All posts by Luke

About Luke

Luke Hurley guitarist and singer songwriter from New Zealand.

Reflections on the remains of the day

gigs, news, Song Stories

i often feel kinda low biorhythmically especiaĺly earlier in the day. By the time the office workers are heading home i start to feel like starting my real “work” in fact back in my youth i could work all night on a song and finish by dawn and feel like a king.

The rest of my life was a trainwreck though ….but at the time i didn’t realise how good some of my writing was. I underestimated the worth of my material. Perhaps that was the secret.

Self Doubt can be a spur.
—-
Concert Update: for tomorrow 6th August

  • We are pleased with the support so far. Radio campaign is covered and other expenses will be covered considerable tho they be BUT we need your input. Pls book here.
  • Kids have free entry and the event is family friendly
  • Refreshments will be available. A new development. However you welcome to bring a bento or other food.
  • The show will be recorded and filmed. The material will be original. Atmosphere convivial
  • Cost of entry minimal – with 5+ performers on the night

So; Turn your pc off. Watch Netflix some other time. Bring a friend if you have one and if you don’t come along and make new friends at the concert.

See you there and if you need help to find us call me on 021 0259 2919

LETS BE SHOCKINGLY CONVIVIAL AND GENUINELY FRIENDLY

Here is a taster from Duncan & Angel

—–
But……there is one area where self doubt is not required…when reaching out to a long lost buddy. And i can illustrate it with this story

Long ago i went to a Berkley School of jazz course being held in Wellington. John Schofield was one of the guitar teachers. Love his playing still. Check him out.

At this course i also met Jeff Dickie from Dunedin. He told me that being a pro wasn’t for him and he preferred to look elsewhere for his livelihood. He went on to achieve great things both in music and other pursuits and for decades i have often reflected upon what he told me the best part of four decades ago. He is a great chap and i always felt in awe of him

I assumed he wouldn’t want to hear from me but for once i decided to give my self doubt a break.

I found his number and called and naturally expected him to be kinda distant and perplexed as to why i should call. His response was the reverse. He was very pleased to hear from me and filled me in on what he did immediately after the Berkley course. He also offered to play on my next recording session ….the last thing i expected! He is kindness itself.

Here is what he wrote to me following our chat regarding that time way back in the early 80s

“I went to the USA in 1981 to buy a Mesa Boogie amplifier. I read about them and couldn’t sleep until I had one. I went through epic iIiad sagas to get my hands on one….. the factory couldn’t supply me with one as the waiting list had a who’s who of world famous guitarists waiting.. Including Clapton, Townsend, BB King etc etc. I then spied what I wanted in a free San Francisco newspaper and rushed off to buy it. When I returned to my hotel I turned on the TV to find a bloke had sat down on the same park bench where I had read the paper an hour before and was shot dead by an unknown assailant! How did I digress to here? A week later I was traveling through the Rockies near Denver when the Greyline bus stopped at a small mountain village in the middle of nowhere. Pete Peterson, the red-neck bus driver suggested we try the one local bar for a beer and a sandwich. There we were greeted by John Hinckley Junior, who about a week later shot President Ronnie Reagan! This is absolutely true. “

Angel_Duncan

By the way the show on Saturday. Let me explain

  1. It’s a long show why? It’s not just about me. We have some great acts and it starts early so families can come. Btw. Kids free
  2. It costs heaps but if it fills up we will cover expenses. If it doesn’t then the next show is gonna cost a lot more to attend so pleeeeeeeeease support it
  3. Bring by all means your own picnic. It’s not a cafe
  4. Come and go as ya please and yes you can get tickets at the door or now online BUT its filling up fast and with the interview on BFM from 6 tonight i aim to plug the last seats and fill the venue… “Every day is international blues music day” but apparently that happens tomorrow too.
  5. We have the best soundman and soundsystem that you can get. His name is Paul Crowther SPLIT ENZ drummer and Hotcake inventor
  6. Great friends – Basant. Tabla. Duncan and angel. Marcus. Steve. And mystery guest

I will be playing short sets early on and a long set to finish the show. It will be fun please come and or sponsor the event.

Thank you Alan for supporting the BFM campaign

Any questions? Call me 021 0259 2919

Before the War – concert 6th August

gigs, news, Song Stories

Before the war is a song I co wrote with Ardy who wrote the lyrics in response to his experience fighting in the Iran / Iraq war in which more than a million people died . As with most wars the given reasons for the conflict probably had nothing to do with the publicised reasons.

