Dappled Cities is rules for once lovedud

Brisbane’s PAUHAUS festival celebrates the re-opening of the Brisbane Powerhouse with live performances from Australian bands. The Dwarf caught up with one such band that goes by the name of Dappled Cities Fly (by day), or Dappled Cities (by night).

That’s right Dappled Cities, we’ve finally figured it out. You see, it’s like a Superman thing. By day, they’re the regular “Dappled Cities Fly” (Clark Kent with glasses), but by night they’re the crime-fighting, chart-topping “Dappled Cities” (Clark Kent without glasses, i.e. Superman). How else do you explain the fact that they generated more buzz and earned more fans under the “Dappled Cities” name, as opposed to their previous efforts as “Dappled Cities Fly”? Time and evolution? I think not.

It’s no wonder that this new superpower is excited to unleash themselves upon the world... well, the entire population of Brisbane... ok, just the several hundred PAUHAUS festival-goers, for now.

“Yeah, I'm excited. I've been excited about this place since we went up to Brisbane a while ago and chanced upon it when we were wandering around, having an afternoon beer. I like exploring old buildings in new towns and now we get to play in one,” says singer and guitarist Tim Derricourt.

“[We] spray-painted ‘Dappled Cities is rules for once lovedud...’ on one of the walls. I love playing a new venue. It makes a gig so exciting. We play so many of the same kinds of places that any slight change from the usual bar and cage with leathered men dancing is a good change for us.”

I explore this newly formed superhero theory by asking which fellow PAUHAUS performers (presumably the band’s crime-fighting sidekicks) Dappled Cities would recommend people see at the festival.

“Too many. We toured with Operator Please and they are completely excellent. Like little balls of excellence. Red Riders are so tight, you can't see them. Awesome. I have always been into The Grates so why not see them for a tenth time on my advice.”

I continue investigations by asking which fellow performer (presumably the band’s arch-nemesis) Dappled Cities would vote off first if PAUHAUS was a Survivor type show.

“Is survivor the one where the winner gets to eat the second and third place getters? If that's the case, then Red Riders off first. I like their company but company doesn't matter when you're chowing down on some bony guy's thigh and you realise you should have kicked them to the curb ages ago because their bony jeans don't let their flesh breathe!”

When I ask if there is less pressure playing festivals with other Australian acts as opposed to big international stars, Derricourt lets slip that “trumpets and pedal steels” are his Kryptonite.

“I've never felt like international acts are better live than Australian acts. Whenever we've played overseas or at international festivals, I've always been so so much more impressed with the Australian acts and how completely rehearsed and good looking they are. One thing Australian bands do lack is instruments. All these international bands have trumpets and pedal steels. It threatens me.”

With Mother’s Day having recently taken place, I ask if the band manage to make time for such holidays with their busy music making (and crime fighting) schedule.

“Our mums always tour with us. Ever since we got physically attached to each others' mums in an industrial accident in '87, we haven't really felt the pang of seperation that most bands must experience when leaving home,” says Derricourt.

Following their performance at PAUHAUS festival, Dappled Cities will embark on a co-headline tour with sidekicks Red Riders, then relocate to America for a brief period (no doubt to fight crime as per the request of a mayor).

“We want to tour really heavily and meet as many great musicians as we can. The aim is to live in America one day so this 6 month stint will hopefully set us up for the long haul. We love our label over there so we reckon our dreams may come true,” says Derricourt.

“I love the idea of it. By now we can actually play the songs live and we have new shirts. It's so great when that fresh new publicity comes out and people 'discover' you and they are mega excited. I wish we could spend the rest of our lives delaying releases so that the pleasure could be delayed. I'd call it the auto-asphyxiation album release plan model.”

Look out for the possible release of a vinyl (which will double as a deadly throwing disc for all you superheroes out there) through the band’s American record label, Dangerbird.

“I just like the fact that [vinyl] can act as a place-mat. I'm sick of people using our albums for half hearted drinks coasters.”

Visit www.pauhausfestival.com for more information about the PAUHAUS festival.

Dappled Cities’ co-headline tour with Red Riders heads through the following venues:
Friday 15th June - The Metro, Sydney (All Ages)
Saturday 23rd June - The Corner Hotel, Melbourne
Sunday 24th June - The Governor Hindmarsh, Adelaide (All Ages)

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