The Devastations: Homeward Bound

Interview by Andrew Ramadge

The Devastations are landing back in Australia just in time to see their album Yes, U make local critics’ best-of-year lists. Marking a switch in style for the Melbourne band, Yes, U was a passionate and occasionally sinister move towards the electro-punk style championed by Suicide. Mess+Noise caught up with singer Conrad Standish to ask if he and his wife Jonnine had move love while listening to it yet.

Do you like touring, or is it a chore?

Sometimes I love it, but I think that all of us are finding it a lot more exhausting than we used to. I’m not sure if that’s just us getting old. I think it’s to do with the over-familiarity with it. After four weeks in a van you can start to question your sanity.

Yes, U received some wonderful reviews at home. Was its reception in Europe as positive?

We had a few reviews here from people who were very confused. I guess they probably wanted another record that sounded like the last one [2005’s Coal] and so they couldn’t understand why we chose to change tack. But for the most part the reviews have been really good, which is nice. You can’t eat a review, though...

How have audiences reacted to it?

It tends to take them a while. They probably aren’t as familiar with the songs from Yes, U as they are with the others. There was one show in London the other day where we stunk, but all the shows on the last leg of the tour were great. We were on fire, if I do say so myself.

Do you feel anxious about coming home, or do you feel more comfortable playing in Australia?

It’s been two years since we’ve played there. To be honest, I am a little anxious about it on account of the fact that it’s been so long. But at the same time I think I’m probably more excited about it, because it’s home.

Outside of the shows, what are you most looking forward to doing here?

Friends and family are at the top of the list. I know that’s a boring answer, but... I do miss the food and the coffee.

Does Germany have shitty coffee?

Oh, dude! You’ve got no idea. It’s the pits. It’s terrible. London’s only slightly better than Germany. Here it’s generally filter coffee, made really, really weak with heaps and heaps of UHT milk. Airplane coffee probably has more to be said for it than Berlin coffee.

After you’ve caught up with friends and family, what else is on your to-do list?

I probably plan, after about a week, to sink into a massive depression and then I’ll leave again.

Because that’s what you used to do in Melbourne?

No, that’s kinda what I do everywhere.

[laughter]

Look, on this trip I’m only there for a week. I fly back to London for Christmas. So it’ll be very whirlwind. I’ll just try to see as many friends as I can and then leave. I fly back in late January, and then we’ll do a proper tour and I’ll have a lot more time to hang out.

We talked last time about the sensuality of Yes, U, and the fact that you wrote at least one of the songs for your wife Jonnine. Have you made love while listening to it?

[An audible sound of indignation and then a long pause.]

I would never, ever even contemplate that. No I haven’t. I can’t think of anything more off-putting than having to listen to our own record while fucking. That’s dreadful. But I do have a funny story: a friend of a friend of mine once slept with Leonard Cohen, and he did exactly that. He left the girl in a bedroom and said “I’m going to slip into something more comfortable,” or whatever, and went and lit some scented candles and came back in a robe and put one of his own records on.

Do you have plans to move back home in the next few years?

Yeah, I reckon. I’m not quite ready yet, but I’d say that I will within two or three years. I know Tom [Carlyon] will live there from January onwards next year and Hugo [Cran], well, it looks like he’s pretty firmly ensconced over here for the moment.

What do you still have left to do in Europe?

When it comes to thinking about what I actually want to do that we haven’t... well, I couldn’t really answer that question. I just enjoy it over here. As much as I love Australia, I’ve got the rest of my life to live there.

Well don’t move back too soon – I’ll be in Berlin next year. The beer’s better than the coffee, right?

Absolutely, and it gets you way more wasted.

Meredith Music Festival, Meredith, VIC
Saturday 15 December

The Toff In Town, Melbourne, VIC
Monday 17 December

The Hi-Fi Bar & Ballroom, Melbourne, VIC
Thursday 20 December
(supporting Augie March)

The Annandale, Sydney, NSW
Friday 21 December

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