him, to live his life in the service of the Lord. His Gospel recordings mix delta blues riffs with devotional lyrics and personal stories.
Wanda Jackson “Funnel of Love” - this recording was made in 1961 (while she was dating Elvis). Wanda is now well into her seventies and still rocks harder than two jack-rabbits in spring. She has just released her new album which features some guitar slinging and production from Jack White. John Carpenter´s “The Thing” - one of my all
“Steal, beg, borrow, lift, loan, launder... then innovate.”
What are your favourite bits of musical gear? Mostly our instruments - Cameron´s John Raeburn Violin made in 1885, Steven´s Cherry Red Gibson 335 (dot), Jack´s 1956 Musima Archtop fitted with a handwound Bare Knuckle P-91 pickup, Tom´s Rosewood Suzuki Pureharp in D, and The Duke´s Pearl Focus Series drum kit. We used to have a matching set of Vintage Fender valve amps but they were lost to the Ambergris King over a bad hand of Texas Stud. What tips would you give to anyone wanting to emulate your sound? Don´t try to emulate. Steal, beg, borrow, lift, loan, launder... then innovate. What’s next for The Black Diamond Express? We recently recorded our debut album over two nights at The Caves. Both the shows were filmed with an audience (an amazing cavalcade of radges and gypsies) and will be independently released in the summer as a CD/DVD package.
time favourite films. John Carpenter directs the film and writes the score and on this occasion
finds the perfect balance between sound and vision. The soundtrack features masses of menacing minimalism and sets the tone for the film perfectly. Who are your favourite local bands? The Horndog Brass Band, Miyagi, Super Adventure Club, Earl Grey & The Loose Leaves, The Wheel, Lewis Gibson, Lee Patterson, The Chans, Kearney´s Kat-Tet, The Banana Sessions, Missing Cat, Killer Shark Attack, William Dakota, Jane Street Infirmary, Revenge of Leith Swimming Pool Accident Society, We Were Promised Trams, Jenny & The Bets and Jack´s Rabbit´s Foot Minstrels... to name but a few. 36 THE DOG SUMMER 2011
If you weren´t there you may want to check out Shaun´s dancing for yourselves. We´re also collaborating with Jack Nissan on writing a score for the song Live Free or Die. The new arrangement will be performed live with the Tinderbox Orchestra on Sunday 22nd May at Pilrig Steet Church, Edinburgh. Rehearsals are underway and it promises to be one of the most epic shows we´ve put on so far. If you could give the world a message, what would that message be? Spend your last tenner on a book. myspace.com/theblackdiamondexpress