Billy Talbot & Neil Young
Melbourne, AUS - Mar 13, 2013
via Michael S.J. | Photos of Rusties
(Click photo to enlarge)
An in-depth interview with Crazy Horse's Billy Talbot.
In Norway for Crazy Horse’s Europe tour, Billy spoke of capturing the “juice” of a song, the perfect sound of the “trombonium”, and his appreciation for the great group of players who traveled with him On The Road To Spearfish -- his new new album.
From Jambands.com - Need We Say More? > Features > _On The Road To Spearfish_ with Crazy Horse's Billy Talbot by Brian Robbins:
Jambands.com: When you spend a lot of time standing between Neil and Pancho, somebody has to take care of the bass – and you’re damn good at it in Crazy Horse. But you play a lot of guitar on Spearfish – you have your own thing going on; some really cool stuff.Thanks Brian!
Billy Talbot: Well, thank you – I appreciate it.
Jambands.com:Did you have one main guitar and amp combo for the sessions?
Billy Talbot: I used a 1964 Stratocaster – it’s beautiful; a great guitar – on most of the tracks except where I’m playing acoustic guitar or piano. I played it through my old 1960s Fender Tremolux amp. On “On The Road To Spearfish” I used my 1968 Les Paul with that same amp.
Jambands.com:How about if we run down through some specific songs?
Billy Talbot: Sure.
Jambands.com: “Empty Stadium” is beautiful, but chock full of ache.
Billy Talbot:(sings) “Sometimes I feel like I’m all alone/In an empty stadium …” It’s that contrast between a stadium that’s full of people celebrating and having a great time and when it’s just big and empty. That’s life sometimes: everything is happening and you’re feeling so … so jolly, so to speak … and then the next hour you’re all alone again. That’s what I’m talking about – feeling those blues in a big, empty space when everything is gone. That’s what I was trying to say with that imagery.
The songs really speak for themselves; it’s hard for me to talk about their meanings … that’s why I wrote them. The feelings are best said in the songs – and for you as a listener, you can conjure up your own imagery.
And here's the video for Billy Talbot's “Empty Stadium” on his new new album On The Road To Spearfish.
Love it!
ReplyDeleteI agree, Billy’s songs certainly do conjure up their own images. I was particularly taken with “Miller Drive”. This song, not only vividly recreated images in my mind but also brought back the experience of spending a whole 28hrs in a friends truck, as we traversed across 3 states in Australia way back in the 70’s such a long time ago! My friend, in the preceding week had just lost one of his best mates in a horrific truck accident leaving behind a wife and three kids. I was looking for a cheap way to travel to Qld from Victoria and asked could I hitch a ride. My mate was unsure, if I could handle the long trip, but let me tag along as he was a bit maudlin about his mate, and thought if he had someone to chat to along the way, it would stop him thinking about the accident. It was a journey I will never forget, we stopped along the way and surveyed the wreckage of his mate’s accident, it was so sad but he said it put his mind at ease! We also stopped at the many Roadhouses to eat and refuel. He pointed out which ones had the best comfort food and also women! The journey was a real experience into a world I knew nothing about. The trip was filled with lots of tears and laughter and the time just flew as we both never shut up, well mainly me asking questions really and my mate laughing as he answered honestly and forthrightly! Billy’s song “Miller Drive” brought all those memories flooding back like yesterday. I love the new album. Billy’s beautiful impassioned voice evoked memories, feelings and certainly a lot of empathy from me as I listened to this lovely album.
ReplyDeleteLee Melbourne Australia
This Vimeo keeps trying to load but will not play...
ReplyDeleteSuch a bummer... I really wanted to hear the song. Anyone else able to see / hear it?
-- Eric in sunny FLA
Eric - reload/refresh. Note that audio doesn't begin until about 30 secs.
ReplyDeleteenjoy!
Thank you, Thrasher's Wheat, for featuring this interview with Brian Robbins from JamBands.com. The full length video from "On The Road To Spearfish" can be viewed directly on BillyTalbot.com and both the album and video can be purchased through iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/on-the-road-to-spearfish/id646610987).
ReplyDeleteThat's a wonderful album, Billy, with some of the warmest and coolest music that I've heard in a long time...beautiful tunes, great musicianship and your voice sounds incredible. I've always loved your harmonies with The Horse--Singer Without A Song gave me shivers at the Boston show back in November.
ReplyDeleteThanks TW for highlighting and sending me to Billy's website. I've been listening periodically throughout the day while working from home, and it's a great soundtrack to have playing.
Ring The Bell is especially perfect and poignant--I've listened to it four separate times today. My daughter recently became engaged to a great guy, and I'm putting together a song list for the video that I'm planning for them. Your song will be the perfect ending tune and will send them off on a sweet and rockin' high note!
So thanks again, Billy. Hope to see you again with The Horse and also with your band sometime down the road...take care!
Thanks Billy! See you down the road as well! We'll try not to spook the Horse!
ReplyDelete