After a loooonnnnggggg hiatus off the road, formally known as the hardest travelling band in NZ, Christchurch folk/country/punk/whatever the hell you call it band The Eastern pull themselves from the roots of home and make a long march north into the East of the north this sept. for two rare shows at Hastings Common Room and Napiers The Cabana.
The Hawkes Bay has always been resolutely kind to the band and firmly in their corner. The Cabana shows have been legendary and frontman Adam McGraths solo appearances both there and at the common room have always been heart-warming, life affirming as well as the floor cracking and table standing that he and The Eastern have become known for.
A giant portrait of Adam has also come to life on one wall of the Common Room over lockdown, which although making him blush a little red with embarrassment means that him and the band have to earn such an auspicious honour and cement their reputation as a friend of the common room but also as one of NZs greatest bar bands or as RNZ national describes them National Treasures or As one of the best modern roots acts, from any country as they were noted as by the US roots bible No Depression.
Dark times call for solidarity and community and if all the levels are in place then The Eastern promise to sing and play like hell to make that as true over these upcoming nights as much as they ever have during the past 13 years of rambling and marauding around NZ, Australia, Europe, the US and beyond. They will be joined by special local guests and friends Alec Withers (Devils Elbow mainman) at the Common Room and Bluegrass battlers Tucker Lane at the Cabana.
Alec needs no introduction to Hawkes Bay audiences as a local hero and Frontman of one NZs greatest roots rock bands, Devils Elbow. Over a bunch years, Albums and e.p.s Alec and Devils Elbow have proved not just the muscle and bone in their music but also the soul and blood and spirit that fires through their commitment to the songs and what its all really meant to mean.
Hailing from the mighty Clive, where the three rivers run and Muddy Creek crawls, Tucker Lane play a wide variety of heel stomping, soul soothing, beer drinking bluegrass. Theyre built for all the hollerin and carryin on an Eastern show has been designed for.
