#exetermusic

[sampipermusic]

Bit of an update!

As my three regular readers of this blog know, writing regularly is not obviously my forte but I thought  I would attempt to put some words down whilst enjoying another hang over free weekend. In fact it’s taken nearly a whole day to finish this paragraph having spent far too long being distracted by football, the news, going for a run, playing some guitar, eating bagels, listening to 6 Music and watching a bit of bargain hunt.

It’s obviously been a bit of a mental and depressing week what with the results from America. The only plus side to this ridiculousness is hopefully it’ll bring about some good new music over the next four years. I was trying to explain this concept to a mate from the states the other day but i’m not sure it was of much consolation- which it isn’t really but you have to hope!

I was in the studio a couple of weeks ago putting down 5 new tracks for a new electric EP. It felt brilliant to be making a right racket once again and i’m genuinely looking forward to getting it out at some point in the spring of 2017. (A big thanks to Matt Gordon and Doc Collins for all their help and ideas) Until relatively recently I was always prone to rushing out new music. I know I speak for a lot of mates who also put out music in that when we were 19/20/21/22 it always felt like you were competing with the next young band and that time was of the essence. That mindset stuck with me until relatively recently until I actually realised that age is irrelevant when it comes to making music. I think being in your late twenties/early thirties in a band now actually holds a bit more kudos than it did say 10 years ago (obviously I would take this stand point as i’m approaching 29) but if you look at some of the bands that are doing well and producing great sounding records, they span a huge range of ages. It’s a good thing attitudes have changed because it takes the pressure off bands slightly in that they can commit both on honing their craft as well as and bringing in the money in which to pay the rent.  

The EP I put out in June was relatively well received. I wish I hadn’t put it out in the rush I did ( going against everything I said above), but I really wanted it to be heard around the time I played at Glastonbury, which was a really fun little gig. A big thanks again to The Rabbit Hole once again for having me on and looking after me so well. Also I’m hoping the guy who fell asleep in the hot tub for 7 hours recovered quickly. I’m hoping to be back at Glastonbury next year in some capacity, somewhere. It’s already seriously heating up trying to get slots so I’ll have to wait and see. 

I haven’t played as many shows as I’ve wanted to this autumn. I did a little set upstairs at Ronnie Scotts in September, and before this had played a set at The Bedford in Balham. I also supported Ethan Johns at The Bridge Inn in Topsham back in the summer. It was really interesting to have a good conversation with Ethan about how he goes about producing records. The man has produced so many albums which I’ve loved over the years that it was quite refreshing to hear how he tries to keep most records he produces organic as possible. I’ve taken on his ethos with the new recordings as I feel I have been prone to over producing my tracks in the past. I think everyone is guilty of doing it to some degree!

It doesn’t look like Christmash is on the cards this year which is a real shame. What with The Cavern being out of action after fire, I’ve been hard pressed to find another venue which is available for the usual date of December 22nd.

I must also say a big thank you to The Mocking Birds beys for being understanding about me leaving the live set up. I am very much going to stay involved with helping the lads but I felt it was time to concentrate 100% on my own stuff again for a while.

A few last words go to the people around me who are doing some great things. Firstly my sister who has recently got back from the States after completing a project photographing the last remnants of the blues scene in Mississippi as well as new talent which is emerging. To my Dad who has just finalised  a deal with Pelican Press who will published his first book in March 2017. To Tourists who recently released their new single  ‘Drive’ which is a really brilliant track & to Peacock Affect has signed to Universal Japan which is more than exciting.

Up the City

P&L x

[marsaymusic-blog]

Last Wednesday's interview with emerging Birmingham band JAWS

As I watch a caterpillar cake being smuggled across the Cavern, I help JAWS perform their first song of the evening: ‘Happy Birthday dear Jaaake’ resounds around the empty venue while bassist Jake Cooper claps along. But this isn’t the only birthday tonight; it’s JAWS’ 100th show, and between the celebrations, drummer Eddy Geach shares with me some of his highlights from the past 99.

It was March of 2012 when JAWS supported Swim Deep on their UK tour and they began to receive nationwide attention. “We have basically the same fans as them” Geach tells me… not surprising then that the show Swim Deep scheduled for Birmingham when touring with JAWS sold out within days. “There must be nothing like playing to a home crowd” I probe, to which Geach details that the atmosphere is electric, although modestly establishing: “I’m really excited to be playing here tonight.. This is the sort of venue I love. It’s got a bit of character to it, you know? Some places you go to, the backstage feels like a hospital waiting room.. that’s when you begin to feel nervous. But places like these, this is the sort of place where you feel like you’re really part of something.”

Looking around the dingy backstage room, the first thing that catches my eye about the dressing room are the crates of juice and vodka lining the table. Been partying hard on tour? Eddy laughs: “We usually try to go out after gigs if we can.. It just depends how far away the hotel is!” Looking past the touring essentials, it’s hard to deny the character of the humble Cavern dressing room - there are names scrawled across the deep red walls of artists who have played here before. “Will you be leaving your mark in here too?” I joke, sparking a hunt for something to write with. Our rummage yielding a mere blue biro, JAWS never did get to sign the makeshift hall of fame, but something tells me they’ll be remembered here nonetheless. JAWS have been receiving attention from further afield than just Exeter: “Italy was a definite highlight. We played in a town square in what seemed like the middle of nowhere, we thought nobody would know us.. and there people were, singing along with all the words.” For any of you looking to holiday in Italy, Benevento is place that has now been drummed in as ‘ Absolutely lovely, I’d recommend it to anyone. Go there!” Noting down the details to send to my friend arranging her year abroad in Italy, we move onto the pressing matter of ‘Friend like you’. The lyrics: ‘Show me what you wanna do / and I’ll just go and follow you … I could use a friend like you / save the world I’ve come into’ make me wonder if there’s a muse behind the lyrics to their songs? “We actually don’t really like Friend like You” Eddy confesses: “There’s no particular person it’s written about.. I’ve definitely found that song writing is never about trying to impress a girl – my girlfriend hates JAWS!” A relatively new band, having only formed in 2012, JAWS have earned success in only a small period of time. The fact that the other four of the band members have now dropped out of university to pursue the band signals that they’re beginning to gain confidence about the band’s future. “How do you feel about the transition towards the band being full-time rather than something you all did alongside your education?” I ask, to which the surprising response is given, of: “The band’s certainly stopping me from getting a job at the moment.. I’d love to be making some proper money” – the road to fame perhaps isn’t as glamorous for emerging talent as we would think. But the future’s bright if fellow Birmingham success stories are anything to go by. “The spotlight’s definitely on Birmingham at the moment” Eddy agrees – what with Peace, Swim Deep and now JAWS originating from the depths of Digbeth’s underground music scene, the indie music movement in Birmingham titled ‘B-town’ has even been assigned its own Wikipedia page, quoting JAWS as one of its leading bands. And there’s exciting advancements: “We just finished recording our first album yesterday” Eddy grins; “In fact, this is our first gig since being cooped up in the studio all week”. A gig to remember for JAWS, then - and as Eddy offers me a jam on his drumkit and I leave amid jokey roars of ‘let’s all get smashed!’, a night to remember for me too.

[marsaymusic-blog]

Can't stop playing this on repeat.. messiest of mixes from Bristol-based DJ collective Eton Messy. Incredibly gutted I couldn't get tickets to experience this live at the Exeter Phoenix last Saturday!