At a crossroads it was observed that military supplies for both sides were in a long line originating at the same source turning right or left at the the intersection according to which side was being weaponised. We wrote this song some time ago.

Displaced by wars

Since we wrote it more than 60million people have been rendered homeless due to wars around the world* …so it’s time to sing this song everywhere. Ask us to play the song to you call me 021 0259 2919 and i will even sing it to your phone and please come to the next concert. *Chart is from 2014 Latest numbers here

“Since early 2011, the main reason for the acceleration has been the war in Syria, now the world’s single-largest driver of displacement. Every day last year on average 42,500 people became refugees, asylum seekers, or internally displaced, a four-fold increase in just four years.”

Luke Hurley & Friends concert. The remains of the day. Saturday August 6th, 5-10pm. The venue address is Western Springs Garden Community Hall, 956 Great North Rd, Western Springs. Entry $20 Tickets at the door or use online ticketing below.

$20 a ticket  P.S click on orange buttons below to buy shopping cart. You will be emailed directly by secure PayPal

Please use the buttons below for concert tickets

P.s if possible please book tickets now to ensure a smoother production. The last show was a cliffhanger and somewhat shambolic due to the last minuteness of it. The Aug 6 gig is gonna be smooth and enlightening. It’s not just entertainment It’s therapy but with a real edge that addresses things the lamestream won’t ever contemplate

Not that we object to mainstream its just that it’s so constrained to please everyone that it pleases no one and tends to mirror society in warped looking glass.

“Let the people have their peaceful lives
Health
Home
Family
Love
A feeling of belongingness
Just like you
Before the war”
Adry.

I will introduce you to Ardy and other friends during the show and an itinery will be posted so you know the lineup the ample running time will accomodate.

Luke-Poster-August

It’s going to be convivial. Feel free to enjoy the remains of the day with us.

Download the A3 version of the poster here. Luke A3 Poster August

 

Luke Hurley Auckland Concert 10th June

Auckland Concert 10th June

news

Luke Hurley Auckland Concert 10th JuneThe last Auckland concert was a great event but many of you missed out so here is a return event at the same venue on June 10th at 7pm.

Concert runs  from 7pm to 10pm at the Pioneer Women’s & Ellen Melville Hall upstairs off Freyberg Place. Tickets $20 each. If you need to know more call me on 021 0259 2919.

Please come or sponsor someone to come in your place. The last show was a break even exercise so lets make this one a thriver. Been a long time since the last blog. Have been preoccupied with getting the right jive on my playing. One young guy told me he likes my “old fashioned American sound” ha ha.

The great thing about a concert where nothing is on sale is the distraction free atmosphere. No one trying to push alcohol food or other product. It’s completely peaceful. You play. People listen. You can talk about your little babies and no one is going to interrupt with industrial stuffications like grinding coffee and wheezing latte fluffers and clinking drinkers talking incessantly.

After all concerts are meant to be reflective and personal and not the province of merchandisers and money changers but it seems most places wanna be all things to all people and the music is just the lure to get people buying anything that meets the expediency of the moment.

The idea is simple. Play like a bastard. Invite people like you the reader to my shows. Thats it. Very simple. By the way big holdup with the new album. It’s loaded into the post production process but the producer is busy on other projects 🙂

Luke will have other musicians playing as well as a great sound system. Poster – Luke 10June flyer on A3.pdf   Or 2 up flyer for printing.

Here are some notes on the last concert  by a friend and a list of songs played in the first set.

  • “Before the War” on Steve Barkman 12 string. New song.
  • “Nobody is Good” also on SB – new song
  • “Pascals Song” on baritone guitar – new arrangement
  • “Woke up this morning what the difference is”.. not sure what this song was called but on baritone guitar
  • “Make Room” -Takoma 6 string. An old song but completely different sounds when played high on fretboard.
  • “Far away” on Fender Strat. perhaps the first song Luke wrote when he was 12.
  • “New York to Paris” also on Strat.

Be there or be square. Note: The Pioneer Women’s Hall is on the corner of High St and Freyberg Place in Central Auckland right near Metropolis.

