By Derek Schlennstedt
Country rocker Michael Meeking has returned home from musical success abroad to rock local audiences, and launch a new album at Sooki Lounge on Sunday 13 August.
The Melbourne-based outfit, Michael Meeking and The Lost Souls, are playing at numerous venues statewide to celebrate the release of their new album, ‘Saturday Night Sunday Morning’.
Meeking said the album was the culmination of several years of work.
As the title suggests, the record is one of two halves, a story of Saturday night highs and Sunday morning lows, all blended into a glorious record of conflicting emotions and contrasting styles.
Much of the album is rooted in the classic Melbourne country-rock sound taking influence from bands such as The Dingoes, Weddings Parties Anything, and Tom Petty, but the album, considered their best yet, sows its own eclectic and unique sound.
Co-produced and engineered by the multi-talented Roger Bergodaz, Meeking said it took them 13 hours to record.
“We went into the studio and smashed out 13 songs in 12 hours,” he said.
“Most of the songs were put down in one or two takes … we were very inspired by the sounds and space that Roger had captured in his work with Raised By Eagles and Lost Ragas.”
The band is no stranger to the Dandenong Ranges.
They performed at The End Of The Line festival in previous years and Michael has also taught music at Selby Primary School for more than a decade.
“We played at The End Of The Line a few years ago at the cameo stage and it was fantastic,” he said.
“It’s always great to see so many familiar faces and past students … we all have a connection to the Dandenongs.”
On finishing the album, Michael said he was pleased but said he would continue to write more songs into the future.
“It’s very satisfying, but I’m now at the point where I’m ready to start working on new songs – it’s not a quick process and it’s also fairly draining but I’m keen to do more,” he said.
Meeking and the Lost Souls will play at Sooki Lounge on Sunday 13 August at 2pm.
