“I really like those sort of gigs when you connect with people on an individual basis. It’s good to meet people, it’s what it’s all about.” He says when people go to well packaged, well branded shows and you know they have specifically chosen to go out to see you, it’s a good thing. “People are more invested. You hear that when you are at the merch table.”

After the band’s 60-gig Take Me Back anniversary shows, the lads took a break. I’ve got a place in Los Angeles. Although the two months Thistlethwayte was in Los Angeles could hardly be called a break.

He says he slept in for about two weeks and caught up with friends but then sat in on jame sessions and toured with a California-based band. Then he spent time in Europe doing a bit of a jazz crossover. “It was like a weird musical backpacker tour.”

And then, for something completely different, the band has kicked off a 26-gig Summer Tour at the Deni Ute Muster. “We never done it before ... it is one of the most crazy gigs. It’s a beautiful part of the world. But you think, ‘Deniliquin – how did a festival get underway there?’. After I’ve been playing in little jazz clubs, it was like a baptism of fire.”

Thistlethwayte is spending Christmas in Tassie. “My girlfriend works in a dental practice and doesn’t get much time off. We’re [the band] doing Carols in the Domain for the first time, then heading to Tassie for three nights.” 

For New Year’s Eve the lads will play at The Ville Resort & Casino in Townsville. “it’s going to be a party. It’s a lovely property, and nice way to end off the year. My girlfriend picks which gigs she comes to, and she’s keen to go to this one.”

When asked if there was a new album in the wings, he said he’d been writing, but not as much as he’d like.

“There’s a couple of things sitting around that need to be refined. We could put out an EP, but it’s a lot of work and I still like to put an album together. It’s a similar amount of work, but it’s not the same – you get to put together a storyline for an album.”

He says he doesn’t worry too much about the success of an album these days. “It’s just the way things are. You put out quality music, people pick and choose these days.”

For this tour they won’t be airing too much new material. “We’re going to be dusting off some of the old stuff.” So fans can look forward to Thistlethwayte on piano, guitar and vocals, Phil Stack on bass and Matt Smith on guitar churning out hits Someday Someday, In the Summertime, 20 Good Reasons, Mousetrap Heart, The Good Life, Tommy and Krista, Those Eyes, The Grind and more.