1.Growing Up
I remember lip-syncing to Paul Simon’s ‘Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes’ with my neighbours. I was in choir at the time and in grade four and realising the world that existed in my parents’ record collection was far more exotic than my school choir. Their collection eventually taught me to blow harp when I was 14.
2.Inspirations
The Three Kings hold a tight court: Albert, B.B. and Freddy. They’re all powerhouse frontier bluesmen of guitar and vocal prowess. The first time I heard B.B. King Live In Cook County Jail I was completely captivated by his relationship with his audience, and always have been. It’s a level of joy, respect and comfort that very few artists exhibit.
3.Your Band
The band is Matt Rogers on guitar and drums, me on vox and harp, and Andrina Turenne on background vocals. We’re connected by a series of vacuum tubes wired together through speakers of all sizes and vintages, where the sound is then bottled in whisky distilleries and shipped worldwide for people’s consumption with the sole purpose of raising the dead and/or bringing a dull marriage back to life. It ain’t always pretty but has a lasting effect.
4.The Music You Make
Trench-deep soul that explores the collective pain and the longing of human desire with a Telecaster, voice, harp and foot drums. We love the melodic inclusiveness of bands like Dr. Dog and Royal Canoe, the push and pull of Shovels & Rope, and the historical hysterics of JD McPherson and Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats, to name a few. Our live show differs greatly from our albums – for one, I get to tell jokes, and we grunt more and generally gyrate uncontrollably till one of us falls off our stools.
5.Music, Right Here, Right Now
We have too many shoegazer bands withholding valuable emotions from their fans. Having said that, we also have a greater variety than ever before, which makes it harder to find the jewels in the rough – but they are out there. We always have to overcome our egos and feed the soul. This can be very tricky to do as the ego is needed to perform; to get in front of a crowd of strangers. Andy Shauf has inspired us in his attention to narration, as has Anderson .Paak for being so damn filthy on the kit and vocals.
Canada’s The Harpoonist And The Axe Murderer play at Mullum Music Festival 2016, Saturday November 19 – Sunday November 20; thenPlay Bar, Tuesday November 22.
