Band of the Week: The Stables

The Stables are the type of band that thrive within their collective limitations. Sure, their bass is made out of a bucket and a hockey stick and they use a suitcase for a kick drum, but it’s not about what those items can’t do, it’s about what they can. The Stables circumnavigate whatever drawbacks might be contained within those instruments to find the powerful and unique tones they offer, using them to lay the foundation for their music.

These three Oshawa boys prove that it doesn’t matter how pretty or expensive the thing you’re banging on is. It’s all about who’s holding the stick. The songs are finely crafted, up-tempo country tunes, both timeless and contemporary. Simple acoustic guitar paves the way for often playful, occasionally forlorn lyrics, while sweet harmonies stand in stark contrast to the group’s punk rock roots.

But that’s what makes the Stables so great: they make the contradictions work. We caught up with Poor Pelly of the band to talk about life on the road and how sometimes a little outside motivation might be a good thing.

There's a definite punk element to your sound. Is that an intentional thing when you're writing or just one of those unavoidable things from (I assume) growing up playing punk rock?
For sure. It's definitely in there. There's a point where you realize that good punk music and good country music have a lot in common. Three chords and the truth. But all three of us listen to all music and there is a lot of folk, country and bluegrass influences as well. I think personally, most of my newer songs have been very “folky.”



How did the band come together? Were you always a three-piece? I swear I've seen a picture of you as a four-piece band on a wall in Nanton, Alberta.
We have primarily been a three piece for the last four years. We do have a lot of talented friends, and when you find them in your audience it would be silly not to have them join you for a few songs. We have a couple different fiddle players who often join us around here. That would be Sean Battams or Jay Osborne. Sean is slowly becoming a full time member of the band, I think. The picture you saw in Nanton is probably our mandolin-playing friend Clayton Yates or stand-up bass player Diamond Dave. Both those guys are in Washboard Hank’s band and he was playing the hotel the day before us. So they stuck around and we had a pretty crazy night, to say the least.



Why the washtub bass and suitcase kick-drum? Is it just a matter of keeping your overhead low, or does it add a unique element to the sound?
First and foremost it's about keeping the overhead low. But beyond being broke, we are also old and lazy so it's less gear to carry. There is definitely some uniqueness to the sound. Some people dismiss it for being too "gimicky." We are happy with the sound we make from the stuff we use so that's what matters to us. If we get some extra attention from it then we'll take it. We have had this formula for the last few years though. Don't be surprised to see more and new instruments rounding out the sound for our next album. That's all I'm permitted to say about that right now.



You guys have released one full-length already. Are you recording a new album any time soon?
Yes. We've been secretly planning the release for September two years ago. It's nice not to have labels and people breathing down your neck about deadlines and whatnot, but that could be helpful too. We have started recording and assembling the songs we want to use, but I have no idea when it will be close to done. Just talking about it depresses the shit out of me. We'll get there though, somehow.



You guys have toured a bunch from the look of it, and based on that one mini-doc on your website it's caused you a few problems. Is touring worth all the hard work for you guys?
Touring can be hard. But personally it's my favorite thing in the world to be doing. Travelling the country with two of my best buds, seeing and doing things we would never get to do if we took that 9-5 at the factory, meeting amazing people, making new fans and friends that you get to keep forever. Sure, your van is gonna break down or catch fire. Sure, there's gonna be some blow-outs between band mates. Sure, you’re going to log onto Facebook in Sault Ste. Marie to find out your girlfriend broke up with you. But that's the stuff you read about bands in magazines when you’re a kid learning how to play your instrument and thinking, "Wow, that's great. I hope I can do that some day." We are lucky to have the stories we earned. I hope there's more to come!



Are there any plans to tour in the near future?
As soon as we have a new album we will be out there to support it.



Where's your favourite place to play?
Wherever people will listen! [Laughs]. It's a hard question to answer. We have had so many good times in so many places. I guess if I had to I could narrow it down to two; two different islands on two different coasts. Newfoundland is always amazing and we are pretty much peeing our pants with excitement anytime we are heading there. There is something magical about the people out on that island. It always feels like going home, even to mainlanders like us. The other is Cortes Island, B.C. We have some friends that we grew up with that play in a band there called Cortes Rocks. Whenever we go there we know for a fact it's gonna be one of the best weeks of our lives. It's a special place filled with special people. But if you’re hitchhiking there, don't get in a car with a guy named Kieran.



What's coming up for the band?
We have Harvest Festival coming up. We are always excited for that one. I think this will be our fifth or sixth year playing Harvest. It's this crazy international DJ party with 1,500 of the craziest people you've ever shared a spot in the woods with. It's another world. We have been the only band in the past but I think that's opening up a bit. We play the Friday night by the Screaming Heads fires — I shit you not. After that you can find me dancing in the glowing pyramid — again, I shit you not. The Harvest Festival happens Sept. 16 to 18 near Burkes Falls at the Midlothian Castle.



And lastly, who plays what?
We rotate through the instruments. We all play everything—although I'm not allowed to touch the drums — The only rule is that whoever wrote it sings lead. Then we have our choice between guitar, banjo, harmonicas, drums, gut-bucket, mandolin, tenor guitar — whatever else we might find.

Recommended track: When the Morning Comes

Video: Here Come the Stables

The Stables are:
Poor Pelly — guitar, harmonica
Blind “Billy” Blasko — guitar, washtub
Darren Clarke — guitar, drums

Ty Trumbull is a Toronto writer. He works as an editor at 680News and can be seen playing banjo with his band, The Sure Things, every Monday at the The Dakota Tavern.

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