Katchafire’s Jordan Bell
What is your preferred mode of travel? Flying Business Class would be ideal for the long-haul flights — so we can sleep and stretch out, but for the brothers we all fly Economy — it’s amazing what you can do in such small spaces. On the ground doing our seven-12 week tours in either UK or US we travel in tour buses — with all amenities like kitchen, toilet, bed bunk style, internet, TV, basically a home on the road and party venues for after the gig. To travel within New Zealand I drive and we hire a 15-seater — the only way to go and we get to see our beautiful countryside and stop off at all our favourite towns on the way for food and ice creams. Who’s in charge of the music selections, and what are you likely to hear? Everyone has their different flavours in the van so it’s hard to please the whole crew at once. The mix is a full spectrum of genres; everything from “fatty wapp, Musiq soul child , Peter Tosh NWA, Kanye West and more”. Then when that runs dry it’s back to good old gat’ jamming in the back of the van — when that runs dry it’s snooze time. What and where is your favourite summer venue? Would definitely be a special place called Opononi in the Hokianga — crystal-blue waters, golden sand dunes and beaming rays all day long is the place to be over summer, but a great vibe all year round for those who have never been there it’s a must — the secret is out!
Apart from the gigs, where else are you looking forward to stopping along your tour route? Every stop in New Zealand has a special place in our Katchafire lives, but there are some places we enjoy travelling to, like Queenstown, Invercargill, Dunedin and hometown Hamilton. But for this tour we get to hit the South Island — Nelson, the roots of my grandfather Angus Elkington. Seafood there is in its plentiful. Last time we stopped in their own thing going on with computers. Maybe some Southpark. What and where is your favourite summer venue? This year we are at the Coroglen for New Year’s Eve so that should be a good one. Apart from the gigs, where else are you looking forward to stopping along your tour route? We haven’t been up to Russell for a while so I’ll be looking forward to that, maybe get a chance to throw a line in off the rocks. Do you have a go-to vendor for a great feed? Not really for me, the others guys tend to like KFC or Burger King. I prefer a salad. there my uncle went diving and got us kina sea urchin that were bigger then my head. What song will you be playing to really get the crowd going? Some new material will be seeping through into our shows this coming summer tour. We are excited to share this with our amazing fans. We’ll be playing all our Katchafire classics. What are your plans for New Year’s Eve? We are in Riwaka, South Island. About two hours drive out of Nelson, it’s such a beautiful place to see in the new year! Its bush surroundings is truly a magical place — a once in a lifetime experience — nothing like the city countdown, only those going to Riwaka can experience. Epic views, wicked food and massive vibes and a good mix of ethnicities. Best spot for a quick dip in the ocean, or an inviting swimming hole? Hot Water Beach is always a good time, I like watching the tourists trying to organise a hole, and burning themselves cause they’re too close to the hot. Not giving tourists a hard time but there is a bit of skill getting the perfect temperature. What song will you be playing to really get the crowd going? I’ll be interested to see how Pull The Strings goes as it’s a bit of a dance track. Do you have any New Year’s traditions? Not really, every year is different and new and should be dealt with What are your best summer road trip treats? A quick bomb in the ocean — nothing beats a dip to wake up — and any any of the goodness from tangaroa. Fresh fish with lemon, kina, oyster, creamed paua, crayfish, scallops pan fried in butter — the list goes on . . . Visit katchafire.co.nz for tour dates. accordingly. I don’t make New Year’s resolutions as I always break them, so just try to be in the moment. Who’s on your ideal summer music fest dream team lineup? Cat Stevens, Sting, Paul Simon, MS MR, Black Eyed Peas would get the party cranking, The Edge doing a few tracks on the acoustic, Bono can have the night off. We’d need some Cirque du Soleil for the kids. And for some spiritual guidance a few words from the Dalai Lama: “The mind is like a parachute; it works best when it is open.” For tour dates visit thefeelers.co.nz