INTERVIEWS
Simon Mulholland quizzes folk-punk headbangers Smokey Bastard.
What were you thinking or drinking when you had the thought "I know, let’s start Reading's Premier Folk Punk band"? General boredom, a friend had an accordion and wasn't going to get his A-levels so we thought we'd better do something. He's no longer with us. He's not dead. He's just gone. He might be dead. Where does your musical influence come from? What lurks in the deep recesses of your musical collections? Let's put it this way. Right now we're in a van listening to Aled cycling through '96 quite bitter beings' by CKY, 'New York, New York' and the Steptoe and Son theme on an out of tune melodica (the good ones in the back). We're digging it. Folk music is deeply rooted in society as an expression of life and can at the time have the energy and expression defined by punk - What inspires and drives you to write songs that reflect both genres? Aside from volume, I generally find the genres very similar. Both consist of simple, easy to pick up tunes with a mix of political, comical or downright filthy lyrics. It's not much a stretch to mix the two. That last question had a bit too much music journo bullshit to it, back to reality, Why the hell did you call the band 'Smokey Bastard'? In this digital age, how does a band like yours get the message out? Digitally. (That question deserved the kicking it got!) What’s the strangest, most memorable gig you've ever put on? This place in Peckham called Area 10. It wasn't so much a gig as a nightmarish transition into a David Lynch film. There was this Charlie Chaplin girl directing proceedings through a megaphone while a scrawny cat mewed at you from a corner. Two bunnies in a flower adorned kiosk implored you to squeeze a penguin triggering some sort of dice game. When questioned they responded "You have squeezed the penguin - Now you must roll the dice and, depending on the roll, you have to do things". This led to tattooing of the tongue. All the while Dickensian Londoners were taxied around the room on a gimp drawn cart. A girl dressed as Alice picked apples that were nailed to a wall while the band played. Eventually we all had to go and hide in the black bus with no seats and a sewing machine in it. The Mamma Mia cover was inspired - any plans to give other tracks the Smokey treatment? Yes, but to tell you would ruin the surprise. Is there a grand plan for the future of Smokey Bastard or is it a case of see what’s around the next corner? Get a Nandos black card, basically. That's our sole aim. Six people can eat for free at Nandos. Whenever. All the time. We love Nandos. They should give us the card. We want it. Give it to us. Soon. So there you have it, words of wisdom from a band whose outlook on life appears to be as manic as the music they produce. |
