Only weeks away from the launch of his exciting tour with film legend Guy Pearce, Darren Middleton, of rock sensation Powderfinger, is feeling relaxed and reflective as he heads into rehearsals and gears up for the gigs to come, though whilst his solo career is taking off, is still very much involved in the lives of his former bandmates.
Speaking about where’s he’s currently sitting, Middleton said, “We’ve had our first rehearsals, and it was a big sigh of relief actually, because it sounds amazing.” Feeling optimistic, and pleased with the sounds they’re creating, Middleton confessed, “You never quite know when you get together with new people just how things are going to work out, but it sounds beautiful, the band sounds awesome.”
Given the massive difference between the arenas Powderfinger was playing at the end of their career, and where Middleton and Pearce are headed for their Broken/Translations tour, Middleton was in no way disappointed or missing the huge crowd atmosphere, but is excited for the different ambience that comes with the smaller venues. “I’m pretty content with this more intimate vibe, because it’s very much a conversation I have with the crowd.”
When asked about his own plans for the future, Middleton doesn’t have anything set in stone, but is happy to wander for the next little while. “I haven’t really mapped out a course for the next few years… The last year and a half was just putting my feet back in the water, seeing how I genuinely felt about it all. I wanted to really feel like I loved what I was doing and my motivation was purely because I love doing it, maybe making a connection with people on that more intimate level.”
[include_post id=”411705″]
Former bandmate John Collins has taken a break from the recording and touring side of music, but is very much keeping himself in the game with the recent opening of his hotel The Triffid, a new space in Brisbane for live music. When asked if he would be tempted to play at his friend’s venue, Middleton was more than keen. “I’d love to get to the Triffid and play! For this tour Guy and I are really trying to keep things small, and particularly for him, he’s not really trying to crack the big time straight away, he wants to feel his way into the whole thing as well. But I’d love to play the Triffid, and hopefully I will at some point.” He also added that he’s hoping for a private tour if he gets a chance to drop by for a visit when he’s in Brisbane in February.
With those plans to catch up in mind, Middleton chatted about what the rest of the band are up to. “We’re in touch on and off, I mean whenever Bernard’s [Fanning] in town doing his solo stuff, I go along and catch up with him, Ian [Haugh] reaches out when he’s in Melbourne, and I actually did an interview with Cogs [Jon Coghill] a month ago, and everyone via email and the occasional phone call.”
Bernard Fanning calls Spain home for now, though is presently back Down Under and touring – and playing at Collins’ own Triffid, while Ian Haugh has shifted to the United States and records and tours with The Church. Jon Coghill on the other hand has shifted his focus from the performing side of music, to the reporting side, and is happy travelling a little with his journalism.
When asked whether they all make time to catch up in person, Middleton confessed, “I get a tiny bit nervous before I catch up with them now, but once I’m with them then it’s all really good. Everyone seems to be really happy with moving forward so that’s good.”
When talking about the band, where they are now, and what the past few years have been like for each of them, Middleton was candid about how it felt to walk away from such a huge part of your life. “What I didn’t really expect I suppose, is the fallout from such a large chunk of your life, and your own personal identity… You kind of find yourself floating in an ocean and you can’t really quite feel the bottom. Even though that’s what people had told me, you know ‘it’s going to be challenging’, as anything in life, you’ve kind of got to go through it before you can really realise it.”
“I get a tiny bit nervous before I catch up with them [Powderfinger] now”With their own things going on, and everybody happy with their paths, Middleton gave his perspective on whether a reunion would be on the cards, “Well personally – and completely from my perspective only – there was, and there still is no intention from my side, to try to get the band back together. But I will say that as time passes, things do change, and you know, maybe somewhere down the track I’d be open to the idea, if everyone else was open to the idea.” He also added there likely wouldn’t be any duo collaboration going between any of the old boys, “It’d probably be an all in or no one in kind of situation, but you know I can’t speak for Bern or Ian.”
