The Hollow Trees to play Stagecoach: An Interview

Coachella has spawned a lilttle 'un called Stagecoach - a country version of the successful festival that attracted 60,000 people to the polo fields in Indio.

One of our favorite local country-folk bands, The Hollow Trees, has been invited to bring their delightful tunes to the two day affair that will include the likes of George Strait, Kenny Chesney, and Willie Nelson. We were lucky to catch the big tree himself, Gregory Tree for an exclusive interview,

Dude - Stagecoach! A folky Americana band for families (aka kids) getting to play Stagecoach? How did this happen?

They're having a family dome called the Lil' Wagoneers Stage. They wanted some supremely silly and ridiculously rollicking Americana music, so we got the call.

Temperatures are expected to hit the triple digits this weekend just like they did last weekend. Therefore will there be a kiddie pool in the pit for the lil ones?

It will be hot, so parents should bring lots of juice boxes. And drinks for the kids, too.
I don't know about a pool - that's a good idea though. I know there will be a maze made of hay bales, face painting, trick shooters, lassoo lessons, and other diversions.

After you're done rocking out, what acts other than Willie are you looking forward to checking out with your all-access pass?

Oh man, there's a lot of good stuff. Right after we play you have the Bon Family Cloggers, who look amazing from their website. Later that day Farmer Jason is going to play. We're only going to be there on Sunday, and I'm especially hoping to see The Flatlanders, Junior Brown, Asleep at the Wheel, and of course Don Edwards. I saw Edwards last weekend at the Cowboy Festival. He's America's premier cowboy singer, a fine blues singer, and a master yodeler.

Devo's Devo 2.0 made me think that there should be a Clash collection for kids. Would that be something that the Hollow Trees might be interested in?

Uh.... sure. I've always wanted to do a cover band of songs written by Grant Hart from Husker Du in a country style and call it The Cold Cold Harts.

Charles Louvin was at Amoeba last month, did you check him out?

I was interested, but it was at the same time at the Western Music Association's monthly cowboy music jam at the Autry Museum.

I hear the Hollow Trees are getting a few more Trees. Will they be at Stagecoach?

Our new violin player Lydia will be there with Laura and I. All five of us will be at the Neighborhood Nursery School on the 19th and the Topanga Banjo and Fiddle Contest on the 20th.

Please tell us that you will be doing a Rage Against the Machine cover this weekend.

Alas, no. We will be doing two songs by the French-Canadian folksinger Alan Mills, which is even better.

Any other new songs you're particularly happy about playing out there in the sun?

Oh yeah! We have a whole album's worth of great new material which we're getting ready to record. On Sunday we'll be playing a new original called "Hootenanny" and a new old song called "George Washington".

Click here to step back in time to the golden age of 2006 when we first interviewed The Hollow Trees