All Things Being Equine

There's a nearly-two-year-old underfoot, demanding attention as nearly-two-year-olds do. You can actually hear the creak of the kitchen chair down the line as Tex Perkins leans back and decides a magnifying glass might provide the necessary distraction. “Not sure if he's quite up to focussing it on ants yet, but he'll work that out soon enough,” the man whose credits include bands of renown and/or notoriety such as The Beasts Of Bourbon, The Cruel Sea, Thug, and – for the purposes of this exercise – The Dark Horses concludes.

The small interloper despatched to the yard, Perkins settles into his usual laconic conversational stride as he happily welcomes that last-listed band's new album, the philosophically-titled Everyone's Alone. The release of the new record is one of the more orthodox of Tex's recent career moves. It differs from projects like celebrating Johnny Cash by playing the title role in The Man In Black song-story theatre piece, and celebrating a very different kind of local country hero by voicing and appearing in a documentary on the singular talent of Chad Morgan – the elderly legend still touring and performing into his 80s.

With nods to those near-mythic figures and their traditions, there is an obvious respect of what Cash and Morgan represent in their different ways. “People like Chad – he's a worker in song,” Perkins explains. “In a pampered industry sometimes not known for its work ethic, you've got to respect people who just go and keep doing it. That's what we do, that's what we are. I now feel guilty if I'm not working. And the older we get – I won't say 'more mature' – you do realise we are all running out of time. That's not being morbid, just realistic. My advice to anyone now, of any age, is to just get up off your arse just do something.” There, kids, is some wise advice from your Uncle Tex.

Which brings us to The Dark Horses' latest evolution. “Not so much a new direction, more a development – to me, this is more a 'band-sounding' record. It's even going out just billed as The Dark Horses. I've actually wanted that since day one, I really never wanted my name to have that top billing,” the singer confirms. “We've always just worked off each other really well, and we've finally reached that point of being allowed to be that band we always thought we were.”

“Really, there's four or five people in this band who are recognisable in their own right, from what they've done,” Perkins states. “It shouldn't have to have my name in front of it to make a difference.” Fair point; The Dark Horses now-long-settled line-up of main songwriting collaborator Murray Paterson, Tex's just about ever-present sideman Charlie Owen, drummer Gus Agars, Hoss's Joel Silbersher, and Perkins' former Cruel Sea bandmate James Cruikshank make up a combo which, as Tex explains with a smirk, “I now just build a platform for them to weave their magic.”

He then adds some conditions and clarifications: “Although, there was some back and forth with this album. It started with me and Murray as usual working up the demos, but because we were on tour, we actually got the chance to play them as a band and come at it from that way. It did add another layer to it, and let them all be more a part of the songwriting process.

“That was like a luxury we've never had before,” he goes on. “I've learnt with most any of the projects I've been involved with, just the logistics of getting seven, eight, nine people in the one room at the one time, you've just got to use them up in the time you have got them. Of course, once you've worn them out, you can just send them home,” he chuckles conspiratorially.

Disposability aside, Mr Perkins goes on to explain some of the creative process now at play. “Just using the band in the development of songs makes it all bit more natural.” But he does stop at the use of certain words perhaps overused in the musical context: “Let's work back from using terms like 'organic' shall we? Hmm, there's got to be a better word than that, hasn't there?” he ponders. “That one's just about used up, and should be consigned to compost.” A flash of inspiration occurs. “That's it! Let's start comparing making music to compost – harnessing that natural fermentation between us, and getting to it before it stinks, maybe?” There's a nicely satisfied silence following that thought.

A further aside to understanding art and people, and the intersection of the two through experience, can also mean working out where friends and collaborators should belong in your life. The equally lauded Tim Rogers recently announced he and Perkins wouldn't follow up their wise and witty T'n'T duet project, as “we're probably better at being mates than playing together”.

“Yes, there were points our friendship was tested when we were playing together,” Perkins agrees. “Even a promotional tour thing around the country can get stressful. Maybe just because we had to keep up the 'performance' all through. We're back to just being able to relax and have a beer together. But I've learned – with any number of people I know, and/or bands and collaborators I've had – that you really have to find your natural level with people. If you try to force it – in any number of ways – it can just spoil what you began with.”

However, his Texness admits he can still be fallible. “All that said, I've gone back to some relationships and certainly some band line-ups where I probably shouldn't have. You can certainly repeat the mistakes.” There's a longish pause, an intake of breath. You can almost hear the wheels turning. “I certainly can't compartmentalise; of course there's been times in various bands where you go, 'I really can't stand this guy, but we'll just get through it, for the sake of the others, the band, the tour'. And some bands can also have a collective personality, some people are different and just add something to the band. Those people may create awesome rock'n'roll, but you just can't endure them outside that bubble. I've known a few of them.” And there's that dark chuckle again.

The policy extends to having Mike Noga – Drones drummer and Gentlemen Of Fortune bandleader in his own right – as support act through this initial Dark Horses tour. “Oh, there was a long and arduous audition process,” Perkins smiles. “Eliminations, trials, tests of strength, death matches in a cage. It's a little like one of those TV talent shows. I've even got one of those chairs that spins around to vote you in. And Mike, bless him, stuck with it. Made it with only a few scars, so the job's his.” You almost want to believe the story, but sharing the smirk is enough.

The Dark Horses will be playing the following shows:

Thursday 1 November - The Factory, Sydney NSW
Saturday 3 November - Street Theatre, Canberra ACT
Thursday 8 November - The Zoo, Brisbane QLD
Thursday 15 November - Corner Hotel, Melbourne VIC
Saturday 26 January - A Day On The Green, Rochford Wines, Yarra Valley VIC
Saturday 2 February - A Day On The Green, Bimbadgen Winery, Hunter Valley NSW
Sunday 3 February - A Day On The Green, Sirromet Wines, Mt Cotton QLD
Wednesday 6 Febrary - A Day On The Green, Kings Park & Botanic Gardens WA