Sam Shinazzi

Tour Diary

Saturday 3rd December 2005

I have been to play in Melbourne numerous times since I went solo. Countless times almost I guess. It has always been kind to me as a performer. It has made me feel welcome and special. I have mostly been down there on my own, one boy-man and one guitar. The first time I went with Wes and Tom. I also once went down with Robert Cranny and this year Adam 'T-Bone' Taylor came down. Suffice to say I have never taken the full band. Sometimes folks there have mentioned this, which is fair enough.

Launching the new album though, we figured it was about time to do it. The only real reason has been a financial one, and also I guess people's availability. Both of these were not a problem this time round. I was very happy to be taking the A-Team so to speak as well. Adam T-Bone Taylor, Graeme Trewin, Bruno Brayovic, Tessa Benjamin and myself had been playing as of late so it was the best combination. I get to Bruno's house at 7am. Due to everyone's schedule we are driving down on the day of the show. Not ideal but totally ok. I am the last to arrive. Bruno and T-Bone pack the car like the experts they are when it comes to such things. Grae and I stand back in awe, or rather ... trying to keep our eyes open at such an ungodly hour.

Tessa Benjamin (our keyboardist) had the smarts to fly down on her own. Four lads in a car with musical equipment on a nine hour drive. She made a wise move. First petrol stop I go to pay with my bank card. It had expired. I am thinking "How do I tell the boys this? Bruno will kill me". Luckily I had another one on me. Since when do bank cards expire? Oh, "All the time" I am told by the fellas. I sit with T-Bone at the front of the car and watch as Grae comes back with a Coke and some chips. I say to T-Bone it is so easy and more than understandable to be in the petrol station at 8am and buy such products for breakfast. But ultimately, it isn't that awesome for you.

If you ever need to make some quick cash, make a bet with T-Bone. Or rather, hang around him long enough and he will make a bet with you. Don Henley's rather excellent 'Boy's Of Summer' comes on. Bruno cracks me up with his seagull-keyboard sound. Listen to the bridge in 'Boys Of Summer' for it. Anyway, the song finishes and we discuss it. T-Bone is convinced Henley sings "I saw a Black Flag sticker on a Cadillac" much to our laughter and amazement. He won't budge on it. I explain that the song was written in the the mid-eighties, maybe the late eighties at worst. No way was Donny listening to Rollins and crew. We tell him it's Dead-Head, as in the Grateful Dead. He would end up buying his way out of the arguement at the next rehearsal. Graeme also won money off him, something to do with Heather Graham being older than what we all thought.

We have lunch at about 1pm. Can't think of the town but apparently it is a Peabody haunt. Burger and chips. We make great time and get to the Rob Roy Hotel (we are playing and staying there) at about 5pm. I feel yucky after being in the car all day and not sleeping much but once I am in the venue I get a second wind. We go to our room (a bunch of bunk beds) and drop off our bags.

Tessa arrives. We sound check and say howdy to our mates in Heligoland, and we meet The Red Tree. I didn't meet Oliver Mann but think he very talented. We have dinner as a band about three doors down from the pub in a little pizza place. Various friends start arriving, as do lots of punters which is a really great thing obviously. Luke Smith has had a haircut of sorts. Oliver Mann amazes most in the room. Those library stories ...

The Red Tree are a new band as far as I know, but play a solid set. Nice folks too. We start around 10:30pm.
The set is:
Breakdown
I Don't Belong Here
Until Sunrise
The Moon and the Stars
Out of the Question
The Drifter
Wyoming
Game Over
Scotty Come Home
Tiger's Tale
House Near Bridge w/ Hercules interlude
Goofy

I had some sound issues. My foldback wasn't 100% so I was stretching my voice pretty hard over the band which led to a few yelps and cracks but hey, I have never claimed to be a great singer. Overall it was a good show; not our best so far but then many people said it was (insert praise), one even saying his top five shows of all time. It wasn't though. We sold some albums too which is many believe is a sign of it being an above average show. I sit with Andrew (a Minus head from way back) and watch Heligoland who these days are so great. They have incorporated the music to fit in around Karen's voice really well.

We pack up and load stuff into our room. Tessa and Grae opt for staying within the Rob Roy; T-Bone, Bruno and I head off with Luke Smith to sink some. Bruno takes us to this bar down the road, managed by Wally from the Meanies. Its like a secret members only place seemingly. We have to look for a blue door or something; finally we go upstairs and the beers begin to flow. It's not too crowded so we sit on a lounge and relax. I for one, am very tired. All of a sudden the place starts jumping, with people coming in and the stereo blasting a lot of glam-rock. This is T-Bone and I's tip to leave. I just wasn't in the mood, it seemed like a fun place though. I hit the hay around 3am but have a lot of trouble sleeping. Bruno gets back about 4am. I go to the toilet down the hall at about 5am and come back into the room. Bruno wakes up seemingly, and says "What are you doing in my room?" and I say "Sparky, it's Sam" and he rolls back to sleep.

Sunday 4th December 2005

I am the last to wake about 8am and I have a shower. It's not the greatest place to do so, but it is cheap so I am certainly not complaining. We have breakfast down the road and take a bunch of photos. We say goodbye to Tessa as she is flying back. The drive home was pretty good with lots of laughter stories and jokes. T-Bone was looking for his shotgun every ten minutes. For some reason I don't end up driving. I am not fussed either way but hope I am not letting down the crew.

We get back into Newtown Sydney about 6pm. Again, we made great time. I say my goodbyes and tell everyone how much I appreciate their efforts in helping me launch the album in Melbourne.

Thanks to James for booking the show, and Heligoland for all their help. Thanks to Bruno for the wheels and T-Bone, Grae and Tessa for allowing me to have such fun.
Sam x