Feelings is the new project from former Philadelphia Grand Jury front-man Simon Berkfinger and also features Dave Rennick from Dappled Cities and Dan Williams from Art vs. Science fame. Feelings debut single ‘Intercourse’, Co-written with Michael Tomlinson (Yves Klein Blue) is out now and Feelings will be hitting the road in February to bring the sex-pop number to live on stage. Check full tour details here.
We caught up with Simon Berkfinger to what’s he been eating while living in Berlin, what he likes to eat on tour and cooking in general.
What dish or cuisine do you most like to eat on tour and why?
On tour I always try and stay with friends or family, so that I get fed. My uncle Eric makes a chocolate cake out of mayonnaise that’s pretty insane. If that angle fails then really we are at the whim of the current location. I always like a Quesadilla or just a good sandwich. You really need to ask around and keep your ears peeled for good food options, especially since I am mostly vegetarian these days.
How hard is it to keep up a healthy diet on tour?
It’s impossible whether I’m on tour or not – my life is total chaos at the moment as I’m always working on an album (mine or someone else’s) or on the road or making a TV show or some other unrealistically planned venture. I think that one day I’ll be together enough to bring things I like to eat in an esky in the van, but really who has time to do that? When I first starting touring in my early 20s I could eat shit and still have energy and not be a fatboy, but these days I have to be smart.
What type of food do you make sure to avoid before a gig or going on stage?
Maybe just no eating within 30 mins or so before the gig, because of the bouncing. Same rules apply for sex.
When you tour overseas, what food from home do you miss the most?
No matter where I am I miss the Thai food from Sydney. Also the dumplings and rice paper rolls from Miss Chu in Darlinghurst.
Do you consider yourself to be adventurous with your meals when you travel and taste the local cuisine or do you bolt to the nearest McDonalds?
Look I’m not going to eat the Grilled Red Panda tail with Sheep Kneecap as a sidedish, but I’ll give anything a look. I’m famous for discovering things in a big way about 3 years after my friends and then obsessing over them. Example; OMG has anyone had Vietnamese?
What type of food do you hate, and what is the most disgusting thing you’ve ever eaten?
I hate food with no sauce. Dry things suck. I once had a Yorkshire Pudding and I really didn’t get it. In fact, I don’t think there is much good food in the UK.
If you could invent a candy bar or lollie what would it be?
Maybe a chocolate biscuit between 2 pieces of white bread? Or loaves of bread already sliced and buttered and covered in Milo?
Do you have any food horror stories from being on tour?
No. Except that one time I toured Australian East Coast beach towns and there was never anything to eat after shows. We resorted to McDonald’s drive thru. I actually got addicted to Fries and Thickshakes, which I thought I was beyond. I have a friend who hails a cab to go through the drive thru after the normal restaurant is shut.
How’s the food in Berlin and Europe where you’ve been stationed lately?
Generally shitty. Lots of kebab and felafel in Berlin, but you get over that real quick. Meat and bread and potatoes. Germans don’t like vegetables so much. We are lucky enough to live in the neighbourhood where people seek out nicer things – there are great Vegan burritos here, Sudanese Felafel, nice burgers, African, Jamaiican. But we are now realising that if we have the time we can make the best stuff ourselves at home!
If it was your last ever meal on earth?
Bratkartoffeln Breakfast ft. Spinach, Avocado, Eggs and Feta.
Fried Potatoes are very important to German culture, art and politics. With this simple recipe you can be feeding hungry musicians breakfast like a North Sea housewife.
