Graham Reid | | 4 min read
It Ain't On Me, by The Mons Whaler (ft Courtnay Low)
No doubt many already know of singer/guitarist and keyboard player Courtnay Low but she only came on Elsewhere's radar last week with the Taranaki-based band The Mons Whaler.
Their debut album Hold My Gun is like a box of firecrackers and Low's playing was just one excellent element in a band which managed to be tough, soulful, blues and appealing all at the same time.
Outside of the band however it seems she runs her own ship, Courtnay and the Unholy Reverie who are described as a swamp blues/rock fusion band on a mission.
They've only just released their debut single Mercy which is a thrilling announcement of intent so we thought it timely to ask her a few questions.
But first, here is Mercy.
Mercy, by Courtnay and the Unholy Reveries
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The first piece of music, blues or otherwise, which really affected you was . . ?
Skip James - Hard Time Killing Floor Blues. I remember being a child and hearing that song and not knowing how to find out what genre it was. It absolutely blew my mind. The raw skill and passion in the vintage recording.
When did you first realise this blues thing was for you?
It wasn’t until I started dabbling with learning solo’s on guitar when I was around 13. As soon as I learned that pentatonic scale, that was it for me. I’d spend hours listening to 12 bar backing tracks trying to figure out how to play over it.
What one piece of music would you play to a 15-year old into rock music to show them, 'This is the blues, and this is how it works'?”
Howlin’ Wolf - The Back Door Wolf.
Time travel allows you go back to experience great blues. You would go to . . ?
The early 1900’s around the times of Son House, Robert Johnson, Big Mama Thornton, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Lead Belly, Bessie Smith, Willie Brown and the likes.
Which period of the blues do you most relate to, and why: Feel free to identify anything from Blind Lemon Jefferson or Chicago blues to Stevie Ray Vaughan, Robert Cray or whoever you want.
I’ve always been incredibly drawn to the Delta Blues, there’s just something about the desperation and purity in the lyricism and vocal delivery. The guitar work, often not on time. The songs are just raw and organic and incredibly driving.
Any interesting, valuable or just plain strange musical memorabilia at home?
I have Lemmy Kilmister from Motorhead’s pick. An old metal band I was in opened for them here in 2009. He put it down on the buffet table backstage and I made sure to pick it up!
The best book on the blues life you have read is . . .
King of the Delta Blues - Charlie Patton. His influence, even today is mindblowing!
If you could get on stage with anyone it would be . . . (And you would play?)
Current times? Tami Neilson to play It Ain't My Job, Larkin Poe (Kick the Blues) and IDLES (Mother) and from back in the day, Led Zeppelin (Black Dog)!
The three films you'd insist anybody watch because they might understand you better are . . .
Rocky - For my determination and resilience.
The Pursuit of Happiness - For maintaining a sense of humour in bad times.
Deadpool - For my self awareness and witty one liners for sure.
The last CD or vinyl album you bought was . . . (And your most recent downloads include . . .)
Last vinyl I brought was Jack White’s Fear Of The Dawn.
Most recent downloads include IDLES - Tangk, Tami Neilsons’ - Sister’s Coming Home, and Rival Son’s - Lightbringer. All absolute bangers.
One blues standard you wished you had written . . .
Robert Johnson - Come On In My Kitchen
The poster, album cover or piece of art could you live with on your bedroom forever would be . . .
IDLES - Joy as an Act of Resistance album art as a huge framed poster. I never get sick of that.
Three non-blues albums for a desert island would be . . ?
IDLES - Crawler, Lake Street Dive - Bad Self Portraits, and Jacob Collier - Djesse Vol. 3
Your dream band of musicians (living or dead) would be . . ?
Drums: John Bonham (Led Zeppelin)
Bass: Ryan Martinie (Mudvayne)
Lead Guitar: Jack White (The White Stripes) Second Lead Guitar: Gary Clarke Jr.
Vocals: Freddie Mercury.
Keys for good measure: Elton John
I have NO idea what music they’d make. But they’re all musicians that I think have pushed the limits.
And finally, is there a track on your most recent album you would love people to hear. And, if so, why that one?
Mercy is being released as the first track of a four track EP.
We’re all pretty proud of this song, it’s a bit of a beast, 120 tracks in it so there’s a lot going on and a lot of layers. It’s the kind of song you can listen to lots and still pick out different elements.
I think it’s also very applicable to most people’s lives. It’s very open to interpretation. But I wrote it with the intention to highlight humanity’s constant struggle between making good choices, or ego driven choices that might not result in positive outcomes. How everyone has a little devil and angel on their shoulder and how we have to make conscious decisions on which one we use!
So I guess based on all that it would have to be Mercy!
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