Luke Hurley, New Zealand’s favourite independent singer-songwriter will be playing his exclusive one and only London gig on 27th November as part of his European tour. The Event will be held at The Alma, N1.

With 25+ years of experience under his belt, Luke Hurley is one of his country’s most famous and prolific independent solo artists.

He has been described by the industry as ‘one of New Zealand’s great unknown musicians’ and compared to Bruce Cockburn and Ron Sexsmith, who also evolve outside the commercial mainstream.

With songs such as “Mona Lisa*” and “Albatross” that brought him success, Luke has toured with many Kiwi artists but is more likely to be found at fringe festivals or even busking. (*Download a free copy of Mona Lisa)

He is currently touring the UK to promote his new album “Brother Sun – Sister Moon” and will be playing a one-off London date before his hugely anticipated gigs in Paris.

The Alma is a New Zealand run gastro pub in Newington Green, N1 and has already welcomed onto its floorboard the likes of Simon Amstell and Perrier award winner Josie Long. The pub will be celebrating its 6th Birthday on 27th November in correlation with Luke’s gig.

Luke Hurley : http://www.lukehurley.co.nz/gigs/
Venue : The Alma,
Doors: 7pm
Price:  free tickets but bookings needs (was £15 but changed)
Adress: 59 Newington Green Road, London, N! 4QU
Tube : Highbury & Islington
Train : Canonbury Station

Licensing: It is a private party, all ages are welcome but under 18s have to be accompanied by a legal guardian and  will have to leave the pub at 9.30pm.

(Scroll to the bottom of this page to read song notes by Luke.)

I’m in love with the Mona Lisa
Through plate glass they let me see her
Winning smile millions feed her
I’m in love with the Mona Lisa

Take your plastic money your color T.V.
Sell it with your house if you want to go see
A Leonardo Da Vinci
Well that’s good enough for me

Sold my house sold my car
I even sold my Martin guitar
Sold my house sold my car
I even sold my Stratocaster
I was going to get to see a Leonardo Da Vinci
It’s good enough for me if it’s good enough for you

Cruising high in a 747
Cruising high feeling like I’m in 7th Heaven
Air Hostess pours a G & T I’m feeling right friendly
But you’re not (the) Madonna

Got to Paris took a taxi to the Louvre
Feeling jet lag (but just like Madonna I’m in the groove)
And there’s Japanese Cantonese Lebanese
Vietnamese Taiwanese Siagonese Ceylonese
Turning into Sri Lankese Kiwis & god damn Yankees
They’re not singing my song they’re singing Paul Simon . . . They’re singing

I got a Nikon camera
Gotta take a photograph
Momma don’t take my Kodachrome away . . . cause

When I got to see that picture
cut those social financial strictures
When I got to see her
She was just a . . . Like that national TV Commercial
With a crack in the plate glass
But she’s got no arse . . .

. . . I’m in love with the Mona Lisa
I’m in love with a Leo Nardo Da’Vinci
I’m in love with a British Airways Hostess
Who’s nice to me
I’m in love with Madonna
In the groove
Jet lagged dirty yeah
See you later

Up until now my knowledge of Europe is based on childhood memories of holidays in Rome mixed with memories of movies seen since….”Mona Lisa” was inspired by Eli’s comments about The Louvre and how visitors seem to virtually ignore the variety of its great works in preference for the most famous ones and in this song you’ve got the whole cast of snake oil merchants trying to sell us anything and everything…………

“Do you want to buy a watch or a dee wee dee”. The last line of the song which I didn’t add in this recording goes “And now they’re trying to tell me that its the old boy himself in drag”.

My understanding of Leonardo is that he made his fortunes inventing weapons of war  (be great to get some information from readers about thoughts on Leonardo).

The “Big OE” is something that is a part of our culture here (NZ) being that we are so isolated. Why do we have to have an OE (again it would be cool to get some ideas on this issue). Write a comment below.

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Listen to the song here.

And here is the slide show version of Mona Lisa.

( mp3 file 7.4mb in size.)