“I literally haven’t had time in NZ to do band shows, because I’ve been in Europe and Canada for our winters.” Mel heads back to Europe in less than a month, although she keeps forgetting how close it is! “I keep saying to people oh yeah I’m going back in a few months, but it’s actually less than a month now.”
“It takes a bit of time and planning to tour with a band in NZ. The last band shows were end of 2015, the theatre tour with Julia Deans. They were cool, but now it’s 2017 and it’s been a while!”
Mel hasn’t played a tour with a band for some time, but she’s thankful that she can alternate and do solo shows while bringing it back together with the band.
“With a band the dynamics and instrumentation are totally different. I like playing solo, and I’m lucky that my show translates to that so well. But there’s nothing like having a full band, having all the dynamics. The guys I play with are all off the charts. It feels like a real treat to have them. It’s cool for me and hopefully cool for the audience!”
Mel Parsons seems to have a bit of attachment to Canada, and makes her way back there as much as she can. “I spent a couple of years living up there, and I love it there. I have lots of friends there. Canada has a great scene for this type of music, there’s lots of similar artists up there. It’s pretty cool to be able to get over there and tour.”
The touring lifestyle doesn’t agree with all artists. Some come home and are eager to stay here, while others are just itching to get back out and experience things, find inspiration for songs, or just travel while ‘working’.
“Touring overseas… it fills you up more. It makes you appreciate the good things about being here. It’s twofold, have a great time out there, but almost look forward and are happy to be home.” Mel was sitting in front of a fire when I spoke with her, quite content to be home for a short stint before she jets off again.
Mel finds that the road can help inspire songs but it doesn’t always allow her the time to write them.
Her wool-shed Tours with The Bitches’ Box have been a hit and have inspired her to invite comedians to open for her on this short tour.
“I love comedy, and I have some great friends who are comedians. And from the wool-shed tours, seeing how well music and comedy work, it’s quite nice to do something different.”
“The original wool-shed tour was in 2012. I’m from a farming background and grew up around wool-sheds. The tour is a double bill of my solo show and a good friend of mine who’s in a comedy duo The Bitches’ Box. The very first tour we did at the beginning of 2012, we had this mammoth thing booked and we had no idea how it would go. But we were very lucky that basically right from the start they just sold out. It was something a bit different and interesting. Also helped that we were taking it to places where things don’t often go.”
Mel hopes to be back in the studio to record her fourth album sometime later this year. “Hopefully,” she says.
Tickets are on sale now, links below!
Wellington – 4th May at San Fran w/ James Nokise
Tickets here
Auckland – 5th May at Galatos w/ Wilson Dixon
Tickets here
Christchurch 6th May – at Blue Smoke w/ Keith ‘The Numbers’ Preene
Tickets here
(FINN MCLENNAN-ELLIOTT)