Secretly Canadian recording artist Damien Jurado is on the road with Richard Buckner and Dolorean and will be hitting Buffalo this Saturday at the Icon for an 8pm show. Jurado has gained a steadily growing following with his down-to-earth acoustic/country/folk music in the vein of Neil Young's slower jams and Bruce Springsteen's "Nebraska." Spectrum caught up with him on a rare day off.
What can we expect of (upcoming full-length) "On My Way To Absence?"
"It's a different record. We have some strings and some horns. It's a real mixture of stripped-down songs with some really rhythm-oriented songs. It's hard to explain, but it's our best record to date. It's completed and should be out in February."
Speaking in terms of "our," how has you relationship with (bandmate) Eric Fisher helped your music?
"I'll tell ya, man, working with Eric is the best thing that has happened to my music. He's a big part of the sound and what I do, and it's definitely his own sound.
Secretly Canadian recently released, "Just In Time For Something," an acoustic EP of yours. Why release an EP so close to your full-length hitting stores? Just different creative juices?
I hadn't recorded with just guitar since my first EP ever and I just like making EPs more. It was something to hold listener over. I just found some old 60s reel-to-reels and laid down some songs I already had.
Whose music has most significantly made you want to continue as a touring musician?
Actually, there are definitely times when I want to give up altogether. I question my success and ask, "why am I doing this?" I have a wife, a kid and a day job at home. I just have to decide how far I want to take this hobby. I love recording and would rather do it, but this (success) affords me to tour once a year. It also lets me meet songwriters I would never otherwise hear of.
For example, Simon Joyner from Omaha (on Jagjaguar Records). He's been a huge influence on people like Conor (Oberst of Bright Eyes) and myself. He's probably one of the best songwriters of our time and I would've never heard of him.
What have you been listening to lately?
I don't listen to much singer/songwriter stuff. I'm really, really, really into reggae and 70s punk. Right now, I've been listening to a lot of early British invasion stuff. Anything from the Mersey Beat: Gerry and the Pacemakers, early Beatles, and Herman's Hermits. And, of course, obscure people like Daniel Dale Johnston, Richard Buckner and Jandek.
What has it been like touring with such a unique voice and person as Buckner?
It's good. He's very mellow, kind and full of good stories. He's generous and not as intimidating as he looks. I've played with him before and it was just bound to happen.
As a songwriter, to what degree do you feel writing has to be personal or, moreover, about yourself?
I try to not put myself in my music as much as possible. My life is just not that exciting as the people I sing about. It's not to say that I haven't been in those situations, but for me its better to write from another point of view. Raymond Carver really influenced me to try and squeeze these humongous moments into song.
