IT’S not every day that the Mail receives a call from Geneva, but on this occasion we were pleased to find Greg Arnold, lead singer of Things of Stone and Wood on the other end of the line.
Arnold rang to have a chat about all things band related and in particular, their 25th anniversary tour with the grand conclusion right here in Dunsborough.
Whilst looking at the Alps, Arnold gave the distinct impression that he was full of enthusiasm towards the reunion tour, as we discussed what it was like to relive the band’s glory days.
“Some songs you can’t sing anymore,” Arnold said.
“Some albums get love, then you disappear for a while… but the interest in the band has regrown,
“That’s one of the great things about being an acoustic singer songwriter…it never comes so in that it goes desperately out.”
Arnold said it was thanks to people covering their work, even parodying it that helped the band resurface when the time was right.
In particular, a recent cover by X Factor’s Brothers 3 of their hit Happy Birthday Helen Arnold said brought their name back into the limelight once more, while the Deep Generation parody of the same song still remains a favourite.
“I was so scared to watch,” Arnold said, laughing.
Arnold continued to reflect back, in particular to when the band first started playing together all those years ago.
“It was an amazing thing when we first started playing,” Arnold said.
“Out of the blue, people came along who weren’t friends and family, then they started coming in big groups to hear us play,
“It’s humbling that it’s hitting a nerve out there… there’s something amazing about people,
“A top 10 hit changes everything.”
It was people’s ability to connect to their music that resonated with Arnold, with WA people seeming to grasp this the most with the band having two number one hits on the west coast.
WA was also the first place to play them on the radio, according to Arnold.
“WA was a really incredible place for us,” Arnold said.
With the anniversary tour now in motion, we enquired as to what the future holds in the next 25 years for Arnold and the group.
“It’s been magical to have the original line up back together,” Arnold said.
“We’ve just been enjoying everything we’ve been doing.”
Arnold said there were no firm plans in the works as of yet for the group, but he would always be ready for any opportunities, should they arise.
“It’s back to Geneva for me, but I’m a big believer in never saying never.”
Things of Stone and Wood are playing the Dunsborough Tavern on Sunday, December 14.
Tickets are still available through Oztix.
