Jack Ladder

Thu 19th Mar, 2009 in Features

Taking his lead from classic songwriters, Sydney troubadour Jack Ladder is no fly-by-nighter. Late last year, he released his second album, Love Is Gone, replete with old world charm and raw swagger. Ladder is hitting the road next week with UK rock – œn roll darlings The Duke Spirit. FasterLouder sat down for a chat with the man known to his parents as Tim Rogers.

You recently performed at Sydney Uni’s O Week. So what’s the least useful thing you ever learned at school?
I once took a class in glass casting. It was a prerequisite for an exchange program in America. It was the hardest work for the smallest gain. When I left I had to throw all my work in the garbage because a) it was so ugly no one wanted it and b) it was too delicate and heavy to bring home on the plane. I haven’t stepped near a kiln since.

If you and Tim Rogers had to fight to the death, who would emerge victorious?
Who fights to the death these days? We’re songwriters, not ultimate fighters. But if we’re talking unarmed combat, I’ve got a size advantage, plus my youth. I have a feeling it wouldn’t matter – I’m not a violent man and who knows when Tim might erupt again, crash tackling me off the stage – falling to my untimely death. If we’re armed, I’m in with a chance…I’m an expert in the art of jousting.

A little while ago there was a story about you in the Sydney Morning Herald with the headline “Jack Ladder is climbing the rungs”. Are you ever tempted to pick a different name with fewer opportunities for headline sub-editors?
I’d be interested to see how far they can stretch it over time. I really set myself up with the last record Not Worth Waiting For, anyone that liked it said something about how it was worth the wait. If they didn’t like it the review just repeated the album title without a star rating. I fish for compliments in the press because I can’t get them anywhere else in my life.

You have a pretty happening band going on, what with Laurence Pike and Ben Waples. If you could pick anyone, from any moment in history, to play with, who would make the lineup?
I’m very happy with the current line up, thank you. Heaven forbid anything happen to Donny (Ben Waples), but if he couldn’t make it I’d be on the Wee-gee board to summon Ronnie Lane from the Faces (this would also stop Flea from fulfilling his duties on the Faces reunion tour). I like that Roy Orbison concert when his band is made up of Tom Waits, Elvis Costello and Bruce Springsteen, but it doesn’t work. All you need is a good rhythm section. Maybe The Attractions… or maybe Guy Sebastian will let me borrow the MGs and put them to work?

Is love really gone? Where did it go?
I’m sick of it. It’s dead to me. Bono used it all up on Letterman last night. The well is dry.

Do you tend to be more of an autobiographical songwriter? Or do you approach songs like a short-story writer might, extrapolating fictions out of a base reality?
I’m not much of a writer. I don’t know anything about it. I just sit and wait. And wait… Obviously I get upset when feelings aren’t reciprocated. I’m like the media in a natural disaster – stretching out one headline until it disappears and becomes something else.

When you’re not being a music man, are you all about the movies, books or TV? And what’s the last thing that really grabbed your fancy?
I really enjoyed Joaquin Phoenix’s interview on Letterman. Also there are great videos of children on pharmaceutical drugs all over the internet…and the otters holding hands (flippers?) are good too.

Are there any songs you like to cover live? And if not, is there one you wish you had the chutzpah to attempt?
I’m going to attempt a version of Rod Stewart’s Maggie May at some point in the near future. In case you hadn’t noticed, I’m not much of a singer, so I have to choose carefully. When I throw in a cover most people don’t notice – it just becomes cloaked in my funny voice, gets slowed down and loses the melody. Most of my songs are like covers anyway. That’s something I’m working on.

Love Is Gone is out now on Spunk Records. Jack Ladder supports The Duke Spirit on their Australian tour this month, presented by FasterLouder. He then heads on to play The Big British Sound in Sydney.

Wed 25 – The Zoo, Brisbane
Thurs 26 – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
Fri 27 – East Brunswick Club, Melbourne
Fri 3 April – Big British Sound, Paddington Town Hall, Sydney