By CASEY NEILL
DIESEL is bringing his solo show to Dandenong next week.
But he won’t really be alone up on the Drum Theatre stage on 27 September.
“My goal is to turn the whole thing into like a big lounge room gig,” he told The Journal.
“It’s like a big jam for everyone, clapping – anything musical.
“I only feel like I’m by myself for the first few seconds when I walk out.”
He’s looking forward to hearing the crowd in full voice as he debuts tracks from new album Let it Fly, hits from his 25-year career and covers of tunes from some of his favourite musos.
“Even the worst singing is still a good feeling,” he said.
“I love hearing the room. You feel like you’re just riding on top of it.
“They’re driving the bus and you’re just a passenger.”
The Velvet Curtain tour is taking Diesel, aka Mark Lizotte, to select regional areas throughout August, September and October.
“My goal is just to get stuff that they haven’t heard in a long time mixed with stuff they’ve never heard,” he said.
He’s re-familiarised himself with a few of his best-known tunes and reworked them to keep things fresh.
“Generally my approach is to try something different with the song,” he said.
“I’m not prone to play it exactly like the record.
“Being myself’s not really my forte.”
Diesel said the new album sounded like “bits of every record I’ve done infused” with “some new things I haven’t touched upon before”.
“People are saying there’s a bit of a countrified feel on it,” he said.
“I’ve always thought that it’s only one shade away from the blues or soul or gospel.
“The last track tells a little bit of a story. I don’t usually write story sort of songs.
“It’s a bit of a yarn so I’ll look forward to playing it.”
He’s also keen to play songs from music legends of the likes of Otis Redding, Jimmy Hendrix and Neil Young.
“My fans like a lot of the same music that I like a lot of the time,” he said.
“It’s a bonding thing.”
And he’ll be bringing as many instruments as he can to the stage.
“During the show I’ll be playing everything from electrics to acoustics to slide to mandolins,” he said.
“There’s definitely added pressure but I really enjoy it and it just makes for a very invigorating experience for me.”
The Drum Theatre is on the corner of Lonsdale and Walker streets, Dandenong.
Call 9771 6666 for bookings.
