Chattering Classes #29 - The Beat Poets
The Beat Poets are back. With a sparkly new video and a work ethic that would put most to shame. Normally seen as merelyÌýa blur between gigs and recordings, we managed to eventually track them down and connect to Rigsy's dodgy dial-up for our weekly webchat. Here's what went down.
(Please note, as always, grammar and spelling errors are author's own, this is a direct transcript from an online chat!) **** Rigsy says: John John says: Rigsy. Finally sorted sorry again about yesterday Rigsy says: no worries man given that the interview has started - make up an incredible excuse why you were late yesterday. and i'll cut out the 'make up an incredible excuse' bit John says: partial blame I take for being late the rest I attribute to my poor judgement in laptop choice Rigsy says: NO, make up an excuse, something good! what kind of rockstar would be late because of a laptop?! come on, this is going in the interview John says: ah nah that wasn't rock n roll, what I meant to say was that I had been neckingÌýwhiskey and coke all afternoon and struggled to type at 4pm so had to abort the interview Rigsy says: hmm not great i wanted a hollywood blockbuster style excuse, that would require a LOT of special effects if recreated in the film of your life John says: and a green screen Rigsy says: ha. where are you now? John says: Actually at home for a change drinking lol its a friday... Rigsy says: fair enough! The video for gravity - it's great, but no doubt you've seen it a few times - are you sick of it? John says: Yeah we're delighted with it and haven't watched it as much as people think, have to say Scattered images did an immense job. Freezed our off making it though Rigsy says: no pain no gain. sure yr man leonardo de capiccino had to sit in freezing cold water to get that scene in teh titanic which is pretty much the exact same in terms of what you went through.. John says: Ah when he's standing on Blackstaff mill up the falls in minus conditions, nose running and trying to look rock n roll I'll consider him on a parr lol Rigsy says: he couldn't handle that TBF was an ambitious video always part of the plan with this release? you strike us a band who like to do things right. John says: Yeah the version that went out was draft 5 I think and the single we had numerous versions of it, were not as picky as Steely Dan but we do like to get it as right as possible I think we need a video to really show people what were about plus were constantly plugging in America and Asia at the min and all they want is visuals Rigsy says: how come youz have had that interest in plugging the likes of the states from the very start? Like pretty much literally from the start you guys had an interest in america as much as home. John says: Just were realistic that our sound might be more welcome in these territories than in the UK While we have still to land the deal in the US were making good grounds with sonicbids, MTV etc backing and on the strength of Gravity we have just confirmed an endorsement with TASCAM this week who are sending us some nice gear. Rigsy says: see using terms like plugging and territories you're a businessman!! John says: I think ya need to be these days...no money around so need to be a bit of a delboy Rigsy says: do ya sometimes have to seperate the two big time though....IÌýmean you can't walk on a stage to perform with yr business head on or walk into a board meeting or whatever with yr rockstar head on!! Or can you?! John says: Ah yeah u see when you self manage a band and label you have to develop a dual personality...business like to fund your band and rock star when the music starts. I think bands from over here that are doing well have great business brains and use the same approach Trust me I do my fair share of partying Rigsy says: ha ha, i don't doubt it. Lets talk about the actual track then. new levels of epicness, sounded great on t'radio. did it take a long time for it to come together in the studio? big sound! John says: Yeah we have been developing for years a sound that were happy with and it took longer than I thought, we used to try and be balls to the wall rock but looking back it wasn't us Now we're hitting a sound that best suits us more melody, more refinement and I think far better songwriting Rigsy says: Well for what it's worth it's my favourite thing you've done, but i have terrible taste ;-) John says: The studio has been great I can't speak highly enough of Neal Calderwood too Rigsy says: oh hes a legend. RIGHT our time is up but before we go you're from newry, right? or just outside? John says: Warrenpoint and Keith the guitarist is from Newry Rigsy says: near enough i want you to rate the following newry people in order of awesoness. Susan Mccann, Pat Jennings, Rose-marie, Rigsy, Keith your guitarist and....the band 'luv bug' GO starting with least awesome John says: sus bo, rose-marie, rigsy, keith, pat jennings and the might Luv Bug lol...see we both have bad taste must have been in the water down there lol! mighty Rigsy says: so what, i'm fourth? just above rose-marie? THIS INTERVIEW IS OVER. BYE John says: LOL, nah just before Pat Jennings...even you can't deny the great man! Rigsy says: certainly not. he has a park named after him. i don't have anything named after me apart from a toy lizard i was given for my birthday in 2008. and i think i named that myself :-( way to bum me out man John says: LOL! Rigsy says: laterz John says: Cheers man appreciated!! **** 'Gravity' is out now. The band play The Limelight, Belfast, on December 15th.
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