tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33016636159049301122024-03-19T02:28:42.817-07:00JournalisimoJoanna Stasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03690148776513497017noreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3301663615904930112.post-40954366586073964482012-08-09T06:30:00.001-07:002012-08-09T06:30:47.149-07:00Live Review: The Skints @ The Winchester, Bournemouth - 04/08/12<br />
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<a href="http://www.bigcheesemagazine.com/images/uploads/theskints300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.bigcheesemagazine.com/images/uploads/theskints300.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kicking of the evening are local ska band, <a data-mce-href="http://www.facebook.com/knowoneband" href="http://www.facebook.com/knowoneband" target="_blank">Know One</a>. The seven-piece are more than capable of the task and get the crowd skanking right from the first note. Looking slick in their black shirt, red tie uniform they deliver a great set of classic ska, and although their tracks become a little drawn-out and repetitive at times, they manage to keep the party atmosphere going.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next up, <a data-mce-href="http://www.thebotsband.com/" href="http://www.thebotsband.com/" target="_blank">The Bots</a> have no trouble keeping the energy levels sky high. Fresh from supporting Brit legends <a data-mce-href="http://www.blur.co.uk/" href="http://www.blur.co.uk/" target="_blank">Blur</a> no less, the two brothers, aged just 18 and 14, put on a remarkable performance. It may not be ska, but tonight’s crowd are more than happy to jump around to their aggressive punk with driving guitar and furious drums. At times it feels like we’re watching them jam in their bedroom at home which, at best, gives the set a raw feel but at worst is a little messy. Slower track ‘Dinosaur’ doesn’t quite hit the mark and a bizarre synthesizer solo is an assault on the ears but when they hit their stride and flash their cheeky grins it’s hard not to be impressed with what these young boys have achieved.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.theskints.co.uk/" href="http://www.theskints.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Skints</a> soon arrive on stage and show just why so many have come out to see them tonight. They really are a perfectly formed band with each member bringing something unique to the mix. Jon Doyle is a true master on the bass, providing the intricate yet easy-going backbone to each track. Josh Waters Rudge on vocals injects a bit of cockney into their sound, giving the group’s summery reggae a more mainstream, <a data-mce-href="http://www.kingblues.com/" href="http://www.kingblues.com/" target="_blank">King Blues</a>-esque feel. Marcia Richards is the jewel in the crown with her smooth voice and ability to play almost any instrument, from keyboard to flute. Whilst Jamie Kyriakides is the unlikely hero, proving that men can indeed multitask with expert drumming and effortless vocals. Every song of their set sounds like a sure-fire hit and the audience find it impossible not to move along with the music. Although it doesn’t feel like August outside, in <a data-mce-href="http://www.thewinchesterbournemouth.co.uk/" href="http://www.thewinchesterbournemouth.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Winchester</a> tonight it certainly is a warm summer’s evening in paradise.</span></div>Joanna Stasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03690148776513497017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3301663615904930112.post-84526207908037504812012-06-19T08:24:00.000-07:002012-06-19T08:24:18.989-07:00Album review: Motion City Soundtrack - Go<br />
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Growing up is something that we all have to do. But sadly,
the taxes and bills of our adult lives are no match for the playground fun of
our youth. <a href="http://motioncitysoundtrack.com/" target="_blank">Motion City Soundtrack</a> have done a lot of growing up on their fifth album 'Go', and existing fans might be a little disappointed at the lack of energy as a
result. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Many of the tracks start off powerful and full of promise
but promptly fizzle out, something which can also be said for the album in
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There is still some of that old MCS magic to be found. '<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwd9a75g_js" target="_blank">TrueRomance</a>' has an infectious ‘pop hit’ vibe that could rival pop princess and
phone tease Carly Rae Jepsen’s chart-topper '<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWNaR-rxAic" target="_blank">Call Me Maybe</a>', and '<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJBqja9Z6Ms" target="_blank">Timelines</a>' is
another stand out track featuring frontman Justin Pierre’s famous lyrical stylings. Yet
these are simply teasing the lovers of the first four albums. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The lyrics on 'Go' certainly take a turn for the
philosophical, with the beautiful '<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEkvoOlqRcc" target="_blank">Everyone Will Die</a>' and catchy 'Timelines' standing out in particular. Of course Pierre has always covered deep and dark
subjects in his lyrics, but this time the music seems to match. Instead of
contradicting stories of depression and relationship troubles with upbeat synth
laden pop rock, this record sees MCS adopt a heavier, more laboured sound that
sadly causes them to blend in with the crowd. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This change may appeal to new listeners as there are still
moments of momentum and originality, yet loyal fans are likely to find
themselves longing for the playground fun of the past. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/gwd9a75g_js" width="560"></iframe>Joanna Stasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03690148776513497017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3301663615904930112.post-84465187527514607682012-03-27T06:14:00.000-07:002012-07-30T07:51:10.387-07:00A Bit On The Side: The story of the rock star entrepreneurCheck out my final year university project:<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #151515; font-family: Helvetica, 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">Not content with rocking out for 24 hours a day, some of our best loved rock stars are intent on becoming businessmen as well. Joanna Stass tracked down three rock star entrepreneurs to talk about the story behind their business ventures…</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #151515; font-family: Helvetica, 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://jostass.wordpress.com/2012/07/30/a-bit-on-the-side-the-story-of-the-rock-star-entrepreneur/" target="_blank">A Bit On The Side: The story of the rock star entrepreneur</a></span>Joanna Stasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03690148776513497017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3301663615904930112.post-2155672994325533772012-03-27T05:37:00.000-07:002012-03-27T05:37:07.255-07:00Interview: All Time Low<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zasai7AvkWQ/T3G0ItMtIGI/AAAAAAAAAMM/mfj-Uvt6slQ/s1600/ATL+Southampton+Nerve+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zasai7AvkWQ/T3G0ItMtIGI/AAAAAAAAAMM/mfj-Uvt6slQ/s320/ATL+Southampton+Nerve+1.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.nervemedia.org.uk/2012/03/interview-all-time-low/">http://www.nervemedia.org.uk/2012/03/interview-all-time-low/</a>
</div>Joanna Stasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03690148776513497017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3301663615904930112.post-8065371290487875072012-03-01T02:46:00.000-08:002012-03-01T02:46:06.872-08:00All Time Low @ Southampton Guildhall, 02/02/12<br />
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<a href="http://tomkclarke.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/atl-southampton-guildhall-21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://tomkclarke.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/atl-southampton-guildhall-21.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Three
courses of pure pop punk goodness are due to be served up at Southampton
Guildhall this evening. Fans have been salivating at the doors of the venue
since 10am, wrapped in duvets to protect themselves from sub-zero temperatures.
As they pile inside, the hysteria mounts, with high pitched screams rippling
through the building every time a roadie appears on stage. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Tonight’s
starter comes in the form Poughkeepsie quintet <a href="http://wearetheincrowd.com/">We Are The In Crowd</a>. Their old school Fall Out
Boy-esque sound , although lacking in much originality, perfectly whets the
appetite of the eager crowd. It would be easy to compare leading lady Tay
Jardine to a certain <a href="http://www.paramore.net/">Paramore</a> frontwoman, but truth is, the similarities are
uncanny, with the two sharing an almost identical vocal style and image. However,
something is missing. Tay lacks the stage presence and certain je ne sais quoi
of Williams. At times she is almost inaudible as she squeaks into the
microphone.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.wearethemaine.net/home">The Maine</a> are unfortunately tonight’s main course. They
serve up a bland and over-cooked performance, choosing to mainly play
their newer middle-of-the- road material. They drag on for a dull 45 minutes
and, at times, it feels as if no one has told them they aren’t actually
headlining this evening. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Eventually
it’s time for everyone’s favourite course, dessert. <a href="http://www.alltimelowband.com/">All Time Low</a> are met by a
shower of bras as they take to the stage. They deliver their famous sugary
sweet pop punk with a hard to ignore swagger, spooning on all their big hits
such as ‘Timebomb’ and ‘I Feel Like Dancin’’. However, like most desserts, it’s
all over too quickly, as frontman Alex Gaskarth announces that they will have
to cut the set short. It was clear right from the start that Alex was
struggling with his voice and his distress is heart breaking to watch. Jack
Barakat, with a cheesy grin that could rival Elmo, does his best to boost moral,
covering for his bandmate’s lack of stage banter. But Alex is determined not to
disappoint and does his best to get through a solo performance of ‘Remember
Sunday’, leaving the stage with fans adoringly chanting his name. Although 20
minutes early, their encore makes up for their short set, with a trio of
classics; ‘Weightless’, ‘Lost In Stereo’ and ‘Dear Maria’. It may have only
been a fleeting visit but All Time Low don’t depart without leaving a tip for
the fans, as they announce they will be returning to the UK next summer. So get
ready to book your table for what is sure to be a big festival appearance. <o:p></o:p></div>Joanna Stasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03690148776513497017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3301663615904930112.post-67485761419361751222012-02-08T05:48:00.000-08:002012-02-08T05:48:41.956-08:00Panic! At The Disco @ Southampton Guildhall, 01/02/12<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://tomkclarke.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/patd-sjc-live-5-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://tomkclarke.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/patd-sjc-live-5-1.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A sold out Southampton Guildhall
stands to attention when Australian four-piece <a href="http://www.metheband.com/">Me</a> burst on stage with a
ginormous dramatic opening number of chants and fist pumping. However, it soon
become clear that that their gigantic sound is mainly down to the over-use of
echoing vocal sound effects and over-hyped guitar solos. It’s shame as lead singer Luke Ferris</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> clearly has an interesting
and powerful voice – think Brain Molko from <a href="http://www.placeboworld.co.uk/home.php">Placebo</a> – but it begins to feel gimmicky
as over-production takes hold. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The bands emo image, complete with
imitation <a href="http://cdn.buzznet.com/assets/users16/xoxovampire/default/the-black-parade--large-msg-122650942099.jpg">My Chemical Romance Black Parade jackets</a>, also feels a little ‘done
to death in the early 2000s’.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
real fun soon begins when <a href="http://www.panicatthedisco.com/">Panic! At The Disco</a> take to the stage, which is
decorated in the style of a mad scientist’s workshop. Uplifting opener ‘Ready
To Go’ is bouncier than Tigger on a trampoline and early tracks 'I Write Sins…' and 'The Only Difference…' seem to be given a new lease of life alongside the
new material. There is a nice mixture of tracks from the first and latest album
in tonight’s set, although very little from the more folky second album ‘Pretty. Odd.’ – perhaps due to its disappointing critical reception. However ‘Nine In
The Afternoon’ and ‘That Green Gentleman’ do make an appearance and the crowd seem
more than happy to sing along. The supurb and underrated ‘New Perspective’ –
written for the soundtrack of lesbian vampire flick <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1131734/">Jennifer’s Body</a> - is also
given an airing by the Las Vegas rockers. Brendon Urie proves himself to be a
fantastic showman, with back flips off the drum riser and bizarre monologues
between songs, some of which become a little cringeworthy. For example, there
is evident shuffling of feet and embarrassed faces when Urie announces that ‘Lying
Is The Most Fun…’ is about "fucking people you don’t know" to a crowd consisting
predominantly of young teenagers supervised by their parents. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
most bizarre thing about tonight’s set though, is Brendon’s high-pitched metal
screams which he throws in at various points during the night. At first they
seem to be the frontman’s way of showing off his already incredible voice,
however it is soon revealed that this is a warm up for their impressive cover
of <a href="http://www.theactualdarkness.com/">The Darkness</a>’ ‘I Believe in a Thing Called Love’. Closing the set with the
huge choruses of ‘Nearly Witches’, Panic! At The Disco have succeeded in providing
tonight’s crowd with a good ol’ fashioned and unashamed bit of fun. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>Joanna Stasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03690148776513497017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3301663615904930112.post-80145300898011793412012-01-20T06:19:00.000-08:002012-01-20T06:19:07.583-08:00The Darkness @ Southampton Guildhall, 17/11/11<br />
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<a href="http://tomkclarke.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/the-darkness-london-indigo2-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://tomkclarke.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/the-darkness-london-indigo2-13.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Roll up, roll
up <a href="http://www.theactualdarkness.com/">The Darkness</a> are in town, ready to deliver a deliciously camp and crazy
spectacle. But before the main event, the members of <a href="http://foxyshazam.com/">Foxy Shazam</a> treat the
stage like a climbing frame, storming through their bizarre camp rock. Lead
singer, and Noel Fielding lookalike, </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Eric Sean Nally behaves like he’s
polished off all the pick ’n’ mix in Wilkinsons, pausing only to reel off his
trippy monologues. Their exuberant, honest tracks, peppered with a few kooky
Kate Bush moments, leave the crowd in a confused yet impressed silence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The Darkness soon appear after a very dull and drawn
out intro song. To the disappointment of some, frontman Justin Hawkins has
opted for a rather conservative waistcoat as opposed to his usual second skin
catsuit. But never fear, a costume change later on soon sees to that. Tonight’s
set is peppered with a few new tracks from next year’s new release, but they noticeably
fall a little flat on tonight’s crowd. It’s hard to beat the classics, with
‘Get Your Hands Of My Woman’ and ‘Love Is Only A Feeling’ leaving everyone
grinning like the Cheshire cat. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The Darkness are clearly used to gracing larger stages
as their impressive pyrotechnics leave the Guildhall struggling to cope with
the smoke, but once it clears they give us all a festive treat. Their 2003
Christmas number one, accompanied by a snow machine, is enough to leave even
the scrooge’s amongst the crowd with a warm fuzzy feeling. Justin, with his new
candy cane/Dr Zeus inspired catsuit and voice that only dogs can hear, is
clearly the bands greatest asset, delivering great banter with the crowd and
commanding the stage like a circus ringmaster. Nevertheless, supurb guitar
solos from his brother Dan are not to be ignored, in fact the whole band are
gelling well together again. Looking at tonight’s expansive crowd of young and
old it is clear that The Darkness are not one hit wonders, now they just need
to prove they can still churn out hits. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://wallpaper.metalship.org/images/we-are-the-ocean2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://wallpaper.metalship.org/images/we-are-the-ocean2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://wearetheocean.co.uk/">We Are The Ocean</a> are the latest British band about to try and conquer the USA. B</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">efore they want on stage to support The Blackout at Portsmouth Pyramids,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">we had a chat about their secret plans for </span><a href="http://www.slamdunkmusic.com/slam-dunk-festival" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">Slam Dunk Festival</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">, why they don't scream so much any more, and the British music scene they are (temporarily) leaving behind...</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">How are you finding touring with <a href="http://www.myspace.com/theblackout">The Blackout</a> and <a href="http://www.myspace.com/canterbury">Canterbury</a>?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Jack Spence (bass):</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
We’ve managed to hit Hull, Lincoln and Edinburgh. We’ve never been to Lincoln
before and Edinburgh we went to ages ago. But it’s good to do some venues that
aren’t just London, Manchester, Birmingham. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Alfie Scully (guitar):</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> You
can really tell the people coming to show appreciate the package. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Jack:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lincoln last night
was probably the best crowd. They’re thirsty for it because they don’t get that
many shows. Whereas in London they’ve probably got another show to go to the
next day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Alfie:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Also there’s been no
tour awkwardness, no getting to know each other because we’ve all toured with
the bands before.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Jack:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> It’s a reunion tour!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">You’re all British bands on this tour, but
are there any other British acts you admire at the moment? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Alfie and Jack in unison: </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Loads!
