Don’t be afraid to turn out the lights

With the release of their album Creep on Creepin’ On, Timber Timbre talks about their European tour

Timber Timbre’s self-titled album was hailed Album of the Year in a nationwide critics’ poll by Eye Weekly in 2009.
Image supplied by: Supplied
Timber Timbre’s self-titled album was hailed Album of the Year in a nationwide critics’ poll by Eye Weekly in 2009.

Folk trio Timber Timbre was on tour in Europe until two weeks ago, but their presence was still felt in Canada when their fourth album Creep on Creepin’ On was shortlisted for the 2011 Polaris Prize. Lead vocalist Taylor Kirk updated the Journal via email on band antics, including Movember attempts and skinny-dipping in Switzerland.

What’s the creepiest thing in the world?

Facebook.

Exclaim warned listeners to keep the lights on when listening to Creep on Creepin’ On, do you have any advice for listeners?

Don’t listen to Exclaim — turn the lights off.

You’ve said the inspiration for the album was “to make music we love and therefore embrace the risk of sounding like all the music we’ve ever loved at once.” What is the music you love?

Otis Redding, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Roy Orbison, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, Nick Cave, Leonard Cohen, Nina Simone, Dolly Parton, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Chet Baker, Alice Coltrane, Morton Feldman, Bernard Herrmann, Ennio Morricone and Godspeed You Black Emperor. Stuff like that.

That inevitably leads to the question, what is the music you hate?

Hmm, I don’t know.

Blues-rock. Country-rock.Folk-rock. Roots-rock. Indie-rock. Cock-rock.

You just recently wrapped your European tour, what will you miss most about Europe?

The bread and cheese.

What was your best and worst tour moment on any tour?

Best moment was skinny-dipping post-show in Düdingen, Switzerland behind the Bad Bonn club, in a river below a lemon grove and between two gothic castles. Worst tour moment … I don’t know — being seasick very early in the morning on a particularly rough ferry somewhere in the U.K.

You and bandmate Simon Trottier participated in Movember this month. Who had the best moustache? Will you be happy to see the facial hair go?

Simon has the best moustache by far. I think he is responsible for most of the donations. Yeah, it’s a strong stache — it even has its own personality. As much as I like it, I’m looking forward to having the old Simon back. A moustache like that can change a man.

What is the first thing you think of when someone mentions Kingston?

Sarah Harmer.

Describe the band’s journey so far in three words?

It’s pronounced “Tamber.”

Tags

Creep on Creepin' On, Movember, Q&A, Timber Timbre

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