Alex Lahey’s fans were over the moon when she announced her second album The Best Of Luck Club in February.
With this news came the record’s lead single, ‘Don’t Be So Hard On Yourself’. The Melbourne based rocker said the first cut off the album was the ‘follow-up’ to ‘I Haven’t Been Taking Care Of Myself’ – that track touching on elements of self-deprivation an absence of self-care. Lahey said, “I wrote this song for my partner who was on tour and was feeling the fatigue and stresses of the road,”
Along with the announcement of the sophomore record by the singer, dates have also been revealed for her newest national tour. Lahey knows what it’s like feeling fatigued and over-worked.
“It doesn’t matter how capable or strong or resilient you may be, we all have bad days, and that’s ok. There’s nothing wrong with feeling tired after a hard day’s work and sometimes I have to remind myself of that too,” she adds.
The track features a KILLER saxophone solo by none other than Alex Lahey herself. To celebrate the momentous occasion, we’ve asked Alex about her favourite sax solos.
Alex Lahey’s Top Five Sax Solos:
Born To Run – Bruce Springsteen
“Probably the greatest rock sax solo of all time. Played by Clarence Clemons, who was best mates with The Boss and more or less the face of the E Street Band, you can recognise his tone anywhere. The way the solo slots into the arrangement is magic and such a big moment in the opus that is Born To Run and Springsteen’s career as a whole.”
Watch: Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Born To Run’:
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One More Once – Michel Camilo
“The tenor solo by Ralph Bowen in this tune is an absolute ripper. It builds and builds and builds and never gets old. I’m not much for shredding (probably because I can’t do it myself…), so I love how melodic this solo is – it’s full of hooks!”
Watch: Michel Camilo’s ‘One More Once’:
Mercy, Mercy, Mercy – Buddy Rich
“This is my favourite big band arrangement of all time. It’s so simple but SO hard to make feel good. The Don Menza solo in the Vegas record (what an era) is an absolute belter and holds no prisoners. It comes storming out the gates but is so much more than just some shredfest. It’s contoured towards the form of the tune and make what’s typically a style of music that is fairly inaccessible to many people sound like something on the charts.”
Watch: Buddy Rich’s ‘Mercy, Mercy, Mercy’:
Just The Way You Are – Billy Joel
“There had to be a late 70’s ballad in this list. This is my favourite alto solo in a pop tune. It has so much purpose and mirrors Billy Joel’s singing so beautifully. Fun fact: Phil Woods, who played the solo, was a very traditional jazz player who was criticised by his peers for taking the gig in this session. Little did anyone know, he had already been in the studio with Steely Dan and Paul Simon before getting the call up from Billy. What a legend.”
Watch: Billy Joel’s ‘Just The Way You Are’:
Shake Everything You Got – Maceo Parker
“Maceo Parker is best known as being James Brown’s longstanding sax player. He played THAT sax line in ‘I Feel Good’ and plays gold plated saxophones so you don’t forget. Maceo can play two notes and make it the grooviest thing you’ve ever heard. What I love about this solo is the way he exploits the instruments and makes it sounds unlike a saxophone is supposed to sound. He’s such a fun player who isn’t scared to fuck shit up in the name of funk.”
Watch: Maceo Parker’s ‘Shake Everything You Got’:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABLwmYI09Lw
Alex Lahey will embark on her ‘The Best of Luck Club’ Tour in June, which includes a just-announced all-ages show at Northcote Social Club. The Best Of Luck Club is out Friday 17 May, through Nicky Boy Records/Caroline.
Alex Lahey The Best Of Luck Club Tour
Thursday, June 6th
The Gov, Adelaide, SA
Friday, June 7th
Rock Rover, Perth, WA
Thursday, June 13th
The Tivoli, Brisbane, QLD
Friday, June 14th
The Basement, Canberra, ACT
Saturday, June 15th
The Metro, Sydney, NSW
Saturday, June 22nd
The Forum, Melbourne, VIC
Sunday, June 23rd (U18)
Northcote Social Club, Melbourne, VIC
Tickets on sale now from Handsome Touring
