Tour Diary: Most Recent Entry
Its been an exciting few weeks. I signed my record deal with SonyBMG at
Brixton Academy last Thursday, where I played with Alanis Morissette, I'm
supporting her on her UK / Europe tour at the moment.
The Alanis tour took us to the beautiful Alte Opera in Frankfurt to start
with. We played at the Zenith in Paris 2 weeks ago too, it was the biggest
crowd I have ever played too, about eight thousand people they said. It was
terrifying up there on my tot but the crowd were just brilliant, there's
something about Parisians, I think I love them!
We then went and played the Heineken Music Hall in Amsterdam. With all this
Euro football fever at the moment and Holland playing France on the same
night of the gig I was expecting to see a little bit of orange in the crowd
in Amsterdam, but there were these little orange lions and football shirts
flying onto the stage. .. I tried to get with the football fever so I put on
a Dutch football shirt that had been thrown onstage. Didn't fit.. but thank
you to whoever's shirt it was. It stayed for the set. I went out for a beer
after the show and was blinded by the thousands of orange dressed Dutch
partying their britches off on the streets of Amsterdam.. after their big
win.
Last week, back in the UK , I went and played at the Isle of Wight Festival.
It was a nice sunny day on the island. Being the Isle of
Wight I slipped in a wee Hendrix riff in a song or two which was fun.
As soon as I came off stage I went on the backwards bungie ride with my mate
Tyrone. He said he'll put a wee video of the experience on YouTube, excuse
my language. Frightening ride.
So up I rolled on the rail line to Birmingham to play a gig there with
Alanis last Wednesday. An intimate crowd of die hard Alanis fans, they
really are looking after me. Ill be back to Birmingham soon.
Click image to buy my new EP
'WE HAVE COME SO FAR' on www.dobedo.co.uk
Narrative pearls with insidious, addictive hooks; LIAM GERNER’S songs on “Clear Mind”, his first album, penetrate the heart of the human condition. “These are songs I wrote while in the Australian dessert playing in bars to miners! There are tales of a dustman I saw in London, a refugee boat in Indonesia, an Aussie character called Benny Seal and a certain Spanish lady.”
Currently based in London, 25 year old Liam has been writing songs and performing in his native South Australia since the age of 12. Liam’s influences include Springsteen, David Byrne, Peter Gabriel, Steve Earle and old blues and folk.
Liam recorded “Clear Mind” at George Martin's Air Studios with producer Andy Strange (Elton John, INXS). “All of the influences, stories, places and music I’ve had in my life so far, I’ve tried to capture all on this record”
Whilst playing in Australia, Liam was talent-spotted by Peter Gabriel: Gabriel then invited him to play at WOMAD, first in Australia, then in the UK. These shows have led to Liam's headlining performances at the Islington Academy and The Borderline in London. And he’s been touring extensively over the last 6 months in the UK & Europe, he has played support slots with Teddy Thompson, Robbie Faulks, Tex Perkins, & Tim Rogers not to mention full tours with Newton Faulkner, Ryan Bingham and Amy Macdonald. Plus a sold out solo residency at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Liam has recorded with other artists too. He is the vocalist on a track “Kilimandjaro” for the multi-million selling French Artist Era 4’s new album which was just released in April 2008 and Liam’s the guitarist and guest vocalist on Darren Emerson’s (Underworld) forthcoming record.
Liam also wrote the soundtrack and score for the award winning Australian movie “ Angela’s Decision” which won Best film at the Australian film Society, Phoenix Film Festival, Garden State (including best score). As well as composing the score for theatre productions “The Return” which won awards at the Fringe in Edinburgh and Adelaide amongst several awards at other Australian film festivals.
In March, Liam played at the iTunes Festival at Air Studios, London replacing Dizzee Rascal to a rapturous response! And Liam has just finished touring with Jason Isbell (singer with the Drive By Truckers) he played Ireland, Europe and the UK. Liam is also confirmed to play at the Isle Of Wight Festival, Splendour Festival in Nottingham (July) and he supported Paul Weller and Duffy at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the Teenage Cancer Trust week of gigs in April.
After the TCT gig at the Albert Hall – where Paul Weller watched Liam’s set from the side of the stage – Weller invited Liam onto his 18 date, UK tour which started in Oxford on Friday 2nd May – it included 3 nights at the Hammersmith Apollo.
After touring with Weller, Liam continued his non-stop road trip – this time he was invited to support Alanis Morrisette around the UK & Europe on her “Flavours Of Entaglement” Tour …. Liam kicked ass in Frankfurt, Amsterdam, the Zenith in Paris, Brixton, Birmingham, and he’s still to play in Rome, Turin, Barcelona, Vienna, Prague, Madrid amongst others ….
Having been on the road since November 2007, it was appropriate that Liam signed his record deal with Sony/BMG Entertainment on 19th June 2008 in his dressing room at the Brixton Academy before his slot with Alanis. Liam will release records through the ARISTA label later in the year.
Liam sings from the heart and loves to gig – if you get chance to see him play, don’t pass it up, 2008 will be a busy year for LIAM GERNER but it’s also shaping up to be HIS year too!
God Fearing Atheists stormed through their usual strong set of fine
americana but best of all was Liam Gerner, an Australian. Armed with a
guitar and looking a little bit like a bedraggled Art Garfunkel he took
command of the stage. Accompanied on a couple of songs by Corby Schaub from
the Bingham band on mandolin, he came across with the vim and vigour of a
younger Loudon Wainwright although his delivery was at time reminiscent of
Patterson Hood of the Drive By Truckers. On this showing he is someone to
watch out for.
-Paul Kerr, AmericanaUK
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