Luck coming to town

New Zealand musician Jordan Luck. Photo/Brett Phibbs

If you want to hear a Jordan Luck song these days head to a premier sports match and you'll hear one played after a try, or goal, is scored.

His songs are so enmeshed in our culture that any occasion seems like a good excuse to play them to a crowd of Kiwis.

If you want to hear a whole lot of his songs, head to Totara St on June 3, because he is in town and fizzing to perform his latest album, Not Only ... But Also, with The Jordan Luck Band.

Given that his songs are so ingrained with our culture, does he feel the pressure to come up with more iconic tunes?"

"It's not pressure, but I am very conscious of the fact that I might be singing this material in 15 years' time, so there is an awareness that I need to want to sing it in 15 years' time."

This is the first album to be released since The Exponents days, and he says he doesn't worry about pressure to be relevant as he never expects people to know who he is - a refreshing and humble admission due to his iconic status.

"You would be a bit of a mug if you take it for granted that people know you. I like to perform thinking people don't know me. Now is the moment!"

His lack of attachment to his status as one of our rock greats is underlined by the fact that he thinks it's hilarious when people mistake him for other artists. "People will come up to me after the show and say I didn't know that song was yours! Or they would come up to me and think I was Dave Dobbyn and so I'll start singing his songs and get away with it!"

He says a lot of the songs on Not Only ... But Also are about people, characters he has met, and situations he has heard about. A particular favourite is about the meeting of The Exponents original guitarist, Stevie Cowan.

"It's a sad piece and has an acoustic feel. It's about telling the truth about us meeting and going to record Victoria. He was a huge influence on The Exponents. He got me and Brian Jones to move to Christchurch. He was responsible for it all starting. It is very much about eternal friendship."

He says the new album has meant the band has had to get its head around how the music industry works these days. "Everything's so different, because now there's no record company, and now everything that is sold, is yours. Back in the day, we had to recoup before we got anything."

However, he says it's also tougher to actually get the sales in the new era of the download. The tour, supported by Ekko Park, will feature songs from the new album as well as the crowd favourites; Why Does Love Do This To Me, I'll Say Goodbye, Who Loves Who The Most and Victoria.

The Jordan Luck Band features Jordan Luck on vocals, Bryan Bell on guitar, Beaver on drums, Rich Mixture on the bass and Joe Walsh on guitar. ¦See: Jordanluckband.com or facebook.com/Jordanluckband

the fine print
What: The Jordan Luck Band
Where: Totara St ¦When: June 3.
Tickets: undertheradar.co.nz