Jay Hoad: Live in Concert 2014

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Posted 2014-02-05 by Haydn Radford ⇒ follow

Fri 04 Jul 2014 - Sun 03 Aug 2014

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See latest tour schedule at end of article**

It began just around six o'clock on a warm summer evening at the Austral Hotel, in Rundle Street's East End. Jay Hoad's summery sounds of music streamed out an open doorway from the front bar out onto the street to a seated audience at tables on the footpath. Inside more listeners perched on bar stools gathered to soak up his performance of exotic sounds from his assortment of guitars, didgeridoo, dulcimer, percussion and lap steel guitar.

He performed solo a variety of high-energy blues, rock, reggae, tribal, Latin and Celtic music. His hands and feet worked in harmony with hammer on, pull off guitar picking, slick crystal-clear guitar licks, colourful haunting didgeridoo with effects pedal, pulsating bass accompaniment, intermingled with his occasional lively vocals.

His repertoire included various genres of music, which is not surprising, considering he has degrees in classical music and jazz and grew up in a home where his parents introduced him to a vast record collection with lots of classic rock, which included Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Creedence Clearwater Revival and James Brown.

His music is also fused with stories and experiences that have inspired him around the world. During our interview he commented how people will say, "Wow! I heard Hendrix, Stevie ray Vaughn or Bob Marley in your music," and it's never the same artist. That's the great thing about it, everyone hears something different."

Over the last seven years Jay has toured and been inspired by the music and cultures while touring the world performing his music in the Caribbean, South East Asia, India, Fiji and the United States. In 2011.

While playing a lot of shows with his band around New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Washington DC he was honoured with the opportunity to support Bob Marley's "The Wailers" on the East Coast. This tour led to an invitation to perform before 20,000 people at the Saarang World Cultural Festival in India. These experiences have inspired his music as a songwriter while performing and absorbing life experiences while in third world countries; some exotic locations, while others not so exotic.

During our interview, Jay described his experience of playing to at the Saarang World Cultural Festival.

'The excitement in the crowd and the noise they made before I even went on stage was overwhelming and I had never played in the country before; so it was completely insane. When I perform in India, Fiji, Caribbean, Thailand and Cambodia and those sorts of countries the people are so appreciative, because they don't get that sort of thing every day.

I think countries like Australia and America it is so common and so average thing to go and see a band or go to a festival. In a country like India it is really a big deal. So everyone who was at that festival was so excited and so appreciative.'

You obviously enjoy live performances; do you have a preference for performing in smaller show or bigger events?

"They all have a place for me. My life is a nice blend of everything from 20,000 plus festival in India to 15 – 20 people in a local pub. It's a nice blend and I appreciate it for what it is.
I used to get a little frustrated sometimes when the crowd is small and a little less appreciative than I anticipated. But now I just enjoy it for what it is. You know, the crazy shows are good, but they are crazy you know. The small shows are nice to take time to try new material and actually take a breather, tell some stories and have some fun; same goes for my travelling lifestyle, a nice blend between hotels and nights with the band in the bush. So it's finding that balance is really cool."

"This year I will be doing less touring and staying within Australia and Fiji. Last year I started the year in India with the Saarang World Cultural Festival and toured flat out, flying and driving (sic) flat out, so last year was insane. In fact the last ten years have been insane. So this year I'm sticking mainly to Australia and Fiji and then next year we are hitting the World Music Festival scene around the world.'

Jay's friendly and approachable manner is certainly easy to admire and appreciate. I enjoyed talking with him and seeing him perform and relate to his audience.

B]For details of Jay Hoad's CD's Warmth in the White, Stories for the Soul, Home is Where the Heart Is and Earth Music check out his website. **

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Latest tour schedule of live performances South AustraliaAustral Hotel, 205 Rundle Street, AdelaideFri. July 4th 6pmBacchus Bar, 253 The Esplanade, Henley Beach, Sat. July 5th 8.30 pm.Grosvenor Hotel, Victor HarborSun. July 6th 2.00 pmFijiFull Moon Party at Uprising Beach Resort, Pacific Harbor, Fiji Islands. Phone: (679) 3452200). Uprising Beach Resort. Friday 11 July & 12 July 2014 (Still partying)VictoriaGolden Vine Hotel 135 King St. Bendigo Vic.Fri 18 July 8.30 pm.Snowline Hotel HarrietvilleSat 19 July 8.00 pmSwindlers Mt HothamSun 20 July, 21, 22, 23, 24th 8.00 pmNew South Wales & QueenslandNoosa heads Surf Club 69 Hastings, Noosa Heads QldSat 26 July 9.00 pm.Sun 27 July 3.00 pmNomads 44 Noosa Drive, Noosa Heads QldWed 30 July 8.30 pmHoey Moey 44 Ocean Parade, Coffs harbour NSWThurs 31 July 7.00 pmNO.5 5 Church Street, Bellingen NSWFri 1 August Palmwoods Hotel 34 Main Street, Palmwoods Qld.Sat 2 Aug 8.00 pmCaloundra Surf Club 1 Spender Lane, Caloundra Qld.Sun 3 Aug 3 pmFurther dates to be advised. Watch this space.