Album launch @ Junk Bar, Briabane
I am playing a very special show in Brisbane on 15th October. It’s been a long time since I played my own songs in Brisbane. It will be exciting to return.
Playing the Junk Bar where I’ve played with various other bands. It is a great venue. I will be playing with Brisbane duo You & the Night. I am hoping to wrangle them to do a song with me. Let’s see how it goes.
Facebook event details are here.
The Inner West Misses You – About the video
I have a new video out, for the song ‘The Inner West Misses You’. Here it is again.
It is a remake, essentially, of a Tim Rogers film clip, for ‘You’ve Been So Good to Me So Far’. That clip was released in 1999, and as much as I love that song, I really love that clip. I love seeing old shops that have gone, and the shops that are still there. I love that sense of place.
So it might just look like a guy walking down a street, but we actually did several rehearsals on another day, and did several takes on the day. But hopefully it looks kinda nice if you’ve never seen the original. I wonder if the woman at the bakery remembers the first one. She was pretty cool about me not buying anything several times, and just passing me a bag.
For trainspotters, the road is Marrickville Rd in Marrickville, although we start around the corner on Victoria Road.
There were many things we couldn’t actually recreate. The seafood place was closed for one. And the little kid’s ride was gone. But the idea was that this was another snapshot of this street. Hopefully someone makes the same film clip in 16 years, and we can see this street again.
But whatever happens to this song, I think this film clip will look more and more interesting as the years go on.
Director Jeremy Dylan wanted to point out the real estate agent more, a nod to house prices. Right at the start of the clip, outside Victoria Yeeros, someone dropped a big slab of meet on the ground. As I walked up, they were just wiping the gravel off the meat. It made me laugh….all the way through the take.
Making cameos in the clip are Tim Byron on child’s piano, Casey Atkins on the uke and Jadey O’Regan as the shy girl. And yes, that is my son, William Harris-Yau, who is five months old. I am glad I will always have that footage.
The Inner West Misses You Video!
My new video is out! It is called The Inner West Misses You.
You can watch the video at the AU Review.
It stars some of my friends who played on the track. It was once again directed by Jeremy Dylan.
It was filmed in my local neighbourhood in Marrickville.
The Union – 23rd July
Another gig! I’ll be playing acoustically on 23rd July at the Union Hotel in Newtwon. I’ll be supporting The Proposition and the Ramalamas. I do a show with the Ramalamas every 4 years or so, and love it every time. Dont get us talking about Son Volt.
It is free! My good friend Tom Stone will be playing with me. We’ve not worked out in what capacity yet.
The Facebook event is here.
Watch: Courtney’s Moving To Newtown Video
It’s here. The film clip for my new single ‘Courtney’s Moving To Newtown (To Start A Band)’.
It was premiered by the fine folks at The Music earlier today. Go over there to watch it. I also wrote a short piece about the film clip for them. It is filmed mainly around Newtown, where the song is set and where I lived for many, many years.
The video was directed by Jeremy Dylan.
Making a video
On the weekend, we shot a video for Courtney’s Moving To Newtown (To Start A Band). It was directed by Jeremy Dylan and he was ably assisted by Jaime Lewis. It stars a friend of mine, but more of that when the video comes out.
We did some filming at the gig at the Town Hall Hotel on the weekend as well. Here’s a couple of pics from the shoot that Jeremy took. That’s Casey Atkins on guitar, Paul Andrews on drums and Tim Byron on keys.
Thanks to everyone who came to the single launch. It was a lot of fun!
Now – to finish the album!
Here it is. The new single free! + Lyric video
OK. Finally. The new single – Courtney’s Moving To Newtown (To Start A Band) is here. And it’s free.
There’s two ways to get it. To be honest, I’ve never tried either before so if it doesn’t work, hit me up, probably on twitter (@yauami). If you just want to listen to the track you can do that too.
Here’s the lyric video. Because it takes equal amounts of work, there is the normal lyrics as well as the lyrics filtered through Google Translate (in Japanese) and then back into English.
Want to download the track and do whatever you want with it? You’re right, it is totally none of my business.
Here’s the Soundcloud method.
Here’s the Bandcamp method. Just name your price as zero. If you think that’s what it’s worth. It’s ok if you want to be that guy. It’s ok for you to just be you.
If you want to learn to play the song, you can find the chords here.
“Courtney…” is the first track from my debut solo album. More details about the song and a proper film clip to come. I hope you like the song.
Adam Gibson & The Ark-Ark Birds Tour In May
In May, I’m touring as part of Adam Gibson and the Ark-Ark Birds. Adam is launching his new album, Australian Restless. I’ve played with Adam in his two previous bands – The Aerial Maps and Modern Giant. I wouldn’t play in his band if I didn’t think his work was amazing.
He is pledging his new album as well, and you can find the details on the Pledge page.
Come to a show and say hi! Here’s the Facebook event page. Find out more about Adam on his website.
Saturday 9th May 2015
The Junk Bar, Ashgrove, Brisbane
w/Mexico City (duo)
Saturday 16th May 2015
Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford, Melbourne
Sunday 17th May 2015
The Vanguard, Newtown, Sydney
w/Mick Thomas (solo)
Here’s a video for the first single, Long Time Dead.
The Coolites – Noisy Romance
There’s a new compilation out this month featuring a track from The Coolites – a new band with me on bass.
It is the brainchild of Simon Gibson, drummer extraordinaire for numerous bands, and I’ve played with him for many years. He also played drums on my upcoming record.
The comp is called PB100, and it is the 100th release for Melbourne label Popboomerang. A great label too. It is out on 16th April and you can get it on their bandcamp.
The Coolites track is called Noisy Romance. Listen below.
The Coolites will be launching their new album this year as well, with some shows to come.
First Single And First Show
The very first single from er, me, is going to be Courtney’s Moving To Newtown (To Start A Band).
It’s going to be the first track on the upcoming Do You Think We’ll Live Here Forever?, the long winded-ly titled new album. It will be available to take home – FREE – at a very special compilation available at our first show.
That show? I am launching the single with a band at the Newtown Town Hall (where else?) on 26th April 2014 and part of Electric Sundays. Also on the bill are Whopping Big Naughty, Danny McDonald and Wasters – and runs from 6pm to 10pm. Totally free too. Here’s the Facebook page for the show.
I friggin LOVED Danny McDonald’s old band P76, in particular the record Into the Sun.
Electric Sundays will have a new free compilation you can pick up on the night and it features awesome, awesome Sydney artists and bands. It’s called Autumn Shade. I already got my copy.
We’re track 3….just like Girlfriend on the Matthew Sweet album Girlfriend. So yeah, come down to a show and pick up a cool CD.
Courtney’s Moving To Newtown (To Start a Band) will be up to listen to in the next couple of weeks too.
In the meantime – why not like my new Facebook page.
Courtney's moving To Newtown (To Start A Band)