King Tide Vs Custom Kings

Mon 12th Nov, 2007 in Features

King Tide Vs Custom Kings! Sydney vs. Melbourne! But there is more! Besides the 10 round punch-up between these two bands, you will experience the new venue that Luna Park has to offer! The doors to Sonar will be opened for the first time to showcase the best reggae in Australia, King Tide, and the grooves of the Custom Kings, who are being touted as the next big thing! Two big shows at Sonar at Lunar Park this coming Thursday and Friday the15th and 16th of November.

Tony Hughes caught up with me through a series of tubes to let me know what is happening within and without King Tide and the excitement these gigs are generating.

Faster Louder (F.L.): What is happening in the world of the King Tide Collective these days?

Tony Hughes (T.H.): We are all very well .At the moment we are in the middle of doing over dubs to 9 tracks we recorded a fort night ago in Brendan Gallagher’s studio. This is for a new album being released through Vitamin on about March or April next year. We are also gearing up for two big nights at a new room that we are opening with the fab Custom Kings. It’s a new venue at Luna Park called Sonar .

FL: So the big questions, what is planned for the evening and of course, will The Rotor be open?

T.H.: We don’t plan anything because plans, at least mine, are always set asunder. Hence, I like to leave it up to fate and butterfly wings flapping in the jungles of Amazonia. Where ever that is.
Yes the Rotor is definitely open .I made sure that was the number one demand of our rider .You see that’s were I go to clean out my stomach of bad spirits. Then I can continue drinking into the wee hours after the show. You know and talk shite with the rest of the lads. We usually chat about how unbelievably brilliant we are and why we aren’t huge like, um, um. His holy majesty daily lama Ben Lee!

F.L.: The Custom Kings are joining you for these gigs, will you intermingle musically?

T.H.: Do they have any girls in the band?

F.L.: John Howard or Kevin Rudd? Or Kevin Bacon?

T.H.: It ain’t easy being Green. So I’m voting for them.

F.L.: You’ve just released the promo Curse The Sun, what was the inspiration for the lyrics within?

T.H.: Inspiration is always hard .So I usually just run really hard into the biggest security person I find out on a Saturday night. Hopefully they will knock some inspiration into me. Failing that it’s usually lots of beer and staying up late shooting liquid L.S.D 25 into my left eye ball.

F.L.: When do we get more King Tide, like a full length release and what will we hear?

T.H.: In March or April an album will be finished. And you can expect rootsy reggae stylings sung in bad Australian Patois. We have recorded a version of The Wild Colonial Boy in a steppers fashion sung in convict style.

F.L.: King Tide is part of the Ragamuffin lineup coming to a city or winery in 2008 with UB 40 and the like. What’s your feeling about that conglomeration of artists and who within that mix would you like to meet or share the stage with?

T.H.: I would like to meet Family Man from the Wailers and ask him about his relationship with Rita Marley. And I don’t think there will be any stage sharing! At least not after they hear our convict singing on Wild Colonial Boy!

F.L.: Bush or Hydro?

T.H.: I smoke butterfly wings from Amazonia, dems powerful shit!

F.L.: Going back to Luna Park for a moment, the evenings you play coincide with Megadeth concerts over the same evenings.
Will the tribes blend and co-exist peacefully?

T.H.: One Love One Blood. They can’t help it if their mothers dress them funny.

F.L.: Any closing words for the King Tide faithful?

T.H.: Please come to the gig .We hate playing to empty rooms. You never know we just might do some convict singing. Oh yeah! Do you know anyone that’s selling a cheap Lager phone?