The band, originally called Periwinkle, came together in the suburbs in 1997 when 15-year-olds Dave Rennick and Hugh Boyce were joined by Alex Moore and English-born Tim Derricourt. The line-up has occasionally expanded on stage to include keyboardists Mark Bradshaw and later Ned Cooke who is now a permanent member of the band.
The band played at various all ages shows and charity benefits until they reached legal age to play in the licensed venues which are the focus of Sydney's live rock scene. The band members moved to the inner suburbs of Sydney and after various name changes settled on Dappled Cities Fly, chosen because its inappropriateness as a band name made them laugh at the time although the band 'have regretted it ever since'. Their frequent live shows drew a regular following of fans and the band became popular supporting international acts touring eastern Australia.
The band also regularly headline their own shows, very often at the Hopetoun Hotel, with bills showcasing new local groups.
Dappled Cities Fly have enjoyed and helped foster the revival since 2000 of Sydney's live music scene and the opening of several new venues. The band have made several extensive tours of Australia and toured New Zealand in 2004. In 2006 the band performed in London and at various shows in the United States, including SXSW.
Dappled Cities Fly's several early single and EP releases were critically well received and played Australia-wide on various radio stations. Their first album, A Smile, after several years in the making, was released in late 2004 and featured as album of the week on radio stations FBi and Triple J, in most of the Sydney street press and in various other media. Sydney Morning Herald reviewer Bernard Zuel wrote of A Smile that it "weaves between lo-fi indie rock, oddly bent pop and a kind of big-emotion, big-gesture music that seems refracted through a vaguely hallucinogenic mirror".
Their second album Granddance was recorded at various studios in Los Angeles, California. The album's cover artwork is noteworthy in having the band's name as just "Dappled Cities", minus the word "Fly"; however as Tim Derricourt explained to The Drum Media magazine, this was done mainly for artistic reasons, and does not amount to a formal name change for the band.
The band recorded a cover version of "November Rain" with local Sydney band Red Riders, a song which the two bands played together when they toured in 2007. They have also dropped the "Fly" from their moniker, simply calling themselves "Dappled Cities", though the band remains elusive as to why they have truncated the name.
On February 27th, 2008, a bulletin was posted on the band's myspace announcing that Hugh Boyce had left the band to pursue a career in bio-mechanical engineering. In the following months, the band announced the arrival of their new drummer, Allan Kumpulainen.
Granddance
Dappled Cities Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On the cobbled paths of knitted stone
Left behind
Hold the folks in open arms
In the curdled smoke of covered forms
Here to dance the choreographed
Steps to build the ones you've lost
Oh your body
Shake those bones away
From your body
'I'm not here to stay'
Hold the salt
And country poems
On the boat to your newland homes
Step onto the salted banks
At the pace of a granddance
This is the rise and fall
Of leaps and pauses
Leave it all behind
Oh your body
Shake those bones away
From your body
'I'm not here to stay'
The song "Granddance" by Dappled Cities is a poetic portrayal of a journey that is self-transformational and life-changing. The lyrics are highly figurative and intricate, but they speak about the journey in a metaphorical way. The opening lines "Say the words and I'll go on the cobbled paths of knitted stone left behind" paint a picture of a traveler who is willing to follow the words of wisdom, and set on a path that is already laid out. The traveler is taking a journey that leads to self-discovery, growth, and acceptance of loss.
The second part of the song talks about the people that the traveler encounters on their journey. The lines "Hold the folks in open arms in the curdled smoke of covered forms, here to dance the choreographed steps to build the ones you've lost" speak of a person who is embracing people they meet on their journey with open arms. The traveler sees the value in these people and acknowledges their contribution to their journey. This creates a sense of community and reinforces the idea of learning from others during the journey.
Further on in the song, the lyrics take on a more resolute tone, with the phrase "step onto the salted banks at the pace of a grand dance, this is the rise, and fall of leaps and pauses, leave it all behind". These lines suggest that the traveler has reached their destination, and now it's time to leave everything behind and enjoy the moment. The phrase "at the pace of a grand dance" builds on the metaphor of a journey as one big dance, where everything is in motion, and the traveler must move along with the rhythm and pace. The final lines of the song, "oh your body, shake those bones away from your body, I'm not here to stay" cues the end of the journey and the traveler's victorious return home.
Line by Line Meaning
Say the words and I will go
If you give me a command or direction, I will follow it.
On the cobbled paths of knitted stone
I will travel across cobblestone roads that have been carefully constructed and knit together.
Left behind
The past is gone and cannot be changed.
Hold the folks in open arms
Embrace and welcome everyone without discrimination or judgment.
In the curdled smoke of covered forms
Among the obscured and mysterious forms veiled by thick, smoky air.
Here to dance the choreographed
We are here to perform pre-planned and orchestrated movements.
Steps to build the ones you've lost
We are dancing to rebuild or honor those who have been lost or are no longer with us.
Oh your body
Addressing someone's physical presence.
Shake those bones away
Move and dance so vigorously that your bones shake and rattle.
From your body
Directs the physical movement back to one's body again.
'I'm not here to stay'
Acknowledging that we cannot stay in any one place forever and that change is inevitable.
Hold the salt
Carry with you the seasoning of life, which can sometimes sting when rubbed into wounds or cuts.
And country poems
Carry with you the traditional folk tales and stories that have been passed down through generations.
On the boat to your newland homes
Traveling by boat to a new place of residence or destination.
Step onto the salted banks
Arriving at the new place, feeling the salted breezes and air, and officially stepping onto its shores.
At the pace of a granddance
Moving forward at a steady and measured pace, as one would during a grand dance.
This is the rise and fall
Referring to the ups and downs of life, which are inevitable and cyclical.
Of leaps and pauses
Referring to the movements and moments in a dance that involve jumping and stopping, respectively.
Leave it all behind
Let go of the past and embrace the new experiences and opportunities ahead.
Contributed by Skyler R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.