Off The Tracks

Off The Tracks
  • Blog
    • Interviews
    • Miscellany
    • Special Guests
    • Reviews
  • Podcasts
  • The Vinyl Countdown
  • Back Catalogue
  • About
    • About
    • About the banner image
    • On Song
April 7, 2014 by Simon Sweetman

The Ghost of Electricity: War Stories by Jon McLeary # 2 Nambassa

ghostI met Louise Loft in Hamilton in 1978 and we started singing together under the name Negative Theatre. We played a few parties and supported Sam Hunt and Gary McCormack at a gig.

Through some sort of hippie grapevine we got the word that it was OK and we hitchhiked to organiser Peter Terry’s home near the future festival site…

In his lounge we auditioned for a spot at Nambassa #2 .  Hoping to get on the small stage I guess. We sang the 7 songs I’d written up to that point…

He loved us.  I was writing these mini dramas for two characters and Louise acted them out and had the voice of an angel. Dialogue songs and It was in your face. I had a couple of ballads and he loved those too.nambass main

“I want you two to open the festival!  Mainstage!”

Yikes!!

He later changed his mind and we were on second after Sheerlux…

We arrived the afternoon before in my mate Mac’s Humber 80 and set up tent in the performer’s area.  Already a huge crowd was growing. That night Peter Terry invited us to a fireside singalong with various musos and organizers. When the guitar got to me I asked if anyone had a guitar pick and they all looked at me as if I was a half-wit – the only nonfingerpicker .

Next day

I remember meeting a Wellington band backstage just before we went on and the bass player helped us tune up and told jokes to keep us calm. He turned out to be Rob Mahoney who became the Spines first bassist a year later.

Then we walk out there in front of 60,000 people…

Second song in I snap a string on the Ovation. I get though the song and take Louise’s guitar. Weathered Lines goes down pretty well and it just builds. We finish with Witchwood – classic Negative Theatre and Louise casts her spell and it goes off…

There’s a pause – then…

The 60,000 applaud and mean it….they saw something they gotJon McLeary

Boom!!! In the pit of the stomach and all through the nervous system like a giant wash. I Scream – THANK YOU!!! – but I can’t hear it

We are dragged off and get separated.  I’m stumbling around backstage- weak at the knees clutching my 5 string guitar. A Jesus girl comes up to me and asks if I’ve seen god. I make it back to the tent and weep.

Louise returns bemused.

By then I’m already writing a song called Mainstage.
nambassa
The Ghost of Electricity – War Stories by Jon McLeary is a new initiative at Off The Tracks, a series of stories and reflections from painter, writer and musician Jon McLeary

To read War Stories # 1 click here

Posted in Blog, Miscellany, Special Guests and tagged with Guest Blog, Jon Mcleary, Live Gig, Music, Nambassa, The Ghost of Electricity, The Ghost of Electricity: War Stories by Jon McLeary # 2 Nambassa, The Spines, War Stories # 2. RSS 2.0 feed.
« Frank Zappa: Roxy By Proxy
Teebs: Estara »

7 Responses to The Ghost of Electricity: War Stories by Jon McLeary # 2 Nambassa

  1. Duncanz says:
    April 7, 2014 at 8:09 pm

    Niceeeee
    Wish I was there

    • Donna M Lawson says:
      April 7, 2014 at 11:37 pm

      Good to see that you are writing.I enjoy hearing about gigs etc past & present.I enjoy the memories they can evoke both in myself & others.Keep it up John.I am sure you have plenty of stories to tell.

  2. paul moss says:
    April 15, 2014 at 4:57 pm

    love it. so happy to relive those moments. esp on stage. was pretty cool.

  3. Lynda Ford says:
    March 14, 2016 at 10:53 pm

    Back stories are amongst some of the best stories. Thank you.

  4. Pingback: The Ghost of Electricity: War Stories by Jon McLeary # 149 The First Nambassa

  5. Pingback: The Ghost of Electricity: War Stories by Jon McLeary # 110 New Zealand Music Month

  6. Pingback: The Ghost of Electricity: War Stories by Jon McLeary # 55 Svarama

Popular

  • The Sad Story of Bob Welch: Fleetwood Mac’s Most Undervalued Member
  • Janna Lapidus Leblanc: Four Years In Pictures
  • Neil Peart Was The World’s Most Overrated Drummer
  • The Best Guitarist in The World: # 11 – Lindsey Buckingham
  • The Best Guitarist in The World: # 8 – Mark Knopfler
  • Ricky Gervais: SuperNature
  • Nitty Gritty Dirt Band: Dirt Does Dylan
  • Top Gun – Maverick: Film
  • Apparently The 30 Best Horror Films Of All Time
  • Sweetman Podcast: Episode 73 – Janna Lapidus Leblanc

Archives

Tags

Album Review Auckland Blog Book Book Review Chat Compilation DJ DVD DVD Review EP Film Film Review Gig Gig Review Guest Blog Guitar Interview Jazz Live Live Gig LP Movie Music NZ Podcast Poem Poetry Record Records Simon Sweetman Soundtrack Spines Spotify Stub Stubs Sweetman Podcast The Vinyl Countdown Vinyl Want more? Check out my Substack You can also support Off The Tracks via PressPatron Wellington Wgtn Writing You can support Off The Tracks via PressPatron [OST]

Categories

  • Back Catalogue
  • Blog
  • Interviews
  • Miscellany
  • Mixtapes
  • Playlists
  • Podcasts
  • Reviews
  • Scene Of The Day
  • Special Guests
  • The Vinyl Countdown

Off The Tracks is the home of Sweetman Podcast, a weekly interview/chat-based pod. It's also home to my reviews across film, TV, music and books and some creative writing as well.

Off The Tracks aims to provide quality reviews and essays, regular blog updates about the shows, albums, books and movies you should be experiencing.

It's a passion project. Your support will help to keep Off The Tracks online.

All content © 2022 by Off The Tracks. WordPress Themes by Graph Paper Press