Melbourne Ska Orchestra (MSO) hit the road earlier this year to celebrate the release of their debut self-titled album, filling venues with hoards of smiling faces and dancing bodies.

So they thought they might do it all again, although touring 30+ members is no mean feat, to take the beast a little farther afield. Starting with a stellar performance at Brisbane’s Bigsound music conference last week. MSO will then travel to Adelaide and Western Australia, before heading back to the East Coast for a Sydney show and run of festivals including; Caloundra and Queenscliff.

We caught up with frontman Nicky Bomba to chat about Australian music venues he likes to eat in, what his favourite tour van munchies are and his what sort of feast he would cook for the rest of MSO.

What were your food influences when you were growing up and what kind of food did you eat at home or with your family?

Being in a Maltese family, rabbit was always a favourite on the menu and still is. Watermelon played a fairy significant role in my impendence. I could never get enough as a child.

What are your favourite tour van/plane munchies?

Popcorn, cracker jacks, fruit and icecream. Popcorn trajectories change with a moving bus.

What type of food do you hate, and what is the most disgusting thing you’ve ever eaten? 

I can’t really go near deep fried junk food anymore especially on the road. And by default the worst thing I have ever eaten was a Chiko Roll that must have been there for days….it bounced when I threw it on the ground.

As MSO are very active on stage, what type of food do you make sure to avoid before a gig or going on stage?

I tend to stay away from big fatty meals, desiccated coconut, almonds (make me choke) and pavlovas with extra pav.

Imagine for a second you can request anything on your rider for you’re upcoming ‘The Diplomat Tour’. What food and drinks would you put on it?

Japanese selection of sashimi, miso soup, sake, fresh fruit. As for drinks, freshly squeezed juices, ginger beer, enough beer to accommodate 30+ band members after a gig and some high-end red wines.

If Lennox is around , there would be Jerk Ckicken for sure.

What has been your biggest cooking disaster to date? 

While recording the previous album with JBT I invented the supplement salad. It started out fairly balanced and I went on a culinary tangent and proceeded to add cocopops, soysauce and baked beans. Sufficed to say I was the only one who would eat it. I felt obliged to.

How hard is it to keep a healthy diet while on tour? 

We usually keep a good food stash on the bus but we are always seeking out healthy cafes. I have an exercise regime that I try to follow daily. I say try. I am up to 50 pushups in one hit currently followed a freshly squeezed Orange Juice.

Where’s your favorite music venue to eat at anywhere in the world? 

Republic Bar in Hobart have wicked meals and is a vital part of our contract stipulations.

What music do you like to play when you’re cooking?

Depends on what I am cooking. It needs to have some reggae, ska vibe to it. I am fan of sipping wine and dancing while I cook

If you were to cook the rest of MSO celebratory feast at the end of ‘The Diplomat’ Tour, what would you make them?

I would cook  my signature dish which is a Austrian concoction called Keschpetzle, kind of gnocchi  noodle Bavarian adventure.

Served with caramelized onions and a Rockin Salad. Sweeet!

Melbourne Ska Orchestra Tour Dates:

Saturday 21st Sep The Gov, Adelaide SAFriday

27th Sep Fly By Night, Fremantle WA

Saturday 28th Sep Astor Theatre, Perth WA

Sunday 29th Sep Wave Rock Weekender, WA

Saturday 9th Nov Factory Theatre, Sydney NSW

ALSO PLAYING:

Saturday 5th Oct Caloundra Music Festival
Kings Beach, CALOUNDRA
with Boy and Bear, Xavier Rudd, Katchafire, The Basics + many more

Saturday 23rd Nov Queenscliff Music Festival
with The Living End, John Butler Trio, The Grates, Spiderbait + many more. For full line up and ticketing details go to www.qmf.net.au

Get unlimited access to the coverage that shapes our culture.
to Rolling Stone magazine
to Rolling Stone magazine