Lough, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
Ahead of their Valentine’s show in Dublin, Midlake mainman Tim Smith talks about new directions, fan reactions and the resurrection of British folk
Edwin McFee, 10 Feb 2010
Formed in 1999 by a group of jazz nerds, Denton, Texas natives Midlake have been an interesting yet perplexing band. Throughout their career, the indie hopefuls have been almost chameleon-like in their approach to making music and album number three The Courage Of Others sees the band leave behind the Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young influences of The Trials Of Van Occupanther and embrace their new found love for British folk.
“When we made our first album (Bamnan And Slivercork) I had never heard a Neil Young or Joni Mitchell song before, so when it was time to make the second album I had heard them and they were a massive influence,” says singer Tim Smith. “It’s the same with this album – I’d never heard Pentangle or Fairport Convention and when I did discover them, they really influenced this new record. Nowadays at this point I think I’m pretty well rounded in terms of my musical education, so The Courage Of Others is probably my favourite album because it’s well thought out.”
A self-confessed jazz geek, Tim was a bit of a late developer in life and while most of us spent our teenage years talking shit and listening to bands, the Midlake frontman didn’t share those same experiences at all.
“I got a real late start in life with music," he admits. "I grew up with jazz music and for 13 years that was all I listened to. From the age of ten up to college it was only jazz. Like, I knew who The Beatles were (sort of) but I had no clue who Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin or Black Sabbath were. Any band that you would think a typical teenager would be into I had never heard of. You know the way that musicians would have friends come over with acoustic guitars and they’d learn Zeppelin songs at the age of 15 – well that just wasn’t my life.”
In many ways though, despite his slightly blinkered teenage years, much of the folksy, flute-laden charm on The Courage Of Others can be attributed to Smith’s unusual childhood as he approaches a dusty style of music with fresh new eyes.
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