Written and photographed by Timothy Casten
I had arranged to do a photoshoot with Jamie Hutchings for yesterday afternoon and I was waiting outside the Builder’s Arms in Fitzroy where he was going to play that night. He was due to arrive in Melbourne at about 4pm and I was meeting him at 5 but his flight was delayed an hour. Extremely apologetic on arrival, Jamie Hutchings greeted me with great enthusiasm and introduced me to one of his mates and his brother (and drummer for his set later that night) Scott Hutchings. The band room of the Builder’s Arms was a little odd. Large flower shaped lights hanging off heavily patterned walls with images of a tropical nightscape painted on. It was a little dark, not the best place for photos, but once inside we started our photoshoot. After a few photos indoors we moved out to the street for a few more.
Jamie Hutchings is the enigmatic frontman of Bluebottle Kiss. Formed in the mid 90’s, Bluebottle Kiss took influences from musicians like Nick Cave and Neil Young and bands like Sonic Youth and fellow Sydney band Crow. To date BBK have released 6 albums plus a number of EP’s. In 2002 Jamie released his first solo album The Golden Coach. He is currently touring his second solo album His Imaginary Choir and is preparing for a European tour which starts next week. I spoke to Jamie as I took photos of him in the street. He explained that he’s been busy finishing off his next solo album, which has been recorded on an 8-track tape recorder. Anticipate a more “raw” sound he said, something that “isn’t as pretty” as His Imaginary Choir. It should be expected (hopefully) early next year. As for new Bluebottle material? Don’t get your hopes up just yet. A live album that was recorded in 2007 has finally been mastered but a release date hasn’t been set yet. And it doesn’t seem like it will be anytime soon either, but here’s to hoping!
I had arranged to do a photoshoot with Jamie Hutchings for yesterday afternoon and I was waiting outside the Builder’s Arms in Fitzroy where he was going to play that night. He was due to arrive in Melbourne at about 4pm and I was meeting him at 5 but his flight was delayed an hour. Extremely apologetic on arrival, Jamie Hutchings greeted me with great enthusiasm and introduced me to one of his mates and his brother (and drummer for his set later that night) Scott Hutchings. The band room of the Builder’s Arms was a little odd. Large flower shaped lights hanging off heavily patterned walls with images of a tropical nightscape painted on. It was a little dark, not the best place for photos, but once inside we started our photoshoot. After a few photos indoors we moved out to the street for a few more.Jamie Hutchings is the enigmatic frontman of Bluebottle Kiss. Formed in the mid 90’s, Bluebottle Kiss took influences from musicians like Nick Cave and Neil Young and bands like Sonic Youth and fellow Sydney band Crow. To date BBK have released 6 albums plus a number of EP’s. In 2002 Jamie released his first solo album The Golden Coach. He is currently touring his second solo album His Imaginary Choir and is preparing for a European tour which starts next week. I spoke to Jamie as I took photos of him in the street. He explained that he’s been busy finishing off his next solo album, which has been recorded on an 8-track tape recorder. Anticipate a more “raw” sound he said, something that “isn’t as pretty” as His Imaginary Choir. It should be expected (hopefully) early next year. As for new Bluebottle material? Don’t get your hopes up just yet. A live album that was recorded in 2007 has finally been mastered but a release date hasn’t been set yet. And it doesn’t seem like it will be anytime soon either, but here’s to hoping!
I returned later that evening to see Jamie Hutchings play his set. After a crowd pumping set by Isaac De Heer and an amazing set from Lehmann B Smith (the second time I’ve seem him and his small troupe perform in a week – he also opened for The Parking Lot Experiments last Saturday) Jamie took to the stage. On his acoustic guitar, accompanied only by his brother on drums, he started off with his single After the Flood. The set was a good mix of new and old, a few songs including his single Sir I’m Going to Have To Ask You To Leave from his latest album, some from his first, some from the Bluebottle Kiss catalogue and even a cover of Big Star’s Thirteen. He then went on to play an incredible rendition of Everything Begins and Ends at Exactly the Right Time before heading offstage. He seemed somewhat flustered, shy even, in front of the audience, but at the same time was very happy to be so as long as he could play the music. After a small chant for an encore he returned to the stage. “Is there anything you’d like to hear?” he asked the audience. There were calls for songs from all over the crowd before he starts playing (definitely the highlight of my night) an all acoustic version of Girl Genius from BBK’s 1999 album Patient. Scott is then invited back onto the drums before they end a remarkable night with The Weight of the Sea, closing with Belles of the South.
Jamie starts his European tour on the 5th of August.
Dates are on his myspace http://www.myspace.com/jamiehutchings
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