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Alfie:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <a href="http://www.myspace.com/deafhavana">Deaf Havana</a>, <a href="http://www.myspace.com/twinatlantic">TwinAtlantic</a>, <a href="http://www.myspace.com/straightlines">Straight Lines</a>, who are a really good Welsh band. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Jack:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> There are loads of
bands from Wales. They’re lucky, they have the cream of the musical crop.
Canterbury are one of my favourite bands . The UK scene is really thriving at
the minute. You’ve got <a href="http://www.youmeatsix.co.uk/">You Me At Six</a> at the top, who are making it more
accessible and helping everybody out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Alfie:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> It’s a very close
knit community. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">You’ve toured with a lot of bands, who
has been your favourite?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Jack:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> There are different
ways to answer this. I think the band we liked the most and listened to the
most were <a href="http://www.myspace.com/thrice">Thrice</a> and <a href="http://www.underoath777.com/">Underoath</a>. They were tours when every night, you want to
watch the bands. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Alfie:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> There’s those tours
and then there’s the tours where you havnt necessarily first heard of the band
but then you meet them and it’s mindblowing. They turn out to be really nice
guys and you stay friends with them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Jack:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Then there’s the
ones where you just get along with the bands so well. Like a year ago, we did a
tour with <a href="http://www.maydayparade.com/">Mayday Parade</a> and they were just the nicest guys. So there are
different reasons but weve been really lucky with every tour we’ve had. There’s
no band we havn’t got on with. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">You’ve also played a lot of festivals,
which has been the most memorable?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Alfie:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <a href="http://www.readingfestival.com/2011/">Reading Festival 2011</a>. Brilliant festival. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Jack:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> It’s the biggest
thing we’d done <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Alfie:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> It was a good
head-turner, that we were going to open the main stage. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Jack:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Our second album was
out, we’d had a great tour and so that was just the cherry on the cake, right
at the end of festival season. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">You’ve become regulars at Slam Dunk
Festival now, will you be back next year?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Alfie:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Ooh I don’t know,
they’ve had us for every one so far. I think now, if they we’re to not put us
on, we’d take it personally. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Jack:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> I think we should do
a secret set. Beacsue if we’re announced everyone will be like ‘ah they’re
playing <i>again</i>?’ But I kind of want to
see how many times we can do it now. Every year we climb up the bill slowly so
if we keep doing maybe we’ll headline the main stage and we can say ‘right
that’s it, never again!’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Alfie:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Even if we don’t
play next year we should just demand that our music videos are played
throughout the sit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Jack:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> There has to be a We
Are The Ocean presence, whether you love us or hate us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">You have just signed with <a href="http://sideonedummy.com/">Side One DummyRecords</a> in the US, so what are your </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">plans for conquering America?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Alfie:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Well we can’t just
go over and start dictating. We need to make friends first and lure them in. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Jack:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> We’ll use out Brit
charm and accents. We just want to get over there now. We we’re supposed to go
over there in December (supporting <a href="http://www.myspace.com/dancegavindance">Dance Gavin Dance</a>), but that’s been
cancelled. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Alfie:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> But the album is on
iTunes over there at the moment and the physical release will be at the
beginning of next year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Jack:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> We want to branch
out and take this album over there and see how it goes. And the way to do that
is touring. But America is so much bigger than the UK so it’s impossible to hit
everywhere.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Alfie:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> It will be like
starting again, it’ll be wicked. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Jack:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Exactly, in a little
cheap van just trotting along the highway until they’re sick of us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">You’ve been to America before though
right? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Jack:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> We recorded our
debut album in Baltimore and then we went to New Jersey and did <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bamboozle">BamboozleFestival</a>. We didn’t get paid and we weren’t announced because we didn’t have
the right visas to get paid. So it was just a little favour for our manager
while we were out there. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Alfie:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> It was all a very
‘under the table’ type thing. It was a really good experience though we got a
surprisingly good reaction considering nobody knew who we were or what time we
were playing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The album ‘Go Now & Live’ has been out for a
while now. Are you pleased with the reaction it has received?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Jack:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> The whole campaign
leading up to know has been more than we expected. The reviews were good, the
old fans liked it and new fans came.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Alfie:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> It was ‘the
difficult second album’. And you’re always going to have you naysayers but a
lot of the feedback online and at shows has been good stuff. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Jack:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> It’s always hard
because nobody wants to rehash the same album but at the same time you don’t
want to do a new albums and all your old fans don’t like it. So we had to find
a sound we were happy with but it was still the band. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Alfie:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> We always had that
worry that people weren’t gonna get it. But we like it so we don’t care! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">There’s a bit less screaming from Dan (joint
lead vocals) on the new album compared to your debut ‘Cutting Our Teeth’, was
that a conscious decision?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Jack:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> It wasn’t like we
sat down and said ‘no more screaming!’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Alfie:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> No and if you watch
the live set you’ll still see Dan going crazy with pure aggression and energy.
We wanted to keep but harness the albility and use it as a musical dynamic and
have more melody in the songs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Jack:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> I think Dan wants to
challenge his own voice as well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Alfie:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> We just wanted to
raise the bar with the second album and try something new. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What have you got planned next?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Alfie:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> In December we maybe
want to write some more songs and see where it can go. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Jack:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> And then in the new
year, we want to get touring. But we don’t want to over saturate anywhere so we
want to get a nice cycle of UK, Europe, America, Australia going. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Alfie:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> We have been touring
the UK for a very long time now <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Jack:
It’s worked well for us, getting our name out, but we’re at the point now where
we can’t do it as much anymore because people are going to get sick of us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Are you nervous about making album number
three?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Alfie:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> I wouldn’t say we’re
nervous. I’ve found that practising and writing with the band has been the most
fun it has ever been. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Jack:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> And because we’re
starting really early this time it’s a lot more fun when there’s no stress.
When it comes to we’re going to the studio in a week and we’ve only got four
sings, that’s not as fun. But as we’ve already started writing it’s going to be
fun, not much pressure at all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>Joanna Stasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03690148776513497017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3301663615904930112.post-89457787094344432132011-11-17T02:22:00.001-08:002011-11-29T06:29:45.314-08:00Interview: The Wombles<br />
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<a href="http://www.republicmedia.net/assets/The_Wombles/The_Wombles_Christmas_picture" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://www.republicmedia.net/assets/The_Wombles/The_Wombles_Christmas_picture" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://xfactor.itv.com/">The X Factor</a>
winner has some tough competition for the Christmas Number 1 spot this year.
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wombles">The Wombles</a> of Wimbledon are back and ready to take on the charts. Orinoco and
his fellow Wombles took time out of their busy schedule cleaning the Common for a catch up…</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br />
</b><b>What
have The Wombles been up to since the 70s?</b><br />
Writing material for their next studio album. With 30 years of writing,
it’ll be a cracker!<br />
<br />
<b>Has much changed on Wimbledon Common?</b><br />
The common has hardly changed. People still drop all sorts of rubbish
everywhere. We have to look out for sharps and stuff but there is still the odd
copy of <a href="https://www.timesplus.co.uk/iam/app/offerCode;jsessionid=9265A35D58FC4C06E3EB770FB453DE42?execution=e1s1">The Times</a>, and er...the <a href="http://www.beano.com/">Beano</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>You achieved a lot in the 70s, what was
your most memorable experience?</b> <br />
While we were recording a video piece for “Wombling Merry Christmas” for <a href="http://www.cillablack.com/tv.htm">The Cilla Black Show</a>, half way up a snowy Scottish mountain, the only wild herd of
reindeer in Britain appeared from nowhere, walked through the shot and we never
saw them again. That was quite memorable!<br />
<br />
<b>Who are your musical influences? </b><br /><a href="http://www.jimihendrix.com/us/home">Jimi Hendrix</a>, <a href="http://www.georgeformby.co.uk/">George Formby</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mantovani">Mantovani</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freddie_and_the_Dreamers">Freddie and The Dreamers</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>The Wombles were the interval act at the <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1260050294">1974 </a></b><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurovision_Song_Contest_1974">Eurovision SongContest</a>, </b><b>have you ever thought about entering as
the UK’s act?</b><br />
No, we don’t want to end up looking, er, ridiculous, and have to wear silly
costumes.<br />
<br />
<b>You performed at <a href="http://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/line-up-poster/">Glastonbury</a> this
summer, how was that?<br />
</b>It was great. First time we’ve ever had a go at a one hour totally live
gig. The crowd were brilliant. Not one person left their free Womble mask on
the ground, - they all took them home!<br />
<b><br />
What did you get up to at the festival? </b><br />
We had to go in, do the gig, then get out, for transport and practical reasons
so we couldn’t stay and see Beyonce. But she didn’t come to see us, so we don’t
feel too badly about it. We did pull a bigger audience on the No 3 stage than
they had that afternoon on the no 1 (Pyramid) stage. That was quite good to be
told afterwards!<br />
<br />
<b>Did you meet any other famous people
there? Did you get star-struck by anyone?</b><br />
People get star struck by us, actually. <a href="http://www.kttunstall.com/">KT Tunstall</a> for example absolutely
worships Orinoco. She went all tongue-tied when she saw him. And we get star
struck by each other. Orinoco can’t believe he gets to be on stage with
Wellington, and Madame Cholet is very impressed with Bungo as, like her hero
drummer of all time.<br />
<br />
<b>Did you help with the clean up operation
after the festival?</b><br />
As we had to leave early, no, sadly. But I think <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Eavis">Mr Eavis</a> had it all under
control. Would have loved to help, but Madame Cholet had to wash her hair.<br />
<br />
<b>Did you help clean up after the <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/london-riots">UK Riots</a></b></span><b> this summer?</b> </div>
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Two of us did dress up as humans and go down to shift a load of Earth in an
inner city garden, so we did a bit.<br />
<br />
<b>You’re
going head-to-head with The X Factor winner for Christmas Number 1 this year, are
you fans of the show?</b> <br />
No, not really. It’s kind of unrecyclable rubbish, isn’t it! Only
kidding. We love you Simon!<br />
<br />
<b>Are you fans of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Cowell">Simon Cowell</a> then?</b><br />
Mike Batt is a pal of his so we have to say nice things...<br />
<br />
<b>What would The Wombles like from
Santa this Christmas?</b><br />
A hit single, and World Peace.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>Joanna Stasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03690148776513497017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3301663615904930112.post-77923396696307618692011-11-17T02:05:00.001-08:002011-11-29T06:29:39.575-08:00Interview: You Me At Six<br />
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<a href="http://tomkclarke.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/you-me-at-six-southampton-guildhall-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://tomkclarke.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/you-me-at-six-southampton-guildhall-3.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1260050191">You
Me At </a></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.youmeatsix.co.uk/">Six</a> frontman </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Josh Franceschi talks about the struggles the
band faced with their new album and his brutally honest view of the music
industry and fellow artists… </span><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Sinners Never
Sleep got to number three in the album charts, are you secretly a little bit
bitter that <a href="http://www.adele.tv/">Adele</a> and <a href="http://www.jamesmorrisonmusic.com/">James Morrison</a> beat you? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Not
really because ultimately we had the midweek number one which, within the
industry, is the one that everyone looks at. Literally our manager was getting
phone calls and emails from everyone saying ‘who are You Me At Six and why are
they ahead of James Morrison and Adele?’ So that was really cool and what I
really liked was <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/zanelowe/">Zane Lowe at Radio 1</a> and <a href="http://www.kerrangradio.co.uk/">Kerrang! Radio</a> and everyone from the
rock world was really getting behind it and saying ‘lets keep a British rock
band up there in the charts’. And to be honest, had we come behind someone like
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1260050211">Ke</a></span><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1260050211">$</a></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.keshasparty.com/us/home">ha</a>
or some other pop shit, then we’d have been beaten to the post by nothing special
at all. But you’re talking about two world class household names, James
Morrison and Adele. If you’re gonna lose out to anyone it’s got to be someone
of that stature.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">You went to LA to
record the new album with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garth_Richardson">Garth Richardson</a>, how was that experience?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We
recorded at Sunset Sound and the Sound Factory as well. It’s a very weird
experience living in LA. We lived there for just over two and a half months and
we all got apartments. It was really cool because although we made a few
friends we quickly discovered that LA is the kind of place where everybody
wants to be famous. And so as soon as a few people found out that we were in a
band, we had people who would just show up at our apartments, that we’d met
once at a bar, and be like (in a bad American accent) ‘lets hang out and go get
coffee!’. And I was just like ‘look I don’t really like you mate, fuck off’.