$20 a ticket  P.S click on orange buttons below to buy shopping cart. You will be emailed directly by secure PayPal

Please use the buttons below for concert tickets

One ticket $20 (NZD)
2 tickets $40 (NZD)
4 tickets $80 (NZD)
Group of 10 -bring 9 of your buddies & you get a free ticket $180.00 (NZD)

Luke Hurley Concert

Showtime Auckland – 7pm – 18th March

gigs, music

The show on Friday is gonna be Hi Fi.  The sound system is a top of the line Bose system. The soundman is Paul Crowther ex Split Enz drummer and inventor of the world famous hotcake effects pedal.

My guests are Duncan Gilles songwriter and Basant Madur – world renowned tabla player. The venue is a much loved long standing one. The show starts at 7pm and cost is $20 at the door or you can pay online to save time. There will be new songs played on the night. A new album is being mixed and mastered right now. Come along and be among the first to hear those songs along with some old favourites / different arrangements. Come along – save the canaries.

Trying to find a venue wasn’t easy. The auckland city art gallery auditorium was my first approach – such fond memories of doing shows there in the 80s. That venue is now five times the hire cost since Auckland (city) turned into a corporation.

So i had to look elsewhere. That’s when my very kind friend Audrey van Ryn offered to book the venue we are using on Friday. Note: The Pioneer Women’s Hall is on the corner of High St and Freyberg Place in Central Auckland right near Metropolis.

Luke Hurley in concert

Please try to make it and if you can’t then perhaps you could treat a friend to a ticket.
Be safe, talk soon
luke

ps please let me know what you are keen to read about as these blogs depend on your feedback.

For instance would you like me to post up lyrics to my songs/ or tips about places to play/
be part of this please and lets get a two way communication happening.

Busking is ‘the canary in the mine’ – concert Mar 18th

gigs, music, news

Very grateful for the support subscribers have given the somewhat difficult cause we are currently winning. It’s gone from the hopelessness of being stripped of my tools of trade to complete restitution largely due to your support.

Now it’s time for a celebration concert on March – Friday the 18th at 7pm. Please come along for an informal evening where I play for you and we take tea breaks and just chew the fat like in days gone by. Like in a folk club (but) without the formality and hushed Intensity In this event you are free to talk and take smoko breaks and holler and generally be yourself.

Luke Hurley Concert

Bring some bikkies if you wanna share food and your fav tea bags. Ha ha. We can supply the entertainment and hot water for tea. Venue is the Pioneer Women’s & Ellen Melville Hall in central Auckland – Freyberg Place.

$20 a ticket will cover venue and other costs. You will be emailed directly by secure PayPal P.S click on red buttons if you make a mistake & need to deduct amounts from the shopping cart.

Also appearing: Basant Madur & Duncan Gilles

Please use the buttons below for concert tickets

One ticket $20 (NZD)
2 tickets $40 (NZD)
4 tickets $80 (NZD)
Group of 10 -bring 9 of your buddies & you get a free ticket $180.00 (NZD)

Please book your ticket if serious about coming but there will be a limited number of door sales on the night.

If you feel like a beer then join us for a few drinks at the mezze bar close by right after the show.

Let’s do something simple easy going and fun and catch up to celebrate a new beginning. If it works we can easily make it regular. A cheap night out and a chance for us all to catch up without having to spend a fortune. Parking is relatively cheap if you use the Victoria St carpark or Downtown carpark.

I would really appreciate seeing all of you there…

Other news
Got interviewed by Vaughn Davis on Radio Live Waitangi Day day 10am to 11am. It’s on line if you wanna hear it.

Also TEDxAuckland posted up my river song. I introduced it with a dig at the mega supermarket that wouldn’t let me busk outside. The manager and assistant manager told me I couldn’t play & I told them I could. With a “we give up” they left me to it and I lost interest anyway. Ha ha

“Busking is the canary in the mine. If we are not allowed to play at the drop of a hat then that’s a sure indication of a dysfunctional operating system.”

“Impression without expression equals depression”

Try it wherever and whenever you can. Just play to people. It’s a benevolent human interchange and a basic human right

Marcus Turner died suddenly I went to his funeral in Dunedin. Very moving. His NHNZ TV colleagues shared some great insights about him. The guy was a genius. It’s hard to find the last album Marcus made. It’s called laid down. If you go to the kiwi folk website you will find a way to procure it. How can an album so great go unrecognised? It’s unbelievable. Find it. Play it. You will be astonished. What a great man. God bless his soul.

Call me if there’s anything I can do for you or if you need to know more about the 18th. 021 0259 2919
Be safe. Play soon. Come along on the 18th and “Save a Canary” 🙂

Luke