While singer Stuart Staples was in town a year or so ago for a solo gig at The Abbey Pub, it's been well over five years since he's toured America as a part of Tindersticks, the beloved cult legends out of the UK famous for their hauntingly beautiful chamber pop anthems. Tonight, undoubtedly making a rare Chicago performance even more memorable, they'll be gracing the stage of the Epiphany Church as a part of an "Empty Bottle presents..." show with Jon Langford and Sally Timms. Unable to resist the opportunity to interview a longtime favorite (and curious what that trademark baritone would sound like over the phone), I caught up with Staples earlier this week to discuss the tour and the current state of the band.
So, how has your current tour of North America been going so far?
Pretty good I think…this is the end of a year of touring. It’s the end of a phase, a pretty good year.
You’ve been on the road for a full year now?
On and off...we never tour constantly, but I suppose our lives have revolved around touring for about a year.
What is it like to tour as Tindersticks? Despite the band's reputation for somber music, I’m guessing it's not all gloom and doom on the bus all day. Any crazy stories from your years on the road that may surprise people?
I think in general it’s just a mix of personalities, and I think it’s always been fun and we’ve always had a laugh…so I think it’s kind of too numerous to mention. In general we’re always looking to have a good time doing what we do. When we’re together it’s never somber.
Similarly, any musical influences or current favorites spinning on the iPod that people might find surprising coming from a group like yours?
On everybody’s iPod there’s so many varying styles…I don’t really know what would be surprising to people. It’s not Leonard Cohen…[laughs]
In your recent interview with Pitchfork, you mentioned you had been cranking up old Bowie records with your teenage daughter. Just curious, what does she think of her dad's band?
She’s kind of begrudgingly into it, I think…but there’s only a handful of bands that are around at the moment that she actually likes. She actually said to me a year or two ago, 'why is all the music made after 1978 kind of shit?'
How much longer do you see Tindersticks going?
If I think back to just how long we've been going already, it's quite surprising...I think every record we've ever made, including our first one, we've always thought, "this is going to be our last one." I don't know how long it will go on for...but at think at the moment with the group of people that came together for the making of The Hungry Saw and the tour, it begs for a future and I'm just kind of happy to go with that energy for the moment.
Have you ever thought of what might have been if Tindersticks really had stopped after one record?
I've always fancied being a postman, that always looked like a good job to me. Get up early, walk and then have the rest of the day free...lots of time to have a clear mind.
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