Pajama Club
Words: Rob Lyon
Laneway 2012 is almost here and the touring festival features another exciting line up jam packed with amazing acts giving punters plenty of bang for their hard earned buck. True to Laneway style, the bill is full of bands we’re just itching to see and a few that we haven’t heard of but are sure to make a splash in 2012. One such band is Neil Finn’s new offering Pajama Club, which provides a subtle contrast to his previous works, with ‘funky’ grooves drawing influences from South Bronx band ESG (Emerald, Sapphire and Gold).
The conception of the Pajama Club makes for an interesting story. Neil and Sharon Finn’s children, Liam and Elroy, had left home to live the dream by pursuing musical careers in the US. Pondering what to do with their time, their attention turned to fixing the music room in their home. The couple start jamming, laying down some tunes for their debut album and doing so in their ‘pyjamas’. With Sharon on bass and Neil on drums, both playing instruments they hadn’t played before, it didn’t take long before Sean Donnelly and Alana Skyring (ex The Grates) were recruited to take the Pajama Club on tour. Sharon Finn talks to Caught In The Mosh in more detail about the band.
A lot of people go to great lengths to keep their work and non-work quite separate, how you both juggle that and still keep a relatively ‘harmonious’ relationship?
“Well, you know, we’ve been living in each other’s pockets for a while now but we’re ok. Neil goes off in his writing room and I go off in my workshop so we’re not really connected at the hip or anything, which works out fine.”
Turning back the clock, did you ever think in your wildest imagination that one, you would be in a band and two, you would be in a band with your husband?
“No, no I didn’t think that was ever going to happen. I’m really glad it has as it has been a really great experience, I’m really enjoying it! I was shitting myself initially though.”
How did the initial idea come about?
“It happened as a jam, it was after dinner after a few wines and we went in to the studio upstairs and we were just having some fun. What people don’t realise is that Neil records everything in there as you never know what may eventuate and listening to it back he thought we could hold down a bit of a groove.”
Were there any significant influences which shaped your initial ideas?
“Yeah, I suppose so as we had been listening to ESG, a band from Brooklyn that were around in the eighties and they’re really simple but great grooves. Given that we thought nothing was going to happen with it we kept mucking around until we found our own thing going on. I guess we were influenced by them but interestingly Neil hadn’t played much drums and I hadn’t played much bass so we thought yeah ‘we can do that’ a simple version of!”
The conception of the Pajama Club makes for an interesting story. Neil and Sharon Finn’s children, Liam and Elroy, had left home to live the dream by pursuing musical careers in the US. Pondering what to do with their time, their attention turned to fixing the music room in their home. The couple start jamming, laying down some tunes for their debut album and doing so in their ‘pyjamas’. With Sharon on bass and Neil on drums, both playing instruments they hadn’t played before, it didn’t take long before Sean Donnelly and Alana Skyring (ex The Grates) were recruited to take the Pajama Club on tour. Sharon Finn talks to Caught In The Mosh in more detail about the band.
A lot of people go to great lengths to keep their work and non-work quite separate, how you both juggle that and still keep a relatively ‘harmonious’ relationship?
“Well, you know, we’ve been living in each other’s pockets for a while now but we’re ok. Neil goes off in his writing room and I go off in my workshop so we’re not really connected at the hip or anything, which works out fine.”
Turning back the clock, did you ever think in your wildest imagination that one, you would be in a band and two, you would be in a band with your husband?
“No, no I didn’t think that was ever going to happen. I’m really glad it has as it has been a really great experience, I’m really enjoying it! I was shitting myself initially though.”
How did the initial idea come about?
“It happened as a jam, it was after dinner after a few wines and we went in to the studio upstairs and we were just having some fun. What people don’t realise is that Neil records everything in there as you never know what may eventuate and listening to it back he thought we could hold down a bit of a groove.”
Were there any significant influences which shaped your initial ideas?
“Yeah, I suppose so as we had been listening to ESG, a band from Brooklyn that were around in the eighties and they’re really simple but great grooves. Given that we thought nothing was going to happen with it we kept mucking around until we found our own thing going on. I guess we were influenced by them but interestingly Neil hadn’t played much drums and I hadn’t played much bass so we thought yeah ‘we can do that’ a simple version of!”
Was it hard finding the right people to join the Pajama Club?
