Originating in Southport, England, Gomez have been plying their variety of indie-psych-blues to an eager fanbase for a good number of years now. Last year, celebrating 15 years of Gomez, they brought their Quinceanera Tour to Australia and gave audiences what they wanted in more ways than one.
Tone Deaf recently caught up with guitarist and vocalist Ben Ottewell to chat about life in Gomez, as well as his own upcoming solo tour of Australia scheduled for July.
“The Anniversary tour was great,” says an enthusiastic Ottewell. “We did the request thing, giving the fans the chance to select the songs for each gig. It was funny because everyone wanted to hear the same songs. We thought there would be more variety. We almost ended up playing the same set list night after night. We thought there would be some surprises.
“After we played in Australia in 2012, we decided as a band to take a bit of time off. We needed a bit of room to decompress and not be in each other’s company,” admits Ottewell.“People wanted to generally hear a bit of Bring It On. How We Operate was requested more in America and In Our Gun was bigger in Australia. It was good fun though and every so often there would be a song like “Step Inside”, for example, where we had to relearn how to play it,” he laughs.
Active since their early 20s, the members of the band have released seven exceptional records, played hundreds of shows and lived in the shadow of each other for many months of each year. So what does the future hold in store for Gomez and their fans?
“We have been doing this for 15 years and being in confined spaces with each other can get to be a bit too much. It is not all that conducive to creativity. The idea of getting off the road and then going into the studio right away was not appealing to any of us.
“This break will be a real one and I don’t think anyone is thinking about the next Gomez record for some time,” he adds.
Whatever Is On Your Mind, the band’s most recent record, was released in 2011. It was the first Gomez effort where file sharing between members was used to put the album together before they went into the studio. The tyranny of distance between the now spread-out band members made it the easiest way to work together. It also made clear the writing on the wall for a bit of a hiatus.
Although the band are taking a spell from the road and the studio, Ottewell will continue to make music. His first solo album, 2011’s Shapes and Shadows, was not a huge step away from the Gomez sound. The pleasant folk-flavoured nuances of his songwriting shone through and carried over well to the stage. Ottewell is now in the throes of developing his second solo release while spending some quality time with his wife and kids.
“It has been nice to spend some time writing and with the family,” he says. “I have been writing songs for my second solo record and I am about two thirds of the way through it. I hope to do some recording by the end of the year and hopefully it will be out by this time next year.
“I have been writing songs for my second solo record and I am about two thirds of the way through it. I hope to do some recording by the end of the year and hopefully it will be out by this time next year.”“I am not that prolific but it all has to do with time and space. The band kept us so busy. I have been writing with Will Golden who helped me out with Shapes and Shadows. It is going to have a few more guitar solos, it will be a bit louder and a little less folky then my first record.”
Australia has always been kind to Gomez and Ottewell. His solo shows in 2011 were well received and his dates coming up in July will no doubt be something to look forward to.
“We love coming to Australia and people want to see us play. It is no hardship to go down there and it is a wonderful place to be. It is one of those happy accidents of life that people want to see us and we are happy to travel there. We are doing about 13 shows which is kind of crazy, but should be a good time,” says Ottewell.
With Australian guitarist and singer Matt Walker supporting Ottewell on this tour, it should make for a fine evening of music. Ottewell suggests they might even do some songs together.
Ben Ottewell will be in Australia in July to perform songs well known to his fans, some fabulous covers, and new songs from his upcoming record. If you missed his solo shows two years ago and are in any way a fan, don’t miss out.
Ben Ottewell (Gomez) 2013 Solo Australian Tour Dates
with special guest MATT WALKER
On sale now. Ticket info at www.lovepolice.com.au/tours
Wed 26 June – Mojo’s, Freemantle – WA *
tickets through Love Police and oztix.com.au
Thur 27 June – Grace Emily, Adelaide – SA
tickets through Love Police and moshtix.com.au
Fri 28 June – The Substation, Newport – VIC
tickets through Love Police and trybooking.com
Sat 29 June – The Workers Club, Fitzroy – VIC
tickets though Love Police and theworkersclub.com.au
Sun 30 June – The Workers Club, Fitzroy – VIC
tickets though Love Police and theworkersclub.com.au
Thur 4 July – The Barwon Club, Geelong – VIC
tickets through Love Police and www.eventbrite.com.au
Fri 5 July – Theatre Royal Castlemaine – VIC
tickets through Love Police and www.theatreroyal.info
Sun 7 July – Lizottes, Dee Why – NSW
tickets through Love Police and www.lizottes.com.au
Wed 10 July – Lizottes, Newcastle – NSW
tickets through Love Police and www.lizottes.com.au
Thur 11 July – The Basement, Sydney – NSW
tickets though Love Police and thebasement.com.au
Fri 12 July – Lizottes, Kincumber – NSW
tickets through Love Police and www.lizottes.com.au
Sat 13 July – Brass Monkey, Cronulla – NSW
tickets through Love Police and oztix.com.au
Sun 14 July – Old Museum, Brisbane – QLD
tickets through Love Police and www.oldmuseum.org