But what was cool was that we just spent a lot of time with each other so in
terms of our band regrouping and enjoying each others company that was really
cool. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">You then got John
Mitchell & Matt O’Grady to finish off the record, what sparked that
decision?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s
very hard to get a good connection with somebody, especially when you’re
recording, and we’ve had that connection and vibe with them for the last four
years. We were excited to work with
Garth Richardson but there was a part of me that was like ‘I don’t know if I
want to, I think I want to keep working with Matt and John’. When we got back
from America and sat with the album for a few days we were like ‘this is shit’.
They don’t get it, they don’t get what we’re trying to do. So I called up John,
when both of their studios were fully booked with bands, and I was like ‘look,
you know I wouldn’t ask this of you if I didn’t think it was absolutely
necessary to salvage our album’. I’m not happy that we dicked over other bands,
but they told all of them that we needed two weeks to do our thing and they
dropped everything. And when you’ve got someone that cares about you that much,
it really shows in their work. We also learnt a few things because we sat with
them and did it. They’re both some of the most talented people I know, they’re
like the sixth and seventh members of You Me At Six. So I think we learnt our
lesson and next time we’re just going to go to America or somewhere but record
it with them because it’s just such a better vibe. But that’s not me
shit-talking Garth, because Garth is a legend…but he’s no Matt O’Grady. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Oli Sykes (from <a href="http://www.bringmethehorizon.co.uk/">Bring Me The Horizon</a>) and
Winston McCall (from <a href="http://www.myspace.com/parkwaydrive">Parkway Drive</a>) feature on the album, how did that come about?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">A
lot of our friends are in hardcore bands. I don’t really connect with people in
some of the softer, poppier bands, especially American bands because they’re
all just fake, horrible people. All they care about is what they can get out of
you. The first year we did <a href="http://vanswarpedtour.com/">Warped Tour</a>, literally every day there was somebody
with their head up our arse just trying to get on our UK tour. But then you’ll
meet a band like Parkway Drive who are like the Australian version of us and
again, it’s the same with Matt and John, it’s the same with all of our friends,
when you meet people it shouldn’t matter from what walk of life they are. And
I’ve always wanted to do something with Oli because I did ‘Fuck’ on their album
and he’s always said he really want to return the favour. Then when we wrote
‘Bite My Tongue’ and the middle eight needed something that was going to make
everyone realise just how pissed off this song is meant to be. Oli was in LA at
the time and so he came down to the studio. And then with Winston, we had the
song called ‘Time Is Money’ and at first the middle eight was completely
different but it was shit. It sucked big time. He was on tour in England at the
time so I did some guide vocals for him and he went from Cardiff to John
Mitchell’s house in Reading for an hour, recorded it and then went back to
Cardiff and literally as he arrived back at the venue went straight on stage. I
don’t know many people that we’ve met in our career or any sugary pop American
band that would have dropped everything to come and help out their mates. I
think we’ve got quite a few similar fans as well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">A
lot of people have been saying that your new album is more mature and a lot
more honest. Do you think that’s true?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I think that’s what we wanted to do. We got to a point at
the end of the Hold Me Down cycle, where I wanted to end it with ‘Fireworks’ as
a single because I think that could have taken our band to a slightly different
audience. But our label were adamant that we had to at least try and do this
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kIIMefEdr4">collaboration with Chiddy Band</a>. I don’t necessarily regret it because Chiddy is
a good dude and actually I think ‘Rescue Me’ is a cool song that got us some
attention from different worlds that we probably wouldn’t have been involved in
otherwise. But I think a lot of people saw through what we were trying to do
with ‘Rescue Me’. At that moment in time the charts were full of singers and
rappers collaborating. So then we thought we just need to be ourselves and
people will either love us for it or hate us for it. So nothing was deliberate
and I think when you go for a straight up honest record they’re your best. And
that is why I think Sinners Never Sleep is our best album to date. We have fans
out there that were going to love it regardless, even if it was the shittest
thing we’d put out they would still say they loved it because they‘ve got that
attachment to us. And there were always going to be people who pick it up and
think ‘nah, I’m not into this’ but then a few weeks later they’d find something
within the songs that they could enjoy. Then there’s people who like Horizon or
Parkway and even people who like <a href="http://www.snowpatrol.com/">Snow Patrol</a> or <a href="http://coldplay.com/">Coldplay</a> who realise that we’ve
got songs that sound in that vein and discover that they like our band. And
when you’ve got those three things together it’s a pretty cool position to be
in. And I’m really happy with it so I don’t really care if anyone else likes it
or not.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">You’ve had a few
disagreements with your label <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_Records">Virgin Records</a> over this album, and ‘Time Is Money’ is about
that, is everything sorted out now?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Our
label are the best label we could ask for. That song is about our label, it’s
about our management but in general it’s just about the music industry. There’s
so many dickheads. I got to the point where I was like at the end of the day,
you’re not the people who have to go out and represent this, we are, and so we
have to believe in it completely. So I put a few people straight, we fired a
few people. I went up to somebody who is involved in our international side and
asked them what their favourite You Me At Six song was, and I don’t mean any of
the singles. They couldn’t even tell me a song title. So I said ‘please, no
longer have anything to do with our band, we’ll find someone else’. Bands can
just become products and that was something that I just felt needed to be put
to rest. And as soon as we came to the label with really clear ideas, like the
album artwork was all our idea, they really helped capture that because we made
everyone feel like part of the family. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">You’re heading off
to America for a headline tour next year, are you getting a bigger fan base out
there now?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">When
we did Warped Tour, it was nuts. Especially on the East Coast, we did really
well. Texas and other places weren’t as flattering. But I think with America,
and I don’t mean this in a disrespectful way but it really is just all about
touring. If you put yourself in front of them, there’s a chance you’re going to
be successful there. If you look at <a href="http://www.myspace.com/askingalexandria">Asking Alexandria</a> for example, they did
nothing over here but then did 18 months of solid touring in America and they
now do 3000 capacity venues. And they’re not exactly the best band in the
world, they’re not the worst band by any means and I love them, they’re good
dudes, but I feel like if You Me At Six could do what we’ve done in England and
just tour places, because that’s how we got to where we are in England, we
could do well over there. I also feel like we have the advantage of the fact
that we’re English, for some reason Americans are into that. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What’s next for
You Me At Six? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We’re
booked up until at least this time next year. And it sucks because I just
bought Arsenal season tickets. It’s funny because Dan’s never been able to see
United play and he’s a big fan so we basically booked our US headlining tour
around me and Dan going to the football. Then they said we were going to start
our tour January 15<sup>th</sup> and I was like ‘Arsenal are playing United on
January 21<sup>st</sup>, so shall we start January 23rd yea?’ That’s the kind
of band we are. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Where
do you see You Me At Six in 5 years time? What’s your ultimate goal? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Well the dream was to be able to have a ten-year
anniversary gig. And we’ve been around since 2006, so we’ve hit the five-year
mark. Longevity is key for us. I don’t want to be big for a year, making loads
of money and then selling out and having no career. We want to keep achieving
stuff that ultimately seems unrealistic. We’ve got some offers though for some
UK festivals next summer that are just insane, I don’t understand why we’re
getting them.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>Joanna Stasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03690148776513497017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3301663615904930112.post-60385418980738275272011-11-17T01:50:00.001-08:002011-11-29T06:29:35.336-08:00Live Review: Chase & Status @ O2 Academy Bournemouth, 10/10/11<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.sweetslyrics.com/images/img_gal/25166_Chase-and-Status-Blind-Faith-lrgimg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://www.sweetslyrics.com/images/img_gal/25166_Chase-and-Status-Blind-Faith-lrgimg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The packed
out O2 Academy is moist with anticipation of tonight’s showcase of the best in
UK’s urban/electo talent. <a href="http://grimepedia.co.uk/wiki/Dot_Rotten">Dot Rotten</a> a London MC and producer, gives a decent
yet slightly monotonous performance. Another London rapper, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labrinth">Labrinth</a>, provides
something a little different. Although the artist who collaborated with <a href="http://www.tinietempah.com/">Tinie Tempah</a> on his smash hit ‘Pass Out’ does look and sound remarkably like his
colleague, his tracks still manage to sound fresh and original. The supurb 'Express Yourself' - which samples the track from <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJkSE2jzpxE">Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd St. Rhythm</a> don't ya know - injects a bit of old school funk and soul into the evening and it's also refreshing to see and urban artist wielding a guitar on stage.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The audience start to get a little restless waiting for <a href="http://www.chaseandstatus.co.uk/">Chase & Status</a>, but the duo are well worth the wait. They fire out hit after hit, accompanied by stunning visuals on the big screen behind them. An awe-inspiring light show and astounding laser display help create a breathtakingly magical atmosphere, which sadly yhe mostly intoxicated audience fail to appreciate. Although it's not really needed, MC Rage keeps the energy levels up and an appearance from Delilah on tracks 'Heartbeats' and 'Time' gives the boys a bit of eye candy. It's truely incredible just how many great songs Chase & Status have produced and although the crowd we're a little violent at times, they mostly stumbled from the venue feeling sweaty and euphoric. </span></div>
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<br /></div>Joanna Stasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03690148776513497017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3301663615904930112.post-76871310619751047822011-11-16T08:07:00.001-08:002011-11-29T06:29:31.532-08:00Interview: Bowling For Soup<br />
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You may only know them for one or two songs, but believe it or not, <a href="http://www.bowlingforsoup.com/main.php">Bowling For Soup</a> have been going for 17 years and have released a staggering 11 albums. I spoke to frontman Jared Reddick before their show at Bournemouth's O2 Academy about life in a middle-aged 'fart joke' band. </div>
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<b>You guys tour a heck of a lot. Do you ever get bored of
it? <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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I mean you get homesick, and more often these days than in
the past years because we’ve all grown up a little bit and got families. But
now it’s more about just touring whenever it makes sense and not trying to stay
on the road for twelve months a year, which in the past is something we we’ve
been known for. Bands that we’ve known for years who tour a lot think were
crazy because we tour a lot. So I think that says something about our work
ethic. But we still enjoy being around each other, still enjoy playing the
shows and doing our thing so hopefully we can continue for quite some time. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Are there fewer parties on your now that your older? <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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No, in fact I think that’s why people think were nuts. We
tend to turn it up a little bit. When we get away from home we go a little
crazy. You never know what to expect with us! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>New single ‘Turbulance’ is one of you’re more serious
heartfelt songs. Do you ever get tired of being known as a silly comedy
band? <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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I wouldn’t say I really get tired of us being known in any
way, just because it’s kind of cool that people know who we are, whether they
know us as the fart joke band or whether they know us from<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phineas_and_Ferb"> Phineas and Ferb</a>. But its one of those things where
sometimes people hear the song ‘Turbulance’ and they’re like ‘well this is very
different from Bowling For Soup’, but its really now. I mean we’ve released
eleven albums and on each of the albums there’s one or two ballad type songs.
