‘Listening to us is like having your underwear ripped off.’ – Interview with Imperial Leisure

After catching up with two of Imperial Leisure’s members, drummer Scott Vining and vocalist Denis Smith, Jennifer Isles found out a little more about what is behind the music and vibe of the band. Their sound is one that will not be forgotten too soon, whether your kegs remain intact or not is a different matter.

Imperial Leisure by Grove Watson

“Listening to us is like having your underwear ripped off – hurts a little, but you like it,” says Denis when pressed on what to expect when you listen to Imperial Leisure. The band’s music is always changing and of late they have been expanding sonically with their collection of horns and moving from; “the fast lunatic energy of Ska and Punk adding in larger sounds, electronic wizardry and meaningful melodies to take us into the next album and beyond.”

Playing some brand new tracks from their upcoming release as well as mixing up a lot from their current LP; The Art Of Saying Nothing, fans will not want to miss the gig at The Flapper on Thursday 11th March. So, how did Imperial Leisure start out and where did it all begin?

“It began at a happy place in our memories,” quips Scott. “A few years ago, when a bunch of mates decided music was being too serious and people needed a band that would allow them to let loose and have fun.”

“I blame the parents,” says Denis. “Most of us met at school, we used to have a band but got bored of that and started Imperial Leisure, got some horns involved and gigged our asses off, most of the time outside in parks and on the street!”

Describe yourselves in three words

Scott: “Damn, bloody, good or fast, hard, fun or sex, horns, rock and roll.”
Denis: “Musical melting pot.”

The horns are a massive feature in your music, how did this come about, it works so well in your songs?

Scott: “We started using them to create the in-your-face party sound that we wanted, and it gave us some unique performance opportunities for solos and improvising. ”

Denis: “The Art of Saying Nothing featured a two man brass section Mark Rudland and Rob O’Neale, we were really lucky to happen upon them, they can both play like gods but they understood the big picture and how they could fit into it.”

Where’s the best place you guys have performed at?

Scott: “Glastonbury 2008, because of the response we got from over two thousand soon-to-be-fans!”

Denis: “In a carpark in Camden, and Glastonbury weren’t too shabby either!”

Scott:”The last time we played Birmingham the gig was the best on the tour thanks to a load of our own fans and going back there solely for our own supporters is going to be great.”

“London is a good laugh but we need to get out more,” admits Denis. “There’s something special about rocking up to a place you ain’t from and ripping it up.”

Your album ‘The Art Of Saying Nothing’ is out now, what can people expect from it?

Scott: “The Art Of Saying Nothing is about having a good time – that’s it. However you want to do it; going out, getting drunk, chasing girls or staying in and dancing in your bedroom. Either way, this album lets you take that Imperial Leisure gig that you remember home with you.”

Denis: “If you are depressed, get a cheap bottle of Cava, stick us on nice and loud and expect to have a laugh.”

The Art of Saying Nothing – out now

What are your plans for 2010?

Scott: “That’s where our new album comes in. Due out later this year, it shows the next evolution of Imperial Leisure without losing our trademark energy. We also don’t have an album title yet, so any suggestions….?”

Denis: “To vote for the first time, release new Album and ask my ex to marry me…….again. ”

Get down to The Flapper this Thursday evening (11th March) to see Imperial Leisure perform along with the excellent Tempting Rosie and Fistful of Dynamite. Advance tickets £7 from here.

Jennifer Isles

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Tickets here …

Our girl Rhiannon caught up with Dennis from Imperial Leisure, via the power of Skype, for a quick chat about the show, their new material and what’s coming up for 2010!

Get your tickets for the show here

For fans of Blakfish, A Ghost of a Thousand, Everytime I Die and The Hives

The Computers are a four-piece blues / punk / hardcore band from Exeter and one of the most explosive live bands you will see! They will leave you walking out on such a high, itching to start running up walls and thrashing your air guitars about the streets.

So, here’s the deal – THE COMPUTERS consist of Alex (guitar / main vocals), Sonny (guitar / vocals), Nic (bass / vocals) and Aiden (drums).

