What was the beginning pint for your music career? How did it all start?
Ross and Mark had a band together and at the time Ross ran a pub in a village in Oxfordshire up the road from Mark’s house. I (Spud) was living in Los Angeles but my mum lived in the same village so when I came home one year for xmas, I happened to wander in to Ross’ pub and met them both which turned into none of us leaving for 3 days and quite a monumental hangover to say the least. I went back but we all kept in touch and when I moved back for good a few years later, me and my wife stayed with Ross and his wife while we were looking for a place. I had drunkenly got up and sung a couple of tunes with their band one night and when they broke up the three of us decided to put something together. Then that little pandemic hit which scuppered our plans a bit but once it was over we carried on. We had the hardest time finding a drummer though. Apparently Oxfordshire is quite low on its drummer stock. We had about 4 or 5 sit in with us and they just didn’t work some because they were good enough but the style wasn’t quite right and one in particular who wanted to be Phil Collins, (whole other story), so Ross came up with the ingenious idea of going through ads for people looking to sell their drums and trying to convince them not to and try out with us instead which is how we got Silva and right from the off it just clicked. He was the missing piece.
Was there any bumps on the road? What kind of challenges did you have to deal with?
There was a little thing called the pandemic that we had to contend with. It was massively frustrating for us as it was for everyone. It just pushed our plans back a fair bit but it was worth the wait
What was the most fulfilling and satisfying moment so far?
It would have to be hearing our song on the radio. It’s weird, you can listen to the track and it’s the exact same track you’ve heard a thousand times but somehow hearing it on the radio is just magical.
How would you describe the music that you typically create?
We’re a beautiful hybrid of classic and modern rock with a tinge of protopunk every now and again that has a second to none live show that will melt your face off. We’re incredibly high energy and don’t believe in separation between the band and the crowd
What is your creative process like?
We don’t try to force it but thankfully because we all enjoy it we tend to spend a lot of time playing or writing when we’re not together as well as when we are so someone will always bring an idea they’ve been messing with and then we flesh it out together
If you could change anything about the industry, what would it be?
Over commercialisation. Mainstream music has just become so formulaic that its really hard to differentiate between artists, especially in the pop world. The beauty of music is that there has always been something for everyone and a lot of really great artists go unnoticed because they don’t fit the mould. Companies are risk averse and its all about pounds, shillings and pence rather than the product. Its like Brian Eno said, The velvet underground’s first album only sold 30,000 copies but every one of those people started a band. Can you imagine trying to shop that record to a label today? I don’t think it could be done and what a classic we would’ve missed out on.
If you were asked to give a piece of advice to upcoming bands, what would that be?
Don’t be too hard on yourself and stop being afraid of failing. Nothing is perfect all the time if ever and certainly not the first time you do it. Failure is not a destination unless you make it one by giving up. It’s just a lesson along the way
What has been the best performance of your career so far?
We played with The Foxies back in June while they were over here on their European tour and that was a great one. They were just an awesome band both musically and personally and were really supportive. Was a great show.
If you didn’t become a musician, what would you be doing now?
In the words of David St Hubbins , I’d be a full time dreamer. (We love Spinal Tap)
What is new with the band at the moment? What are you currently working on and would like to share with the world?
World domination…just kidding, (sort of). We’re in our early days as a band so we’re planning to release the studio EP and get on the festival circuit for next summer. We are actually mixing a live EP at the minute from our gig with The Meteors in Manchester. We’re also playing at MK11 in Milton Keynes on August 27th and The Phoenix in High Wycombe on September 16th if you want to catch a show
