Good Evening Ladies & Gentlemen! Well, good morning really. I have just woken up extremely hungover in Shinjuku, Tokyo. My head and pride are thoroughly bruised but I will do my best to be witty and informative. To quote Prince – Forgive me if this goes astray.
We are LUGER BOA, all the way from Auckland Rock City.
Some people say we are the wildest rock n roll band in NZ today and we would struggle to disagree with them. We love The Stooges, David Bowie, the Dead Boys, The Sweet, T-Rex, Roxy Music, The Dictators, Thin Lizzy, Black Sabbath, The Buzzcocks and a million other bands you know and love too.
We are well known for our twisted rock n roll/glam/punk n soul recorded work and also our high energy unpredictable live show. This has been described by a reputable NZ news source as similar to being ‘dipped in mustard and interrogated by the Devil’, whatever that means, but it sounds ok to us.
We are currently trying to retrace our steps and find our clothing and minds in downtown Tokyo following a mind bending tour that has surpassed all expectation and leaves us wondering where the fuck our passports are and how the hell we are gonna get to Australia by 9am tomorrow morning.
Something will come up, I’m sure.
But in summary, we are like nothing else you have seen or heard. Come decide for yourself if you like it.
First obvious and probably boring question for you, but how did the name Luger Boa come to fruition?
Hey no problem, I’m in Tokyo so boredom is not a word I comprehend right now! In fact, its nice to have a question I can make sense of at the first attempt. I was Drunk and in a bar, watching a loud Rock n Roll show. So in that sense, perfectly and organically. I had thought about a thousand names but couldn’t settle, then a juiced up conversation yielded ‘Luger Boa’. I thought at the time it sounded like James Bond villain or sci fi hitman. Perfect. And I think it also encapsulates the right amount of man & machine, rock n roll & sleaze.
You guys are currently in Japan. Tell us about the bands and venues you’ve been lucky enough to play with and at?
So far, the Japan tour has been insane. Literally insane. The first shows were about 3 hours out of Tokyo with the mighty Guitar Wolf at some very cool clubs, one of which was called ‘Spider’. We approve of that. Both very Loud and with beautiful acoustics. I can t remember the name of the other one right now as we followed the show with a van ride NZ/Japanese comedy/beer marathon followed by hotel hallway tequila party. I’m not sure the photos from that should ever see the light of day. We surprised even ourselves and that Japanese businessman will never be the same. We then headlined (!) two nights at the legendary ‘Shelter’ in Tokyo. It was an incredible honour to have Guitar Wolf and the Faceful open for us one night, and the night before we played with Tokyo senations ‘Raydios’ – (Fink from Japanese seminal punk legends ‘Teengenerate’ new outfit) the Gimmies (legends in their own right and have to be seen to be believed), You Got a Radio (mindtwisting art rocknroll) & Young Parisian ( the glammest band on the planet right now no questions).
The next show then featured horror rockers Ed Woods, the unbelievably sexy Kannana Speedcats, and a two piece appearance from Seiji Anno of Guitar Wolf and Ono Ching from the Jet Boys. These guys are absolute Gods in this scene and to see them together was a very special occasion for everyone there. I thought they would play some Jet boys/Guitar Wolf/select covers but instead it was a performance art rock n roll interperatation of Star Wars & Enter the Dragon, complete with a nunchukku guitar battle climax. Brilliant.
It’s all been packed out rooms full of wild and wonderful people. What a ride!
The rest of the time we have been frequenting the coolest rock n roll bar in Tokyo and perhaps the world – Poor Cow Bar in Shimotizakawa. Owned by Fifi (Brother of Fink!) it is wall to wall vinyl of THE best music known to man. Our new spiritual home, oh & we jumped up for a drunken version of Sweet Jane and Surrender with an acoustic player last night as well so I guess we’re living in a dream!
How does the Japanese crowd differ to that of New Zealand?
Well for a start, they like it LOUD. I mean really loud. Head tearingly, mind meltingly ear smashingly loud. Like a physical sensation coupling with visual action to create a full body experience. We were concerned at the first soundcheck that the FOH guy was overcooking it but our hosts said “Relax. It’s the Japanese style.” I love it. They are also very excitable, very interactive and very appreciative, but we get a lot of that at home too. Perhaps the audience in NZ want us to make the first move when it comes to interaction, while the Japanese just drag you off the stage and onto their shoulders from song one. This I also love.
