Graham Reid | | 3 min read
Bond Street Bridge: Beartown Straight Lines
Auckland singer-songwriter Sam Prebble -- who performs under moniker Bond Street Bridge (the actual bridge just around the corner from me, so he's one of my "homies") -- is a longtime Elsewhere favourite.
His intelligent lyrics, understated delivery and sense of the melodic was all over his wonderful debut album The Mapmaker's Art, a Best of Elsewhere 2008 album.
He's a smart one with words as the droll title of his new album -- Spring Summer Awesome Winter -- implies. And again he delivers sometimes spare songs, but embellished with the lightest of sonic touches.
He's moved a little into Leonard Cohen/Nick Cave territory -- the five minute opener Aimless where he comes off the dark prophet from the netherworld -- but everywhere he drags the listener in with his oblique narratives and imagery, and those clever folk/alt.whatever arrangements. Gets a little Lloyd Cole into his deliver too, in a good way.
And it is hardly a surprise he is an Elsewhere favourite when you see his answers to the Famous Elsewhere Questionnaire. He namechecks so many of our favourites.
BSB/Sam is touring New Zealand to launch the album, dates at the end of the Questionnaire. Get out and see him, you won't regret it.
The first piece of music which really affected you was . . .
After The Goldrush by Neil Young. My dad used to sing it in the car when we’d go on road trips and I thought it sounded like magic.
Your first (possibly embarrassing) role models in music were . . .
Steeleye Span. Who are awesome.
Lennon or Jagger, Ramones or Nirvana, Madonna or Gaga, Jacko or Jay-Z?
Jagger, Nirvana, Madonna, Jacko, but only because you’re making me choose.
If music was denied you, your other career choice would be . . .
I guess if I lost the use of my ears I would just write.
The three songs (yours, or by others) you would love everyone to hear are . . .
House Carpenter by Oakley Hall
Footsteps of Kings by Dylan Storey
Pocketful of Money by Jens Lekman
Any interesting, valuable or just plain strange musical memorabilia at home?
Not really, except that about half of the photos on my hard drive seem to be from touring with various bands.
The best book on music or musicians you have read is . . .
This Wheel’s on Fire – Levon Helm, on the Band.
If you could get on stage with anyone it would be . . . (And you would play?)
Neil Young and Crazy Horse. I’d play fiddle and we’d jam Running Dry.
The three films you'd insist anybody watch because they might understand you better are . . .
Woodenhead, Dead Man and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.
The last CD or vinyl album you bought was . . . (And your most recent downloads include . . .)
Burial, Street Halo. And I’ve just been downloading Black Mountain and Red House Painters.
One song, royalties for life, never
have to work again. The song by anyone, yourself included, which
wouldn't embarrass you in that case would be . . .
Roscoe by Midlake.
The poster, album cover or piece of art could you live with on your bedroom forever would be . . .
The cover art from The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan.
You are allowed just one tattoo, and it is of . . .
A huia.
David Bowie sang, “Five years, that's all we've got . . .” You would spend them where, doing . . .?
I had a think about this and realised that I don’t really have any plans beyond about the middle of next year, so this five year time limit probably wouldn’t have much of an impact. I’d just keep on keeping on. Make some more albums, play some more shows, try to stop the fishtank turning green, that sort of thing.
And finally, in the nature of press conferences in Japan, “Can you tell me please why this is your best album ever?”
It isn’t, it’s just my best album so far. Because it has awesome cover art.
Bond Street Bridge: Tour Dates
22 June: Bond Street Bridge & Rosy Tin Teacaddy - Playhouse, Nelson (8:00 pm)
23 June: Bond Street Bridge & Rosy Tin Teacaddy - Loan and Merc, Oamaru (8:00 pm)
24 June: Bond Street Bridge & Rosy Tin Teacaddy - Chicks Hotel, Port Chalmers (9:00 pm)
25 June: Bond Street Bridge & Rosy Tin Teacaddy - Wunderbar, Lyttelton (9:00 pm)
26 June: Bond Street Bridge & Rosy Tin Teacaddy - Dharma Bum’s Club, Wairau Valley, Blenheim (3:00 pm)
1 July: Bond Street Bridge & Rosy Tin Teacaddy - Wine Cellar, Auckland (9:00 pm)
2 July: Bond Street Bridge & Rosy Tin Teacaddy - Vinnies, Raglan (9:00 pm)
Richard - Oct 25, 2014
Re Sam Prebble. Only heard 1 song of his. Liked it, didn't find out name of Artist. Now I know-too late, died too early. Many NZ artists/musicians are now up there with the best-Sam clearly one of these. RIP.
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