Support Shows (8-9th October)

Since our first gig in 2009 and until mid this year we’ve played a lot of shows as a way to build upon our live performance and exposure. However, these shows have mostly been in the local venues in Melbourne and most have been performed to our friends, families and occasional punters. This has been fun and rewarding but since signing with the label, having a manager and a booker, it now feels like Alpine is being taken to the next level and heading in a foreseeable direction.

Now that we’re lucky enough to have the right music industry people behind us, we have to put our faith in their hands and trust the decisions they make for us. I’ve realized that although we need to play as many shows as possible; there is also a strategy into what shows we play. Factors such as the artist, the venue, the location and the date are taken seriously in order to best suit the stage we are currently at.

So, within the month of October, we’re doing a few main support shows. It’s a really exciting time for us as it’s the next stage in helping to build our exposure beyond our friends and families. Recently we supported Catcall who is an artist on the same label as us. These shows were to launch her new single. This included two shows back to back; one in Melbourne at the Northcote Social Club and the following day in Sydney at The Civic Underground. 

On Friday the 8^th of October we played at The Northcote Social Club. The gig went well and it was great to have our manager, our manager’s assistant and our A & R representative all down from Sydney. The highlight of the night was being introduced to Kram who played in Spiderbait. He was a really nice guy and spoke positively about our set and songs. He was generally interested and enthusiastic about how we created our music and how we all knew each other etc. His own style of music is so different to ours that I was pretty surprised that he really dug our sound. It was great!

Earlier that night, we had found out some exciting news that our music video was going to be played on Rage at 1.30am. So, after Catcall played, we went to watch it with our manager and manger’s assistant at their motel. I can’t believe we were on Rage! Wow!

On Saturday the 9^th of October we flew to Sydney. I’m really enjoying spending more and more time with the band. I always hate coming back to Melbourne; Sydney gigs are too fun, as it’s great to play in another city, it’s exciting and new. When we spend time together in Sydney, we’re become more like a mini family. We all look after each other, support each other and most importantly we can have a laugh either with or at each other. 

At 5pm we loaded our gear into The Civic Underground, which was literally in an underground type basement with booths and a dance floor that had heaps of mirror balls hanging from the ceiling. By 8pm we had a soundcheck and afterwards we went back to where we were staying to chill for a bit. Moments like these are great when you can just relax before a gig. I hate feeling rushed before I play; it’s possibly the worst feeling. I like to have time to prepare and get in the right state of mind. Perhaps I’m just antsy?

When we went back to The Civic Underground, there still weren’t that many people in the crowd, but we had a great set list; put fairy lights and fake vines on the stage and made it look like a real Alpine show. We played at 11.30pm and that gig was one of my favourites! I’m getting more confident on stage and I love it. I’m able to loose my inhibitions and just get lost in the moment. When I think back to last year and how i was when i started out I was so shy and barley moved, I clung to the microphone stand like it was my protector or something. But now, it just seems to be in the way all the time, by the end of the set I will have moved the stand to the left of me so I have more room to dance. By the middle of the set there were heaps of people and they were really getting into it; enjoying the songs and having a dance.

After the gig, I finally met our booker and thanked him for the shows he’s already organized for us to play. I’m really grateful.

Now, on a side note, when I look back at that weekend and other past gigs, I’ve a begun to notice a difference between how audiences in Melbourne and Sydney react to our shows. It's weird!

My generalisation is that Melbourne audiences tend to stand back and just watch, analysing everything you do on stage, perhaps they're dancing in their minds? You never quite know if they’re into it or not. I guess the excuse is, there is greater accessibility to music in Melbourne where as in Sydney there is less?
Perhaps the standards and expectations are different between the two cities? For example Sydney audiences tend to take advantage of a night out to watch a live band; they’ll dance and not be afraid to jump around and look ridiculous. I love it too when i'm in Sydney, perhaps becuase im in a different environment as in not on home turf that i can really let go?