But I suppose in the past those aren’t the songs that have gotten the attention
so I wouldn’t say that we take offence to it or anything like that because we
do sort of act the way the more funny songs are. So I think it’s fine that
that’s where people’s brains are. I mean as a songwriter it gets a little bit
difficult because I’d like to, and I do, write all kinds of different music but
I’m kind of forever known as the beer song fart joke guy. So its nice to have
songs out there and actually hear people say ‘ok, well that’s quite a departure
for him as a songwriter’, that feels good.</div>
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<b>You’ve covered <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZLfasMPOU4">Fountains Of Wayne's Stacy’s Mom</a> as the B-side, what made you
choose that song to cover? <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Well quite honestly, ever since that song came out a very
large part of the population of the planet think that Bowling For Soup does
that song. And it’s one of those things where we’ve been playing shows for
years and years and people hold up signs that say ‘Stacy’s Mom’, and we’re
like ‘we’re not the ‘Stacy’s Mom’ band we’re the ‘1985’ band’. And so I think
we just got to the point where it was like if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. So
now if you’re like ‘My favourite song by Bowling For Soup is ‘Stacy’s Mom’’
then people won’t think you’re an idiot. They’ll go ‘oh, I like that one too’
or ‘that’s a really nice cover song’. Either way, you’re fine. So I’ve
basically just taken care of a large part of the population that’s been wrong
for years, and I’ve made them right. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Bowling For Soup have done quite a few covers over the
years, is there one that’s your particular favourite?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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I still really like the ‘Summer Of 69’ cover, which was one
of the first ones we ever recorded. And live we do Cheap Trick’s song
‘Surrender’, which I really like. But it’s always nice to take somebody else’s
song and put your own little spin on it. Except for when we did the song
‘Ghostbusters’, they really wanted us to stick to the script. But for the most
part on all the others we’ve been allowed to put our own little twist on it and
that’s always good fun. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>You’ve been together 17 years now, what has been the highlight
of your career?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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It’s really hard to say. I mean to be honest if you know
anything about our band, we’re definitely not that band that rocketed to the
top and we didn’t get recognised overnight so we’ve had a lot of experiences
and had a lot of really nice things that have happened to us. A lot of highs
and not really a lot of lows to be honest, which I think comes from not getting
out there too fast. Because then you don’t really come down quite as fast. So
for us I think there’s just too many to name. We’ve seen the world multiple
times, we’ve met a lot of people and done a lot of amazing things. So to tie it
down to one of them would be impossible for me. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Is there anything left to do that you havn’t done yet? <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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I think its just matter of taking it as it comes. Continuing
to enjoy it and as it becomes less fun, maybe do it a little bit less. But
right now it’s still a lot of fun and we’re all doing other things musically.
As side projects come along and family things come along, it makes Bowling For
Soup more exciting to come back to. So we’re just going to forge ahead and take
it as it comes. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>You split from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jive_Records">Jive Records</a> in 2009, who are you with now
and how is it going?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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We’re on our own label now called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Que-so_Records">Que-So Records</a> and its
going great. We’re allowed to do things now that we couldn’t do in the past. 'Fishing For Woos' came out in April and it’s done great, especially considering
that we did everything on our own. Were able to go into the studio and do
things like ‘I’ve Never Done Anything Like This’ which is or new single Then we
went in and re-did ‘The Bitch Song’ and we did the cover of ‘Stacey’s Mom’ and
we can just go in and do it and release it and there’s not somebody there
telling us we can’t. We’ve got a new Christmas album coming out soon and we’re
re-releasing our first three albums so it’s really nice, just content-wide to
have nobody blocking you. We just decide we’re going to something and we do it.
That’s probably been the biggest change for us and definitely the biggest
benefit. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>You’ve made quite a name for yourselves in the world of
TV and movie soundtracks. What has been you’re favourite project of that nature
to do?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Those are all a blast. I mean anytime you’re associated with
a television show or movie it’s awesome because it’s just cool to be in a whole
other world but still be in your element musically. But I’ve got to say the
biggest one for us, and the most fun still, is Phineas and Ferb. It’s great that we’re the theme for
that and they’ve animated us in the show and we get to go and write songs with
those guys all the time. Also, in the show, I play a character called Danny who
sings for the band Love Handle. It’s just been a
blessing for me and for the rest of the guys for sure.</div>
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<b>Is the Bowling For Soup documentary still going ahead? <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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I think we will eventually do it. What happened was, it
became a time thing. We split from Jive Records about the same time that we had
thought about doing this and so it became more about just regrouping and
getting new music out and getting back on the road than it did about doing the
documentary. I think we will do it eventually, the shooting of it would only
take about two days. So I think it might be something that we do next year or
the year after. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>You and Erik have an acoustic side-project and have toured
the UK the last couple of years. How is that going?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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I mean that’s not
really as much of a side-project as it is an extension of Bowling For Soup,
it’s a different way to present the songs and a little bit more of an up close
and personal show to present to the fans. It’s something that Erik and I have
been doing for years and years in the States and just tried it a couple of
years ago in the UK and it went great. It’s not something that were just
excluding the other guys from, or that they feel excluded from. It’s just
another thing that Bowling For Soup does. It’s enjoyable because we can play
pretty much play any song. In Bowling For Soup when you have to do it as a
whole band it takes a little bit of preparation at least. We’ll hopefully be
back in April again. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Was it strange to perform without the rest of the band?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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No it feels natural
because we’ve been doing the acoustic thing almost as long as we’ve been doing
the full band thing so. Bowling For Soup has been together since 1994 and I
think Erik and I started doing the acoustic thing in 1996. It’s two different
things but at the same time it’s the same songs just presented in a different
way. But it’s the same sort of vibe as the other shows so I think the
transition works pretty well. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>What’s next for Bowling For Soup? <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Well after this tour
my new band <a href="http://wearepeopleonvacation.com/thecarryon/">People On Vacation</a>, which I’ve been doing on the side, will release
our first EP. And then Erik will have a solo album come out. Probably the next
thing for Bowling For Soup will be the acoustic tour in the UK in April and
then the full band will kind of get back to work next summer, whether it’s some
summer touring or starting to work on new material. I’m not really sure yet how
that’s gonna go. Really we’ve been hitting it pretty hard since Fishing For
Woos came out, so we’re gonna finish the tour, take a nap and then get together
and regroup. <b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />Joanna Stasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03690148776513497017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3301663615904930112.post-40832860660434991362011-11-16T08:03:00.001-08:002011-11-29T06:29:27.543-08:00Live Review: Kids In Glass Houses @ Southampton Guildhall, 8/10/11<br />
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<a href="http://tomkclarke.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/kids-in-glass-houses-southampton-guildhall-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://tomkclarke.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/kids-in-glass-houses-southampton-guildhall-14.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.kidsinglasshouses.com/">Kids In Glass Houses</a> have been away far too long. In fact
it’s been almost a year since they played a headline show. So tonight is a
chance to show exactly what they’ve been up to. But first, they have kindly
laid on a feast of British talent for tonight’s crowd. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.myspace.com/saveyourbreathband">Save Your Breath</a> throw out some joyous pop punk, simple and
honest yet hugely effective. Next up is <a href="http://www.myspace.com/blitzkidsuk">Blitz Kids</a> who have energy by the
barrel load but a set that’s as limp as lettuce. Despite having at least a
pocketful of great songs – mainly on their EP ‘Scavangers’ – they decide to
play their slightly less exciting tracks from debut album Vagrants &
Vagabonds. Francesca are also a little bland. Their Noah And The Whale-esqe
indie rock pleases the younger fans but holds nothing special, expecially
compared to tonight’s main act.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Before Kids In Glass Houses appear, their set is rolled out
covered in neon. But far from being a tacky nu-rave affair, as soon as KIGH
take to the stage it is transformed into a stunning post-apocalyptic
dystopia. The material from the new
album really comes to life with gargantuan sing-a-longs and a supurb brass
section. Old songs such as ‘Give Me What I Want’ and ‘Saturday’ are also given
a new lease of life with the help of a few trumpets. Tonight’s show proves that
Kids In Glass Houses can take on the mainstream, although it would have nice to
hear a little more of their pop-punk roots. <o:p></o:p></div>Joanna Stasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03690148776513497017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3301663615904930112.post-8679294182519865842011-11-16T07:53:00.001-08:002011-11-29T06:29:18.804-08:00Interview: Kids In Glass Houses<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Before their incredible show at Southampton Guildhall, I spoke to <a href="http://www.kidsinglasshouses.com/">Kids In Glass Houses </a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">frontman Aled Phillips</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">. It also
happened to be the day he was labelled the 15</span><sup style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">th</sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> Sexiest Man in Wales...</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">First
off, how do you feel about being labelled the <a href="http://www.walesonline.co.uk/showbiz-and-lifestyle/showbiz/2011/10/08/the-sexiest-men-in-wales-2011-91466-29557298/8/">15th Sexiest Man in Wales</a>?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">It’s just hilarious really. I don’t
know if it’s a true representation of all the handsome men in Wales. I could
name a hundred who should be above me. But it’s quite flattering. It keeps my mum
happy anyway.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Which
of the tracks from the new album has been your favourite to perform live on
this tour?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The song that we’ve most enjoyed
playing is probably ‘The Florist’. We’ve brought out a brass section on this
tour which we’ve never done before and that’s one of the songs that I think
comes across really well live. I think it’s a bit of a new direction for us. And
a song called ‘Fire’ as well, because it’s quite different and really stripped
back. Plus it has a sax solo which I have been waiting to do for years. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Kids In Glass Houses have toured with a lot of bands over the years, who has been your favourite to tour
with? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">It was always fun for us doing
<a href="http://www.lostprophets.com/">Lostprophets</a> tours because they were a big inspiration for us when were
fifteen. They were one of the bands that kind of shifted our musical direction
I guess. They’ve always been like older brothers to us, they’ve always guided
and advised us and been really nice like that. And on a personal level, it was
huge to do shows with<a href="http://www.stereophonics.com/"> Stereophonics</a>. They were the reason I got into rock music
when I was like 10 or 11. We did Cardiff City Stadium with them and it was
monumental. There’s also been loads like Fall Out Boy, Paramore, New Found
Glory, those tours are crazy. It was just hysteria. It was weird because we
were so new it was just really exciting for us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">You’ve
chosen three British support acts to take on this tour with you, was that a
conscious decision?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Our agent and out management asked us
if we wanted to take an American band because kids over here obviously don’t
have a lot opportunities to see them. But we think there are so many good bands
in Britain that don’t always have a platform that they deserve. We’d much
prefer to give our friends and local bands a chance because American bands are
always given opportunities. We’ve been meaning to tour with <a href="http://www.myspace.com/blitzkidsuk">Blitz Kids</a> and
we’ve been friends with Francesca for </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">ages but never actually toured with
them either. We’ve done <a href="http://www.myspace.com/saveyourbreathband">Save Your Breath</a> tours before but we love them so much
we just thought we’d take them out again.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">You
played a gig at St Pancras station this summer, how was that?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">It was strange but it was a really
cool opportunity. It gets a bit tedious because we get asked to do so many
acoustic things but that was awesome. We were literally in the main walkway and
there were about 400 people there. It was about 5 or 6’oclock so there were
loads of people coming through the station and there we announcements going on.
