With instruments in hand, fog machines flowing, and vivid lights flooding the stage at El Rey Theatre on Wilshire, iconic Australian-based band The Church blew the house away at their tour kickoff show on February 2nd. Luckily, we were able to get a few quick words with founding instrumentalist, Peter Koppes, before the show!
For photos of the show from The Examiner, click here!
How have the past couple of months looked in terms of prepping for this tour?
Our whole career has been prepping for this! But seriously our last few months have been very active with an induction to the Australian ARIA Hall Of Fame involving rehearsals with a large strings section. We began writing a new album at the same time. The creative flow so strong and the magnificent music putting a smile on our faces, adding to our enjoyment of the awards night in the knowledge we have more music in us. We then recorded some more new songs before rehearsing and performing the acoustic 30th Anniversary tour of Australia during December. We then rehearsed this Classic Albums tour and are in LA ready to start tomorrow night!
Have you guys typically started your tours out here in the States? More specifically in LA?
It seems we have started tours these days in US, but not for any reason, and usually tours in California, but why I don’t know either except we feel a sort of base here.
Hopefully our city can reciprocate with much love for you guys. When’s the last time you played in Los Angeles?
US audiences are the most exciting in the world because they are so welcoming! We played LA in April.
Was there any particular reason that El Rey Theatre was chosen? It’s a medium-sized, but a very historic music venue.
Yes, those reasons and the glorious surrounds will enhance the special occasion.
The rumor is that you’ll be playing three albums (spanning three decades) in their entirety. That’s gotta be a crazy long set for you guys. Have you done anything like this before?
The band enjoys different performing platforms, previously playing a hybrid acoustic/electric and acoustic tours, so this album’s presentation was an interesting challenge as it cannot develop like a rock show. The Anniversary tour didn’t have a support act and lasted over 2 hours plus one intermission, so this is a bit longer but there will be 2 breaks.
If I may ask, which three albums are we going to be looking at? If it’s going to be a hush hush surprise, no problems.
Untitled #23 which received 5-star reviews universally, Priest=Aura, the aficionados favorite, and of course Starfish, the most popular.
What’s your personal favorite album spanning your amazing three-decade run?
Priest is definitely special for me as well for a personal leap of guitar style, but I am particularly proud that the later albums from Hologram Of Baal are very inspired and an artistic leap for the band and a further developing of style.
Can you describe in 6 words how you think your sound has changed from what it began as until present day?
Raw, pubescent, embroidered, dark, atmospheric, jazz!
Any final words for the fans or any previews of what they can expect?
Your faith will be rewarded!
For more information on The Church’s tour dates, click here!
