THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE QUESTIONNAIRE: Tono

Anthonie Tonnon -- aka Tono -- is behind and out from of the highly regarded, wryly observational band Tono and the Finance Company. Originally from Dunedin and a )possibly temporary) Auckland resident, Tono looks at life with a jaundiced eye and yer his songs offer comfort and hope at the same time.

Their debut EP Fragile Things alerted people to a major writing talent (and crafty song craftsman) and their first album Up Here for Dancing (reviewed here) confirms it.

Interestingly enough the "title track" on the new album actually reads Up Here For Thinking, Down There For Dancing . . . but that seems typical of his lyrics.

They have it both ways.

Time then for Tono -- aka Anthonie Tonnon -- to join the long list who have answered the Famous Elsewhere Questionnaire. 

The first piece of music which really affected you was . . .

“Happiness is a Warm Gun,” The Beatles. After George Harrison died a radio station played an A-Z of The Beatles and I heard songs from The White Album and Abbey Road for the first time. I stayed up all night taping the songs on cassette.

Your first (possibly embarrassing) role models in music were . . .

Ryan Adams, The Strokes, Thom Yorke.

Lennon or Jagger, Ramones or Nirvana, Madonna or Gaga, Jacko or Jay-Z?

Lennon, Nirvana, Gaga, Jay-Z

If music was denied you, your other career choice would be . . .

Bureaucrat/closet novelist.

The three songs (yours, or by others) you would love everyone to hear are . . .

“Into the Night” – Haunted Love  (here)

“High Rollers” – Paul Cathro (here)

“Tim” – mine.

Any interesting, valuable or just plain strange musical memorabilia at home?

Medili Mc70 Electronic Keyboard. Probably the worst sounding keyboard invented, purchased when my last one broke down and I desperately needed something to write melodies on. I stil haven’t upgraded.

The best book on music or musicians you have read is . . .

Positively George Street by Matthew Bannister. Very subjective, very inspiring reading at a young age in Dunedin.

If you could get on stage with anyone it would be . . . (And you would play?)

Pulp – “Help The Aged.”

The three films you'd insist anybody watch because they might understand you better are . . .

.... 

The last CD or vinyl album you bought was . . . (And your most recent downloads include . . .)

Tourettes – Tiger Belly.

Recent Downloads: Cool Rainbows – Whale Rocket, and Tommy Ill – New Hat and a Haircut

One song, royalties for life, never have to work again. The song by anyone, yourself included, which wouldn't embarrass you in that case would be . . .

“Talk About The Good Times” – Lawrence Arabia.

The poster, album cover or piece of art could you live with on your bedroom forever would be . . .

The Up Here For Dancing cover on vinyl (see bottom right), if we can ever afford to make it.

And Daniel Alexander’s Star Wars day variation of our tour poster (right).

You are allowed just one tattoo, and it is of . . .

Much too much of a good boy for tattoos.

David Bowie sang, “Five years, that's all we've got . . .” You would spend them where, doing . . .?

In Dunedin, making as many hastily-recorded albums as I could in a studio on a hill, drinking whisky at Al Bar.

And finally, in the nature of press conferences in Japan, “Can you tell me please why this is your best album ever?”

It’s the least timeless, and most earnest, self indulgent, and profoundly weird thing I’ve made.