We had to be a bit quiet and keep it down but it was really cool. We tried some
new songs and they came off quite well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">How
was the recording process for In Gold Blood? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">It was really free and quite
adventurous for everyone. We spent three weeks in Brussels in Belgium. We’d
never recorded in that way before. We just sat in this big live room and mic’d
everything up as if it was a live show or rehearsal, and the boys just kind of
jammed I guess. We knew the songs but a few of them were not exactly 100%
finished, not that our record label knew anything about that. <a href="http://www.jasonperryrock.com/">Jason Perry</a>, who
produced ‘Dirt’ as well, was really keen on the idea of doing the whole thing
live. We were using all the 80s keyboards and all the gear that they had there,
creating all these really rich sounds. So as far as that was concerned it was
really cool. But I never really enjoy doing vocals as such, I always find it a
bit of a chore. But it was actually really fun and a lot more rewarding than
the other albums. Its usually just a really stale way of doing it but when you
get to do it live you actually feel like you’re achieving something. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">How
did it differ from the recording process for ‘Dirt’?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">‘Dirt’ was a lot of fun but obviously
we had a lot less time to do it. Even though, ironically, it took longer to
finish. I think it took 9 days to record in El Paso. We just did it as we’d
worked before. ‘Dirt’ was big stress, we had that nine days but then it took
from August to December to get everything finished. But ‘In Gold Blood’ was
wrapped up in about a month and a half, so it was a lot easier and a lot more
relaxed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">You’ve
been sporting a new look since the release of the new album, who’s decision was
that?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">That was me. Some of the boys weren’t
happy because Ian is a devout <a href="http://www.fredperry.com/">Fred Perry</a> fan and we had quite a nice little
hook up with them because he wears it all the time. He’s always seen in it so
they were happy to give us loads of new stuff. But then I told him ‘not
anymore! You’re going to be wearing feathers and leather’. We had this
apocalyptic theme so I thought we might as well just ham it up on stage as
well. You can’t write a dramatic album and then pussy out and just wear
t-shirts and jeans on stage. So we kind of dived in. To be fair everyone really
worked to do it. It’s just that warriors kind of vibe, like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_of_the_Flies">Lord Of The Flies</a>
and this dystopian concept. It was fun, I still don’t know how most people feel
about it but I have a laugh with it. It feels powerful!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">How
is your relationship with <a href="http://www.roadrunnerrecords.co.uk/">Roadrunner Records</a> going after three albums?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">We were a bit dubious to start because
it was a metal label so we thought ‘what the fuck are we doing?’ But no, we’re
quite a shy bunch of boys and we’re always a bit awkward with these business
things. So for ‘Smart Casual’ we were just sort of sitting back and didn’t really
know what was going on, but as the relationship grew they started to trust us a
lot more. With ‘Dirt’ they let us shoot of to Texas and we barely heard
anything. They’ve been really supportive of us and I think with the last album
more so than ever they just let us do our thing. They let us wear feathers and
rally around on bikes. Especially now when record labels are on their arse,
they’re still supporting us. I don’t think many other labels would be as
willing to let us get away with what we do. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">You’ve
never toured America before, do you have any plans to go out there? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">It’s really difficult because it’s
such a big territory to try and break. You need a lot of money and you need the
support out there. Roadrunner do have the option to send us out there because
we have an international deal with them but I think they’ve had such a hard run
of attempts with bands from Britain. They tried doing <a href="http://www.biffyclyro.com/">Biffy Clyro</a> a few years
ago and despite the fact that they were in arenas over here, they were nowhere
near that in America. So a band like us is a huge risk for them. You could
easily spend about £50,000 and play to no one. So it’s just a waiting game. We’d love to go over there, we just can’t
really afford it at the moment. We just need something to happen, like if we
have a song on the radio over there then we can go over there. If the right
opportunity comes up, we’ll do it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>Joanna Stasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03690148776513497017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3301663615904930112.post-26488726414487347202011-11-04T07:27:00.000-07:002011-11-05T11:43:48.710-07:00Interview: Blitz Kids<br />
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<a href="http://tomkclarke.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/blitz-kids-southampton-guildhall-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://tomkclarke.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/blitz-kids-southampton-guildhall-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>Things
are finally coming together for<a href="http://www.myspace.com/blitzkidsuk"> Blitz Kids</a> and they’ve come a long way from
their spooky beginning. </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Under
the name Rig Up Explosive, they formed on the night of Halloween in 2005. ‘That
wasn’t planned but it just so happened that our first practice was on Halloween’
says frontman Joe James. ‘It was just me, Eddie (Hawks – drums), Billy (Evanson
– guitar) and another guy on bass’. After a year went by, bassist Nic
Montgomery and guitarist Jono Yates joined and the group decided it was time
for a name change. ‘Everybody kept thinking I was saying ‘Big Duck Explosion’
or ‘Ripped Up Explosives’. Everyone used to spell our name wrong or wouldn’t be
able to pronounce it so it felt like the right time to change it. Plus we were
changing our musical style so it made sense’ says Joe. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The
band are not afraid to admit that they were a little naïve when starting out. ‘Tours
were fun because we didn’t really know what was going on. We just sort of
rolled with it’ says Joe. ‘No one came to the shows but we thought that was
what it was like for bands like us. All of five people would turn up and the
promoter would be like ‘oh yea, we’re not paying you any money’ and we’d just
be like ‘ok, bye!’ We just didn’t realise, but it was fun anyway.’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Blitz
Kids come from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crewe_and_Nantwich">Crewe & Nantwich</a> in South Cheshie, an area where, they
admit, the music scene is ‘non-existent’. ‘There’s load of bands but no one is
really going for it, and they all have missive egos.’ says Billy. ‘We’re a lot
different because we’re all really sound people and none of us have really got
egos’ adds Jono. ‘Whereas all of these kids now who are doing it, they’re all
in competition with each other. There’s no support there at all, it’s every man
for himself. There’s no unity.’ In fact, Blitz Kids are probably the only ones
to have made it from their hometown. ‘It’s really weird’ says Jono, ‘We’re the
only band from there that ever got to this sort of level. And back home, to all
these bands its like ‘oh my god!’ They think were massive and its hilarious
because we’re really not.’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://tomkclarke.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/blitz-kids-southampton-guildhall-71.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://tomkclarke.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/blitz-kids-southampton-guildhall-71.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">They
may not be massive just yet but they’ve been working hard at fine tuning their
sound. ‘We’ve just got better at writing songs I think, just by practising
every day’ says Eddie. ‘When we first started we were put down as an
experimental band when really we were only like that because we didn’t know how
to write songs. It wasn’t because we wanted to be experimental. And then as time went by we just figured out how to write songs properly and make them sound a
lot better. We take the bits people seem to like, which are the choruses,
and do more of them and make then bigger. Then we just fill them in with some
nice verses’. Joe adds; ‘We just have riffs and then stick them all together.
It’s very cut and paste!’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">After releasing two EPs the guys were finally ready to record their debut album 'Vagrants and Vagabonds', and according to Joe, it was a quick process. 'We went in for two days and then we were done' he exclaims. They decided to record the album 'as live', just playing through each track instead of recording the different parts and layering them together. 'The only song that took loads of attempts we didn't actually use' says Joe, who managed to do all of his vocals in just two takes. 'The most takes on the album was four, which was for 'Bye Bye Blackbird'' adds Jono. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">'Vagrants and Vagabonds' also featured guest vocals from Aled Phillips, lead singer of <a href="http://www.kidsinglasshouses.com/">Kids In Glass Houses</a>. But who approached who for the collaboration on the track 'Story'? 'Aled said 'Joe, please let me sing on that song!'' jokes the frontman. 'No, we played <a href="http://www.tinthepark.com/content/">T In The Park</a> the year before last and we just saw him there. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">At that time Kids in Glass Houses
were just doing their ‘Dirt’ album which was full of key changes and was very
80s inspired. And we’d just written a song with a key change. We we’re just
having a drink with him and I said ‘I’d like you to sing on a song we’ve got
with a key change, I think it would be fun’. Then he said yes and it just
happened.’</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Now
Blitz Kids are supporting Kids In Glass Houses on their UK tour. ‘It’s the best
tour we’ve ever done’ says Joe. ‘The crowds have been the best, the bands have
been the best and the venues have been really cool’. Today’s venue is
<a href="http://www.livenation.co.uk/southampton/">Southampton Guildhall</a>, and the boys have had the opportunity to get out their
skateboards and explore. ‘I had a really nice</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">frappuccino for the
first time ever’ exclaims Joe. ‘And the girl behind the counter was so nice,
she swapped my drink for free so I gave her guest list for tonight’s show’. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Once
the UK tour is over, the band will be jetting off to LA to record with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Feldmann">John Feldman</a>, big time record producer and lead singer of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldfinger_(band)">Goldfinger</a>. ‘It’s going to
be the biggest selling album of all time ever’ jokes Joe, ‘Its going to sell 18
million copies!’ Well I guess we’ll just have to wait and see about that, but if
Feldman’s work for <a href="http://www.panicatthedisco.com/">Panic! At The Disco</a> and <a href="http://www.theused.net/">The Used </a>is anything to go by, this
could just be the album to look out for in 2012. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://tomkclarke.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/blitz-kids-southampton-guildhall-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://tomkclarke.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/blitz-kids-southampton-guildhall-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>Joanna Stasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03690148776513497017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3301663615904930112.post-82793441354144407012011-11-04T06:39:00.000-07:002011-11-04T06:39:07.008-07:00Interview: The Overtones<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L2EqJAEVviE/TrPq2KPY9vI/AAAAAAAAAKc/3sy0u_IhE44/s1600/The_Overtones_47474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L2EqJAEVviE/TrPq2KPY9vI/AAAAAAAAAKc/3sy0u_IhE44/s320/The_Overtones_47474.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">From paintbrushes to microphones, it’s
been a long climb to the top for vocal harmony group <a href="http://www.theovertones.tv/">The Overtones</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Despite
originally hailing from all over the UK – Mark Franks is from Manchester, Mike
Crawshaw from Bristol, Darren Everest from Essex and Timmy Mately from Ireland
– the four lads got to know each other on the open mic scene in London seven
years ago.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">They decided
to form a unique band, but it wasn’t until Australian born Lachie Chapman
joined that it all fell into place. “We weren’t actually looking for a bass but
Timmy met Lachie doing a promo job and had a bit of a brainwave that he’d be
amazing in our group. He was the icing on the cake for the sound we were trying
to create” says Mark.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But the group
had trouble juggling their day jobs and the band. Mark was a professional
dancer, Mike worked as a model and Darren, Timmy and Lachie were all actors.
But being self-employed made it hard for the guys to make ends meet and so they
we’re forced to do promo and bar work on the side. Working day and night
obviously made it tricky for the band to all be in the same place at the same
time to rehearse, but a clever business idea soon changed all that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“Darren and
Mike had got a bit of painting and decorating experience and so thought it
would be a good idea to all get together and do a few painting jobs. It worked
out great because we could rehearse and get paid at the same time. Although I’m
not the best painter in the world, so I just made cups of tea” says Mark. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But little
did they know, their new aliases would lead to a surprising big break. “One day
we were decorating a place just off Oxford Circus and we were rehearsing for a
gig that we had that weekend” recalls Mark. “Then a talent scout from <a href="http://www.wmg.com/">WarnerMusic</a> walked past. We didn’t know who she was at the time but she came up and
asked us what were up to and it kind of went from there really.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">After debut
album ‘Good Ol’ Fashioned Love’ was released last year, the boys ventured off
on tour with 90’s pop sensation <a href="http://www.peterandre.com/">Peter Andre</a>. “It’s funny to us because we
didn’t think it was our typical audience. We’d not long released our album and
to be honest when we were recording it we knew that we were really passionate
about what we were doing but we weren’t entirely sure what our demographic
would be” says Mark. “We possibly thought it would be the older generation who
were around the first time all these classic songs were about. But what we
found on the Peter Andre tour was that we got a load of really young fans
following us that just really appreciated a good song.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Mark also
believes that the younger generation are getting back into old fashioned music.
“I mean in the charts at the moment there’s lots of vintage sounding music,
you’ve got <a href="http://www.palomafaith.com/gb/">Paloma Faith</a>, <a href="http://www.time4planb.co.uk/">Plan B</a>, even <a href="http://www.ollymurs.com/">Olly Murs</a> and all those kinds of artists,
their songs do have a vintage feel” he explains.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Although the
band are a fan of all things vintage, they are trying to keep up to date for
their more technologically advanced fans too. They recently released an iPhone
app of games themed around their single 'Gambling Man’. “We’d had quite a good
response to ‘Gambling Man’ so I think we just thought it would be fun to run
something alongside that. It’s just a bit of fun really and also we have a lot
of really dedicated fans that follow us on Twitter and Facebook, so we wanted
to give them something to take home and hopefully enjoy.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">That fan base
soon grew even bigger and so did the success of their album. Selling over
350,000 copies it became the 2<sup>nd</sup> biggest selling debut album from a
UK group in 2011. And to celebrate, they have released a Platinum Edition of
the record with six brand new tracks, one of which is a cover of <a href="http://www.adele.tv/">Adele</a>’s
‘Rolling In The Deep’. The band are big fans of the award winning singer-songwriter
and count her as one of their influences. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“She’s
definitely proved that you don’t need a load of wizardry and technology to
produce a song. She did a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qemWRToNYJY">performance at the Brits</a> recently where it was just
her and a piano and she sang ‘Someone Like You’. I think everyone watching it
had goosebumps. We are trying to bring that sort of old school vocal harmony
element to music, while giving it a contemporary twist as well. So it’s good to
see that there’s artists that are still shining that have great vocal ability”
says Mark. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">October saw
the band set off on their second UK tour of the year that included a stop off
at <a href="http://www.bic.co.uk/">Bournemouth’s Pavilion Theatre</a> and a sold out show at the <a href="http://www.reallyuseful.com/theatres/london-palladium/">London Palladium</a>.
