When Martha Davis picks up the phone on her farm in Oregon she’s dealing with a disaster. The snow around the farm has started to melt and it’s filling her basement studio with water.
“It’s a bit of drama and a big pain in the butt,” said Davis, “I love my basement and I’ve been to this movie many times, I did so many procedures to protect myself from this happening but here we are!”.
The singer is excited about returning to Australia with her band The Motels. “It’s been a long time, way too long.” Davis said declaring that she can’t wait to kick off her Australian tour in Perth this month. ‘I’m bringing Marty Jourard the original keyboard player with me and we’re going to play all the standard Motel’s stuff and new things too.”
Back in the late 70’s and early 80’s The Motels has a series of hits with ‘Only the Lonely’, ‘Total Control’, ‘Take the L out of Lover’ and ‘Suddenly Last Summer’.
“I think it’s shocking that people are still playing our songs all these years later. You never know when you write a song if it’s going to be a hit,” said Davis, “but I still find them playing in supermarkets.”
Davis laughs at the suggestion that the sound of the 80’s is as popular as ever. “I always laugh,” she said, “I hear so many bands that try to sound like 80’s bands, the funny part is that in the 80’s no two bands wanted to sound anything like each other! It was the badge of honour; you couldn’t sound like anybody else… whether you were Duran Duran or Oingo Bongo, Patti Smyth, Chrissie Hyde or Blondie, everyone had a very unique voice, that’s what made it so wonderful. When I hear the kids today trying to emulate that sound I think to myself ‘Oh, you missed the point’.”
Davis notes that of her own work while ‘Suddenly Last Summer’ and ‘Only the Lonely’ get the most airplay, it’s ‘Total Control’ that other musicians like to perform. Davis confesses that she’s yet to hear local singer Abbe May’s version of the tune but has been impressed by renditions by New York band Cults and Amanda Palmer from the Dresden Dolls. “All these years later, it’s having its resurgence; it’s definitely a special song.” comments Davis.
Martha Davis and the Motels play the Astor Theatre on Wednesday March 12 with Abbe May in support. Tickets available from www.liveattheastor.com.au
Graeme Watson
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