Amplifier

Although it was no small feat getting our seven members over to the US, we have almost settled in to the swing of things in NY. Our Brownstone is in the heart of 'old school' Brooklyn - where they still have 50 year old diners serving $2.75 soft eggs on fried grits and bottomless coffee - in a neighbourhood 80% Caribbean and Haitian, 20% Hasidic Jewish, we are all living and practicing (under our house) in the thick of it.

As our first adventure as a band going overseas, this US trip was conceived as an opportunity for us to play outside of NZ, but it was never a conventional 'tour' as such: rather we would base ourselves in Brooklyn for two months, and meet with those NY music industry folks who have been interested in our music, with a view to coming back. And to be inspired by art and good folks. 

The highlights so far apart from just being in NYC itself - and all the adventures that entails - are some of the great local bands and labels we've become friends with, and the great support from US radio stations. Especially in NY and NPR (who, surprisingly, picked us in their favourites list at CMJ).  

I often think how strange it would be for folks here to meet this particular bunch of seven New Zealanders all at once. Aside from music-related stuff, just small things - like going to the laundromat - we have really just gone in not fully knowing the local protocol and somehow collectively stumble our way through such things. We are a nightmare to serve in a restaurant! Everyone ordering different things at different times from across the table - but at least being such a big group, they work out the thorny issue of gratuities for us. 

Although we're getting the hang of life here after a month and a half, we are a peculiar bunch of strays. But NY being NY, we mostly blend in to the many villages that make up this amazing city with all its many global wanderers living side-by-side.

The shows have been great - not only in terms of developing our live show, but also, in terms of playing in front of people who either have little to no expectations as to our band. It's liberating. As I write, we've just got back from Washington DC. We just played a venue where all the tweeters in the house PA were blown. But all the people who came, seemed to know this, and it appears to be considered one of the venues quirks. It was also possibly the smallest stage us seven together have ever been on. And we've been on some we thought were small! But it was a great show, made heaps of friends and ended up partying at some pretty weird places. Crazy parties in the middle of burnt out ghettos. Some of us even ended up at an anchor from Al Jazeera's apartment. Odd. DC has two completely different worlds happening at the same time - and occasionally they collide.

For the best part of this year, we have been working on our second album. In retrospect, perhaps this was another reason for us all to come to NY: to finish mastering it; but also to have a break together. It was a challenging album to make for us - we wanted to make a better record than before - and coming to NY has really been a time for us to shut off and knuckle down to the business of playing these new songs, and writing some more new ones! We're looking forward to releasing it soon. 

Well, as the seasons continue to turn here - a beautiful rusty hue of browns and oranges - we are off to have a jam downstairs in our basement. We are all just surviving here (a familiar NY story...), but this city continues to amaze around every corner. Inspiring stuff. Can't wait to come back to NZ in a few more weeks, but we are already looking forward to future trips to the US.

Adam Ladley - Family Cactus