Born and Bred in Exeter, they fuse garage rock’n’roll with 80’s hardcore. Think Black Flag playing Chuck Berry or The Nerve Agents covering Elvis Costello and you’re getting the picture. It is a act NOT to be missed.

Click here to listen to The Computers

Main Support comes from Outcry Collective.
Recently back from the triple threat tour with Blakfish and Gay for Johnny Depp,

Perhaps not the most obvious collective of people that you’d expect to create one of the finest British rock bands to immerge in recent times, but then again, Outcry Collective are no ordinary band…

… a mutual admiration of everything that is good about rock music – utilising the intensity, heaviness and positivity of the music to act as their blueprint; a blueprint which still holds true to this day.

Outcry Collective’s own brand of fast, energetic punk ‘n’ fuckin’ roll quickly began to shine through. The band rapidly built up a passionate and loyal regional fanbase courtesy of their explosive live shows – a unique mix of positivity fuelled rock chaos coupled with an undoubted charm…

Click here to listen to Outcry Collective

Opening up this superb night are Chickenhawk …formed in Leeds during a random jam one lazy Sunday afternoon in late 2004. Songs were written …

A mix of Avant-garde prog ideals and chaotic, balls out, rock and metal taking influences from such luminaries as: The Melvins, Metallica, Oxes, Mike Patton, Dream Theater, Danny Elfman, Buckethead, and Dillinger Escape Plan.

…the antithesis of commercial metal…an alternative to the next inevitable slice of franchise-culture…Chickenhawk are an awesome force, every last millisecond of their songs is completely submerged in rock, giving them an intensity and forcefulness that’s a rare find in modern music

Click here to listen to Chickenhawk

Get your £7.50 tickets quick for this Sexy, Sweaty night of Pure Rock’n'Roll

Peace and Rock Out

x

]]> http://www.birminghampromoters.com/you-cant-hide-from-the-computers/feed/ 0 http://www.birminghampromoters.com/nick-haper-comes-to-the-hare-hounds/ http://www.birminghampromoters.com/nick-haper-comes-to-the-hare-hounds/#comments Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:00:18 +0000 Carlo http://www.birminghampromoters.com/?p=237

Tommorow at the Hare and Hounds we have Nick Harper with support from Vijay Kishore

Grab a free download on us of one of Nick Harpers Tunes on us,

Despite being destined to be forever known as the son of the legendary folk/blues singer-songwriter Roy Harper, Nick Harper has forged his own way ahead to have become recognised as one of Britain’s finest acoustic singer/guitarists.

Having played the guitar from the age of 10 and surrounded by the likes of Keith Moon, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and Dave Gilmour as he grew up, it was no surprise when Nick made his recording debut on his father’s Whatever Happened to Jugula? in 1985.

A meeting with Squeeze frontman and songwriter Glenn Tilbrook in 1996 led to his offering Nick a job playing with and supporting Squeeze; he also promptly signed Nick to his own label, Quixotic Records.

To call him a superlative singer/songwriter could put his highly lauded guitar talent in the shade, and to call him a guitarist’s guitarist might slight his distinctive, soulful voice and passionate songs. Not forgetting the wild ride that is one of his live shows – from personal introspection to biting political satire via a charmingly caustic wit that would make Groucho Marx proud.
http://www.myspace.com/harperspace

Vijay Kishore – Born and raised in the Handsworth district of Birmingham of Indian parentage singer songwriter Vijay Kishore has quietly been causing something of a stir musically with his ambiguous folk-tinged fusion of his anglo asian heritage .Bringing favourable comparisons from listeners to everything from the sufi infused tones of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan to Thom Yorke,Jeff Buckley or even Nina Simone and PJ Harvey.

A guerilla gig in a clothes store in Manchester around the time of the In The City festival of 2005 is where industry interest in Vijay began (after being spotted by his now manager Rob Mckenzie playing at a friends party in Birmingham earlier in the year),word spread from the lucky few that witnessed this performance, and his off schedule show the next day had curious label scouts in attendance.
http://www.myspace.com/vijaykishore