Having just come off the road touring as part of Falls Festival 2015, Brisbane five piece The Art Of Sleeping are about to embark on another (less laborious) tour at the end of this month. After playing one of the most epic shows of their career at Falls Festival, we asked the band to give us a first hand report of their experience, Caleb Hodges, the band’s vocalist and guitarist told us his journey.
I thought I was going to die. The baby in the row directly behind me had been screaming it’s surprisingly powerful lungs out for the last 58 minutes. The plane shook abruptly again and we dropped with a violence that made everyone on the flight go “ooooaaaghh!” followed by nervous laughter. I didn’t laugh.
Doing my best to maintain a look of cool, calm indifference. I watched the airline staff. Their expression is always the best way to gauge the severity of turbulence. My peer reviewed theory is, as soon they look freaked out you can start to freak out and contemplate existence also. The hostess was chatting away to someone about her recent shopping trip to Dubai and joking about a problem passenger on an earlier flight. I had nothing to worry about. I have spent an unhealthy amount of time in planes over the last 2 years. Needless to say when we touched down in Melbourne I was relieved. There is only so much screaming the human ear can handle.
The drive to Lorne was beautiful and our first experience of that particular journey without receiving multiple speeding infringements. We arrived at the Lorne festival site to the sound of chanting crowds crying “piss off rain, piss off rain”! It was cold.
The chanting grew louder and more aggressive as the relentless drops of water began to fall heavily. While setting up we joked between our selves about the possibility of playing to three people if the rain didn’t actually “piss off” as politely requested by the Falls clientele.
As we we started our set hundreds gathered oblivious to the downpour. “I love you Victorians” I thought gratefully to myself as I watched the crowd grow. By the 3rd song the glorious blue sky bared its naked chest. Falls crowds are always up for a good time and we had a ball playing our new music and hanging out for a while after the set.
The flight to sunny Byron Bay was much less eventful and I read the laminated safety procedure pamphlet for two hours….regret…should have bought that magazine!
Byron was always going to be a good! I was sweaty, it was New Years eve and a lot of our mates were floating about. The place was 98% humidity and had a home town feel to it. The tent we played in was an ocean of sweat and enthusiastic screaming.
It was hotter then a fire cracker lit at both ends in a bucket of steam! Everyone was out and down to party! The heat didn’t stop anyone but I couldn’t actually see anything for most of the set. Our lighting guy Dave is one of the most enthusiastic people I know. I don’t think he took his finger off the smoke button for at least 45 minutes! With impaired vision, Francois and I almost walked into each other in an awkward stage moment. No need to for me to feel embarrassed it was so smoky that I don’t think anyone noticed!
After playing what was one of our most enjoyable sets to an amazing crowd we had 2 days to hang out and celebrate the new year! Swims at the beach every morning, cold beer, aggressive table tennis competitions and quality live music to your hearts content. Byron hinterlands is one of the most beautiful places in the world! Doesn’t get much better than that! Im looking forward to next year.
Art Of Sleeping Tour Dates
Friday January 23 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
w/The Lulu Raes
Saturday January 24 – Newtown Social Club, Sydney
w/The Lulu Raes
Friday February 6 – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane
w/The Lulu Raes
