Up to their old Dirty tricks

Leader of the legendary instrumental trio on ‘the downward slice on this walk of life’

 Known for passionate and intense live performances and recordings, the Dirty Three gained notoriety as one of the greatest instrumental bands of recent times. But this same notoriety brought more opportunities, and it seems their side projects may have gotten the best of them.

Formed in Melbourne, Australia, in 1993, the Dirty Three are now spread across three continents and their schedules, locations and age have made touring and recording a challenge.

“We’re all doing different things and we’re all on the downward slice on this walk of life,” says violinist Warren Ellis. “We’ve hit the dot and we’re on our way down. We’re all in our forties heading into our fifties and it just means we’re not able to dedicate our entire lives to it. We have families. It does make problems getting together, but I think we’re all relatively tolerant about it.”

Guitarist Mick Turner still lives in Melbourne, runs the record label Anchor and Hope and moonlights as a solo performer. Drummer Jim White lives in New York and is indie rock’s go-to drummer, dividing time between touring and recording with Cat Power, Bonnie Prince Billy and Bill Callahan. But it’s Ellis who has landed the most prestigious part-time job. Living in Paris, he has become Nick Cave’s right-hand man and is now a permanent member of the Bad Seeds and Grinderman.

“I don’t think we could have survived as a band otherwise,” says Ellis of the Three’s separate projects. “When you have all that going on, it seems kind of healthy, and it feels vital.”

With Turner’s signature pluck and drone guitar stylings, White’s tender percussion brush strokes and Ellis’ possessed and passionate attempts to tame his wild violin, the Dirty Three venture through stormy crescendos and devastating comedowns as if they were weathering a tempest. Turbulent and moody, they come off as heavy-hearted and starry-eyed, but Ellis would like to think otherwise.

“There are some really emotional songs,” he says. “But I don’t find them sad. They’re actually sort of uplifting to me. We come from a sort of punk rock thing. Even the stuff we made when we felt down-and-out seems uplifting and kind of heroic at this point. ... We’re not a bunch of bed wetters. There’s an energy there that doesn’t allow wallowing or self-indulgence.”

Dirty Three
Tonight, 7:30
Institute of Contemporary Art
100 Northern Ave., Boston
MBTA: Silver Line to Courthouse
$20-$25, 617-478-3103
www.icaboston.org