However, Mark insists that touring in ‘The Overtonesmobile’ isn’t as glamorous
as you might think. “Well there’s five lads together so you can imagine what
that’s like. We have a little DVD player on the van which is quite cool. We
always have a bit of a squabble over what we’re going to watch. Normally it’s a
bit of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0182576/">Family Guy</a>” says Mark. “It’s not very rock’n’roll our lifestyle. Our
rider when we’re touring consists of lemon, honey and ginger and a bowl of
fruit. I usually put in an order for a bit of Jack Daniels for after the show
though.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Rather than
being ‘rock’n’roll’, Mark prefers to think of The Overtones as ‘slick, stylish
and feel-good’. And if those album sales are anything to go by, it looks like
the public are feeling pretty good about them too. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>Joanna Stasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03690148776513497017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3301663615904930112.post-26887934661898222592011-11-04T06:28:00.000-07:002011-11-04T06:28:52.175-07:00Live Review: Black Veil Brides @ Southampton University, 6/10/11<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Standing
outside<a href="http://www.soton.ac.uk/"> Southampton University</a> tonight, you’d be forgiven for thinking its
Halloween, or at least a freshers fancy dress party, But no, <a href="http://bvbarmy.com/">Black Veil Brides</a>
have rolled into town, bringing with them an army of teens dressed in the
deepest shade of black and smothered in eyeliner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.myspace.com/mypassion">My Passion</a> fit the bill perfectly, with their quaffed hair and coordinated
outfits. They appear to fall somewhere between a mediocre 90s boy band and a
monotonous electro metal outfit. However, the tweens in the crowd go mad for
it, roaring as frontman Laurence Rene climbs the speakers as though no one has ever done it before. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.myspace.com/theyashin">Yashin</a> scream
a bit of fresh air into proceedings with the unusual vocal duo of American Harry Radford and Glaswegian Kevin Miles. The two accents sound surprisingly refreshing together and the band fire out some decent gimmick-free post-hardcore. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Black Veil Brides' predictably dramatic entrance is met with screams that could pop ear drums. They look and sound like a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiss_(band)">Kiss</a> tribute band, yet do not play any Kiss songs. So what's the point? Well, I guess it's all just a bit of fun. Cheesy speeches about 'being yourself' and getting the crowd to scream profanities and raise their middle fingers in unison clearly excited the young fans. It may not be the best music in the world, by any means, but if you enjoy a bit of a Hollywood spectacle then Black Veil Brides certainly deliver. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>Joanna Stasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03690148776513497017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3301663615904930112.post-2543354202182024982011-11-04T06:13:00.000-07:002011-11-04T06:13:08.777-07:00A quick chat with... Black Veil Brides<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oFbW-klbh1o/TrPiwf46gYI/AAAAAAAAAKU/HanP7ak8O0A/s1600/BVB.redshot3+%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oFbW-klbh1o/TrPiwf46gYI/AAAAAAAAAKU/HanP7ak8O0A/s400/BVB.redshot3+%25281%2529.png" width="266" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Clad head to toe in leather and metal studs and with faces covered in eye liner, Jeremy "Jinxx" Ferguson and Jake Pitts talk about the image, the music and blowing shit up...</i></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What does a <a href="http://bvbarmy.com/">Black Veil Brides </a>show involve?</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jake (guitar):</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Well you can see how
we look, but it isn’t just about how we dress. We put on a killer show as well.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jinxx (guitar/violin):</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> And our fans bring a
lot out of us too. They come dressed up like us and have a lot of energy so
that adds a lot to it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jake:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> We feel that energy so we throw it right
back out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">How long does it take you to get ready before
a show?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jake:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> About half an hour to an hour. We have a
system now, we’ve been doing this a while. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jinxx:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> I can almost do it with my eyes closed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Image is clearly very important to you, do
you think it’s just as important as the music?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jake:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Absolutely. You’ve got to have the whole
package. It’s boring if your favourite band dress like they work as a grocery
store or something.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jinxx:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> That’s not rock ‘n’roll man. If you’re gonna
put on a show, put on a show. We’re entertainers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jake: </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">You’ve got to look the part.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Black Veil Brides was the the brain child of
Andy Biersack (lead singer)…<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jake:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Yea he came up with Black Veil Brides and
had a vision of what he wanted. It took a while for everything to come together
and to find the right people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Did you find it hard to fit into his vision
of the band?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jake:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Not at all. It was the perfect fit. We met
and it just clicked right away. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jinxx:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> It was what we all had in mind for the band
as well, before we even met Andy. We all shared similar interests in the same
bands.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Have you noticed a different reaction to the
band in the UK compared to America?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jake:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> We have really dedicated fans, wherever we
are. I think we just have more fans here. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jinxx:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> I think people get us a little better over
here as far as what we’re trying to do. Especially the rock ‘n’ roll aspect of
what we do. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jake:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> And this will be the third time we’ve been
on the cover of Kerrang!, so that’s pretty cool. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">You’re clearly influenced by a lot of 80s
metal bands, most notably <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiss_(band)">Kiss</a>, but are there any acts around at the moment who
inspire you?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jake:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Musically, I listen to a lot of metal stuff
like <a href="http://forwearemany.allthatremainsonline.com/">All The Remains</a> and <a href="http://unearth.tv/">Unearth</a>. Avenged Sevenfold are a huge influence too. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jinxx:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> As far as image though, there aren’t too
many bands that are doing what we do. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jake:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> And now we’re all in our favourite band!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">How does new album ‘Set The World On Fire’
differ from your debut record ‘We Stitch These Wounds’?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jake:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Better song writing and the production
quality is a lot better. Overall, I think it’s just a much better record. It’s
easier to listen to because it sounds better. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jinxx, you play violin for the band. Do you
think violin is becoming more rock ‘n’ roll these days?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jinxx:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Yea, there’s people like me out there,
dressed like this playing violin so I suppose so. I’d like to incorporate a lot
more violin in our live shows later on, like a violin solo maybe. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What’s next for Black Veil Brides? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jinxx:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Tour, tour, tour. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jake:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> We’re doing ten headlining dates and then
we’re going to tour with<a href="http://www.avengedsevenfold.com/"> Avenged Sevenfold</a>. We’ll have Christmas off and then
go to South America in January. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jinxx:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> We’re also releasing an EP by Christmas
time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jake:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> We’re booked up all the way to the end of
next year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Are you nervous about touring with Avenged
Sevenfold?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jinxx:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Nervous? No, we’re excited!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jake:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> It’s an arena tour so it’ll be the biggest
tour we’ve done so far.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jinxx:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> We’re stepping it up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jake:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> We’ll do as much as they’ll allow us to do,
otherwise we’d be blowing shit up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>Joanna Stasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03690148776513497017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3301663615904930112.post-60586363343860810872011-08-30T08:22:00.000-07:002011-08-30T08:22:26.040-07:00Interview: Funeral For A Friend<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IfLOggK6MZY/Tlz_tTRbTnI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/_q3qCfWspck/s1600/Funeral+For+A+Friend+-+New+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IfLOggK6MZY/Tlz_tTRbTnI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/_q3qCfWspck/s320/Funeral+For+A+Friend+-+New+3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">As if one UK Tour in 2011 wasn’t enough – and it wasn’t! - <a href="http://www.ffaf.co.uk/">Funeral For A Friend</a> are about to set off on another. I spoke to guitar turned </span><span lang="EN-US">bass player Gavin Burrough</span><b><span lang="EN-US"> </span></b><span lang="EN-US">about tour, the latest album and legendary crooner Tom Jones…</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="EN-US">How has the touring been this year?</span></b><b><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">Great! The new album has been really well received, we have been playing a lot of new material live and it seems to be working well alongside the older ones. Earlier in the year we completed a mega tour of the UK, it was great to play some places we had previously never been like Saltash and Penrith. </span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="EN-US">Do you have a favourite stop on tour?</span></b><b><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">Anywhere that’s hot, has a beach, and waterproof money, ha that would be <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Australia</st1:place></st1:country-region> then!</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="EN-US">How do you cope with touring these days?</span></b><b><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">Im not sure the word “cope” really applies to touring for me. It’s never a chore to travel around the world meeting different people in different situations. It’s probably the most enjoyable aspect of what we do. </span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="EN-US">Which tracks do you most enjoy playing on tour?</span></b><b><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">I suppose it depends really. There are certain old tracks that are always a staple of the set like ‘Juneau’, ‘Roses For The Dead’ and ‘Escape Artists Never Die’, they are always super fun to play. I probably just as enjoy the new tracks though, they can be more unpredictable because you are not sure how people will react to them. </span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="EN-US">Funeral For A Friend have had quite a few line-up changes throughout the years, do you think this has had an effect on the music?</span></b><b><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">Well seeing as I am a newer member I’d probably have to say yes. The other guys have been doing this for over 10 years now, it’s not as though they had lost interest just maybe a little perspective. I suppose seeing how excited me and Rich were about the band kind of reinvigorated them and gave them that perspective. Both me and Rich had our part to play in the writing process, with different members brings a different dynamic. </span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="EN-US">The latest album Welcome Home Armageddon has been labelled by some as 'Casually Dress & Deep In Conversation: Part Two'. Do you think there’s any truth in that?</span></b><b><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">Nah not really, it’s true that we were focused on bringing back a heavier, more intense sound that was represented in the earlier stuff. But we are not in the game to rehash versions of old songs. I think ‘Welcome Home Armageddon’ stands testament to this, having a clear defined sound of its own.</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="EN-US">How was the recording process for ‘Welcome Home Armageddon’?</span></b><b><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">The album was recorded over the space of a month with our good friend and producer Romesh Dodangoda. We have worked with Romesh a number of times before, namely Memory and Humanity our fourth studio album, it was pretty seamless, picking up where we had left off before. It was nice to work in an environment where everybody was on the same page.</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="EN-US">Funeral For A Friend have been around for a while now, what has been the highlight of the last 10 years?</span></b><b><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">For me it would have to be joining the band just over 3 years ago. It’s been an absolute whirlwind that which I could never have anticipated; the best years of my life. </span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="EN-US">Have you had any regrets?</span></b><b><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Nope, not a single one<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="EN-US">You played Download Festival this summer, which bands on the line up did you check out?</span></b><b><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">We were pretty busy that day so didn’t really get to see that many bands; I think I caught a bit of letlive, they were awesome and I remember I was being interviewed, I could hear <a href="http://www.down-nola.com/">Down</a> playing Walk – Pantera …I almost weed myself!</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="EN-US">What do you guys do when you’re not making music and touring?</span></b><b><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">The band keeps us pretty busy, but for me, Ryan and Rich we have another band called <a href="http://www.myspace.com/ghostlinesband">Ghostlines</a> which we work on. It’s very mellow and chilled out, the antithesis of FFAF I guess.</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="EN-US">Wales has produced a lot of good musicians over the years, who are your favourites at the moment? </span></b><b><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">Tom Jones … got to love that fella! Some great bands in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Wales</st1:place></st1:country-region> though at the moment <a href="http://www.myspace.com/tigerplease">Tiger Please</a>, <a href="http://www.myspace.com/straightlines">Straight Lines</a>, <a href="http://www.myspace.com/deadwretcheduk">The Dead Wretched</a>. I could go on forever! </span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="EN-US">Do you think Funeral For A Friend will still be around in another 10 years? And what do you think you will you be doing in 2021? </span></b><b><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">As long as we have limbs and mouths to make music we will still be here, barring some freak boating accident! </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Century","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>Joanna Stasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03690148776513497017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3301663615904930112.post-86420175678549788462011-08-24T12:57:00.000-07:002011-08-24T12:57:12.259-07:00The Rise Of The Planet of Pop Punk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.terra.com.pe/addon/img/terrastereo/d66aaapunk305p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.terra.com.pe/addon/img/terrastereo/d66aaapunk305p.jpg" /></a></div>They say that everything comes back into fashion at some point, be it shoulder pads, crop tops or <a href="http://www.noeledmonds.tv/">Noel Edmonds</a>. But right now it’s the turn of pop punk. There is no denying that since the return of pop punk titans <a href="http://www.blink182.com/tour/">Blink 182</a>, the genre has experienced a sudden surge in popularity. From <a href="http://www.jimmyeatworld.com/">Jimmy Eat World</a>’s triumphant album shows which saw fans singing along to every single word of 2001’s smash hit ‘Bleed American’ to <a href="http://www.newfoundglory.com/">New Found Glory</a>’s packed out Reading & Leeds warm up gigs championing their new T-Shirt slogan <a href="http://www.marijuana.pl/images/tshirt_pop_punks_not_dead_big.jpg">‘Pop Punk’s Not Dead</a>’, it is clear that these 90s icons are as popular as ever. <br />
