Royal Headache’s Long Awaited Second Album Is On the Way

Royal Headache have played their share of memorable gigs over the years. From tiny backyards in Redfern, to inside boxing rings in Fortitude Valley, to the vast Sydney Entertainment Centre. In Kalamazoo, Michigan, they played in a bar surrounded by animal heads hanging from the walls.

This May, the four piece will get to add the Sydney Opera House to their list of impressive shows when they make their debut performance in the Joan Sutherland Theatre as part of Vivid Live.

Hosted by Sydney’s best record store Repressed Record, Royal Headache will be joined by special guests for a night that celebrates the brightest sparks of the Sydney music scene.

Though Royal Headache shows have been less frequent in recent times with the band retreating to record their long-awaited second record, when they do make an appearance it becomes an event.

We had a quick chat to Shortty to find out how the band has been traveling lately.

Noisey: Where is the weirdest/oddest place you have played?
Shortty: I can only speak for myself but our shows at the Sydney Entertainment Centre were pretty strange. Previously I had only been there to watch a Sydney Kings game. Just the distance you are away from everyone and the whole spectacle of it is bizarre. The whole thing feels like a weird dream now.

What are you expectations of the Sydney Opera House?
Again it is something that is outside of what we are generally accustomed to. I saw Shogun perform there as part of Good God’s Tin Pan Alley last year which was cool. The best approach is to just try to have fun and not freak out too much.

The Opera House is a Sydney icon. The kind of place you take international visitors. What other part of Sydney do you feel like is a must see/do?
I usually take northern hemisphere/cold climate people to the beach in the Sydney summer. Little Bay is good especially on weekdays. Getting a ferry to Cockatoo Island is also a choice day out.

What is the most ‘Sydney’ music video?

Probably this

Will you be testing new songs at the opera house show?
Definitely. We played on the weekend after not practicing for 6 months. So we mainly did older stuff, as we are more familiar with it. But will be much better prepared for the Opera House so unreleased and newer stuff will happen.

What has been happening at Royal Headache HQ of late?
The new LP is pretty much finished. I know we have been saying this for like two years but we are so close now, I swear!

You are about to head back to the US for your third tour. What have you learned about touring the US?
Eat healthy (everyday), don’t expect too much, try not to get overwhelmed by the intensity of Americans, have a tour buddy/driver/company to provide another personality in the mix, drink tea and try not to get wasted EVERY NIGHT.

Royal Headache and friends play the Sydney Opera House, May 23. Tickets available here.