THE CROOKED FIDDLE BAND
“We’re all slight tricksters,” says Joe Gould, resident sticks-man for Sydney folk-rocksters The Crooked Fiddle Band.
“We all like to experiment a little bit but it probably starts with Jess [Randall] on the violin. She learnt violin and learnt how to play classically and then wanted to break all of the rules.”
Rebels and innovators are just a couple of the many terms that could be used to describe these four tycoons, whose penchants for crazy roots vibes and metal influence create a sound so manic it’s unique.
“So far we have never actually used effects in the studio, like, we have never used delays on things or distortion pedals etc,” Gould explains.
“When we were in Finland on tour last year, we were writing some of the tunes in the rehearsal room. I can’t remember why, I guess it was a moment of pure insanity, but I decided to attach the snare drum to Mark’s [Stevens] bass amp. It sounded like he had a really distorted double bass. We were quite happy with that.”
It was these experimental flourishes that they bought to the table, with renowned producer Steve Albini sitting at the head of it. With a history including working with the likes of grunge-kings Nirvana and The Pixies, Gould admits that there was some trepidation about their partnership.
“The first time we met him, I was a little bit apprehensive but it was for two reasons,” he explains.
“One because he had worked on all of this amazing music which was like my high school music, but also I had always heard that he was a really difficult guy and highly opinionated – so we weren’t sure how we would go working with him. We realised he is a real pussycat. Still very opinionated, I’m sure he doesn’t suffer fools gladly, but we got on really well with him.”
With their latest album Moving Pieces of the Sea receiving some killer feedback from new and old fans alike, the band is setting off on the road. Their one vice whilst travelling? A game obsession.
“I have an obsession with card games in general. Jess and Mark are obsessed with making their own games, so potentially there could be a Crooked Fiddle card game or board game in the future,” says Gould.
Aside from a future in games?
“We’ll mostly be doing the same Crooked Fiddle deal which is us getting on stage and playing the hell out of our instruments for an hour.” (CD)
Nov 23, The Standard, Darlinghurst, $15-18.50, moshtix.com.au
‘Moving Pieces of the Sea’ out now via Bird’s Robe Records.
