On the Road with The Naked and Famous
Hailing from Auckland, New Zealand, The Naked and Famous is an indie electronic dynamic trio with three studio albums under their belt; Passive Me, Aggressive You (2010), In Rolling Waves (2013) and Simple Forms (2016). You may already know their hits "Hearts Like Ours," and "Young Blood," two dreamy synth-pop tunes that have carried many a traveler on their summer road trips.
Now based out of Los Angeles, the band gave us a glimpse of the east coast leg of their latest tour titled "A Still Heart Stripped." “Later this month, the current lineup which now consists of Alisa Xayalith, Thom Powers, David Beadle and Luna Shadows will be hitting the UK, Switzerland, and Austria
Check out the exclusive photo series by Shervin Lainez in which the band sets up for their gig, searches desperately for food, and battles on the road injuries (Icy Hot patches, anyone?)
Setting up
THOMAS: Usually TNAF tour with two stage-techs, whose job it is to set up the stage while we leisurely fluff about on our phones, ignoring the inevitable call for “sound check!”, despite the explicit day-sheets posted in several clearly visible places backstage
And more setting up
THOMAS: This tour is a little more hands-on.
Equipment overload
THOMAS: Despite it being a stripped-back show, we have three MIDI controllers, 5 guitars and an entire lighting package that packs down into a suitcase — Alisa’s idea.
THOMAS: Alisa and I have been working on The Naked And Famous for ten years.
Or a decade of hostility, depends on the day
ALISA: I'VE BEEN STUCK WITH THEM FOR TEN YEARS.
Sleep is a luxury
ALISA: A neatly stacked pile of cases makes for good sitting and sometimes sleeping. All touring musicians know what I’m talking about.
Avoid getting hangry at all costs
ALISA: Sometimes you just got to put your arm around your mate and get excited about the food you’re about to eat.
Too late
ALISA: Here’s Thom trying not to get us lost in the city. I can’t decide who is worse at navigating, him or me?
Not all those who wander are lost. This band, however...
Heatwave
ALISA: Luna Shadows, searching for palm trees.
Straight Outta LA
The Naked And Famous, A Still Heart — Stripped Tour 2018: David Beadle, Alisa Xayalith, Thomas Powers & Luna Shadows.
The pianist
THOMAS: Luna Shadows helped me co-produce a few of the song from “A Still Heart”. As a pianist, she was vital to the project.
To live is to suffer
ALISA: Planes are not great for lower-backs.
But at least there's always coffee
ALISA: “Why am I looking for lunch in the wrong place?” — The Chain Gang Of 1974.
Catch The Naked and Famous on their A Still Heart Stripped tour.
Tickets available here.