As for Middleton, he’s enjoying the new journey, the new musical experience, and being surprised by what he still has in him, “The thing with a band that’s been together for twenty years, it’s not that everyone is predictable, or that musically you’re predictable, but there’s certainly a comfort zone there, and habits, so it’s nice to find and play with people who don’t have those habits, and they bring something else out of you.” On that front, Middleton is thrilled with the band he has, and the sounds they’re producing for the upcoming tour.
Speaking of the tour, and any potentially to come in the future, Middleton is still happy with his energy levels as a 43-year-old, but consciously makes the choice to put out consistent quality acts, rather than be up and down in the energy department. “I can certainly go as hard as I did [in the Powderfinger days], just not as often… But you know, I reckon I could probably physically go as hard as I have in the past with my career on and off stage, but these days it’s more of a choice as well for me, I don’t want to be screwed or really fucking tired for a gig, I want to be good, and so you know, it’s a choice.”
While being conscious of the need to take care of himself, Middleton has no plans to slow down or bow out of the music scene any time soon, “No I think I’m just going to do things as I choose, you know I want to keep playing, you know I was having a laugh with Kelly my violin player, she travels with me a lot, and we were at a roadside diner truck stop, and there was an old couple next to us, and we were like ‘Do you think we might still try to gig when we’re 75?’, and I thought GOD YEAH if I can still sing and my fingers can still hold down a few chords, I’ll be keen!”
With a casual but positive attitude in mind to music, Middleton is open to where the road might take him, and if another interest caught his eye, he’s definitely not shy to trying new and completely different things. “I’ve always had a soft spot for cooking… There’s this great Lebanese restaurant, and I was talking to the owner saying I’ve got Lebanese background, do you think I could come in and learn a few things in the kitchen, so maybe that’s the beginning of a new phase!” Middleton has also tried his hand at filmmaking, and has joked with touring partner Guy Pearce, a veteran of the screen, about opening some connections in that industry. For now though, he’s loving his music and solo recording, and is looking forward to getting back into that when the tour comes to a close. “I’ve got a batch of new songs actually I’m pretty keen to get into the studio, once the tour finishes up.”
Middleton was also happy to reveal tentative plans for the new record, “I’m thinking about releasing half the record in the first half of the year, and the second half in the second half of the year”. He did hasten to add that nothing is quite concrete yet, and is happy with a “We’ll see” feeling so far. He also added that he’s already got a title in mind, “I’ve already titled the record which is pretty rare, it’s going to be called Fletchers… With the songs, I’m really happy with the first batch, and I’m keen to get some new stuff out there.”
Middleton said that the boys always took Powderfinger album by album, never planning for too far into the future, and it seems they are all very much living the same attitude now, taking life, albums, venues, and gigs one step at a time, enjoying the new journey they’re each on.
Middleton and Pearce’s Broken/Translations tour kicks off at The Capital Theatre in Bendigo on January 31.
Guy Pearce And Darren Middleton East Coast 2015 Tour
Tickets on sale this Wednesday 3 December, with special guest Krista Polvere (excluding Adelaide)
Sat 31 Jan, The Capital | Bendigo
www.thecapital.com.au
Sat 7 Feb, Thornbury Theatre | Melbourne
www.thethornburytheatre.com
Sun 8 Feb, Caravan Music Club | Oakleigh
www.caravanmusic.com.au
Thu 12 Feb, QPAC | Brisbane
www.qpac.com.au
Fri 13 Feb, Nambour Civic Centre | Sunshine Coast
www.scvenuesandevents.com.au
Tue 17 Feb , The Garden of Unearthly Delights | Adelaide
www.gardenofunearthlydelights.
Thu 19 Feb, Lizotte’s Restaurant | Newcastle
www.lizottes.com.au
Fri 20 Feb, Factory Theatre | Sydney
www.factorytheatre.com.au
Sat 28 Feb, GPAC | Geelong
www.gpac.org.au
