THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE QUESTIONNAIRE: Tim Chaisson of the East Pointers

At this year's Taranaki Womad back in March one of the more popular outfits was the East Pointers out of Prince Edward Island in Canada.

The trio of guitars, banjo and fiddle delivered a set divided between Celtic-influenced dance and ballads, but Elsewhere noted in its review that an outdoor setting during the day – which is when we caught them – was not ideal.

The good news then is that they are coming back to New Zealand early next year for a few concerts (see dates below) and opening for them is always excellent Mel Parsons.

It's fair to say that the East Pointers know each other very well. Fiddle player Tim Chaisson  – whose cousin in the band Koady previously answered one of our questionnaires – told the Womad crowd he had 150 first cousins and that he and guitarist Jake Charron shared 55 of them. Prince Edward Island is a geographically large place but obviously something more like a small town (pop. 150,000) where everyone either knows each other or is related.

The fiddle playing tradition goes back seven generations.

So with the return of the East Pointers – and their new album What We Leave Behind just released -- we thought it timely that Tim Chaisson answer another of our questionnaires.

The first piece of music which really affected you was . . .

• Sleepy Maggie, Ashley MacIsaac AND Mull River Shuffle, The Rankin Family.

 Your first (possibly embarrassing) role models in music were . . .

• Blink 182 & Hanson.

Lennon or Jagger, Ramones or Nirvana, Madonna or Gaga, Jacko or Jay-Z?

• Lennon, Nirvana, Madonna, Jay-Z.

If music was denied you, your other career choice would be . . . 

• Dogwalker. 

The three songs (yours, or by others) you would love everyone to hear are . . .

• If Wishes Were Horses, Kris Drever

• Chase The Ace, Mec Lir

• Back To The Bottom, Port Cities

Any interesting, valuable or just plain strange musical memorabilia at home...  

Square Dance Instructional Books (including calls, music and illustrations)

The best book on music or musicians you have read is . . .

• Slash Autobiography

• Last Night’s Fun - Ciaran Carson

If you could get on stage with anyone it would be?

• James Taylor

The three films you'd insist anybody watch because they might understand you better are . . .

• Best In Show, Muppets Christmas Carol, That Thing You Do!

The last CD or vinyl album you bought was  . . . (And your most recent downloads include...)

• Tim O’Brien, The Crossing

• Laura Cortese & The Dance Cards, California Calling

• Billie Marten, Writing of Blues & Yellows

One song, royalties for life, never have to work again. The song by anyone, yourself included, which wouldn't embarrass you in that case would be . . .

• Let It Be, The Beatles

The poster, album cover or piece of art could you live with on your bedroom forever would be . . .

• The Great Wave off Kanagawa

You are allowed just one tattoo, and it is of . . .

• East Point Lighthouse 

David Bowie sang, “Five years, that's all we've got . . .” You would spend them where and doing what?

• Pretty much what I’m doing now… Touring all over the place, more time with family though, winter’s in Costa Rica (except for Christmas in Canada), meeting as many dogs as possible.

And finally, in the nature of press conferences in Japan, “Can you tell me please why this is your best album ever?”

• It’s our second album, and it’s much better that our first!

THE EAST POINTERS TOUR DATES

19-Jan 2018    Blue Smoke - Christchurch w/ Mel Parsons 

21-Jan 2018    San Fran - Wellington w/ Mel Parsons

24-Jan 2018    St Peter’s Village Hall - Paekakariki w/ Mel Parsons