Article: Rattle The Cage
Rattle The Cage
"You're in the hands of people paying to see you tour."
Anyone who’s been to more than one gig in their lifetime will know that live music has an uncanny knack for attracting an eclectic clientele. You know the types. There’s the shirtless, dread-locked stoner who’s too far gone to care if he brushes you repeatedly with his sweaty arm. The screaming teenage fangirl who lined up for hours outside the venue to ensure her chances of securing a front row spot and setlist after the show are as high as possible. I could go on. Keeping such a varied audience placated must surely be a tough job for a band. Not so says Simon Leach, guitarist in Perth-via-Melbourne four-piece LITTLE BIRDY, as he discusses the punter-friendly idea behind the band’s latest tour.
Theatres are the new pubs for this tour according to Leach, with the rawness of the venues the band started off in now replaced by an air of sophistication. “[We want] the building itself to become part of the show,” he explains. “People can sit down at the back, if they wish, and watch music. People who want to dance can go to the front. We’re just trying to cover all kinds of fans so that they can get what they need from a live show.” When pressed about what kind of fan stereotype he fits into, there are no doubts for Leach. “All my type of people will be up the back. I like to sit down and watch, rather than dance,” he laughs.
A quick glance over the band’s recent gig itinerary reveals that singer Katy Steele has been branching out into solo side project territory. A little alarmed, I put it to Leach - does this new venture pose any threat to the future of Little Birdy? “I guess ‘threat’ isn’t the right word,” he says, downplaying the significance of Steele’s solo aspirations. “If she became successful in that way, we’d just work stuff out. We’ve all got hobbies and stuff that we do in our down time. It wouldn’t be fair to say to her ‘you can’t be creative in your own time.’”
While Leach is seemingly at ease with the prospect of Steele flying solo, the question of what the future may hold post-Little Birdy does inevitably come to mind. “You have to be mindful of what’s down the track,” he admits, “‘cause the band is day to day, month by month. You’re in the hands of fans and people buying your records and people paying to see you tour.”
Having already bought a house and establishing his credentials as a graphic designer prior to becoming fully involved in music, should the band go belly up tomorrow I have a feeling Leach will survive. “Next year you might not be doing it,” he says warily. “You don’t really know and that’s the best way to be, so that you don’t take it for granted. We’ve been really fortunate to have lasted this long and have this as our work. As long as we’re all happy, we’ll just keep doing it.”
JOSH BROWN
Little Birdy, with supports Red Riders and Hungry Kids of Hungary in tow, will play the Hellenic Club on Sunday September 13. Tickets through Ticketek.
"You're in the hands of people paying to see you tour."
Anyone who’s been to more than one gig in their lifetime will know that live music has an uncanny knack for attracting an eclectic clientele. You know the types. There’s the shirtless, dread-locked stoner who’s too far gone to care if he brushes you repeatedly with his sweaty arm. The screaming teenage fangirl who lined up for hours outside the venue to ensure her chances of securing a front row spot and setlist after the show are as high as possible. I could go on. Keeping such a varied audience placated must surely be a tough job for a band. Not so says Simon Leach, guitarist in Perth-via-Melbourne four-piece LITTLE BIRDY, as he discusses the punter-friendly idea behind the band’s latest tour.
Theatres are the new pubs for this tour according to Leach, with the rawness of the venues the band started off in now replaced by an air of sophistication. “[We want] the building itself to become part of the show,” he explains. “People can sit down at the back, if they wish, and watch music. People who want to dance can go to the front. We’re just trying to cover all kinds of fans so that they can get what they need from a live show.” When pressed about what kind of fan stereotype he fits into, there are no doubts for Leach. “All my type of people will be up the back. I like to sit down and watch, rather than dance,” he laughs.
A quick glance over the band’s recent gig itinerary reveals that singer Katy Steele has been branching out into solo side project territory. A little alarmed, I put it to Leach - does this new venture pose any threat to the future of Little Birdy? “I guess ‘threat’ isn’t the right word,” he says, downplaying the significance of Steele’s solo aspirations. “If she became successful in that way, we’d just work stuff out. We’ve all got hobbies and stuff that we do in our down time. It wouldn’t be fair to say to her ‘you can’t be creative in your own time.’”
While Leach is seemingly at ease with the prospect of Steele flying solo, the question of what the future may hold post-Little Birdy does inevitably come to mind. “You have to be mindful of what’s down the track,” he admits, “‘cause the band is day to day, month by month. You’re in the hands of fans and people buying your records and people paying to see you tour.”
Having already bought a house and establishing his credentials as a graphic designer prior to becoming fully involved in music, should the band go belly up tomorrow I have a feeling Leach will survive. “Next year you might not be doing it,” he says warily. “You don’t really know and that’s the best way to be, so that you don’t take it for granted. We’ve been really fortunate to have lasted this long and have this as our work. As long as we’re all happy, we’ll just keep doing it.”
JOSH BROWN
Little Birdy, with supports Red Riders and Hungry Kids of Hungary in tow, will play the Hellenic Club on Sunday September 13. Tickets through Ticketek.