Feature: Blink - The World According to Blink
Author: Melanie Selby
Over the last three years 'A Low Hum' tours have become an integral component of the indie rock scene in New Zealand. The monthly tours which began in October 2003, were spawned from a photocopied monthly 'zine of the same name, first published in January that year and distributed free nationwide. For an extra $5 at the door the magazine could also be purchased at the gigs, with a compilation CD thrown in.
A Low Hum Tour has taken 49 different (59 if you count the double-ups) bands on the road, playing over 250 shows up and down the country. And not just the main centres - outposts including Barrytown on the West Coast, Moteuka and Lyttleton have also seen a slice of the action. Indeed the purpose of the tours has been to take bands that couldn't otherwise tour, to towns that wouldn't otherwise see them. And boy have bands been keen to get involved. Ian Jorgenson, the mastermind behind the whole concept (known to most as Blink), held their otherwise incapable hands along the way; booking venues, driving the van, supplying a food allowance, sorting accommodation - all the seemingly tricky things. All the bands have had to do is show up and play - simple really.
Sadly, as the age old saying rightly foretells, all good things must come to an end, and this December will see the very last A Low Hum Tour taking place. Featuring Disasteradio, Phelps and Munro, Ghostplane, Frase+Bri and Signer this tour will just visit the main centres - Christchurch, Dunedin, Wellington and Auckland. It will mark the end of an era but rest assured, it's certainly not the last we're going to be seeing of Wellington's already infamous Blink.
Meeting at a café on Auckland's New North Road (not one of those cool Ponsonby cafes mind - one with plenty of parking for Blink's van and rented luggage trailer), I find myself face to face with this extremely likeable 28-year old. Blink exudes endless enthusiasm for what he does, a refreshing difference to the indifference often exhibited in artist interviews in this industry.
Three and a half hours later I leave feeling a little lazy, a lot inspired and totally in awe of this man who dedicates his life to helping bands for absolutely no monetary gain. Debt more like. But that's not what life's about for this self-admitting "notoriously outspoken bitch". Ladies and gentleman - welcome to the world according to Blink.
A Low Hum Tour has taken 49 different (59 if you count the double-ups) bands on the road, playing over 250 shows up and down the country. And not just the main centres - outposts including Barrytown on the West Coast, Moteuka and Lyttleton have also seen a slice of the action. Indeed the purpose of the tours has been to take bands that couldn't otherwise tour, to towns that wouldn't otherwise see them. And boy have bands been keen to get involved. Ian Jorgenson, the mastermind behind the whole concept (known to most as Blink), held their otherwise incapable hands along the way; booking venues, driving the van, supplying a food allowance, sorting accommodation - all the seemingly tricky things. All the bands have had to do is show up and play - simple really.
Sadly, as the age old saying rightly foretells, all good things must come to an end, and this December will see the very last A Low Hum Tour taking place. Featuring Disasteradio, Phelps and Munro, Ghostplane, Frase+Bri and Signer this tour will just visit the main centres - Christchurch, Dunedin, Wellington and Auckland. It will mark the end of an era but rest assured, it's certainly not the last we're going to be seeing of Wellington's already infamous Blink.
Meeting at a café on Auckland's New North Road (not one of those cool Ponsonby cafes mind - one with plenty of parking for Blink's van and rented luggage trailer), I find myself face to face with this extremely likeable 28-year old. Blink exudes endless enthusiasm for what he does, a refreshing difference to the indifference often exhibited in artist interviews in this industry.
Three and a half hours later I leave feeling a little lazy, a lot inspired and totally in awe of this man who dedicates his life to helping bands for absolutely no monetary gain. Debt more like. But that's not what life's about for this self-admitting "notoriously outspoken bitch". Ladies and gentleman - welcome to the world according to Blink.
Tour! Tour! Tour!
"Too many bands in this town are pussies."
Right. Care to explain Blink?
"It's so easy to tour and do loads of shows and they don't realise that."
Practice makes perfect and having been on the road for a fairly hefty chunk of the last two and a half years, Blink is a certified expert on the art of touring. The whole business began when Sydney-based Christchurch band Degrees K wanted to tour the country back in October 2003, about when the eighth issue of the A Low Hum 'zine was set for release. Perfect timing as Blink was keen to give his 'zine a bit of a face lift and wanted to release a CD-R along with it. A tour worked in nicely, but ironically it took place without any 'zines or CDs. Blink was forced to give up after wasting three days at the copy centre as he "stupidly" decided to shrink the 'zine down in size.
"I was gutted about that but I totally loved the tour, it was one of the best things I've ever done."
Blink was hooked and persevered, tweaking and improving the tours each time he went out.
"I always push myself. 'Can that be done? Ah fuck, let's just give it a go'. The first time I ever did two shows in one day was in the one town at the one venue. Afterwards I was like, 'Oh, that wasn't that hard', so I started doing the one town but different venues. So you've got an hour to get all your gear over to another venue, set up, soundcheck and start the gig. And then I was like, 'Oh yeah, this can be done, why don't I try two different towns?' So I don't actually know what the next step is - three different shows in three different towns," he laughs.
Stop spending money on beer
Blink might have been driving the rock'n'roll van but he doesn't drink alcohol or coffee, nor does he smoke. He's straight-edged simply because these vices cost serious dollars. Money his lifestyle doesn't earn. While he doesn't preach, it is his firm belief that if Kiwi bands stopped spending money on booze, they'd be able to tour the world.
"All these bands whinge about not having any money, but why do they have no money? If they spend $20 a night on beer on tour, that's $300 a tour - and that's a ticket to Australia."
