Aussie Darren Hanlon writes wistful songs about unrequited love and about wanting presents. Actually, he’s a pretty great and witty songwriter who tells a hell of a story. Hanlon has been criss-crossing the United States for the last 7-8 months promoting I Will Love You At All, released on Yep Roc last September. It doesn’t hurt that he also looks like Russell Crowe.
Hanlon kicks off The Casbah’s acoustic songwriter series Thursday. Expect an intimate night of storytelling put together by The Casbah’s Steve Gardner, who a decade ago was the man behind the well-regarded Pine Hill House Concert series, which brought bands like Drive-By Truckers to an intimate living room in Durham. Hanlon took a pit stop on the road earlier this week to answer a few questions:
How do you describe the songwriting process? You have a lot of wistful songs about unrequited love, etc. Are these songs that you draw from your own experience?
I carry a notebook and jot little thoughts down but it mainly happens in huge chunks. I’ll stop moving for a few months and write a batch of songs. As for the unrequited love songs… some of them are for friends, some from stories I’ve heard or read, the rest are from my life and the difficulties of maintaining a relationship with someone when I’m always away.
You’re on the road a lot so you must meet a lot of characters. Any favorite stories from this latest tour? Any characters whose stories you may use for future songs?
I used to meet a lot more characters when I troured on public transport more. I once met an 80-year-old man who was getting the overnight bus from LA to San Fransisco. I’ve thought about writing a song of the experience. We sat up all night an talked like old friends. He told me in detail his family history that had roots in Mexico and could be traced back to Pancho Villa and further to the Spanish army. His parents were inseparable since they met at the age of 5, “like turtle doves,” he said. I tried to dictate it all down on a napkin as he spoke. In fact we got in trouble from the driver for talking and keeping people awake. When we got in to the depot I knew I’d never see him again and I already missed him. I gave him a hug and left and then when I got home to Australia sent him a postcard but never heard anything back.
What are your creature comforts on the road? Anything you can’t live without?
I always go on about it but pinball is the big one. If I feel a bit intimidated by a place I try to find a machine somewhere. If I know I can get to it if I need it eases my mind. Other things? I’d say a warm bed but after about 2 weeks on the road I can just about sleep anywhere.
Butterfly Bones is a really sweet video. Where did the idea for its story come from?
I’d played a show in the town where this old abandoned drive in is located. I have a tendency to be drawn to such forgotten nostalgia. I jumped the fence late at night and walked around and knew I had to do something before it just disappeared. I thought the best way to do it would be to capture it on film.
What’s the last record you bought?
A compilation tribute to Wilmington band ‘Glow in the Dark Scars’
