|
 JAKEB SMITH talks to local rock songwriter JAKE DONEHUE
about expanding to a trio with his DISGRUNTLED TAXPAYERS.
JAKEB SMITH: You’re actually a three-piece now … how did
you recruit The Disgruntled Taxpayers?
JAKE DONEHUE: Thankfully Paul, the drummer is my brother, so
we’ve known each other for a while. We’ve played in bands with one another on
and off for a long time. I believe it when people say there’s a special
connection when you make music with a sibling, he tends to know what I’m about
to do before I do. Mark Heady the bass player was playing in another band with
Paul.
JS: Obviously a backing band has a big influence live,
but has it changed the way you write?
JD: Tough question. It does and it doesn’t. When I write I try
to free my mind to the point where I’m not particularly conscious of the fact
that I’m trying to write a song. Now that I’m jamming with the Disgruntled
Taxpayers I can’t help but hear their sounds and style when I’m picturing it in
my head. I don’t think that in more than 20 years of songwriting that a song
has ended up sounding exactly the way I envisaged it, that’s the challenge, but
these guys get it very, very close.
JS: You walk a fine line between seriousness and humour
on your debut EP, Best Of Glam Rockabilly, is that a conscious strategy for
getting your point across?
JD: I don’t know that it’s conscious; I just couldn’t help
myself on those songs. Funnily enough, with the feedback I’ve gotten most
people get the point of the songs; I hope the humour helps people find
perspective. There’s actually not that much in life that is worth getting upset
about. Jakeb, you may have just become my therapist.
JS: I have to ask, why Best Of Glam Rockabilly? Why not
Cock Doo-Wop Essential Collection?
JD: Damn, can’t believe you guessed the next album title!
The title was me having a stab at modern culture and my, haven’t I changed the
world. In hindsight the only thing the title did was confuse people. There is
some satisfaction in that.
JAKE DONEHUE & THE DISGRUNTLED TAXPAYERS play The
Jubilee Hotel this Friday Jul 31 with Lismore kids Belief In Aeroplanes and
‘70s psychedelic stormtroopers Captain Sledgehammer & The Stormbirds.www.myspace.com/jakedonehuemusic
|
| Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Poster's IP addresses are logged. |
|
Be first to comment on this article
