Back on the road with Things of Stone and Wood

THINGS of Stone and Wood will return to the Northern Rivers next month as part of a select regional tour.

The Melbourne band cracked the music scene in the early 1990s, and its imaginative instrumentation helped spark an acoustic and folk movement that later included artists such as John Butler, The Waifs and Angus and Julia Stone.

For ARIA and APRA award-winning frontman Greg Arnold, the tour comes at a perfect juncture: a sweet spot of reuniting with old mates, reliving the road and creating new music.

The day the band hits Ballina is also the singer’s birthday.

“I’m looking forward to it; we haven’t played up there for years,” Arnold said.

“And it’s happy birthday to me, I guess. This will be the only time I ever change the song.”

His wife, Helen, of the eponymous hit Happy Birthday Helen, won’t mind for just one day, he said.

Arnold lived in Geneva for eight years and, since his return to Australia, has hit the ground running.

“It’s great to get out with the other two lads,” he said.

“We love playing, and that’s the most amazing thing about touring when we did – you see so much of Australia and all these different places.

“I have always loved it up there since I discovered the area, and it’s a fantastic vibe.

“I feel like we’re really ourselves when we’re on the road.”

Many musos like their footy, and Arnold was in the thick of it during his years in Europe.

“I was involved in the early days of the Swiss AFL League, and I used to go down to help out because I figured my son might play a bit of footy,” he said.

“Then I pulled on the boots myself and had a fun few seasons.

“I was playing less music in Switzerland, but footy and music, while enjoyable, are not necessarily conducive.

“I used to get injured a bit, and I would ring Helen after a game to say, ‘It’s ok, I didn’t get hurt’, and by the end of my time playing, I’d ring my producer and go, ‘It’s cool, I didn’t break a finger today’, which he appreciated.”

For the industry veteran, the lure of the road remains, and the camaraderie is as important as the music.

“It’s a wonderful feeling playing with a group you’ve played with for so many years,” he said.

“It’s a lovely time for the band. We have such great rapport; we’re all mates, and it’s a lot of fun to play music together.

“If you’re still doing things and looking forward and have artistic plans, it keeps you vibed.

“When the guys start singing together, it’s fantastic. It’s always cracked me up. I was the lead singer; how on earth did I swing that?

“I’m the worst singer in the band by miles – it’s really a perfect crime.”

Hiding in plain sight or not, Arnold and his mates, with their vocal harmonies, organic melodies, and infectious grooves, play Ballina on July 25.

For tickets, visit ballinarsl.com.au/event/things-of-stone-and-wood