m always excited to play in.
Thanks to everyone who came out this weekend! see you out there on the road!
jpx
Josh Pyke finishes up his Lone Wolf tour with two shows at the Milton Theatre this week. See all the tour details below.
To get up to speed, read Part 1 of Josh Pyke’s Lone Wolf Tour Diary here!
Watch: Josh Pyke – The Beginning And The End Of Everything
Josh Pyke’s The Lone Wolf Solo Tour
Presented by Music Feeds
Friday, 6th June 2014
Montrose Town Centre, Montrose, Victoria (All Ages)
Saturday, 7th June 2014
The Memo, Healesville, Victoria (All Ages)
Tix: Via Yarra Ranges | 03 5966 4500
Friday, 13th June 2014
Fannie Bay Gaol, Darwin NT (Special guests Mike Meston and Ward Hancock)
Sunday, 15th June 2014
Divers Tavern, Broome WA (Special guests TBC)
Tix: Via Moshtix | 1300 GET TIX
Friday, 20th June 2014
Empire Church Theatre, Toowoomba QLD (All Ages)
Tix: Via Empire Theatre | 1300 655 299
Saturday, 21st June 2014
Majestic Theatre, Pomona QLD (All Ages)
Tix: Via Majestic Theatre | 07 5485 2330
Sunday, 22nd June 2014
Byron Theatre, Byron Bay NSW (All Ages)
Tix: Via Byron Centre | 02 6685 6807
Wednesday, 25th June 2014
Jetty Memorial Theatre, Coffs Harbour NSW (All Ages)
Tix: Via Jetty Theatre | 02 6652 8088
Thursday, 26th June 2014
Pier One @ Panthers, Port Macquarie NSW
Tix: Via Oztix | 1300 762 545
Friday, 27th June 2014
Manning Entertainment Centre, Taree NSW (All Ages)
Tix: Via QTCC | 02 6552 5699
Saturday, 28th June 2014
Cessnock Performing Arts Centre, Cessnock NSW (All Ages)
Tix: Via Cessnock | 02 4990 7134
Friday, 4th July 2014 — NEW SHOW!
Milton Theatre, Milton NSW (All Ages)
Tix: Via Milton Theatre | 02 4455 3056
Saturday, 5th July 2014 — LIMITED TICKETS AVAILABLE
Milton Theatre, Milton NSW (All Ages)
Tix: Via Milton Theatre | 02 4455 3056