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And talking of <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/festivals/readingandleeds/2011/">Reading & Leeds</a>, this year’s line-up is scattered with more pop punk bands than ever before. Gone are the days when pop punk’s finest were restricted to <a href="http://www.slamdunkmusic.com/slam-dunk-festival">Slam Dunk Festival</a> alone. With New Found Glory, Jimmy Eat World, Panic! At The Disco, The Offspring and Decedents popping up across the weekend, 2011 seems to be the year pop punk creeps back into the mainstream. Even headline act My Chemical Romance could be considered inductees into the realm of pop punk with their latest, more upbeat, release Danger Days: The True Lives Of The Fabulous Killjoys. <br />
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This year has also seen an unashamedly summery pop punk record from the sugary <a href="http://www.simpleplan.com/">Simple Plan</a>, featuring collaborations from Rivers Cuomo and Natasha Bedingfield no less, and a packed out tent for ‘popcore’ pioneers <a href="http://www.myspace.com/fouryearstrong">Four Year Strong</a>’s headline performance at this year’s <a href="http://uk.sonispherefestivals.com/">Sonisphere Festival</a>. And it’s not just the old stuff making a comeback, with the relatively new kids on the block <a href="http://www.myspace.com/alltimelow">All Time Low</a> and <a href="http://www.youmeatsix.co.uk/">You Me At Six</a> playing bigger and bigger shows across the world, its certain that there is room for fresh faced pop punkers on our stages too. You don’t even need a pair of Dickies and a blonde mohawk to listen to them either. <br />
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<div>Why pop punk ever went out of fashion still remains one of life’s unanswered questions. Much like ‘why do <a href="http://www.planetjedward.net/">Jedward</a> exist?’ We’ll just never know. <br />
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But ‘why has pop punk suddenly wormed its way back into our hearts and onto our iPods?’ is slightly easier to consider. It could be that warm and fuzzy ‘getting drunk down the skate park’ nostalgia that listing back to classic records like Blink’s ‘Enema Of the State’ or <a href="http://www.sum41.com/dttah/splash.html">Sum 41</a>’s ‘All Killer No Filler’ brings? Or it could be that the genre is just generally a big ol’ barrel of fun? And who, apart from <a href="http://blog.tvguide.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/alan.jpg">Alan Sugar</a>, doesn’t like fun? Whatever the answer, let’s hope that the infectious hooks, huge sing-a-longs and teenage angst of pop punk continues to park its behind in the world’s festival lineups and iPod playlists for a while longer. New Found Glory for Glastonbury 2013! Just me? Okay… </div>Joanna Stasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03690148776513497017noreply@blogger.com232tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3301663615904930112.post-41976489235525346442011-08-24T08:26:00.000-07:002011-08-24T08:26:58.962-07:00Album Review: In Gold Blood - Kids In Glass Houses<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cravemetal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Kids-in-Glass-Houses-%E2%80%93-In-Gold-Blood-2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" qaa="true" src="http://www.cravemetal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Kids-in-Glass-Houses-%E2%80%93-In-Gold-Blood-2011.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The third album from Welsh outfit <a href="http://www.kidsinglasshouses.com/">Kids In Glass Houses</a> is like an<span style="color: #1f497d;"><span style="color: #1f497d;"> </span></span>enchanting treasure hunt<span style="color: #1f497d;"><span style="color: #1f497d;"> - t</span></span>here are moments of<span style="color: #1f497d;"><span style="color: #1f497d;"> </span></span>superbly produced brilliance in there, you just have to search for them. From the vintage undertones delivered by the brass section in ‘The Florist’ and ‘Only The Brave Die Free’ to the monster riff in ‘Animals’, and the magical hooks of ‘Teenage Wonderland’ to the beautiful bridge and bizarre saxophone solo of ‘Fire’, this LP has some bite.<span style="color: #1f497d;"><span style="color: #1f497d;"> </span></span>Experimentation aside, ‘In Gold Blood’ has some refreshingly heavy moments<span style="color: #1f497d;"><span style="color: #1f497d;">, </span></span>and anthemic sing-a-longs we’ve come to expect from KIGH. As for the rest of the record, well there’s enough of your standard foot tapping and memorable hooks for the teenage fans to be getting on with. </span></span>Joanna Stasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03690148776513497017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3301663615904930112.post-16941725287280460992011-07-25T08:31:00.000-07:002011-07-25T08:31:16.735-07:00Live Review: Tiger Please @ iBar, Bournemouth, 22/07/2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.triplegmusic.com/uploads/images/tigerplease.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://www.triplegmusic.com/uploads/images/tigerplease.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We all know that Wales has produced some of the UK’s greatest musical talent over the years, and South Wales five-piece <a href="http://www.myspace.com/tigerplease">Tiger Please</a> are not about to break the tradition. A crowd of bright young things have eagerly arrived at <a href="http://www.ibar.com/">Bournemouth’s iBar</a>, ready to kick off the summer holidays with a night to remember.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Mightily impressive local support comes from Basingstoke outfit <a href="http://www.myspace.com/thefortunateuk">The Fortunate</a>. The four fresh faced youngsters are fronted by Natalie Woodward. She may be small but her voice most certainly is not. Natalie and the band perform a catalogue of infectious pop/rock tunes that deserve to be classics. They also give a stunning rendition of U2’s With Or Without You. The Fortunate are definitely ones to watch.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.myspace.com/letsgosafari">Let’s Go Safari</a> don’t leave quite the same impression this evening. The electro-pop duo from Poole consists of <span class="apple-style-span">Clive Robert Coats – a.k.a. The Panda - and Ryan Daniel Wood – a.k.a. The Tiger</span>. They come across as a not-quite-as-talented and not-quite-as-funny, Tenacious D, and their very quiet backing track doesn’t do them any favours. Nevertheless, they appear to have a solid fanbase and as the set progresses, a few potential hits emerge. The catchy sing-a-long in ‘Mister Masochist’ proves to be a memorable highlight. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s then time for tonight’s Welsh visitors to showcase their talent. Cardiff five-piece<a href="http://www.myspace.com/cubacubamusic"> Cuba Cuba</a> build a wonderful wall of sound with their angular pop. Combining the catchiness of <a href="http://www.myspace.com/canterbury">Canterbury </a>and the ambiance of <a href="http://www.blocparty.com/">Bloc Party</a>, Cuba Cuba are onto a winner. What they lack in energy they make up for in dry wit and stage banter with tonight’s headline act.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Soon enough, it’s Tiger Please’s turn to show us how the Welsh do it. Frontman Leon Stanford’s powerful voice inspires powerful sing-a-longs on tracks from the EP and debut album. But it’s the new material that steals the show. It’s clear that Tiger Please are supurb storytellers, so it’s just as well that their <a href="http://tiger-please.tumblr.com/">second album</a> is a compilation of songs inspired by stories emailed to the band by their devoted fans. Leon is clearly a little disappointed when crowd attendance appears to dwindle towards the middle of the set, so brings out some old tracks inspired by the presence of the boys from Cuba Cuba – two of whom are ex-Tiger Please members – to pick things up again. Despite Tiger Please ending their set with a song about suicide, the crowd still leave iBar with beaming smiles. Now that is quite an achievement. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>Joanna Stasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03690148776513497017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3301663615904930112.post-54998958736428225202011-05-30T09:07:00.000-07:002011-05-30T09:10:16.416-07:00Interview: Innerpartysystem<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.chuffmedia.com/gallery/d/6978-1/IPS+bridge_sunMED.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://www.chuffmedia.com/gallery/d/6978-1/IPS+bridge_sunMED.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><em>With a bottle of Jack Daniel’s in hand, electronica trio from Pennsylvania, <a href="http://innerpartysystem.com/">Innerpartysystem</a>, set up a spectacular light display for their set supporting <a href="http://www.3oh3music.com/">3OH!3</a> at <a href="http://www.oldfirestation.co.uk/">The Old Fire Station, Bournemouth</a>. I caught up with two thirds of the band before the show and sparked a small disagreement about the degree at which their sound has changed…</em></span></span> <br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">This is the first date of the UK leg of the 3OH!3 tour, are you excited for the next couple of weeks? </span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Jared Piccone (drums)</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> <span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Definitely. It’s kind of like a home away from home for us so it’s nice to be in familiar places. And the shows are definitely gonna be bigger because I think we do better in the UK than the rest of the continent. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Kris Barman (programming, guitar, synthesizer): </span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Yea we don’t draw much anywhere other than the UK. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Jared:</span></b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> We’re still like a new band. A lot of those places we hit for the first time on this past tour. Like Paris, Amsterdam, Marseille. There was definitely a handful of places we’ve never been so it’s nice to come to places where we definitely have some fans. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">What can the UK expect from your live shows?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Kris:</span></b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> Well I think this is probably the best set we’ve ever put together. It’s super energetic. It just punches you in the face right after every song. It just flows into each other. And we have a really cool light set up this time </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Jared:</span></b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> Yea we kind of spent all the money we had running these video tubes but it’s worth it. They look pretty cool. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">What do you guys need to survive on tour?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Jared:</span></b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> Wi-Fi. I’m addicted to the internet. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Kris:</span></b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> Toothbrush, floss, </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Jared:</span></b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> New socks and underwear because we just throw them out. We don’t wash them or anything. So a pretty steady supply of that stuff. And anything that when I lose it, it’s huge. Headphones are definitely one of those. If I don’t have headphones, I freak out. I’m so snobby about the sound too. It needs to have a lot of low end. Even certain headphones won’t do. I’ll have headphones but I’d rather just not listen to music if they’re not loud enough. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">You played at Madame JoJo’s in London a little while ago, how was that?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Jared:</span></b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> It was perfect because we did a smaller venue than we should have, on purpose. So it was really full and hot. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Is the reaction you get from UK fans noticeably different to the reaction in America? </span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Kris:</span></b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> Honestly, it varies from city to city. It’s so hard to say ‘America vs UK’. I mean UK people do seem to be crazy in every city, but people are really crazy in certain cities of America too. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">A few people have been saying that the new EP, Never Be Content, has more of an electronic dance music sound compared to your previous punk-rock sound. Would you agree with that?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jared:</b> Yes.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Kris:</b> I honestly disagree a little bit. I don’t think it’s that much different. But I can see how some people think that. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jared:</b> It’s different. It’s definitely different. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Kris:</b> It’s not a 180</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial;">⁰</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jared:</b> I wasn’t gonna say it’s a 180</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial;">⁰</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">. Don’t be so defensive dude. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Kris:</b> I’m just sayin’.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jared:</b> I think he was prepared for it, because we get that a lot. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Kris:</b> It’s more of a 45</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial;">⁰</span><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Jared:</span></b><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> Yea, well put. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">You are now working with <a href="http://www.redbullrecords.com/">Red Bull Records</a>,</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> do you think a lot will change? </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Jared:</span></b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> A lot has changed already. It’s a more laid back atmosphere. It’s not major label syndrome where because nobody is buying records anymore, every major label is looking for quick ways to make money. It’s nice because Red Bull has another form of revenue than music so they’re not totally worried about us grossing millions of dollars immediately. It’s great not having that pressure on you because it gives you time to make great music. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">You’re coming back to the UK to play <a href="http://uk.sonispherefestivals.com/">Sonisphere festival</a> this summer. What are your festival essentials? </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Kris:</b> At festivals they kind of give you everything you could possibly need. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jared:</b> The hospitality at festivals always rules. I love playing festivals.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Kris:</b> They’re just throwing stuff at you. You get all the free stuff you could possibly imagine. And the food is always awesome. It’s the best thing ever. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jared:</b> And its summer so the weather is usually great. And you never have to worry about the venue not being adequate because it’s this massive outdoor thing. And there are a lot of bands that you usually want to see. So it’s awesome. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Better than tour? </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Kris:</b> Yea, that’s why some bands just do festivals! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">What are your other plans for the rest of the year?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Kris:</b> To finish off the new record and keep touring.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jared:</b> And a new light set-up. The light set-up we rented here kind of sparked us to build a whole new deal. We’re probably gonna axe the lights that we have been using and do something new. Probably more video oriented. I’m not sure how we’re gonna set-up yet but it’s definitely gonna be the Innerpartysystem style, D.I.Y., crazy scattered looking something or other. But we haven’t figured it out yet. </span></div><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/CqR70ddvv7E?rel=0" width="560"></iframe>Joanna Stasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03690148776513497017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3301663615904930112.post-10738889540173306992011-05-18T11:24:00.000-07:002011-05-20T06:43:30.907-07:00Introducing: Asp - Bournemouth's Live And Unsigned 2011 hopeful<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/203501_46731639634_6631397_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/203501_46731639634_6631397_n.jpg" /></a></div>Bournemouth based band <a _mce_href="http://www.facebook.com/aspband" href="http://www.facebook.com/aspband" target="_blank">Asp</a>, have made it through to the area semi finals of <a _mce_href="http://www.liveandunsigned.uk.com/music-competitions" href="http://www.liveandunsigned.uk.com/music-competitions" target="_blank">Live And Unsigned 2011</a>, one of the largest national music competitions for unsigned bands.<br />
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Describing their sound as ‘kind of AC/DC meets Kiss’, Asp are a four piece classic rock band who formed back in 2007.<br />
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Front man Adam "The Yeti" Phillips met guitarist Paul "Brains" Gow at college through a friend. “We didn't know each other but after playing music together we became really close friends” said Adam. The band then grew, with Bassist Rob "Guns" Boivin joining in 2008 and drummer "Demon" Stephen Warr – who Adam says ‘was just too good looking to turn down’ – joined in 2009.<br />
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Complete with their rock ‘n’ roll nicknames, the band released their debut self-titled three track EP last year which they followed up with a mini tour of the south of England. They also, quite literally, reached new heights last summer when they became the first band ever to play 500ft in the air inside the Bournemouth balloon. Adam said “It was terrifying and yet an unforgettable experience.”<br />
