Bandstanding: Dana Sulikosky – ‘Music is my happy place

It seems incredulous today that any Morris van. It was a lot of fun and a young person would leave home at two-woman duo was a novelty back the age of 15, let alone actually be then. Becky eventually returned to able to look after themselves. But the US and after a few other duo that’s exactly what Dana Sulikosky partners, I played solo – just me and did. Two years later she was playing my acoustic guitar. I did my backing bass in a band and touring the tracks playing the bass and recording country, living life on the road as a the drum machine on cassette tape. musician on the brewery circuit back There were plenty of gigs and I played in the days when, yes folks, you could weekly at places that aren’t even actually make a decent living from there anymore – The Alex, The DB doing exactly that. Royal International (that was pulled

Presumably it wasn’t a problem that down for the arcade in Elliot Street). I young Dana was under-age to enter also played the Victoria Park markets: most of her own early gigs, but I back then it had a really good vibe!” guess these things didn’t matter so Dana left the music scene in 1991 much then either. At 17 Dana met to focus on being a Mum when Rick Warren, who was then in a band she became pregnant with her son called Hazy Daze and playing the Lion Jordan. “I sold my gear and actually Circuit – a regular rotating gig circuit settled down. At first I missed it but with bands playing most nights of the not the rowdy, smoke-filled bars and week in Lion Breweries pubs across what went with them.” the country. A new band was formed Then came a change of direction in which Dana would play bass. “I Dana Sulikosky performing with Danny and the Destroyers. and Dana studied massage and had played acoustic guitar through my early teens so this seemed like aromatherapy. “I loved my new life.” Daughter Aaliyah was born in a good transition. Playing live for me was incredibly scary at first. I 2002 and when she reached school age Dana began training as a yoga remember my first gig trembling to my toes, but I made it and didn’t teacher. “With amazing support from my family, I was sole parent to look back until I was 33! two children, I worked part time and was massaging from home. I

“Back in the 70s/80s, gigs were everywhere. We played a residency had corporate work around Auckland, so I supported my family with at the Te Atatu Tavern, got our sound together and then went on the massage and yoga classes and I also taught in various gyms.” road. Our band was called City Limits and under the management Then 2017 arrived, a year Dana describes a perfect storm: “a dental of Cammy Hill we played venues up and down the country – literally surgery that left me with permanent tinnitus, the passing of Jordan’s from Invercargill to Whangarei. At the time Cammy also managed then father and duo band mate Donn, and also of my last partner, and I unknown comedian Billy T James, as well as the Maori Hi Marks. We found myself under a very dark cloud.” But the darker the cloud the backed them both on their debut starring appearances – I remember brighter the lining as Dana suddenly found a renewed energy for music. being very nervous, but Billy T was as friendly as ever and always made “Out of the blue, I decided to buy myself a bass, a 12-string guitar us laugh!” and my favourite 6-string, a Taylor acoustic. My friend Mark (from the

When the City Limits guitarist left to pursue a day job in 1978, the Topaz band in the 80s) contacted me in the light of recent events and band carried on as a trio, before Dana and Rick formed a second band, over dinner we decided that we would form a duo – and that was the Topaz, with new guitarist Mark Wenski, and they also became popular beginning of Night Moves. on the pub circuit. After Topaz disbanded Dana and Rick played as a “I practiced every day to get my skills up and learn new material duo and again hit the road. “We played at various pubs and Cobb & from Tracy Chapman, Norah Jones, Joni Mitchell, as well as revisit old Co’s, from Taupo to Blenheim and everywhere in between. In those favourites like Stevie Nicks, Sade, Rickie Lee Jones and so many more! days you played Tuesday to Saturday and got a decent pay cheque Mark and I sat in with a resident band in St Heliers and that gave us a each week.” good chance to play our new songs, get the sound together and make

Next came duo High Heels with singer/guitar player, Becky Bush. new friends. We both play acoustic guitars (Mark also electric). “We were popular at The Alex in Parnell, and we hit the road in her Continued on page 19 >>

P P P P

Reliable House Painting Team Over 40 years experience Fair honest pricing Pensioner Rates

& 817 9070

www.sergeantpainters.co.nz