Indietracks interview #18: The Catenary Wires

nterview by Andy (A Fog Of Ideas) . 

Wikipedia tells me that ‘a catenary is a system of overhead wires used to supply electricity to a locomotive, streetcar, or light rail vehicle which is equipped with a pantograph’. The Catenary Wires are Amelia and Rob, who share a musical CV that boasts Heavenly, Marine Research, Tender Trap and Sportique (Amelia was also in Talulah Gosh, like I need to tell you that). Their debut 10”/CD is a thing of beauty and out now on Elefant.

Fog: What do you know about Indietracks? Have you attended the festival previously? What are you looking forward to/what are you dreading?
Amelia and Rob: We’ve been to Indietracks a few times with our last band Tender Trap, so we know how it goes. It’s lovely. It’s somewhere to see all the bands you’ve wanted to see for ages, and somewhere to feel that there is still a joyful human space that has not been rendered creepy by the corporate music industry.

Rob: I am specially looking forward to seeing a band – any band – in the church. We have always got there too late before… Dread? I am slightly fearful of playing, just the two of us, on the big stage.
Amelia: I’m fearful of that too. I’m also fearful that our kids, who have been begging to be taken to a festival, will go off the idea after 10 minutes and nag us to be taken home just when we are enjoying ourselves.

Fog: Will you have any product to sell, if so what? Is it reasonably priced?
Rob: Yep, we have copies of our new first mini-album, RED RED SKIES, on CD and 10” vinyl. It is on Elefant (and on Matinee in the US). It will be definitely reasonably priced! We might have some bags too.

Fog: What’s your favourite train?
Amelia: Rob’s favourite is the little steam train that does to Dungeness in Kent (quite near where we live). My favourite is the one that goes past our house (The Kent and East Sussex Railway). I like being able to hear the toot of a steam train from our living room! At Indietracks, even though I know nothing about trains really, I am looking forward to finding the 73129! It is a 1956 steam engine with a Caprotti valve gear. This is apparently a very special thing. We have a friend who is desperate to see it before it’s taken out of service this year for restoration, but won’t be able to make it up to the Midland Railway. So I’ve promised to find it and take a photo!

Fog: Describe the ‘look’ you’ll be going for at Indietracks.
Rob: My look is impossible to describe as it takes ‘uninteresting’ to a level that words cannot express.
Amelia: I was thinking of adopting a Toyah Willcox in Jubilee look this year… But alternatively I might just stick on a nice dress!

Fog: What bands are you looking forward to seeing at this year’s festival or are you being helicoptered in 5 minutes before your set and flown straight out again after?
Rob: I am looking forward to seeing Tuff Love. Amelia is looking forward to seeing The Tuts. We are going to be there for most of Saturday and Sunday.

Fog: If you could pick any band living or deceased to play Indietracks anywhere on the bill on a stage of your choice who’ve never played previously, which band would you pick and on what stage and at what time?
Rob: I would like to see the Blue Orchids on the big stage, in a thunderstorm.
Amelia: I would like to see Girls At Our Best or the Shop Assistants. Ideally in the Church, if I could bag a place at the front. Have either of Young Marble Giants or ESG ever played? I’d love to see both, but somehow haven’t yet managed to.

Fog: Are there any surprises instore for your 2015 Indietracks performance (you can make stuff up)?
Rob: We are going to have to make stuff up. Although Amelia’s 30 minute melodica solo may startle some people.
Amelia: Motley Crue have been playing with their drummer on a roller coaster onstage. We liked that idea so we’ve asked Indietracks to please provide one. Hope they do!

Fog: Any requests from you to the audience?
Amelia and Rob: A pint of bitter, a ginger beer and two packets of dry roasted peanuts, please.