Elora Danan tell us why...sort of.

Sat 12th Sep, 2009 in Features

After three years of constant touring, two successful releases and hundreds of shows,on the eve of their tour with The Getaway Plan Elora Danan announced that this would be their final run as a band. It came as a shock to fans, and looked a little odd considering that these same touring partners and label mates In Fiction had made a similar announcement of their own. Aimee McNabb caught up with them before their farewell concert for Bands@ Manjimup and asked them straight up;

After a successful CD and eastern states tour, why are you breaking up?

They gave her a number of reasons, probably all true, but equally probably not the whole reason. You can choose from: – œThe singer doesn’t want to sing in the band’ – œIt’s messy’
something about – œgetting married’
_ – œme Joolie’_
and more seriously, – œNo, these guys just don’t want to be in the band anymore, so…’

Trying to clarify further, they explained that while their CD has been successful, their tours not so much. Since the touring was what it was really all about for the band, it was a big part of why they decided to split. – œAs much as it’s superfun, the business side of the band really puts a downer on things.’

Discussing gig attendance, (with our interviewer hoping to get a bit closer to a definitive breakup story) they tell McNabb that audiences in Perth are always good, but it’s a different story in the Eastern states. – œOver east, everyone loves you if you’re the support band, but if you’re the headline band they don’t care about you.’
Realising that sounds a bit wrong, they make a couple of jokes about We are the Emergency, with whom they also toured, but of course, never really explain what happened on the tour.

Would you say its harder to get going these days? – œNot to get going, harder to maintain success without going into such debt.’ – œWe owe a lot of money to a lot of people, so we’re going to have to move, or change our names.’
A quick scan of their myspace confirms that money was getting a bit tight with George Green selling his hoodies to the highest bidder. The talk of money seemed to have put a damper on the interview, and not wanting to rub salt in what was obviously still a painful wound, McNabb brought them back to a happy place by asking about their remaining shows.
– œWe have 5 more in September and may the best show win!’

When asked about any future projects, the mood brightened and they began to discuss Sparks Vertigo, Tim Marley’s new band, and another project with most of the rest of Elora Danan which was affectionately being called Ex Cali Bert. (or something similar.) They mentioned a single as well, but at this point they boys were past taking much seriously and sometimes the words you say don’t always mean what they sound like.

In a last ditch fangrrl effort, McNabb pressed; We were hoping you were going to use this huge event to tell us you weren’t breaking up anymore. The band however, is adamant. – œÃ¢â‚¬Â¦Nope. its better this way because everyone likes each other more now.’

In answering their interviewer’s final question, Elora Danan gave a somewhat puzzling piece of advice:
‘Don’t sign with Boomtown Records!’
Perhaps this is as close as we will ever get to knowing why such a well-loved band calls it quits with two full tours still to run.

Their last show is on Sunday at The Vault and fans of all ages are welcome to see their short career out with a bang.