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First & Last: Piney Gir

Piney Gir tells about some of her Firsts and Lasts.

Posted 10th November 2010, 5:07pm in Interviews


We sent Piney Gir a few questions about the first and last time she did things (in much the same way we did with Rose Elinor Dougall a couple of months ago), to celebrate the release of her new album with The Piney Gir Country Roadshow, 'Jesus Wept'.

So, here you can find out about the Aunt who taught her to play the piano, the music she wrote in high school - even the tea she drinks before bed.

Of course, when we say last, we really mean most recent - hopefully none of these will be the last ever time she does them...

Things you've done today?
First: Had a great big coffee (every day starts this way).
Last: Watched an episode of Seinfeld with a cup of Sleepytime tea (almost every night ends this way).

Instrument you learnt to play?
First: My Aunt Mary taught me to play the piano, she was very glamorous, she wore flowy, colourful dresses and I wanted to be like her. I hated practicing scales though.
Last: Hmm… I guess the ukulele, but I can’t really play it very well.

Time you played music live?
First: I did my first piano recital at 5 yrs old… I played Volga Boatmen. To this day hearing that song reminds me of being trapped at the piano on a sunny day.
Last: Sunday night at the 100 Club I had a gig with The Piney Gir Country Roadshow, it was great fun! I love playing with those guys & the 100 Club is a brilliant venue, it was a Damaged Goods night so lots of lovely people were there. What a jolly night all round.

Song you wrote by yourself?
First: I wrote a song called ‘Blessings’ when I was 9, it sounded a little like the Bach I’d been studying and has a positive Christian message. You’ll never hear me sing it now but I play the piano part from time to time, it’s a cute little song.
Last: Big Dan Is a Funny Ol’ Thing. I wrote it last night on the night bus home and I’m not sure if it’s a keeper but it made me giggle on my journey.

Band you were a member of?
First: The ECC Singers was a sort of Glee style choir I was in at my church; we sang gospel songs and toured around the Midwest church circuit. I was the youngest member of our group.
Last: Well I’m still Piney and I’m still in the Roadshow, but the last band I was in that isn’t a band anymore would be The Schla La Las. I’ve been in A LOT of bands.

Musical collaboration?
First: I wrote lyrics for a band in high school called Froz ‘n’ Embryoz, the lyrics were, umm… kind of stream-of-consciousness and just plain nonsense really. It went like this, “My nose has the blues, I can smell it in my ear, the waves of the sea are very silly, oh where are you blue-ear-nosed Galapagos?” The guys in that band were really into prog rock and I used to hang around in their gang. We listened to a lot of Yes, Genesis and music like that, and then we got into jazz like Weather Report and Chick Corea. We later formed a band called Shazod that was instrumental, modern jazz & I played ‘lead’ marimba. I think we were actually quite good.
Last: Me, Oli Horton and Garo Nahoulakian did a couple of covers of old songs from the 30’s & 40’s last week, that was really fun.

Time you entered the recording studio?
First: I went to music school and the studio at the University was amazing; full of beautiful, vintage, analogue synths. It was the first studio I had ever been in and I thought all studios were like that. Boy was I wrong!
Last: I’m in the studio tomorrow but I was also in the studio last week… I’m in the studio all the time, it’s my home away from home.

Record that inspired you?
First: Michael Jackson’s Thriller
Last: The Acorn Glory Hope Mountain

Musician you met?
First: Sylvia at my church was an absolutely amazing pianist.
Last: Fabienne Del Sol was playing on the bill at the 100 Club with me last week and she was brilliant. She’s also very cool and French. I wish I could be more ‘cool’ like that sometimes. I feel like kind of a silly girl most of the time.

Gig you went to?
First: My mom took me to see Juice Newton at an amusement park when I was 8 or so. We weren’t really meant to be involved in secular culture, but that came from my dad not my mom, so she took me to see Juice Newton and it was great! We also saw the Four Seasons that summer at the same amusement park. It opened my eyes to the fact that there is more to life than just church music and classical stuff.
Last: I’m embarrassed to say James Blunt, but I had to go for work (in no way did I pay to see him and I did leave when the free bar ended). It was in a beautiful old church in Mayfair though, and that was lovely, especially the stained glass.

Trip abroad?
First: I went to Victoria in Canada when I was 9. My parents and I moved to Seattle for a time and Victoria was a day trip away. I remember there being lots of old totem poles and we went to some fancy building. I got a pin with the Canadian flag on it, and then we went home.
Last: I went to a little fishing village in Rhodes on my first proper holiday (ever). I swam in the sea for the first time (ever). I got sea sick on a boat (that wasn’t the first time ever). I read Twilight on the beach and ate lots of fresh fruit. I slept a lot and made friends with a local cat (I am a dog person, so that is noteworthy). I didn’t really drink that much despite the cocktails everywhere. I saw some very old buildings. I came back refreshed; I see now why people go on holiday.

Format you bought music in?
First: 7 inch vinyl… I got the theme song to the TV show ‘The Greatest American Hero’ about a whimsical and clumsy action hero, my mom bought it for me at Kmart. I still know all the words to it.
Last: CD, I recently discovered The 4 Lads on Spotify and I loved it so much I bought their greatest hits album. I LOVE it, especially the song Skokiaan.

...and what'll you be doing next?
I’ve written my next album, so now I need to record it I’m just not sure how, where, or who with so I’m strategising while sitting on a growing pile of finished songs. I’m going to Athens to play at an art opening in a couple of weeks, which I’m very excited about. I’ve started up a podcast with Jude Rogers and Ruth Barnes called the Other Woman Show http://theotherwomanpodcast.podbean.com so we’re getting that off the ground at the moment. I have some promo to do for my forthcoming album due out on Damaged Goods in a couple of weeks. I’m doing a club night at the Betsey Trotwood the last Thursday of every month called The Village Green Preservation Society. My parents are coming to visit me (separately) in the coming month. I am looking forward to Halloween.
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