John Douglas of Trashcan Sinatras and Ultan Conlon are playing dates across Ireland this month. We asked John the BIG questions . . .
John is one of the songwriters in Scottish greats Trashcan Sinatras, who hail from the town of Irvine on Scotland's west coast and who have been making music for over 30 years.
They have released six albums, including the much-loved Weightlifting. John has also co-written songs with his wife Eddi Reader and has been part of her touring and recording band for close to 20 years.
As he says himself, "I want to see how the songs can bloom with just my voice and my guitar for company."
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
I'm a little hungover after a night on the malt whisky. I’m Scots/Irish, Irish on my mother’s side, from Glinsk, Connemara. I’m currently intrigued by the Irish philosopher/mystic, John Moriarty.
How would you describe your music?
Songs. It's all about the songs. Something with an emotional pull, a dash of character, a nice bit of song furniture never goes wrong. You know, a chunky, unusual word that flows by before ye notice.
Who are your musical inspirations?
Too many to list, too varied to make sense. Songs can totally capture me and lately I’ve been entranced by I Get Along Without You Very Well by both Nina Simone and Frank Sinatra.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
1979 - Glasgow Apollo - Gary Numan. The only time I’ve seen someone who was at number one at the time of the gig.
What was the first record you ever bought?
Carry On My Wayward Son by Kansas. I was 14 and little did I know I would turn out to be a wandering wayward troubadour son. Never wayward from the family though.
What’s your favourite song right now?
Of the modern stuff, There’d Better Be A Mirrorball by Arctic Monkeys.
Favourite lyric of all time?
Hal David’s Walk On By. Simple and brutal.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Change Partners by Frank Sinatra and Antonio Carlos Jobim.
Where can people find your music/more information?
Our website. Twitter @jrdouglasesq.
