‘Unsigned Act Of The Week’ – Interview With The 45s

At just sixteen and seventeen years of age, The 45s are currently balancing their studies with being in an increasingly successful band. This young rhythm and blues quartet deliver raucous rock n roll with an endearing charisma and vigour. They are skilled musicians, capable of blasting out explosive tunes with immaculately executed guitar riffs, bluesy harmonica and an impressive rhythm section. Having recently supported Wilko Johnson on his farewell tour, and with the recent release of their double A Side ‘It Ain’t Over/Devil Of a Woman’, the future looks bright for these four lads from Carlisle.

Adding to their list of successes, the boys supported Dr Feelgood at the Clapham Grand last Friday…. Looking as dapper as ever, Tommy, Joe, James and Bailey had a chat to Mari before the show. And, after all the usual introductions, guitarist Tom began to open up about his band…

Gigslutz: So, how long have you been a band, and how did you all meet?

Tom: We’ve been a band for about a year and a half now. I joined their school, about two years into high school… There were lots of bands there already, but they were all rubbish. *other band members giggle* I wanted to form a really good one, so I got together the best people from all the bands and that’s how we started.

Gigslutz: Well, you did a good job! So, are you all still at school now?

Tom: Well, half of us are at college and the other two are still at school.

Gigslutz: So, are you the oldest?

Tom: Yep, I’m 17 now. And so is James – we’ve both had our birthdays quite recently.

Gigslutz: Happy birthday!

Joe swiftly adds: And I’ll be turning 11 next year….

He grins, and the rest of the band laugh.

Gigslutz: Your music has a very retro sound – Who are your main musical influences?

Tom: Well, our influences range from the late 1920s all the way to now… I first got into a lot of sixties music like The Beatles and Yardbirds, and then researched their influences so came to older stuff like Muddy Waters and Robert Johnson. But we also like punk and new wave stuff like Blondie and Sex Pistols…. And James is into his soul!

Gigslutz: Great, lots of different influences. And were you all into the same music before being in a band together?

Tom: Not really, I sort of made them listen to a lot of my music… they were into Skrillex and stuff like that. *giggles*

Joe: Yeah, basically Tom introduced us to The Beatles and The Rolling Stones an’ that and then we drew on that and went even further back.

Gigslutz: So, your double A Side ‘Devil Of A Woman’/’It Ain’t Over’ is out now – what next for The 45s? Is there a particular goal you’d like to reach by a certain time?

(I actually initially said ‘It Ain’t Right’ and was promptly corrected by the band. Apparently I had confused it with a Strypes song… Awkward)

Bailey: I’d like to be able to make a living from our music.

The rest of the band nod in approval.

Tom: Yeah, we mainly would really like to get signed. Just get our stuff out there. Play more gigs. And we’ve got a headline tour coming up early next year.

Gigslutz: Is there anywhere in particular you’re hoping to play?

Bailey: We’d like to get more London gigs, that would be good.

Joe: Yeah, just lots of places, other than Carlisle!

Gigslutz: And is there a 45s album in the pipeline?

Tom: Well, early next year there will probably be another single… but not an album, that’s not yet in the pipeline.

Joe: We have got enough original songs for an album though!

Gigslutz: Of course! And where would be your ideal place to record an album?

Tom: I really like Parr Street studio in Liverpool because usually studios are dark and dirty, but that one smells nice and there’s lots of daylight.

Bailey: And there’s a playstation 2….

Gigslutz: Aha…

Joe: Yeah, spent more time on playstation than recording!

Gigslutz: Have you been to Liverpool much? It’s a pretty good music scene up there…

James: Yeah – we’ve played The Cavern Pub…

Tom: We’ve done quite a few gigs in Liverpool. We went there for ‘Beatles Week’. The first time was at a place on Mathew Street – ‘Flangan’s Apple’ – that was good.

Joe: We also played at a place called ‘Eric’s’. That was shite.

James: You don’t mince your words do you?!

Joe: Well, it’s true…

Gigslutz: So, why was it shite?

Joe: There was noone there. It hadn’t been advertised at all, it was really bad…

Tom: And we didn’t like The Cavern either. It’s so touristy, I bet John Lennon wouldn’t be happy with it!

