Adam McGrath is well known for his work with the band The Eastern. He will be Live at the Library for New Zealand Music Month 2017.
We asked him some questions:
Tell us about your first live (and paid) performance?
Singing Heartbreak Hotel at the 1980 A&P Show in Christchurch. I was four and I was paid an orange popsicle. I don’t remember singing so well as it was my dancing which won the day. Never underestimate the combination of candyfloss, roman sandals and a hot day to bring out your best performance.
As a grown up, it would’ve been playing a backyard party for Dig-A-Tattoo. I was paid the handsome fee of one black flag tattoo on my wrist.
Which venue in the world would you love to play?
I always had a dream of playing inside Sun Studios in Memphis, and I was lucky enough to get to do that nearly fifteen years ago. Now considering I make my living playing music I’m more than happy to say “The next one”.
Are there any old Christchurch music venues that you’d love to see revived?
There was a moment for about a year in 1998 (before it moved to the Southlander tavern) where the Jetset Lounge in the side bar of the Provincial Tavern, seemed like a perfect place to play. Otherwise I would like to go back in time to when I was 12 so I could re-sneak in to the Blenheim Road Motor Inn and see Hammerack and Shihad when they still played covers.
What was your local library when you were growing up and which one do you use most nowadays?
Bishopdale! And it is still my Bone Marrow fave!
Do you have a favourite book/author/style?
My favourite book is The Fools Progress by Edward Abbey. My favourite author is just maybe Kurt Vonnegut or Ernest Hemingway. And my favourite style is anything that aches with some sadness but has an essential good heart running like a thread or a beam holding the whole thing up.
Where do you go in NZ when you need a holiday?
Generally I just go home. Waking up in my own bed feels like a holiday as I spend so much time away. However Arthur's Pass is my favourite bolthole.
Read our first batch of questions for Adam.
Here are the dates and times for Adam's performances;
Central Library Peterborough - The Showcase Concert
Saturday 20 May, doors open at 7pm
Te Hāpua: Halswell Centre
Friday 26 May, 3:30pm-4:30pm
New Brighton Library
Saturday 27 May, 2pm-3pm
South Library
Sunday 28 May, 2pm-3pm
Stay tuned for the next installment of our Q&A with Adam McGrath!
Add a comment to: Q&A with Adam McGrath (part 2)