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 LEWIS DURHAM, one third of ‘50s group KITTY, DAISY & LEWIS, has grown up and he hopes the world has noticed. Well, YUMI SED has anyway.
In the beginning the Durham siblings were a mere 13, (Kitty), 15 (Lewis) and 18 (Daisy). It is reported that stacked up in the hallway of their home were roughly fourteen guitars, a 1940s RCA pre-amp, reel to reels and all manner of vintage equipment. When these kids weren’t wowing audiences with their modern take on ‘50s rockabilly they were experimenting with pre-war instruments: banjos, lapsteels, trombones and all manner of obscure musical toys they would find at second hand stores. Not much has changed around the Durham house, apart from the fact Lewis Durham says they have amassed even more obscure instruments. Also, the band is a little older and with that has come some musical maturity.
I begin my chat with Durham apprehensively. He has never been known as the most forthcoming interviewee, but the young man I get is open and at times, almost charming – well as charming as a rude boy can be. As a band they are known for keeping things very “in house”. The band is a family affair and the Durham’s like to stay in charge. “We wanna stay in control otherwise it’ll get out of control,” Durham says. “We control what we say, the recording side of things, the way it looks and I think it’s better that way. The media is a bit tough. I mean there’s usually quite a lot of interviews and writin’, but it’s getting cool.”
With two albums behind them and years of touring Durham seems both enthusiastic and apathetic about the thought of recording a new album. “I think it’s gonna start early next year, but whether it does or not I dunno,” he giggles. “We’ve got so much other shit goin’ on. We’ve probably got about half of it figured out but I’m not sure what’s gonna happen. Some of it’s kind of, well, I don’t think people will expect it. Some of the tracks sound modern. The other day we were jammin’ and it was like ‘60s psych ya know? I mean you can’t make a record that sounds exactly like your last record. We’ll always sound like us, but you can’t keep doing the same thing. We try not to fall into it ‘cause once you’re pigeonholed like that it’s hard. Now in our set we’ve got a beat box part and things like that. We’re more than just a retro band.”
There is a little angst to Durham that I can’t quite put my finger on, but his next comment puts it all into place. I mention to him that people seemed preoccupied in the beginning that people of their age were into ‘50s music and Durham reminds me that he isn’t the kid he once was. “A lot of people are quite surprised that kids were getting into it, but we’re not really kids anymore,” he says. “People come up to us and they’re like ‘aren’t you thirteen?’ and it’s like man that was ten years ago. People take us more seriously now, which is what I’ve always wanted. I have been waiting for that.”
KITTY, DAISY & LEWIS will be at The Zoo on Sunday Dec 13, supported by Dan Kelly. Their self-titled debut is out through Sunday Best/Shock.
     
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