Lambchop. Bizarre name, but when it comes down to it what's wrong with a bizarre name? 'How I Quit Smoking', a bit of a bizarre album, filled with gorgeous melodies, strange but wonderful lyrics and a voice that puts Vic Chesnutt to shame in terms of Nashville twang. Kurt Vagner, a bizarre bloke but absolutely charming nonetheless and possibly the world's humblest man.

I get to meet him and slide guitarist Paul on their whistlestop tour of Europe before they play in Notting Hill's very wonderful 'Rough Trade' shop. He suggests doing the interview whilst walking down the adjacent Portabello Road in search for provisions.

So Kurt, who, what and why Lambchop?
Oh, there's no really big deal behind us, we're just a band from Nashville putting out our second CD and, you know ... [gets distracted] ...I'm sorry, I get distracted. But you know it's our second CD. It's like country music or something like that ... nah, nah nah, heh, heh

I heard that you've been around for eleven years or something?
K:Well, since about '86 really but it was called Posterchild for a while and then it started to be more ... oh, shoes! I might buy some for my wife. Let's have a look, I'll try and keep close while we do that. Let's see what they have. I might buy some shoes for myself, actually. This would be a good place to start, right Paul?
P: Yeh
K:What kind of shoes do you like? Let's talk about shoes for a minute.

Well ... Your sort of into boots I see. I'm kind of looking for some shoes like this... [points at present pair, a sort of brown leather shoe with a subtle pattern] ...but I don't know. I should be good and buy some for my wife but then I've got to take them on the plane ... well, nothing here. Anyway, so erm... there was a band called Posterchild and we hung out and played music just for fun, like we still do. Pretty much. I don't know why they sent us over here, they really are quite foolish,I think (laughs)."

Is this your first trip over here then?
No, I was here in Sheffield for a year. My Dad was on sabatical so I went to first form. Does that make any sense? Anyway, I was probably too old but I don't think they knew what to do with me.
[Notices bakery.]
You want something sugary and sweet Paul, something healthy?
P: mmm ...
I might get a doughnut. I think a bit of a sugar rush would be a good thing for me. That's what they get people going into shock or something. That's me at the moment. We just had the worst trip in the world. We've just got here and, like, we started out at four O'clock in the morning from Paris and then the airplanes and the airport and all that, for what could have just been a six hour drive. but, anyway I'm going o get something to eat so ... erm come on in!
[We enter the bakery.]
So, there's this strawberry creamy type thing that looks like a cake, pretty neat, and there's bread over there and ... well we just need to find something to keep us alive for a few hours.
[Both Kurt and Paul buy variations on the strawberry, fruity, creamy type thing.]
So how come you got the great assignement of coming to interview Lambchop?

Well, I live close and happen to think the album is quite brilliant so ...
So you have listened to the record?

Yeh.
Do you think it's good? Do you think it's country?

Mental note; during interviews try to ask more questions than you answer. But as he asked, I do think the album is a stunning record that is ... well, read Nathan's album review for that but as for country it is not conventional country but...
Maybe it's some new kind of country, that's what I think.

Yeh, like Palace and Vic Chesnutt it is country with a twist, country shawn of all its cliches and all its redneck white man overtones.
I think so too to a certain extent. I think Palace and Vic and us are all pretty different. But, maybe we're all sort of different apples from the same tree sort of thing. Ours is more produced sounding don't you think?

yeh, definately a lusher feel to it.
I think it's kinda neat because everyone seems to be doing something a little different. I mean have you heard Freakwater, because that's a sort of real country.

I think there is a move though, away from that real country and that cliched sound.
Yeh, well how long can that go on? Why not change it a bit? Hey, this is not bad!
[Refers to the strawberry fruity thing he's eating. I think too much specific conversation about music gets him down.]
K:How's yours Paul?
P:Yeh, good.
K:It's kind of soothing if you know what I mean. Better than the stuff on the plane at any rate.... Yeh, well what else can we talk about. This is the famous Portabello Road and ...

Well, what do you think of it?
It hasn't changed a damn bit since 1972! That's about it.

Sudden interview etiquette dilemma. Do I tell him about the blob of cream on his nose?
K:Yeh, ... and .. what's that Paul.
P:You've got something on your nose.
K:I got shit all over my face .. duh .. let's see if I've got a ...
[Usual search for a hanky ensues and the errant bit of cream is finally apprehended. At this point I remember I'm supposed to be talking about music. Luckily kurt seems to remeber too.]
Well, let's talk about the record. But, I don't know. How much can you say about a record, really? (laughs) that's what we're supposed to be doing I guess. Hey, that may be the best line I say all day.
And in a way, it is. Lambchop aren't about interviews, really. I could tell you about the bike incident or the stocking conversation, the Tindersticks debate and the friendship with Stereolab but it doesn't really matter. Lambchop are more about small town stories with big town significance, the way a slide guitar sounds, the way lyrics can be put in songs sideways and still sound great. Kurt doesn't mention this. What Kurt also doesn't mention is the fact that live his songs reduce grown men into grinning wrecks, that when it's just him and Paul, their guitars and his songs you feel like you could listen for days.
The fact is that after the interview they play to about seven or eight people in Rough Trade and send everyone out touched by the genius of Kurt's songwriting, feeling that they have just experienced one of THOSE musical moments where intimacy never becomes cliquey, when the best thing in the world is a guitar, a voice and a couple of people to applaud. It never became sentimental but was always touching. Get the album and have a listen, it could just make your life that little bit better.

Lambchop were talking to Ben, in January 1996.