went on tour. Callinan picked his way round ‘merica with a pickup band consisting of Tim Rogers (Jack Ladder himself), his
old friends Daniel Stricker and Jaie Gonzalez (of Midnight Juggernauts and Domeyko/Gonzalez respectively), super producer Dev Hynes (Blood
Orange, Solange) on guitar, and beat machine Brian Chase of The Yeah
Yeah Yeahs on drums. Pls find viddy below.
Dear Diary,
I arrive at Sydney International, bound for NYC USA. It’s Friday the 12th o October, 2012.
I’m pumped. My first scheduled US show is at 9pm, on Saturday the 13th of October. It’s a “live taping” video art & music performance installation for ESP TV at Interstate Projects Gallery, with Narcissister, Black Marble, Haribo, and Paul Haney.
So pumped.
But I have a problem with my passport. It has “water damage”. Though in truth it may have been a leaky hip flask. Regardless of the cause, Aussie customs were happy to let me go, but they couldn’t speak for their US counterparts.
Upon much consideration and some sound advice (I call the astute & worldly photographer, my big brained friend Mclean Stephenson), I decide, out of character, to take the mature option and re-schedule my flight until the following day. The last thing I want is to arrive in the USA only to be told to get right back on the plane and fly home, for good. Thank you to the female Elvis impersonator at Qantas for wavering the fee n looking after me. Two thumbs up to you.
It is, however, now 2.30pm on a Friday arvo. I race to to consulate back in the city, via the post office to get my new mugshot (quite handsome actually, if a little flushed n sweaty), I have until 4pm closing time that day to get a new passport.
Success. It’s amazing what a sparkle in your eye and 400 odd bux can get ya.
The next day, after resting for the night on the couch at Megaphon Studios (which is relatively close to the airport), I have a seamless check in with my fresh new passport, and I board my flight to NYC via Dallas Fort Worth.
I didn’t realise it at the time, but Sydney to Dallas, 13804 kilometers to be precise, is the longest 747 route in the world with a scheduled flying time of 15 hours and 25 minutes. From Dallas to NYC is then another odd 2225km, 3 hours plus in the air. And of course, I miss my flight from Dallas to NYC, so it stretches out even more, making my traveling experience simply feel more & more like existence itself.
I finally touchdown in NYC at approx 10:55PM. I’m a little late. Though I’m still pumped, energised, totally wired, despite that I haven’t slept in at least 30 hours. The in-flight entertainment was just too good. I’m in a cab by 11, at the venue by 11:30, and by 11:37PM I find myself on stage alone, singing & dancing to a patient audience featuring a number of expat friends, Ethan from Terrible Records, a couple o transvestites and heaps of really attractive Americans. It was the first show in front of my US label, it was absolute chaos, and it had a vibe. Everyone seems pleased.
We all go out to celebrate. We’re out until 9am the next morning. I finally crash, again on a couch.
And so begins my whirlwind US trip. It continues in much the same fashion, with 12 shows in 15 days across NY & LA, playing with folks such as Leif, Light Asylum, Regal Degal, Diamond Terrifier, Thurston Moore & Loren Conners, DIIV, The Dreebs, Billy Idol’s son (I can’t remember his name) [ed: Willem Wolfe], good buddy Jack Ladder & many many more.
We laughed, we cried, we got sweaty, we got tattoos. And I got the pictures to prove it:
Photo by Interstate Projects.
Interstate Projects
Address: 66 Knickerbocker Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11237
E-Mail: tom@interstateprojects.com
Website: www.interstateprojects.com
Opening Hours: Friday to Sunday 12pm-6pm and by appointment.
Photo by Karsten Moran for the New York Times. Full article.
Glasslands Gallery
Address: 289 Kent Avenue New York, NY 11211
Phone: (718) 599-1450
E-Mail: booking.glasslands@gmail.com
Website: www.glasslands.blogspot.com
Opening Hours: Vary by event.
Photo by Cara Stricker.
Photo by Cara Stricker.
Photo by Cara Stricker.
Photo by Cara Stricker.
Photo by Cara Stricker.
Photo by Matthew Murphy.
Photo by Cara Stricker.
Photo by Nate “Igor” Smith.
Saint Vitus
Address: 1120 Manhattan Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11222
E-Mail: saintvitusbrooklyn@gmail.com
Website: www.saintvitusbar.com
Opening Hours: 6pm till close
Photo by Brian Chase.
The Bowery Electric
Address: 327 Bowery, New York, NY 10003
Phone: (212) 228-0228
E-Mail: rockout@theboweryelectric.com
Website: www.theboweryelectric.com
Opening Hours: Monday to Wednesday 6pm onwards, Thursday to Saturday 5pm onwards
Photo by Cara Stricker.
Photo by Cara Stricker.
Photo by Cara Stricker.
Photo by Brian Chase.
Photo by Cara Stricker.
Photo by Cara Stricker.
Photo by Tim Rogers.
Kirin J Callinan and acclaimed director Kris Moyes will reunite for their collaborative live debut at Sugar Mountain Festival. Kirin will be supporting
Bat for Lashes in Sydney and Melbourne early 2013 and has a full length album coming through on Siberia Records (home to Midnight Juggernauts, FORCES, Erik Omen and Jonti), head to their website for more info. Or go to their facebook. Maybe just go straight to the second option.
Kirin J Callinan Live w/ Dev Hynes, Brian Chase, Tim Rogers playing WIIW (October, New York) for CMJ 2012:
title image by by Cara Stricker.