Tell us about the recording process for current LP ‘Hot New Nights’. Where did you record and with whom?
We tracked it mostly live as a band in a residential studio in New Zealand, then it was all taken back to Melbourne, Australia, to be fucked up, turned on its head, twisted inside out, and shaken to bits before being sent to be mixed in LA by Mark Needham and in New York by Andy Baldwin. It wasn’t a smooth process but it was an enjoyable one. We brought Barry Palmer over to help produce and he ended up with a pretty decent black eye. Which was fair enough because last time we had worked together he glassed me in the forehead. Probably accidentally I must say and definitely something to do with beer. No hard feelings though because I love him and what he does. We have history going back to my days in the D4. A man of magic and a complete maniac. My kind of guy. The album was mastered in Sydney, Australia by Leon ‘the Wizard’ Zervos. The lyrical content was inspired by many late nights in the red light district of Auckland, NZ. Many many late nights.
You must answer this question honestly or we steal your rider. What and where was the first gig you went to?
Ok, fair deal. In the very strong interest of retaining the rider I will fess up and say that the very first show I went to was the Shadows at the Logan Campbell Centre in Auckland, and it was with my Dad. I think I was 10? ‘Apache’ was a highlight naturally, as was the large bag of liqourice allsorts he bought for me. A big deal at the time I can tell you. The Shadows will always be liquorice flavoured for me.
What’s on heavy rotation on your iPod right now?
I don’t really listen to iPods. My ears need warmth and width and I struggle with the digital nature of the music. I think listeners today are being robbed in that regard, it seems the frequencies missing are the ones I want the most. But! Music wise I have been enjoying thrashing the Teengenerate albums in the van on the long rides to the recent shows and I’m looking forward to checking out the new Kannana Speedcats and Electrophonics albums I have been given. The new 7” single from the Gimmies is great too, we’ve been spinning that regularly at Poor Cow. And also a whole heap of Cheap Trick. Naturally.
How do you find new music?
Mostly by accident or good fortune and generally from people I respect and trust taste wise. There is the odd lucky stumble but mainly I ask for what’s pushing buttons. One of my regular sources is our guitarist Sam, who has the most extensive rock n soul collection I know, and coming from a different background, his music and knowledge is a goldmine with a seam of riches I will struggle to exhaust anytime soon. Long van rides with other musicians can be very fruitful too.
Do you have any particular ritual before you go on stage, or even a lucky charm you take with you?
Is a swig of tequila considered a lucky charm? Certainly has been something of a ritual over here as was the spirit of choice via Duty Free. On a more sober note, personally I run over in my mind the friends I have lost to rock and roll, and those who have allowed this to be my life and support me in my aspiration to keep it this way. It reminds me exactly what I am doing, what it means, and why I am doing it.
If you could curate your own festival, where would it be, who would be on the bill, how many people would you let in and what features would it have?
I’ve just polled the extremely hungover band in the hotel lobby behind me and they are mumbling ‘T-Rex, Black Sabbath, David Bowie, Mars Volta, Death From Above 1979, Guitar Wolf, Otis Redding, Ike & Tina…how many can we have by the way? Is this a dead or alive thing? The Ramones would be good. Also Frank Zappa, the New York Dolls, Bruce Springsteen, the Bronx, Hot Water Music, Guns & Roses circa 1987, Al Green, Bo Diddley, the Stooges, this list could go on and on. It would be 100 bands and everyone would get in free free. We would cover it from sponsorship money and wealthy widows. There would be no attractions, just the bands and we would feed everyone with Takoyaki and beeru. As much as they could handle.
You’re about to hit the shores of Australia for a flying visit, for your first headline shows, what should your Sydney and Melbourne fans and possible fans expect from your live show?
We will give you everything we have. I mean EVERYTHING. We will come back from Australia having recruited more people to the cause or die in the attempt. That could be the hangover driving some extremism but I think the sentiment is one we all stand behind.
Last but not least, what is in the pipeline for the rest of the year?
An Australian Tour, a new EP, more shows in NZ, a plan for return to Japan and work on distribution in Asia, Europe & the US, an attempt to build the worlds first Takoyaki gun and as much fun as 5 guys can have in the remaining 4 months.
Boom!
