Tindersticks

Autographed Polaroid of Stuart Staples




One of my favorite bands is the wonderful band, Tindersticks. I drove to Chicago and Detroit to see them in 2003,(Meg and Jack White came at sat right next to me in Detroit)since they rarely tour in the USA. For the release of their newest album "The Hungry Saw" the newly revamped band played a handful of dates in the colonies this year. So, I couldn't resist, I drove up to Chicago on March 12th to see them at a freezing cold Epiphany church. I had a photo pass and an interview scheduled with singer Stuart Staples. When I got there I was greeted by Ian, their unofficial tour manager who had just drove down from Toronto for free just to help the band out.
Everyone could not have been nicer to me and Tindersticks put on an emotional intense show as always.









Here is an interview I did with Stuart for the website popwreckoning.
Interview with: Stuart A. Staples of Tindersticks
Posted on 25 March 2009
Tags: Stuart A. Staples, tindersticks
It takes a special band to draw fans into the Chicago’s cold Epiphany Church for an early March concert. It takes an even specialer band to draw those fans from not only Chicago, but other cities as was the case for Scott Spychalski. Scott drove from Kansas City to see Tindersticks perform (though the long distance award and a big thanks go to Tindersticks’ unofficial tour manager, Ian, who drove from Toronto to help them for free). In addition to seeing them play, Spychalski also took some time to talk with the band. Check out his interview with Stuart A. Staples of Tindersticks below.




Scott Spychalski, PopWreckoning: How did you actually come up with the band name Tindersticks? Any hidden meanings?
Stuart A. Staples, Tindersticks: There was a kind of version of that name on a box of matches, in Greece I think. We liked the name because it wasn’t really trying to say anything.

PW: I drove nearly thirty hours to see your band perform in two different cities on the last tour, but found I was not alone. Many people came from other cities and even countries. Are you surprised that you have such a loyal following, especially in America?
SS: It’s such a personal thing isn’t it? You kind of will go the extra mile to experience it. I think if a song can touch you in a personal way it can be very special.

PW: I know you tour quite a bit in Europe, what are your thoughts on these small tours in America?
SS: Ummm….it’s very different, it’s like taking a step backwards because were not on the same level here. We are used to playing concert halls in more civilized places I suppose, here we play in a rougher environment. I don’t mind that at all, as a group of people we are robust to react to the situation we are in.
There are quite a lot of distances to cover in America as well. The worst things are airports. It’s just become an ordeal. I would rather drive six or seven hours than to be stuck in an airport. But overall it has to do with Constellation, their enthusiasm and energy has been great. I’m pretty happy with it all at the moment. It’s worth coming here, I’m pleased with the outcome of it. As a band we are really energized at the moment and are making plans to get into the studio as soon as possible. After the last two tours we didn’t have the same feeling, but right now we are feeling very creative.

PW: You seem very energetic right now. Is it due to having new members in the band?
SS: Maybe it has to do with something new at the moment, and what has grown out of making The Hungry Saw and it’s still going on after being on the road for so long. It’s got a natural kind of feeling of moving forward, for me it’s like the best kind of environment for me to write with people pushing me forward. Five or six years ago, I wasn’t in that place, something was unbalanced or messed up in the band. When you are a group of six people together for 10 years, 12 years, it’s hard to figure out what’s wrong and what’s right.

PW: Could you tell me about the title of the new album The Hungry Saw?
SS: It came from the song, and the song became kind of defining in a way. Those songs in the middle of the album, “Mother dear”, “Boobar”, “The Organist Entertains”, those songs are a lot more abstract and dreamlike. We didn’t really pin it down to one thing. I just had real fun writing the album. The idea of trying to retain some innocence against, I suppose the things that come and try and rip it away from you, I think all three of those songs all live in that kind of realm.

PW: Is The Hungry Saw a metaphor for anything?
SS: I think it has something to do with what you need that drives you and hurts you at the same time. I had so much fun with the words I didn’t want it to be finished, it was really good fun to write.

PW: I noticed that there weren’t any duets on this album. I know you had two duets on your last solo album, Leaving Songs, is there anyone are your short list that you would like to do a duet with?
SS: It’s always been driven by a song and ideas. I can’t really write a song with a specific person in mind. It is important to me, writing for somebody else you can kind of have fun with it. I can kind of have a go at myself in a third person sense.

PW: Can you tell me about your writing process, what influences you?
SS: When I was 15 or 16 I read a lot of poetry and I stopped and I stopped because if I read something that really blew me away it would end up in an idea of mine. I wanted my mind to be free I didn’t want it to be full of these peoples great ideas, in anything you do, you have to find your own language. I think I’m finding my voice and my writing right now. I don’t think that I have remotely arrived. I’ve always thought of myself as a late developer. At the moment I feel I am closer, but not any closer than I was ten years ago…..because the things you want to do are always ahead of you and just beyond your skills.
PW: I think that YOU are the hungry saw!
SS: (laughing) Maybe that’s it!


...45f degrees.