After winning over Australian audiences last year with their rumba-infused ska stylings, Catalan seven-piece La Pegatina return for another round of high-energy performances.
With the release of their brand-new album 'Ahora o Nunca', La Pegatina will be coming to Australia in May.
The band celebrate their 15th anniversary in 2018, meaning the upcoming shows will take the party to the next level. We catch up with the band member Romain Renard to discuss what they have in store for us this time around.
The band were in Australia last year for the first time; how did you enjoy your time here?
[Romain] Last year was really cool. It was the very first time we were in Australia. No one in the band had travelled there before. So we were really excited about touring and discovering a new country, a new culture, so far from home.
What are you looking forward to most about the upcoming Australian tour?
For the next tour in Australia, we'd really like to know Sydney a little bit more. But that's the deal with touring: travelling, hotel, venue, back at the hotel, travelling again, hotel etc.
It's difficult to stay several days in the same place when you have 15 people on tour. But some of us really want to go surfing this time. Others would like to go diving, take a walk naked on the back of a camel in the desert (that's typical no?), have dinner with wild kangaroos. But time is running out! Hahaha.
What can audiences expect from the shows?
The audience must expect [a] party: dancing, sweating, fitness masterclass, happiness, emotion, colours and craziness. These are the ingredients to make a good show in La Pegatina's way of making people cheer and have a good time.
On Facebook you put out a call for a band/ singer to open the Perth show; what are you looking for in a support act?
The support band is important for us. Meeting bands is always a nice moment to share our experiences. And the local audience always appreciates to see a local band performing.
The more you listen to music, the more you dream. The more you dream, the more you create. The more you create, the more you feel. And music is about feeling.
Can you tell us about your new album 'Ahora o Nunca'?
'Ahora o Nunca' is our sixth album. It will be released on 6 April. It was produced in collaboration with Rafael Arcaute who worked with Calle 13, Calamaro between others.
On this album, and on the others, you'll find our experiences and our feelings we have while touring. This album may be the most 'social' one. It talks about tolerance, unity, self-esteem.
What did the band want to achieve with this latest album?
Musically, it is the most produced album we've made. You can hear big drums, traditional instruments like a Catalan flute (Gralla), huge pianos, heavy brasses.
How does the new album compare with previous releases?
It may be the most difficult album to adapt for the show. But it's a great challenge for us.
What were your impressions of Australian audiences?
We arrived in Melbourne a few days before the first gig we played, so we could see a few things around the city (Ocean's Road, see the penguins).
Tickets were sold-out weeks before our show at Bar Open, and the venue was not a big one so it was extremely hot in there! Spanish people had brought their Australian friends to the concert, and it was a big party.
Belgrave was a great as well, but a few people less, hahaha. We played at Sooki Lounge for 35 people. We really liked it because we had to convince everybody to party with us without knowing our songs or our language. No one knew us, so the beginning was a bit difficult. But after a few songs, people having beers, the night went crazy!
Amaru Tribe opened the night at these two concerts. It was great to meet them. We hope we can see them again when we come in May.
In Sydney we played at The Lair, supported by QVLN. This venue is really cool. And tickets were also sold out. It was the biggest concert we had in Australia last year. Great experience, awesome audience. It was one of the loudest audience we had in years! It was so 'electric' and sweaty. People just gave it all, and so we did.
The last concert was in Brisbane at Flamin Galah. One of the smallest stage we played the eight of us. But the crew were so nice with us. IZALCO opened with their great energy. Nice music mates. Another crazy night, crowdsurfing above dirty, dancing people hahaha.
As Catalans, does the band have a position on Catalonia's recent struggle for independence and the chaotic aftermath of the referendum?
Catalonia is passing through a really complicated time. As a band we don't have a position. What is happening is so hard to understand. Some people and bands do want to have and expose their opinion and we respect them for that.
As I said before, we are a lot of people in this band. People from everywhere in Spain and two French people from th French Brittany. We speak a lot together about the situation and what we think about it. But as a band we don't feel like having one opinion.
After some 15 years together, what are some of the important lessons you've learnt about playing and travelling in a band?
After 15 years travelling in 31 countries and playing about 1,200 concerts, we learned to go to the good physiotherapist! Seriously, it's really intense.
Playing in a band is about feeling and make people feel emotions. So you have to be honest with yourself to make people believe in you and enjoy your music. Touring, 15 people on the road, can be tough sometimes. People get tired, tensed, irritable. But when the show begins, everybody is 100 per cent concentrated to do the job.
And most of the time, when the show is over, a beer in each hand, tensions are relaxed. Travelling in so many countries may be one of the best parts of touring. You learn new cultures, compare them with yours, mix it up and go ahead.
Differences and failures make people better. So, investigate and never be scared about the unknown.
Do you have a message for Australian audiences before you get here?
Message for Australian audience: Be noisy. Please. Make it very loud. We can't wait to see you.
'Ahora o Nunca' is available now.
La Pegatina Tour Dates
Fri 18 May - Badlands Bar (Perth)Sat 19 May – Max Watts (Melbourne)
Sun 20 May – Max Watts (Sydney)