Gigslutz: No, I can imagine! Have you got any plans to go back to Liverpool soon?

Tom: Yeah, we’ve got a gig at the Zanzibar soon. That should be good.

Joe: Really? I didn’t know about that…

Gigslutz: Cool, when’s that?

Tom: Erm…. December sometime?

Joe: Yep. Put it in your diaries. Gig at the Zanzibar – sometime in December.

(He may be the youngest in the band, but Joe is proving to be quite the comic with his constant witty jibes and cheeky grin…)

Gigslutz: As well as the time that I saw you supporting Wilko Johnson at Koko, I’ve heard you’ve played alongside him a couple of times. How was it playing with him in his home of Canvey Island? That must have been pretty special.

Joe: Yeah, it was pretty surreal. Didn’t really sink in until afterwards… We were just so focused on not cocking it up at the time. Was crazy, he actually didn’t arrive until ten minutes before he was due on stage with us: he just walked on stage, shouted out a couple of songs and off we went… we hadn’t had a chance to rehearse with him or anything. But I think that’s the best time we’ve ever had on stage.

Gigslutz: Must have been amazing. And Tom, you’d met Wilko Johnson before hadn’t you?

Tom: Yeah, before I was in the band I met him in Kendal. I’d gone backstage and was jamming on his guitar. Think he was quite impressed!

Gigslutz: And so do you think Wilko Johnson has had an influence on you as a band as you’ve developed your music?

Tom: In the early days, definitely. There were a lot of Dr Feelgood songs being played in rehearsals.

Joe: Yeah, we were basically a Dr Feelgood tribute band… haha.

Tom: Not now though!

Bailey: Well, we had joked that if that 45s didn’t work out we could just be in a Dr Feelgood tribute.

Gigslutz: Well, there are worse things you could be! But, that wasn’t necessary obviously…

Joe: Nah… But you can still hear a lot of influence in our songs from their music.

Tom: But now I think we’ve developed more.

Gigslutz: Yeah, you can hear lots of the other influences you mentioned too. Like Muddy Waters – when I saw you at Koko you played a brilliant and unique rendition of ‘Got My Mojo Workin’’.

Tom: Yep, we should be ending the set with that tonight.

Gigslutz: And, talking of your live sets, you’re incredibly entertaining to see live, your stage presence is great, really charismatic – has anyone in particular influenced the way you perform on stage?

Joe: Well, we like to show that we’re enjoying ourselves.

Tom: Yeah, no one in particular that influences that. Just that general punk attitude – I think it’s good to seem angry and full of attitude on stage. Live shows are great for letting off steam. Like, if I don’t play on stage at least once a week, I feel really angry!
And people often just seem have special effects or loads of backing dancers to make their gig entertaining these days, but we don’t want to do that.

Gigslutz: Well, you don’t need to! Your charisma on stage really is one of the most prominent things about seeing you live (as well as the great music…) It’s really refreshing to see how entertaining and energetic you are.

Joe: Thank you!

(Polite as well as witty)

Gigslutz: Thanks so much for answering my questions. Is there anything else that you’d like to add about The 45s?

Bailey: I’ve got a new shirt on.

Gigslutz: Very nice. I like the polka dots. Look, now you’re matching James.

James: That wasn’t intentional….

 

We finish up by discussing the lack of alcohol allowed in the boys’ dressing room, as I make my apologies for not sneaking in a couple of tinnies for them…

And they went on to put on a fantastic set in support of Dr Feelgood. So, if you’re in Liverpool sometime in December (it’s actually 23rd November…), I highly recommend you check out The 45s – their live shows do not disappoint!

Their double A-Side ‘It Ain’t Over/Devil Of A Woman’ is out now and – as well as Liverpool – they’ve got a few other live dates coming up:

01/11/13 – The Old Kings Head, Chester
05/11/13 – Drumchapel, Glasgow
08/11/13 – Horse and Groom, Brighton.

 

Mari Lane.

Mari Lane

Mari Lane

Editor, London. Likes: Kathleen Hanna, 6Music, live music in the sunshine. Dislikes: Sexism, pineapples, the misuse of apostrophes.