In February 2004 Perth based quartet ‘Little Birdy’ hit the road in promotion of their new single “This is a Love Song”. Australian Musician thought it might be fun to get the band to document two weeks in the life of “Little Birdy” on tour...

Feb 5
We began our tour on a plane, we rose out of Perth to land in lovely Melbourne town. We then progressed down to little ol Tassie. Quaint, old, beautiful. And above all skimpy waitresses at the saloon bar. We trekked up Cataract Gorge and Matty nearly had a hernia. Smoking wasn’t so cool after that.

We sound checked at a place consisting of saddles, Indians, cowboys, mounted moose heads, and lost ourselves in a Texan siesta.

Our first sound check was a success. We met some local Launcestians, and learnt of the snobbery consisting between Hobart and Launceston. We’re all just one against the other.

We’re now at the Republic writing in Gav’s laptop, looking very yuppy like, in a very homely bar. Now is when I eat my grilled garlic, coriander, ginger fish, with salad ... mmmmmmmmmmmmmm

I thought it was strange when a groupie had his hand around my waist, then I found out he did it to Simon and Matty and Barney, I didn’t feel so special.

Feb 6
We drove and drove and drove to find a packet of stale Sakata, quite a treat, really wasn’t worth it. Hobart was amazing. We rocked up at 10 o’clock to see a queue of at least 300 people lining up to get in. It sold out and was probably was of the best vibing gigs we’ve ever played. After Tasmania was a trek to Adelaide, the accommodation was awesome. We were there for approx 4 hours and 37 min, 4 hours of that we were sleeping. The gig was cool. At a dingy looking Enigma Bar we had an awesome gig, meeting our support band RedSunBand. It was a cool 38 degrees at the gig and sweating it out somehow made it look more rock n' roll. We weren’t really there long enough for anything exciting to happen.

Feb 8
Then we went to Melbourne. Rocked up at the only rock n' roll accommodation around ‘The Cosmo’ in St Kilda and witnessed the greatest spectacular ever, The St Kilda fest. Amazing, tits, arse, everywhere, the hot weather brought out the best in all of us. Five people have been on the road for too long!

Simon and I did an interview for Triple J, and it was so hot. Played a kick ass gig with the sea breeze kooling everyone down.

Feb 12
Geelong Barwon Club: We weren’t sure what to expect seeing as we’d never played there – gig was awesome – another hot one.

Cops were being pricks outside, giving people fines for not stopping at a ’stop’ sign in an alley way!

Had DJ doing guitar tech he was awesome! DJ wacked KT in the head accidentally with her guitar. Drove back to Melbourne after gig – boring drive (but short at warp speed).

Feb 13
Corner Hotel: The Corner Hotel staff treat you so well – food platters, full fridge of drinks.

Sold out gig! Intense audience - love to watch and listen embracing all the new stuff.

Simon met up with an old friend, Phil (manager) was in town for a visit. Simon, Barney, Phil and Nig (Simon’s friend) went out to Ding Dong in the city – got trashed – kool club. Couldn’t sleep too excited about Annandale gig.

Feb 14
Annandale Gig: Another Sold Out Show!
Flew in from Melbs. Matty and KT went and got their hair done for the upcoming video clip, Simon ate, Barney slept. Busy day went straight to sound check after grooming.

Gig was fantastic, RedSunBand had their keyboardist Liz play, EOF played great. Audience was packed like sardines, caught up with a heap of friends, especially Matty and Barney, EOF boys and RedSunBand went out and regretted it the next morning.

Everyone had their dose of sweet old loving because the specialty of this particular evening was Valentines. Unfortunately not all of us had our special ones around. Matty’s turning into ‘Weekend at Bernies" in the day time we just prop him up in the back of the car, and poke him with a stick to wake him.

Feb 15
Cronulla Brass Monkey: Cute little venue
Another Sold out show! Best food rider so far, we were so full we could hardly play. The venue was an audience sit down gig, strange!

Drove back to Sydney. Went to bed, recovering from night before

Feb 16
Flew to Brisbane for ‘This is a Love Song’ film clip. Film clip was good. The Tivoli in Brisbane was the choice of location, the toilets being the place to be, and we got straight into grooming as soon as we got there. We had an amazing team of young energetic creative people that before too long had us looking a lot more attractive than what we did when we first rocked up. We got into filming straight away and shot the whole thing in one day.

A lovely dinner followed and then straight into bed, we were exhausted.

Feb 17
Drive to Coffs Harbour: Today we had to get up at 6am and drive to Coffs Harbour. Still bleary eyed we got ‘on the road again’ and got there by 12 o’clock. It was the Channel V detour bus, and we were performing four songs, there was also 1200 Techniques. Overall it was heaps of fun, it was pretty much our first TV thing as a band, and we weren’t really nervous so that helped.

Then 1200 Techniques judged a mc rapper competition, and the two dudes who won were pretty damn good. There’s some real talent out there, undiscovered. I then checked out the sauna which was in need of a damn good clean, and sweated it out with the daddy longlegs. Then I proceeded to eat one of the best chicken kebabs I’ve ever had, you just never know with a kebab.

The accom was pretty cool, we had a nice chill out with the TV and went to bed. It had been a long day. Also signs of the flu were beginning to creep in to us.

Feb 18
Drive to Gold Coast: Today we had a gig on the Gold Coast, so our journey started round 12. Was an amazing drive, almost like a Balinese landscape at some points. Overall the drive took ages, and once we got there we were well ready to have a nap, but no rest for the wicked. We carted all the gear up and did a quick sound check.

The turnout for the gig was amazing, we weren’t quite sure what we were expecting, but it was a great vibing gig. The Redsun did a great gig as well. The Troccadero was a cool venue. The hotel we stayed in was absolutely incredible, waterslides! sauna! and a steam room! gym! spa! Warm Indian earthy tones. That was a great way to spend the evening. I had a little shock though, it seems the hotel windows were a little too revealing, and a naked man brushing his teeth was our entertainment for the evening. A lot of alcohol and craziness later, we went to bed. Very tired and who knows what else.

Feb 20
The Zoo, Brisbane: Back to bloody hot Brisbane. It seems like our hot Perth weather has followed us everywhere this tour, even Hobart was hot!

After arriving at the hotel after a hung-over drive from Byron (Bernie in the back seat again) we did as any sensible being would do and retired to the cool comfort of the hotel pool. What a relief! Could of spent the whole day in there but duty soon called and we made our way to the Zoo for sound check. Damn! This place is hot. Tonight is going to be a sizzler.

RedSunBand opened tonight as the crowd slowly filtered through, and totally captivated their audience. These guys are my new favourite band.

By the time End of Fashion hit the stage, it must have been 50 degrees, but that wasn’t going to stop anyone having the night of the tour. Out came the water pistols that Katy and Matt had bought earlier in the day, and a gunfight broke out side of stage. The crowd went nuts for their entire set, and even though Justin had just caught the flu that day, the energy these guys put out on stage was incredible. By the end of the set they had the whole crowd pumping.

We had played some awesome gigs on this tour, but tonight has got to be a stand out for all three bands. It was a great big party for everyone. Seeing it was EOF’s last night on this tour we thought we’d get everyone on stage for ‘Bad for You’ to do the cha-cha. After the dreaded load-out we headed back to the hotel to relax in the pool again.

A perfect end to a perfect night.