Punky String band Cherrywood have been entertaining/aurally assaulting audiences in practically every nook and cranny of the country for a few years now and after three single releases they’ve just released their debut long player, Book Of Matches through Love & Theft and Cobra Snake Necktie Records.
A 15 song set of rollicking rock and roll numbers and introspective folk country tunes will have you dancing like a crazed lunatic one minute and crying into your beer the next.
With an extensive Australia-wide tour over the next few months, Cherrywood are ready to play, dance and party with as many people willing to have a knees up as possible.
We caught up with Tim Durkin to chat inspiration, recording and album titles.
What’s your earliest memory of performing and who inspired you to start?
My personal earliest memory of performing would be a school play in year two with a girl named Karen that I had a crush on. She had a carrot for a nose. Hot. She must have been a snowman. Memories are hazy.
Congrats on the new album, Book Of Matches what was the inspiration behind the name?
It’s just the title of one of the songs. I really love the look of old matchbooks from bars and motels and stuff. They’re very romantic yet seedy looking. Thinking about it now though it could sound like a pre-internet dating publication, which is also romantic yet seedy.
How does it feel to have the album all complete and ready to go? Was it a drawn out process in having songs written or did it all come pretty quickly?
Most of the songs were written in a short space of time, as I was excited to get the band going and really just wanted to be on stage hammering something out. After a little while Josh joined and he had a more thoughtful approach to songwriting which helped spark some more interesting material.
It’s a huge relief to finally have the album out as it was recorded around two years ago! I wish I could say there was a major reason for the delay but it’s was really just a case of time getting away from us. It doesn’t feel like that long until I see it on paper. Lots of touring has gone on in the interim though so it wasn’t like we were totally slacking
Which instrument do you secretly wish you could play or could somehow work into a song?
I’d love to get a saxophone solo on a song without it sounding naff. Not an easy task.
We love the double bass but how much of a pain is it to transport? And what’s the plan for getting it around this Spring?
It’s a total pain in the arse! Especially since none of us have cars and Rob can’t even drive. It can be fun on the train when people ask if he’s in The Living End though. Like TLE are so broke that they need public transport to gigs. The plan for spring is big hire cars and laughing at Rob lugging it through airports.
One of the many genres you list yourself under on Facebook is ‘mixed lollies’, on top of country, blues and folk. Do you all have similar musical tastes and influences or is it more a jumbled up concoction that produces the tunes we love?
Rob, Chris and I grew up with heavier music backgrounds. Punk, Metal etc whereas Josh more mellow older music but after having him D.J in the van last weekend I think we’ve brainwashed him with ROCK!
If you could play any venue in the world, what would it be and who would you have play with you?
The Old Bar. Playing with The Pogues. Only our friends there and the owners of the bar naked.
Why should we come and check you guys out as you tour the album this October & November?
Because we have a hell of a lot of fun and it seems to rub off on most people lucky or unlucky enough to see it. Also we love hanging out, meeting new people and shooting the shit. If a better band is on, or you’re too broke to get dunk with us, fuggetaboutit!
Cherrywood Album Tour Dates:
11th October @ The Joynt – South Brisbane, QLD
12th October @ The Loft , Chevron Island Gold Coast, QLD
12th October @ Jet Black Cat Music, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
19th October @ The Phoenix, Canberra, ACT
25th October @ The Grand Junction Hotel Maitland, NSW
26th October @ Shady Pines Saloon, Sydney, NSW
27th October @ Coogee Diggers Club Coogee, NSW
14th November @ Indie Bar, Scarborough, WA
15th November @ Deville’s Pad, Perth, WA
17th November @ Settlers Tavern, Margaret River, WA
22nd November @ The Crown And Anchor, Adelaide, SA
Listen to ‘No More’ by Cherrywood
