Folk and trad duo Stick in the Wheel have released their new studio album, A Thousand Pokes, and play Spider Stacy's Red Roses for Me Pogues Anniversary concert at the 3Arena on 17 December. We asked Ian Carter of the band the BIG questions . . .
The London band, who are made up of Ian and Nicola Kearey, say the new release is "a satirical celebration of mistakes. A joyous lambasting of everyone and everything that’s wrong in the world, against the real-time backdrop of global uncertainty, corruption and political unrest."
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A Thousand Pokes is named after the 14th Century story of Tittivilus, the "recording demon", who collects scribes’ mistakes (pokes) and the idle chatter of the "liars with their hairy tongues" congregation.
"We sing these songs because we are the same people that would have sung them 200 years ago," says Nicola.
"It’s not a fantasy, or a cosplay, it’s a reality, for us. Trying to make the music ours, our own tradition, to tease out a link to past communities and all their threads and tendrils, mix and match as people assimilated into the city."
Ian adds, "We wanted to make a record that sounded like us, where we’re from, in all its complexity. At the core is our version of traditional music, made in the city, with influences from everywhere."
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
I play guitar and produce the music for Stick In The Wheel. We make London traditional music and sometimes weird electronic music, that’s my background. On 17 December we’ll be part of Spider Stacy’s Red Roses for Me Pogues Anniversary concert at the 3Arena. It’s going to be an absolute honour to be part of this show. I once lived equidistant between the homes of virtuoso trumpet player Hugh Masekela and vigorous accordion player John Kirkpatrick. I don't know if they ever met.
How would you describe your music?
BBC Radio 3 described it as "absolutely vicious", which we’ll accept. Other people have said it’s "adventurous, potent and powerful." I’m from London, so I make a lot of music inspired by and about London. Really you’ve just got to listen to it and decide for yourself.
Who are your musical inspirations?
The Dubliners, Martin Carthy, Pecker Dunne, Thomas McCarthy, Tcha Limberger, Fappi Lafertin, Planxty, Pierre Ferret, John Coltrane, Peta Webb and Kenn Hall, Django Reindhart, 100 Gecs, End it, Zulu, Tim Ericson, Jordi Savall, Edith Piaf, Scott Arford, Sandra Kerr, Henry Mancini.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
Probably some sort of rave in a big, abandoned house somewhere, I remember the inside of the house was filled with flashing lights and glow in the dark graffiti. I was a kid and wandered in with my mates. The people on the door just let us in.
What was the first record you ever bought?
I didn't actually buy music until really late, I used to tape stuff off the radio instead. It was a mixture of late-night BBC John Peel sessions and pirate radio stations Kool FM and Unity.
What’s your favourite song right now?
Tcha Limberger's rendition of Me Shunova, which is a song from his Romani family's repertoire. As the narrator observes the rivers and forest around them, their plea is only that they can see their people again. It is believed to be dated from the Second World War. The author is unknown.
Favourite lyric of all time?
Keep Your Head On A Swivel from THTC by Baltimore hardcore band End It. I think it's useful advice.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Chim Chim Cheree by John Coltrane. He managed to turn a cheesy caricature of our Cockney culture, into cunning dope avant garde jazz music.
Where can people find your music/more information?
Thanks for asking. We’ve just released our fourth studio album, A Thousand Pokes, which is a satirical celebration of mistakes. Head over to our website for links, music, tour dates and all that.
Alan Corr
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