http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8B9m3oub8ng
Mandy Nolan
Reminiscent of the great alt country American genre, but born out of Adelaide, The Yearlings’ sound is all their own. They straddle old and new, bitter and sweet, darkness and transcendence – modern day porch music. They drop by for a show at the Courthouse in Mullumbimby this Sunday, presented by Mullum Music Festival.
Tell me a little about the year so far? How was the USA tour?
This year has been crazily busy for us!
Tiny tour of the three Lizottes in NSW with The Audreys; Moomba Festival, Melbourne; Yackandandah Music Festival; Adelaide Fringe Festival; recording in our studio My Sweet Mule; Mount Beauty Music Muster; now touring with Hayward Williams (USA)!
Why did you decide to go to America?
We got invited to do an official showcase at the Folk Alliance in Memphis.
What was it like performing in Nashville? That’s like musical mecca for country isn’t it?
Fantastic fun. We got to play at the legendary Bluebird Cafe with our expat buddy Audrey Auld.
How did the two of you come to cross musical paths?
I was up at the Tamworth Country Music Festival back in 2000 busking with my band Problem Pony. We went to see Jimmy Little play and his guitar player was the very handsome Chris Parkinson. It kind of happened from there.
What do you think it is about the combination of players – is it like the same magic as the romantic notion of finding ‘the one’?
Have to get back to you on that one!
What for you is the essence of good song crafting?
I wish I knew – it’s a mystery to me still. Every song comes differently. Some come quickly in a rush, almost complete, while others may come in fragments over many years.
How do the two of you collaborate to create a song?
We don’t really. We each go off to our separate rooms at different times and really only come together when we’ve got a fair idea of where it’s heading. Sometimes I might throw in some lyrics or Chris will suggest a change or a middle eight. Other times we will sit around and just noodle about with some chords and come up with ideas. We’ve got hundreds of ideas but they don’t always turn into complete songs.
What should we expect for the Mullum show?
A cross-pollination of acts: rollicking good time with some beautiful music, stories and musicians flying by the seat of their pants.
The Courthouse Hotel, Mullumbimby on Sunday
4pm THE YEARLINGS
5pm HAYWARD WILLIAMS
6.30pm JORDIE LANE
Tix: www.mullummusic.com / 6684 6195
