International Jetsetters
When someone asks you if you’d like to interview a band consisting of former members of Jesus & Mary Chain and Ride, how do you respond? You sit down, get a paper bag to stop yourself from hyperventilating, and you try to think of questions that won’t sound extremely stupid. I’ll let you decide if I succeeded.
The interviewees are: Loz Colbert (Drums also see JAMC & Ride), Bert Audubert (Bass), and Paul Crozer (Guitar – Mark’s brother)
1)What was the inspiration behind creating the band? How did you all come together?
Loz Colbert: It was to do a gig for Mark Crozer. We sounded shit-hot as a 3 piece so we carried on.
Bert Audubert: The band itself was Mark’s doing. He and i had been writing together for a while, and he and Loz were working with Jim Reid, and then the JAMC. So when Mark was offered a solo gig in Oxford last year, he asked if we fancied doing it as a 3 piece. It sounded like fun so we did it. I think we had an hours rehearsal and went for it. A couple of the tunes from that show are on youtube.
Anyway, the three of us were really happy with the gig, and something felt right about what we were doing, so we booked more shows, and agreed having a second guitar would add another dynamic. Mark’s brother Paul was the obvious and perfect person. Those two guitars together just blow me away.
2)How did you guys find Fi?
Paul Crozer: Go down the A303, turn left at Swindon.
Bert Audubert: Fi really popped up from nowhere. We’d been friends for a while, and believe it or not, i didn’t even know she could sing. She was over for a cup of tea one day, and started singing along to The Divine Comedy on the stereo. I nearly choked, she was fantastic. Mark actually heard her through the wall (he lives next door by the way), and the next thing Fi knew, she was doing backing vocals with the JAMC at Brixton Academy, which she only found out about on the day of the gig. It was also her first live performance. That was a great night.
After that, Fi had to be in the band.
Loz Colbert: I found her to be very friendly and enthusiastic, still see her quite a lot.
3)Are there plans for a full-length any time soon?
Loz: We’d like to make another song-packed e.p. first and then who knows, by then we should have enough material for an album.
Bert: Absolutely! We’ve just started recording the follow up EP, and it’d be great to get an LP nailed next year.
Paul: It’s not a great idea to go for full-length, otherwise the opposing batsmen can easily half-volley you past silly-mid-on and pick up at least a couple of runs.
4)What made you choose Planting Seeds as a home?
Loz: Really the link came through Mark Crozer, but I picked up that (so far) all the characters have been reasonable and helpful (!).
Bert: Planting Seeds is a quality label. There’s enthusiasm and a real love for the music, and they also happen to be lovely guys. It’s pretty rare to get all these things in one package. (Do i get my $50 now Neil?)
Paul: In the garden, growth has its seasons. First comes spring and summer, but then we have fall and winter. And then we get spring and summer again. Without Planting Seeds there would be no growth.
5)Is a US tour in the works or a possibility?
Bert: Again, absolutely. We’d love to. Fi, Mark and myself popped over in May to do some acoustic gigs in New York and to play the Irene Trudel show on WFMU, but the whole band are itching to get ourselves over there.
Paul: I hear there’s a distinct possibility that it’s in the works.
Loz: A US tour would be great. We would need to have a big hit though, no?
6)Any standout gigs so far? Something that really wowed you?
Bert: We just did a gig at our village pub for the EP release. Sort of a friends and family type thing, and that was pretty special. Other than that, i’ll go for supporting Inspiral Carpets at The Carling Academy, Oxford. Great live band.
Loz: Played one gig at the Jericho (in Oxford) when lift-off was accomplished: that was good. The Cellar show also rocked a big, fat, noisy one too.
Paul: The Bootleg Beatles at the New Theatre in Oxford, they were great.
7)What kind of music/artists are you listening to these days?
Bert: Tends to be local stuff at the moment. Little Fish are a brilliant Oxford band, and The Family Machine too. Check them out. Radiohead are always high on my list.
Loz: Arvo Part, Can, David Grohl, Little Fish, Earl Brutus, Steve Reich
Paul: Nursery Rhymes no.3 (C) 1967 EMI
8)What artists are the greatest influence on your current sound, aside from the various bands you’ve all been in?
Bert: Well, bass wise, it’s a case of turn it up, whack a bit of distortion on and give it some stick, but if i can get some Velvet Underground, Wreckless Eric, Joy Division and damn it yes, ACDC in there, i will!
Loz: The Creation, Can, The Standells, New Colony Six, Blondie
9)Lastly, tell us something about yourself/the band that we can’t find on Google.
Bert: This is a tricky one. Since i can’t give away anyone else’s secrets, i guess it’ll have to be one of my own….Hmmm…Ok, of the various ridiculous things i’ve done, i once had to dress up as a giant pigeon for a photoshoot at Trafalgar square in London. It actually ended up on the news. Hey, i needed the money.
Paul: Bert works part-time as Santa in the local shopping mall at Christmas, his special talent is whisky breath.
Loz: It’s only the juicy information you can’t find on Google… ;-)