“Not really as Sean was with us right in the very, very early stages. Sean’s been really great, we asked him to have a listen and he took some stuff away, edited it and he really liked it. It really progressed from there and we said come on in and he’s been a great influence and help with the whole project. We did fumble around a bit in the early part and Neil didn’t know if he could hold down drums for a whole gig. The fact there’s so much guitar stuff on the album we thought we should get a drummer and were recommended Alana by a friend in Sydney. We contacted her and she was up for it and at that stage we didn’t know her previous band The Grates so we checked it out on YouTube.”
It seems like Alana had moved on from music pursuing other interests, did it take much coaxing to get her involved?
“Not at all, sent her an email asking her if she wanted to come on board, no pressure just a good time, and she was up for it.”
Have you enjoyed being on the road touring the world?
“Yeah, we’ve toured the US, UK and Australia playing gigs here and there. We really enjoy the live thing and I think we’re hitting our straps but we never had a good run at it. We want to get on the road and tour for a couple of months to get the flow on instead of a week or two here and there.”
Playing Laneway Festival must be exciting?
“Laneway will be great fun, really looking forward to it. I hope to see all the bands over the course of the eight gigs.”
“Not really as Sean was with us right in the very, very early stages. Sean’s been really great, we asked him to have a listen and he took some stuff away, edited it and he really liked it. It really progressed from there and we said come on in and he’s been a great influence and help with the whole project. We did fumble around a bit in the early part and Neil didn’t know if he could hold down drums for a whole gig. The fact there’s so much guitar stuff on the album we thought we should get a drummer and were recommended Alana by a friend in Sydney. We contacted her and she was up for it and at that stage we didn’t know her previous band The Grates so we checked it out on YouTube.”
It seems like Alana had moved on from music pursuing other interests, did it take much coaxing to get her involved?
“Not at all, sent her an email asking her if she wanted to come on board, no pressure just a good time, and she was up for it.”
Have you enjoyed being on the road touring the world?
“Yeah, we’ve toured the US, UK and Australia playing gigs here and there. We really enjoy the live thing and I think we’re hitting our straps but we never had a good run at it. We want to get on the road and tour for a couple of months to get the flow on instead of a week or two here and there.”
Playing Laneway Festival must be exciting?
“Laneway will be great fun, really looking forward to it. I hope to see all the bands over the course of the eight gigs.”
Do you think there will be a full Australian tour at some stage including little ‘ol Adelaide that misses out on a lot?
“Aww, don’t feel like that! It’s not intentional we left out Adelaide but it does come down to budget and we would be playing little venues cause we’re still under the radar. It comes down to being cost effective but we would love to do a full Australian tour though. Fingers crossed and we’ll see what happens with the record.”
Speaking of records how would you describe Pajama Club?
“It’s completely different to what people would be expecting, there might be one track that might be slightly reminiscent of Crowded House, being TNT For 2. It is a chance for Neil to do something different and not play any old material just going out to play all new stuff, let go and do a lot of jamming. Some Crowded House fans love it and some probably hate it, those who hate it don’t bother coming!”
Were the songs written with either Neil or yourself to sing them?
“It happened all quite naturally in the studio and Neil’s obviously got the voice and I’m not bad on the ooos and the ahhs. We tried lots of stuff and the songs weren’t pre-designed or anything.”
Did you ever think you would be singing vocals?
“Nope, although I’ve done the odd thing with Crowded House in the studio but I honestly didn’t think I’d be doing it live. It has been really challenging and quite good fun. I just need to relax and get in to it.”
“Aww, don’t feel like that! It’s not intentional we left out Adelaide but it does come down to budget and we would be playing little venues cause we’re still under the radar. It comes down to being cost effective but we would love to do a full Australian tour though. Fingers crossed and we’ll see what happens with the record.”
Speaking of records how would you describe Pajama Club?
“It’s completely different to what people would be expecting, there might be one track that might be slightly reminiscent of Crowded House, being TNT For 2. It is a chance for Neil to do something different and not play any old material just going out to play all new stuff, let go and do a lot of jamming. Some Crowded House fans love it and some probably hate it, those who hate it don’t bother coming!”
Were the songs written with either Neil or yourself to sing them?
“It happened all quite naturally in the studio and Neil’s obviously got the voice and I’m not bad on the ooos and the ahhs. We tried lots of stuff and the songs weren’t pre-designed or anything.”
Did you ever think you would be singing vocals?
“Nope, although I’ve done the odd thing with Crowded House in the studio but I honestly didn’t think I’d be doing it live. It has been really challenging and quite good fun. I just need to relax and get in to it.”
