By CHERIE DONNELLAN
THE image of thick “deep red” velvet curtains appealed to singer-songwriter Diesel when he decided to embark on a tour using Australia’s theatres.
Pulling back the curtains to reveal the soloist playing “stripped back” acoustic versions of songs from several of his albums over the past 20 years added to the illusion of the Velvet Curtain Tour.
Diesel also just really loved theatres, including Geelong’s Playhouse Theatre at which he’ll play on 14 September.
“These [theatres] are really great to play in – fantastic venues.”
Diesel was happy to play audience requests but admitted some startled him.
“If someone calls out something that feels right, I’ll play it.
“Unless it’s like ‘Wow, I haven’t played that in donkey’s years’. Then I go a shade of grey with nerves and quickly launch into another song,” Diesel laughed.
Some of those startlers included B-sides to singles or straight-to-iTunes releases that Diesel recorded but had yet to work out how to play live.
But for the song list that lives on Diesel’s laptop he revealed he was always finding different ways to play them.
Although he divulged it was almost a challenge to repeat himself.
“I find it hard to do the same thing every time – which is a bit of a blessing and a bit frustrating,” he said.
“I notice when I try to capture something that I might have touched upon, the next time I try to do it, (I can’t copy it)”.
Diesel will delight fans with songs from his latest album Let It Fly, which he released just a fortnight ago.
He revealed writing the track The Miles “surprised” him as he “never imagined he’d write a song that was autobiographical”.
“It was like writing a mini book in a couple of lines… about how (my family) came out (to Australia).
“The imagery I got in my head was like a little film… and I thought I’ll run with this.”
Diesel will play at The Playhouse Theatre on 14 September. For tickets, phone 5225 1200 or visit gpac.org.au
