The Cattlestops back in saddle
Rmike.alexander@fairfaxmedia.co.nz THE Cattlestops are back again after a long siesta on the ranch.
Given the band has been in recess since 2009, at what stage did you and Andrew decide it was time to ride again?
Andrew and I had been working together sporadically in different guises on and off throughout but it wasn’t until 2015 that we decided to get these songs down and recorded.
Is Drenchem Ranch a real or made up address and given that it is at Raumati Beach, what do you harvest?
Totally fictitious. I live on Rosetta Rd and it took on a life of it’s own when I came up with the ‘‘ranch name’’. It was a bit of poetic licence.
Do you still keep in touch with original member Colleen Trenwith and what is she up to – still teaching in Tennessee?
Yes, in fact, Andrew and I played with her at a local gig a month or so ago when she was back visiting family. I sent her a file and she played and sang on Martinborough Morning the fourth track on Dance in the Rain. Yes she is tutoring ‘‘Old Timey Music’’ or something similar at East Tennessee University. She started out attending the university and has moved on to teaching the Americans how to play Bluegrass! ’’Go figure’’ as they might say.
There’s a very lively and healthy country swing/country scene in New Zealand with the like of Tami Neilson, Marlon Williams and even Delaney Davidson. Do you think you were pioneers?
Yes it was all down to us! No idea and I doubt it really. We have had a real fondness for western swing. Personally I came to it through Louis Jordan then Asleep at the Wheel then Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys, and more recently with The Time Jumpers who are one of my favourites at the moment.
Is it true that the launch of Dance In The Rain was held at a golf club and did you make par?
Yes, it is true and a sad reality that I amalso a very keen golfer myself. I have shot par a couple of times but they are few and far between.
In Wayne Mason, you have one of the iconic figures of New Zealand music (Formyula/ Rockinghorse/The Warratahs) as part of the lineup. How come you didn’t let him write a song?
He is too good and we won’t let him! No seriously Wayne is fantastic to play with and when we got together it was a vehicle to get these and other originals out there. as we progress it would be great to feature more of Wayne’s songs. Up to him really but more than happy to go there.
Now that you are back in the herd, so to speak, where do you hope the cattle drive will take you?
All the way to Minnesota and back! Oh no, I’m reading Lonesome Dove again. Anywhere that will have us actually. Really keen on playing to as many people as we can.