Would you ever do your own solo project?
“No! I have to many other things going on but you never know I suppose. I never thought this would happen so you just don’t know.”
What is the longer term view for Pajama Club?
“We love it, we love playing and we are a good band enjoying each other. We’ve worked on some new stuff when we were over in London and had a good recording session there so there is stuff in the pipeline. It will come out when we’re free and can spend some time on it. We’re looking to get back to Europe and tour but we do have some WOMAD shows coming up and the odd bibs and bobs but we’ll see what happens.”
WOMAD? Is that just the New Zealand leg?
“We playing Adelaide! See! There you go, happy now???”
“No! I have to many other things going on but you never know I suppose. I never thought this would happen so you just don’t know.”
What is the longer term view for Pajama Club?
“We love it, we love playing and we are a good band enjoying each other. We’ve worked on some new stuff when we were over in London and had a good recording session there so there is stuff in the pipeline. It will come out when we’re free and can spend some time on it. We’re looking to get back to Europe and tour but we do have some WOMAD shows coming up and the odd bibs and bobs but we’ll see what happens.”
WOMAD? Is that just the New Zealand leg?
“We playing Adelaide! See! There you go, happy now???”
Laneway 2012 will be held at these locations on these dates:
St Jerome's Laneway Festival Brisbane
Saturday, January 28, 2012 · 11:30am - 10:00pm
Alexandria Street, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006
Tickets on sale NOW via Greentix: http://www.showclix.com/event/75487
For all festival news and info head to http://brisbane.lanewayfestival.com.au/
St Jerome's Laneway Festival Melbourne
Saturday, February 4, 2012 · 11:30am - 8:00pm
Footscray Community Arts Centre – 45 Moreland Street, Footscray, VIC
Tickets on sale NOW via Greentix: http://www.showclix.com/event/75343
For all festival news and info head to http://melbourne.lanewayfestival.com.au/
St Jerome's Laneway Festival Sydney
Sunday, February 5, 2012 · 11:30am - 8:00pm
Sydney College of the Arts (SCA) – Balmain Road, Rozelle NSW 2039
Tickets go on sale NOW via Greentix: http://www.showclix.com/event/75488
For all festival news and info head to http://sydney.lanewayfestival.com.au/
St Jerome's Laneway Festival Adelaide
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 5:00pm - Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 1:00am
Fowler's Live – 68-70 North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000
Tickets on sale NOW via Greentix: http://www.showclix.com/event/75490
For all festival news and info head to http://adelaide.lanewayfestival.com.au/
St Jerome's Laneway Festival Perth
Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 1:00pm - Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 12:00am
Perth Cultural Centre – Beaufort Street, Perth
Tickets go on sale NOW via Greentix: http://www.showclix.com/event/75491
For all festival news and info head to http://perth.lanewayfestival.com.au/
St Jerome's Laneway Festival Brisbane
Saturday, January 28, 2012 · 11:30am - 10:00pm
Alexandria Street, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006
Tickets on sale NOW via Greentix: http://www.showclix.com/event/75487
For all festival news and info head to http://brisbane.lanewayfestival.com.au/
St Jerome's Laneway Festival Melbourne
Saturday, February 4, 2012 · 11:30am - 8:00pm
Footscray Community Arts Centre – 45 Moreland Street, Footscray, VIC
Tickets on sale NOW via Greentix: http://www.showclix.com/event/75343
For all festival news and info head to http://melbourne.lanewayfestival.com.au/
St Jerome's Laneway Festival Sydney
Sunday, February 5, 2012 · 11:30am - 8:00pm
Sydney College of the Arts (SCA) – Balmain Road, Rozelle NSW 2039
Tickets go on sale NOW via Greentix: http://www.showclix.com/event/75488
For all festival news and info head to http://sydney.lanewayfestival.com.au/
St Jerome's Laneway Festival Adelaide
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 5:00pm - Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 1:00am
Fowler's Live – 68-70 North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000
Tickets on sale NOW via Greentix: http://www.showclix.com/event/75490
For all festival news and info head to http://adelaide.lanewayfestival.com.au/
St Jerome's Laneway Festival Perth
Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 1:00pm - Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 12:00am
Perth Cultural Centre – Beaufort Street, Perth
Tickets go on sale NOW via Greentix: http://www.showclix.com/event/75491
For all festival news and info head to http://perth.lanewayfestival.com.au/