Adam Montgomery - Calling All Cars (05/05/2013)
With their third album Raise The People released to the world, bassist Adam Montgomery of Melbourne rock outfit Calling All Cars has been a busy man, juggling the release of their new record, touring around the country, and preparing to move to the UK to break into the local European music scene.
"We're currently in the middle of a national tour for our new record raise The People and we're also gearing up to move to the UK at the start of May, so things are super busy."
Working on their third record across eighteen months, Adam explains that Raise The People marks a change in the style, structure and recording process Calling All Cars are so well known for.
"This time around was completely different from any other record we've done. Previously we have set aside a specific time in the studio and got it all done, where as this time around it was a much different process. For Raise The People, we worked with a bunch of different producers and engineers across eighteen months, so it was much more of a record that we slowly built up. It was entirely intentional to do it that way from the start, it's just how it went down. Overall it was a really interesting way to do a record."
Raise The People has a different sound to Calling All Cars previous records Hold Hold Fire and Dancing With A Dead Man, most notably by the ways in which vocalist Haydn Ing delivers some of the vocals. With the band drawing inspiration by stepping out of their comfort zone, fans will be please to hear that Raise The People marks a confident step forward for the trio.
"There was no particular band or style of music that directly affected how the record sounds. A lot of the time it was just us trying to puch ourselves to do something we have never done before. Put ourselves right out of our comfort zone and see what comes of it. We'll definitely be working that way from here on in."
With Calling All Cars plaing a few secret gigs under a Werewolves moniker, the band were able to road test their new material from Raise The People in a live setting, and gauge the audiences reaction to the material.
"It went down really well, but those shows were much more for us than anyone else. We knew we had a different record and really had to try and see how we would recreate some if the more interesting bits in a live setting. Thankfully it was all good and we had no major hiccups. Now all the tracks feel totally normal and we're looking forward to stretching ourselves again."
With Calling All Cars currently on the road for the'Raise The People album tour, fans will finally be able to hear the album in a live setting, as well as hear old favourites.
"(It's) a high energy rock n roll show. We've always tried to put 100% of ourselves into our live show and this tour will be no different. There will also be a stack of new songs in the set."
With the future bright for one of Melbourne's biggest home grown bands, Calling All Cars recently raised funds using a crowd funding campaign in order to relocate to the United Kingdom. With plans to tour right across Europe, including a few festival stops, Calling All Cars are ready to begin taking over the rest of the world.
"We are doing The Great Escape Festival, then a few shows in the first couple of weeks, then the plan will be to buy a van, find somewhere to base ourselves and tour our asses off. We want to be touring UK/Europe for the next few years so we will be working towards that."
Finally, with The Palace Theatre set to close its doors indefinitely, the threat to Australia's live music culture has never been bigger. As Adam explains, there is a huge importance revolving around the public supporting the live music culture, which includes the bands and the venues they play in.
"Most bands we know and play with, live or die by their live show. Very few artists are making much money from selling records (even successful ones) so a live context is where bands make a living. If people don't support that by going to shows or governments don't support that by looking after and protecting live music venues the whole process is fucked. Without bands making an income from touring, you can forget about hearing great songs on the radio as the bands will no longer be able to afford to make records. I am positive about the future of it though. People will eventually realise that live music is the soul of many cities and that's not something that can easily be put to rest."
Luke Sutton
"We're currently in the middle of a national tour for our new record raise The People and we're also gearing up to move to the UK at the start of May, so things are super busy."
Working on their third record across eighteen months, Adam explains that Raise The People marks a change in the style, structure and recording process Calling All Cars are so well known for.
"This time around was completely different from any other record we've done. Previously we have set aside a specific time in the studio and got it all done, where as this time around it was a much different process. For Raise The People, we worked with a bunch of different producers and engineers across eighteen months, so it was much more of a record that we slowly built up. It was entirely intentional to do it that way from the start, it's just how it went down. Overall it was a really interesting way to do a record."
Raise The People has a different sound to Calling All Cars previous records Hold Hold Fire and Dancing With A Dead Man, most notably by the ways in which vocalist Haydn Ing delivers some of the vocals. With the band drawing inspiration by stepping out of their comfort zone, fans will be please to hear that Raise The People marks a confident step forward for the trio.
"There was no particular band or style of music that directly affected how the record sounds. A lot of the time it was just us trying to puch ourselves to do something we have never done before. Put ourselves right out of our comfort zone and see what comes of it. We'll definitely be working that way from here on in."
With Calling All Cars plaing a few secret gigs under a Werewolves moniker, the band were able to road test their new material from Raise The People in a live setting, and gauge the audiences reaction to the material.
"It went down really well, but those shows were much more for us than anyone else. We knew we had a different record and really had to try and see how we would recreate some if the more interesting bits in a live setting. Thankfully it was all good and we had no major hiccups. Now all the tracks feel totally normal and we're looking forward to stretching ourselves again."
With Calling All Cars currently on the road for the'Raise The People album tour, fans will finally be able to hear the album in a live setting, as well as hear old favourites.
"(It's) a high energy rock n roll show. We've always tried to put 100% of ourselves into our live show and this tour will be no different. There will also be a stack of new songs in the set."
With the future bright for one of Melbourne's biggest home grown bands, Calling All Cars recently raised funds using a crowd funding campaign in order to relocate to the United Kingdom. With plans to tour right across Europe, including a few festival stops, Calling All Cars are ready to begin taking over the rest of the world.
"We are doing The Great Escape Festival, then a few shows in the first couple of weeks, then the plan will be to buy a van, find somewhere to base ourselves and tour our asses off. We want to be touring UK/Europe for the next few years so we will be working towards that."
Finally, with The Palace Theatre set to close its doors indefinitely, the threat to Australia's live music culture has never been bigger. As Adam explains, there is a huge importance revolving around the public supporting the live music culture, which includes the bands and the venues they play in.
"Most bands we know and play with, live or die by their live show. Very few artists are making much money from selling records (even successful ones) so a live context is where bands make a living. If people don't support that by going to shows or governments don't support that by looking after and protecting live music venues the whole process is fucked. Without bands making an income from touring, you can forget about hearing great songs on the radio as the bands will no longer be able to afford to make records. I am positive about the future of it though. People will eventually realise that live music is the soul of many cities and that's not something that can easily be put to rest."
Luke Sutton