Wafting through the speakers is Kokomo frontman Derek Jacombs' voice on the song ‘I'll Do Anything'. 'Though the road is long, I can carry on, still you keep me strong with your love.”

It has indeed been a long road for Tauranga band Kokomo – a career spanning more than two decades together, 10 studio albums, and countless gigs up and down the country.

Kokomo is back on the road again – this time hosting a ‘Tour of Tauranga' in Katikati, Tauranga and Papamoa from next week.

Now they're back with their new album ‘Bigger Than Brando' which is out now.

Next week Kokomo embark on the ‘Tour of Tauranga' to officially launch their 10th studio album, playing Katikati, Tauranga and Papamoa on Thursday, Friday and Sunday nights.

Kokomo are Grant Bullot, Nigel Masters, Sonia Bullot, Mike Kirk, Ian Gilpin, and Derek Jacombs.

'We are feeling fantastic, everyone is excited about the tour and the band is firing,” Derek says.

'It's nice to be back playing in Tauranga. We'll be putting 100 per cent into these shows.”

For 20-odd years the band's aimed to perfect the ‘Kokomo sound' – and Derek believes they've done that in ‘Bigger Than Brando'.

It was recorded live in studio and mixed by Derek and Nigel at Boatshed Studio in Whakamarama before mastering at The Colour Field Recording Studio in Welcome Bay by Tim Julian.

Looking back on the band's recording history he describes it as a luxury to be able to record in Tauranga.

'It's come a long way. We couldn't record here back in the day because there were no facilities. We'd record in either Wellington or Auckland.

'You took a week off, travelled and then worked in the studio all day, every day. Often you look back thinking ‘I wish we did this, I wish we did that' on albums.”

The album's title track and Derek's favourite song ‘Bigger Than Brando' is definitely a tune to look out for when they play next week.

He likes the words 'more the better” – and on the album he sings 440 of them, trimmed down from his original draft of 986.

The tale follows Marlon Brando, Tennessee Williams, Truman Capote and Hank Williams, told from the point of view of a completely unreliable narrator, Derek says.

'I'd developed this connection between them, in my mind they all tied together somehow. Even to me it sounded absurd.

'It was also the hardest track on the album. It has a lot of verses, it took bloody forever to finish and that's why I love it so much.”

But then there is ‘I'll Do Anything', a beautiful love song the band got down in one take, sort of.

It wasn't meant to be that way Derek says, the bass hadn't been setup properly the first take and they did eight more trying to correct it.

'But the original would always sound better, so we went with the feel because as they say – it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing.”

Unlike previous albums, they have been preparing for the launch beforehand instead of doing it the 'rock and roll way” and leaving it to the last minute.

This time, and for the time in their career, the band now has a manager, says Derek.

'In the past it's always been me and that's what bands do because most can't afford management. It's been absolutely fantastic.

'For a change we've been preparing, making sure the album's online, that copies have gone over to England and America, we're actually getting it sorted first this time.

Derek says they haven't gigged in Tauranga for a while and being back on stage in their home town will be a fantastic experience.

If you have never experienced a Kokomo show, Derek says you'll be in for a treat.

'You'll get to dance around, you'll get some songs that might make you think a bit, and you'll definitely leave with a smile on your face.

'Tauranga has always been fantastic for us, playing in your home town is always great,” says Derek.

SunLive has a copy of Kokomo's new album ‘Bigger Than Brando' and a double pass to any of their ‘Tour of Tauranga' locations to give away.

To go in the draw simply enter here.

The Kokomo ‘Tour of Tauranga' is on stage in Katikati, Tauranga and Papamoa next week at:

Katikati Bowling Club – Thursday, September 11, from7.30pm-9.30pm.

Tickets cost $15.00 for members, $10.00 for adults, and free for children under 15.

Alimento Café – Friday, September 12, from 7pm-9.30pm.

Tickets cost $15.00 for adults, and free for children under 15.

Papamoa Tavern – Sunday, September 14, from 2pm-4.30pm.

Tickets cost $15.00 for adults, and free for children under 15.

To purchase your copy of Kokomo's new album ‘Bigger Than Brando' click here.