In the midst of a national tour, Australian musician Kevin Mitchell - aka Bob Evans - says an overriding fear of climate change is top of his mind as he works on new music.
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Mitchell is set to play at Karova Lounge on March 30, for the Full Circle solo tour which celebrates the release of his best-of album.
Originally from Western Australia, Mitchell has performed under the pseudonym of Bob Evans throughout the release of five solo albums, while still finding time to perform with beloved Aussie rock darlings Jebediah.
"For a Jebediah gig, I know things are going well if everyone is jumping up and down, moving, making lots and lots of noise. But at a Bob Evans show, it's the exact reverse," he said. "If the crowd is sitting silent, listening, I know I've got them."
A particular feature of his Bob Evans shows is the song raffle, where every audience member is given a raffle ticket at the door. If your number is drawn, you'll get the chance to request your favourite song from even the deepest depths of his discography.
"I don't make any guarantees that I'm going to be able to do a good job of this, but I will do my absolute best," Mitchell said. "There's only been a couple of times where I've made an absolute mess of it.
The planet is in trouble and there's a real selfishness by the more mature adult population - the people who are in power - who are just not willing to do anything.
- Australian musician Kevin Mitchell
"If I can't play the song, I'll give the person a free stubbie holder. You can't say I don't do a good deal."
An ARIA award winner, Mitchell said he's now "knuckling down" on some demo songs for an upcoming album, but there was no certainties, as he looks down the barrel of Australia-wide tour with The Whitlams.
"I'm hoping I might get into the studio this year … I feel like I'm really close to having something ready to record."
Admitting his music is often permeated by current events, he said he was currently meditating on climate change and the "complete inaction" of the major political parties.
"Our kids are going to inherit this problem through no fault of their own. And as a parent myself, that really worries the s**t out of me," he said. "I was really interested, late last year the high school kids who went on strike … I found that really inspiring."
Tickets $34.70, support by Madeline Leman. Doors open at 8.30PM.