Simon Comber

I am finally playing shows in Australia for the first time, and it’s all the sweeter to be doing so in support of The Verlaines and their new album Untimely Mediations. Sydney band Crow will be joining us too.

In other news, ‘Poetry and Experience’ by Archibald Macleish might be the best book about something I’ve ever read. Given it’s long out of print there is not a single interesting or useful  link I can find on it, so instead: Macleish also wrote this great little poem that, thankfully,  transcends such terms as (gulp) “meta”.

Footage of Twin Insomniacs being performed in Wellington – shot by the delightful Brooke Singer (one half of French For Rabbits)

Chat with Zach on BFM

Had a great time with my bandmates Stu Harwood and Thomas Healy on the North Island leg of the tour.  In an unprecented display of good will, the bartender at the Bay Bar and Brasserie in Acacia Bay got this bottle down from the top shelf for us once the punters had cleared out, and playing  at Space Monster in Whanganui with The Blue Onesies  was a blast.

Big thanks to Bryan at   Bitter FM and Jack at Space Monster  for showing us a great time!

Can’t wait for South Island shows. Pretty damn psyched to be at the Dunedin celebration of the new Haunties album too. Christchurch and Dunedin- it has been too long!

See you there!

The Famous Elsewhere Questionnaire – as asked by prolific local blogger Graham Reid.

Smithies vs. Hill - 2 prominent N.Z media personalities attempt to pronounce my surname and argue about The Right to Talk to Strangers.

Top 5 for Cheese On Toast

Miss Viv on the E.P artwork

Sunday Star Times - September 11, 2011 (click on the image for "readability" )

You can now order physical copies of the new E.P,
The Right to Talk to Strangers, online from Amplifier -  or if you’d prefer, you can just message me for a copy.  A limited edition of 200 copies, many of which have already found homes in The States. The super-cool artwork was done by Vivien Masters,  and it also has the added bonus of indulgent liner notes that I spent far too much time on. Some N.Z  show dates coming ASAP! As always, you can name your price for the digital files on bancdamp,  or if you’re that way inclined,  let Apple name the price for you on  iTunes.  Righto – think that about covers it (for now).

Ps. Really excited for this movie to be in the works!

Andrew Scott is Un Ciego

Helga Fassonaki is Yek Koo

( Andrew + Helga = Metal Rouge )

A house party in L.A performing with my generous L.A hosts was a great way to end  my first U.S tour.  I learnt a lot on my travels.

To wit:
- Pack as little as possible. This cannot be overstated. When you have an early flight a long time spent rearranging the increasingly futile logistics of your suitcase is simply not cool.

-Pedal chains seem to hate those power converters which allow you to plug your adaptor into a U.S socket . Use batteries.

-Just because you get a few drink tickets for some terrible lager on tap at the venue doesn’t mean you have to use them all just because it’s free. It may well be better “value” to not be hungover whilst waiting for the  following morning’s delayed flight. (No offence intended to those people who actually consider PBR drinkable.)

- If a soundcheck is even remotely an option then bloody-well insist on one. Don’t let an apathetic sound guy talk you out of it. I let the dude behind the controls in San Fran talk me out of having one on the grounds that he thought  we’d “be o.k.” I’m sure HE was, but playing borrowed gear on a new stage was hard going, and not familiarising myself with the gear and monitors didn’t make things any easier. Next time I will insist.

Photo of a sign at Nashville Airport (go figure) which seems a fitting final U.S tour photo.

-Going on tour is a great way to see America. You meet people you’d never meet if you were simply visiting a city; more often than not you get some cash for your performances; you spend less on accommodation because performers on the same bill will often let you crash on their floors; you spend less on transport because people you’ve never met will pick you up from airports and train stations because they value music and appreciate you having come all that way to perform – etc etc. I feel more blessed than I did before the tour to be a songwriter with an original repertoire I can take on the road. It’s as a good a gateway as any to new people and places.

-I can’t wait to make a new album and have an excuse to book another U.S tour, but for now it’s time to book some shows that require a little less flight time. An Auckland City gig or two coming soon!