The Blue Atlas Ball is on July 4 at the Corner Hotel in Melbourne.
The Blue Atlas Ball is starring Charles Jenkins and The Zhivagos and The Blue Atlas strings with special guests Clare Bowditch, Anna Burley, Abby Dobson, Spencer P Jones, Davey Lane, Tim Rogers, Kerri Simpson, Cal and Van Walker with more guests to be announced soon.The night will feature songs by the guests and the guests performing a song by Charles.
One of those guests is Davey Lane of The Pictures and You Am I fame.
He spoke to Dust Devil Music about it.
Devil Dust Music: How were you first introduced to Charles’ music?
Davey Lane: Saw him play an acoustic show at the Standard Hotel nearly 10 years ago. Despite knowing little about him at the time, he played many a tune that I recognized from having heard either on the wireless or through friends. Went and bought the Icecream Hands' "Sweeter Than The Radio" the next day and been an avid follower of Charles' music ever since...
Devil Dust Music: What do you admire about Charles as a songwriter / performer?
Davey Lane: His perfect sense of chord structure, melody and lyricism which, when all thrown together, create something which is beautiful yet completely unpretentious. I can probably count on one hand the songwriters I know of that can do that.
Devil Dust Music: What is your favourite song from the Blue Atlas?
Davey Lane: When I Was King (for it’s cheekiness), but probably Courtroom (see above question)
Devil Dust Music: Other favourite Charles Jenkins tracks?
Davey Lane: In The Back Seat Of A Stolen Car, Vulnerable And Tough, Spiritlevel Windowsill, Open Road, Obvious Boy, Stay In The Same Room...I can go on!
Devil Dust Music: What are you looking forward to most about the Blue Atlas Ball?
Davey Lane: Hearing the new (and old) tunes with strings, seeing Charles play to a full room at the Corner, seeing some good mates, and a pint of Guinness with the man himself (can you introduce me to him?)
Devil Dust Music: What are the Pictures up to at the moment? Gigs?
Davey Lane: We managed to release a record earlier this year without anyone actually finding out about it (a first of sorts surely?), but we are playing a Thursdays residency at the Retreat in Brunswick in July. I’ve got one record finished and another written for seperate projects this year too, plus hopefully another record with a friend of mine towards the end of the year too.
Devil Dust Music: What plans are there for You Am I?
Davey Lane: A record with a guest singer this year, Tim’s writing tunes at the moment and they’re quite unlike anything the band have done before. Exciting stuff!
Tickets for the Blue Atlas Ball are from The Corner Hotel in Richmond, www.cornerhotel.com or by phoning 03 9427 9198.