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Since then, Asp have been busy recording their brand new six track mini album "Let's Get This Show On The Road" which is due to be released next year. The album was recorded at the <a _mce_href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2789213445" href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2789213445" target="_blank">896 Coffee Bar</a> in Boscombe, Bournemouth, and was produced by Nick Bryson (of <a _mce_href="http://www.musicglue.com/fearne" href="http://www.musicglue.com/fearne" target="_blank">Fearne</a>) and <a _mce_href="http://www.myspace.com/nemesis_russ" href="http://www.myspace.com/nemesis_russ" target="_blank">Russ Gannicott</a> (of Nemesis). “Every track is different, with elements of 80's metal, blues and funk” said Adam; “It’s a ballsy, high energy, classic rock party album and should always be joined by a cold beer.”<br />
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Asp are heavily involved in the Bournemouth music scene and list <a _mce_href="http://eventful.com/bournemouth/venues/the-winchester-pub-/V0-001-001543531-5" href="http://eventful.com/bournemouth/venues/the-winchester-pub-/V0-001-001543531-5" target="_blank">The Winchester </a>as one of their favourite Bournemouth venues. “The Bournemouth music scene does its best for all bands, there are some great people to work with and gig along side in the town” said Adam.<br />
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Music is clearly a massive part of the boys’ lives as when they are not making music as part of Asp, Adam and Rob volunteer as youth workers at<a _mce_href="http://www.dorsetforyou.com/351664" href="http://www.dorsetforyou.com/351664" target="_blank"> The Lighthouse</a> in Christchurch, providing tuition for guitar, bass and ukulele. “Asp grew up at The Lighthouse” said Adam; “We practiced there and learnt there and when we became too old to attend we were so attached to The Lighthouse that we decided to stay as volunteers. We wanted to give back to them what they gave to us and pass on our experiences to new musicians”<br />
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And the boys all have day jobs too; Adam is a carer and teaches music at an after school club at Christchurch Junior School, Paul studies physics at Southampton University, Rob works at Langdons Electric Music and Southern Ukulele Store and Stephen works for Apple Conservatories.<br />
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Now Asp are through to the semi finals of Live and Unsigned 2011 and if they get through, they will get to play live at the final which will be held at The O2 in London. “To think we're in the semi's and one step away from London's O2 is completely surreal” says Adam; “but we are excited about the opportunities this competition can provide for us.”<br />
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To get to the final, Asp must put together a 3 minute 30 second mash up of two songs for which they have chosen a brand new Asp track ‘Bad To The Bone’ and a cover of <a _mce_href="http://www.ledzeppelin.com/" href="http://www.ledzeppelin.com/" target="_blank">Led Zeppelin</a>'s ‘Whole Lotta Love’.<br />
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If they are eventually crowned the winners of this year’s competition then they will win a comprehensive music management package which includes; festival slots (including representing the UK at the biggest festival in Asia I rock), a UK tour exposing their music to over 40,000 people and a recording contract with Future Music, with up to £50,000 investment.<br />
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However, if they don’t win, the boys are determined to push forward and will be gigging around the south of England as much as possible. This will include a big show at <a _mce_href="http://www.christchurchfestival.co.uk/" href="http://www.christchurchfestival.co.uk/" target="_blank">Christchurch Music Festival</a> on Saturday 2nd July. “Apart from that we’ll just be saving our money and writing new songs, putting it all towards what shall be our next album!” says Adam.<br />
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<strong>The Live and Unsigned 2011 semi finals will take place at Portsmouth Guildhall on May 21<sup>st</sup>. Tickets are £7.50. </strong>Joanna Stasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03690148776513497017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3301663615904930112.post-7542064935304189762011-05-17T06:49:00.000-07:002011-05-17T07:03:58.021-07:00Interview: Twin Atlantic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pcItjrJT_Sk/TdJ6Vj9QnZI/AAAAAAAAAIE/Jjzp-es09ys/s1600/Twin+Atlantic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" j8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pcItjrJT_Sk/TdJ6Vj9QnZI/AAAAAAAAAIE/Jjzp-es09ys/s320/Twin+Atlantic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">‘This is all a big blag’, not my words, but the words of <a href="http://www.myspace.com/twinatlantic">Twin Atlantic</a> front man Sam McTrusty. Following the release of their first full length album ‘Free’, the ‘blatantly Scottish’ band – again, not my words – have just completed their biggest UK tour to date. I caught up with them at <a href="http://www.joinerslive.co.uk/">Southampton Joiners</a> to discuss such rock ‘n’ roll topics as Tom DeLonge’s shoes, cats and their ultimate goal; to show that real music still exists… </span></i></div><div style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The UK tour is nearly over, how has it been?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sam McTrusty (vocals & guitar):</b> Outstandingly brilliant. Full stop. It’s been such a milestone for our band. We released an album and people started coming to watch us. We put music out there and people listen to it. We’ve done UK headline tours before and, not to take any merit away from them because they were as important, it’s just that this one has made us feel a bit more gratified. We’re getting something out of doing this now because more people are coming and were enjoying ourselves more. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">You’re pretty far from home right now, what do you miss most when you’re on tour?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ross McNae (bass, piano & vocals):</b> My cats. They’ve all got rock names. Brody Dalle, Jesse James, Sid Vicious and then Lucky, she’s not named after anyone. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">You have some pretty dedicated fans, does the reaction you get still surprise you?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sam:</b> Yes. I’ve always read about my favourites bands saying that they’re in this little bubble when they record an album and then when it gets released they don’t really realise it all blah blah blah. But that’s actually how I felt. We were so concentrated on making something and perfecting our art that now to be back in front of people and getting that immediate response, it’s amazing. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ross:</b> Yea because you can record a record and put it out and you only read what a magazine says or what someone says about you on the internet. But when they’re right in front of you, people can’t lie. You can see it on their faces if they enjoy it.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sam:</b> Yea and it’s the first time we’ve had any sold out shows in England, which doesn’t really happen to us. I’m just waiting for our van to explode or something like that.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">How was the recording process for the new album, ‘Free’?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sam:</b> Beautiful. Simple. It was just so easy. And I think that’s because we had such an experienced producer (<a href="http://www.gilnorton.com/current.htm">Gil Norton</a> - Foo Fighters, Jimmy Eat World, Pixies, The Distillers). We just had this focused drive towards what we wanted. We’d made an EP, then a mini-album. We practiced making an album in that sense, so we knew what we didn’t want to do. And when we got into those situations we glided right through them, whereas before, we would not know which direction to go in. Say we had a completely different opinion, we’d usually argue about it for honestly two days and it would just get in the way of the whole process but this time it was just obvious which route we needed to take. And with Gil being there, he just gave us this sense of self belief that we didn’t have before. I think part of it was because we had a mini-album called ‘Vivarium’, and that was essentially our band up until that point and the songs we thought were good enough to let people here. Where as with ‘Free’, we actually set a goal. This is what we want this album to represent. And we want it to fill this gap and be what music fans aren’t getting from British bands right now. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Do you have a favourite track on the new album? </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sam:</b> Well I think there are songs that I’ve made big statements in with the lyrics so I’m proud of making them work in a song. But there are songs that I prefer the music to. So I can’t choose between ‘Free’ and ‘Edit Me’, or ‘The Ghost of Eddie’. I like playing ‘The Ghost of Eddie’, it’s fun, but those other ones are total mission statements for me. But we’ve all got different answers probably. Ross said ‘The Ghost of Eddie’ yesterday but it changes from day to day. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ross:</b> Yea and then today we played a song called ‘Yes, I Was Drunk’ at sound check and that’s now my favourite. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">What songs have been getting the best reaction when you play live? </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sam:</b> The song ‘It’s Time For You To Stand Up’, which is probably one of the most immediate songs on the record. It’s pretty rocking but it’s also really upbeat. It’s got everything. It’s like a short pop song but it’s still rock music if you know what I mean? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">What’s the story behind the name of the album?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sam:</b> Any idea we have always starts as a joke. And we thought free was the cheesiest name we could give the record. But we also thought the song, ‘Free’, on the record was a real focal point. We didn’t really think about it much we just thought that’s a pretty obvious name so we’ll just go for the obvious name and see what happens. And then all those things came up about ‘what if people think they can get it for free? Wont that be confusing?’ But we were just like, well they can get it for free if they want. More people will get it for free than go and pay for it. So our response to that was to just make fun of it. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">How do you think ‘Free’ differs from your mini-album, ‘Vivarium’?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sam:</b> Well, personally I think it’s better. Better songs, I mean. The song writing definitely took big steps forward, probably because we’d experienced a lot more and we were a bit more grounded as individuals. We’d broadened our horizons by travelling a lot and meeting new people every day. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ross:</b> Something as easy as being a little bit older, and having done music for a little bit longer. Just being two years further down the line of trying to be a professional song writer, they’re gonna be better. So we’re almost winning before we’ve started. Hopefully we’re all better musicians. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sam:</b> We also just tried less hard. We just chilled and had fun rather than trying to impress people. We just thought lets fucking make ourselves happy and then if people like it then cool. If not then at least we’ll be able to look back at it when were 40 and not be embarrassed. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">You were originally planning to record a concept album, what made you decide to scrap it and record ‘Free’ instead?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sam:</b> It wasn’t really a concept record, it was more like a theme to a record. Because we’d never written an album before so it was like, lets write an album about something. Then I realised that that wasn’t going to work because I’d not actually experienced much death and stuff. That’s what it was about, the theme of being scared of dying. A pretty fucking grim topic, but I don’t actually have much experience of death in my family or anything like that where as I’ve got loads of experience of being 23 and loving music and getting to mess about with my friends and travel. So I just decided to write a record about that instead. It was a pretty straight forward decision. I think it would have been a pretty morbid album </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">You’ve done quite a few shows oversees, how was that? </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sam:</b> We did more last year. I keep exaggerating this but I think it was about 20 countries. That’s new countries, because we’ve definitely been around the block once. Hopefully we get to go round the blobk a million times.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ross:</b> But sometimes you’re only there for a day.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sam:</b> Yea we’d drive through Switzerland or somewhere like that and say, yea that counts. But we also did a full North American tour and went to Canada which was fucking crazy. It felt like we were in one of those documentary films I watched when I was 14, like </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" name="OLE_LINK2"></a><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The Blood Money 2. We were with American bands which was so weird, playing venues that you’d see on drive through DVDs and shit like that. So it was pretty cool, but a weird experience. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">What was the reaction like from the fans abroad?</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sam:</b> It’s been more immediate than the UK. I think being so blatantly Scottish, people immediately pay attention because they’re not used to that. So we kind of stood out I suppose. And especially in Germany, we’ve supported bands over there, and they just love rock music so as soon as you play anything with distortion they get excited. And Americans are just so over the top, they’ll come and chat to you for ages and want to buy you drinks and all that. They’re like the cheesy stereotypical music fan in America.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"></span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">You supported <a href="http://www.blink182.com/">Blink 182</a> for their Scottish shows last year, were you surprised to get the gig?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ross:</b> Yea because it’s one of our favourite bands when we were younger. It’s weird because it was obviously a massive surprise but for some reason Tom DeLonge decided to give us some shoes from his company, I don’t know why, but he did. So I think it wasn’t as much of a shock because we knew that he knew who we were. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sam:</b> There were a lot of steps on the way to it.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ross:</b> It wasn’t like one day my mobile rang and it was Tom DeLonge, but it was a really good opportunity to get. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sam:</b> It was crazy! 30,000 people over 3 days got to hear us play all because Tom DeLonge asked us to. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">What has been the highlight of the past year? </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sam:</b> I want to say this tour. And I’m not even joking. It’s maybe been the biggest highlight of the band. Because we’re standing on our own two feet, people are taking us seriously, people are responding to our music as passionately as we did the first time we wrote a song. But also, the people that are coming to the gigs are music fans.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ross:</b> It’s not like all 14 year old girls and it’s not all really trendy people. There are some 50 year old men out there too.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sam:</b> And that’s the real indication that they just love music and want to hear honest songs. That’s why this is the highlight for me. We’ve finally reached a point that we talked about during our first couple of days as a band. This is what we want to achieve. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ross:</b> Also I think it’s because, not that we haven’t written any songs about relationships, but a lot of the songs have covered more universal things so there’s something for different types of people to relate to. It’s not just the one thing.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sam:</b> It’s not all ex-girlfriend songs and all that shit. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">You all had opportunities to persue different careers when you were younger - Ross played hockey for Scotland in school, Sam passed up a golf scholarship to an American university and dropped out of a prestigious art degree at Glasgow University, Dummer Craig Kneale was doing a degree in graphic design and guitarist and cellist Barry McKenna played cello for the Scottish National Youth Orchestra, - do you ever wonder what life might have been like if Twin Atlantic didn’t exist? </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sam:</b> Nah, we’ve kind of always just winged everything.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ross:</b> We’ve just taken every opportunity and not thought about the consequences. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sam:</b> That’s the way we’ve been living since we left school. We had pretty mediocre grades at school so we’ve just tried a bit of everything. So we don’t know any different really. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ross:</b> I think it was drummed into us by load of people. My dad in particular has always said just do what you’re gonna do. There’s never any pressure to do anything or make money and have a career. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">You’ve been involved with the band’s artwork in the past, where do you get your inspiration? </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sam:</b> Well for the artwork it’s usually the songs. Whatever mood listening to the record puts me in. And then I’ll get a picture in my head of something. Because things like that usually come to me really quickly and I don’t really think them through, which is probably why we’ve stopped using my stuff. I think we just make it up as we go along. This is all a big blag.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">What are your plans for the rest of the year?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sam:</b> Just playing as many gigs as we can and getting the record into as many new ears as we can. Just letting people know that we exist and there are still honest rock bands out there that sing something worthwhile. Basically to show that real music still exists, that’s out mission this year. </span></div><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/AkY-sEkWc-I?rel=0" width="560"></iframe>Joanna Stasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03690148776513497017noreply@blogger.com0