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This week’s duet is a first-time collaboration between Mark Pierce of North East England and Californian Aimee Oliver. Mark is a folk hobbyist with a keen ear for American old-time and British traditional music; Aimee, as Harriers of Discord, frequently mines the fertile valley where surf rock intersects with Western themes. Together, they tackle the Carter Family classic ‘Gold Watch & Chain’ in a charmingly classic Folk Revival small-group style: Aimee’s lovely strong voice might remind you first of Mary Travers, but to us particularly recalls the great Barbara Dane; and Mark’s understated guitar and mandolin work is clear, warm and intimate.

Q & A

What is your goal in recording and sharing music?

Harriers of Discord: I start the music for myself and finish it for others. I want the end product to push someone to say something about it. Whether they don’t like what I talk about (happens a lot), or whether they were moved by some part of it, I just want reactions. I want to know what people think outside of the “pop, love” spectrum.
Mark Pierce: Primarily I’m doing it out of love for the music of the late 19th and early 20th century, and in the hope that if a growing number of us keep playing it then that will help keep it alive. I’m also shallow enough to hope that people will say nice things about what I get up to, but that’s more by way of a bonus!

Come up with a descriptive, original genre name for your music.

HoD: Self described as Western Surf Rock, my roots are in Classic Rock and Punk, but the Wild West comes out naturally keeping the tone dirty and gritty and sometimes incomprehensive, while folk meanders at the edges accompanied by rapid fire lyrics.
MP: Tunes from the old, weird America and United Kingdom.

Who do you view as a likely audience for your music?

HoD: Men 25 and up are my general demographic. I find they listen to the words a little closer, and are much more inclined to discuss what they think of the music. I focus on crass satire and politics rather than love, and I think that resonates more with with a more masculine crowd. Keep in mind, I love the ladies!
MP: Someone who listens to the whole song and then says to themselves: “Great tune. I bet I could play it better than that guy”. In this way I hope to inspire a new generation!

If trapped on a desert island with only three songs, which would they be?

HoD:
Rush “2012”
Bob Dylan “It’s Alright Ma”
Simon & Garfunkle “Sound of Silence”
MP:
“House Carpenter” played by Gaither Carlton
“Queen of the Earth and Child of the Skies” played by Edden Hammons
“Salt River” played by Mr Howard Wyatt of Konnarock Virginia

Is there an instrument you do not currently play that you’d like to learn?

HoD:The piano is the only instrument I’ve horribly failed at and I wish I could just sit down and bullshit my way through it, but it’s just not an instrument you relate to when you’re used to your hands and fingers and wrists moving another direction for so many years.
MP:No, but I wish I’d stuck in and learnt to play the violin in my youth.

Who is your musical hero(es), if any?

HoD:There are too many. Most from the 50-70’s
The easier thing would be to say who isn’t and that’s anyone from The Eagles or U2. Everyone else in that 30 year span is golden.
MP:Peter Bellamy, Gaither Carlton, Edden Hammons, Charlie Poole, Charley Patton, Nic Jones, Gene Clark, Matthew Songmaker, Maybelle Carter, John Hurt, Elizabeth Cotton, Karen Dalton, AL Lloyd, Cyril Tawney, Dan Greenwood, Bert Jansch, Alasdair Roberts, David Crosby, Alfred G Karnes, Jerry Garcia, Dave Grisman, Norman Blake, Amedie Ardoin, Cleoma Falcon, Al Bowlley, Hattie Hart, Bob Dixon, Lynn Dixon, Jake Thackray, Cedell Davis, Hank Williams, Spencer Moore, Washington Phillips, Jimmie Rodgers

You can hear more from Harriers of Discord on her Soundcloud Page: Click Here
You can hear more from Mark A Pierce on his website: Click Here