THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE QUESTIONNAIRE: Corb Lund

Curiously enough it wasn't the name "Corb Lund" (memorable enough perhaps) which caught my attention when I was in Vancouver, it was the name of his band: the Hurtin' Albertans.

Great band name and if I hadn't been leaving town I would have made the effort to see them on the basis of that moniker alone.

Now I don't have to travel so far because Lund and the Hurtin' Albertans are bringing their brand of rockin', hurtin' whisky-drinkin' country-rock to Auckland for one show only (date below).

Lund and band have won so many awards in Canada we could hardly begin to list them here, played Glastonbury, toured Europe and Australia, and a few years back signed with the credible New West label which releases Steve Earle, Buddy Miller, Kris Kristofferson among others (see here).

So you want a bead on what they do. Check out the posted song and clip and know this, titles on their most recent album Cabin Fever include Bible on the Dash (which features Hayes Carll), Dig Gravedigger Dig, One Left in the Chamber, Drink It Like You Mean It, Pour 'Em Kinda Strong . . .

Interesting that the doors open at the venue 90 minutes before the band come. Time to prep.

Corb Lund joins the list of luminaries to answer the Famous Elsewhere Questionnaire . . . 

The first piece of music which really affected you was . . .

‘The Strawberry Roan’, and old cowboy song my rancher grandfathers used to sing.

Your first (possibly embarrassing) role models in music were . . .

The Eagles.

Lennon or Jagger, Ramones or Nirvana, Madonna or Gaga, Jacko or Jay-Z?

Jagger, Ramones, Madonna, Jacko.

If music was denied you, your other career choice would be . . .

Visual artist? Doctor of veterinary medicine? History prof?

The three songs (yours, or by others) you would love everyone to hear are . . .

‘If I Could Touch Her At All’, Willie Nelson version, ‘Pasa Get Down Dena’ by John Evans and ‘The Jeep Song’ by Dresden Dolls and ‘Counterfeiters Blues’ by me.

Any interesting, valuable or just plain strange musical memorabilia at home?

I’ve got a 100 year old pump organ that I got for free from an old lady. Works great! But I busted my back moving it into my living room. And I’m moving soon, so I have to move the damned thing out again.

The best book on music or musicians you have read is . . .

‘This is Your Brain on Music’ and ‘This Wheel’s on Fire’ by Levon Helm.

If you could get on stage with anyone it would be . . . (And you would play?)

Marty Robbins, but he’s dead. So Amanda Palmer. I really want to write a country noir duet with her, but she doesn’t know I exist.

The three films you'd insist anybody watch because they might understand you better are . . .

‘Lonely Guy’, ‘Unforgiven’ and ‘Trains, Planes and Automobiles’

The last CD or vinyl album you bought was . . . (And your most recent downloads include . . .)

I bought the Turnpike Troubadours album, ‘Goodbye Normal Street’. I’ve had a Bob Seger downloading frenzy going on lately.

One song, royalties for life, never have to work again. The song by anyone, yourself included, which wouldn't embarrass you in that case would be . . .

‘For the Good Times’, Kris Kristofferson.

The poster, album cover or piece of art could you live with on your bedroom forever would be . . .

‘Meat’s Not Meat ‘til It’s in the Pan’ by Charles M. Russell of Montana. And Mucha’s ‘Spring/Summer/Autumn/Winter’ series.

You are allowed just one tattoo, and it is of . . .

A big, gnarly upside down cross on my back.

David Bowie sang, “Five years, that's all we've got . . .” You would spend them where, doing . . .?

On our 120 year old family ranch under the shadow of Old Chief Mountain. Just living. That’s my place.

And finally, in the nature of press conferences in Japan, “Can you tell me please why this is your best album ever?”

Because I didn’t give a shit what it sounded like when we recorded it. Very liberating. No edits, no overdubs, all live, vocals live.

Sounds way better than when I obsess over audio details.

Corb Lund and The Hurtin' Albertans

Tuning Fork, Auckland.  Monday Sept 30. Doors open 7.00pm. Showtime 8.30pm