Call Upon The Author

So, here we are at the end of our 2009 roundups, we thought we’d end close to home with three of our favourite acts, all of whom have local roots.

Andrew Foster
www.myspace.com/andrewfostermusic

So, 2009 is pretty much up, how was it for you?
A bit like falling out of the tallest tree and landing in a soft pile of Lavender.
I found a lot out about myself…
Internal fights are impossible to win when you don’t know what you’re fighting against.
Musically I think I’ve achieved more than I give myself credit for with some very big supports for my level, good radio play and a piece of work I’m proud of that will be released next year.
I haven’t been around as much this year as previous; I think everyone took a step back from the local scene a bit due to personal or financial reasons. I hid for a bit, but I made an album from this time.

Other than your own tunes, what have you been listening to this year?
Oh there’s been so much good music this year if you care to look out the box. Here’s a few of the most influential albums and the ones I’ve played to death this year.

Noah & the Whale: First days of Spring
Mumford & Sons: Sigh No More
Muse: The Resistance
Crooked Vultures: Crooked Vultures
The B Of The Bang: Beginning Middle End
Prodigy: Invaders Must Die
Doves: Kingdom Of Rust
Smoke Fairies: Frozen Heart
Pete Molinari: A Virtual Landslide
The Low Album: Oh My God Charlie Darwin
The Decemberists: The Hazards Of Love
Thomas Dybdahl: Thomas Dybdahl
Crooked Still: Still Crooked

And music not from this year
Ryan Adams & The Cardinals: Cardinology
Led Zeppelin 3
CSNY: Déjà vu
The Black Keys: Magic Potion
Band Of Horses:
Wintersleep
Neil Young: Sugar Mountain LIVE
Fleetwood Mac: Rumors
The Beatles: take your pick!
Oasis: Dig Out Your Soul
BRMC: Howl
Amplifier: Amplifier
Bob Dylan: Dylan
Coldplay: viva la vida
David Bowie: take your pick!
Death Cab For Cutie: Narrow Stairs

What one thing would you have changed about the last twelve months?
My mindset over certain things, and not making the most of opportunities.
The medias ever-increasing grip on the way people live their lives, including myself.
This is the year that Peter and Jordon became more interesting than Scientists trying to create the conditions of a black hole on earth.
Liking trashy mags whilst on the toilet is one thing, aspiring to be these people is ludicrous.

What are you looking forward to in 2010?
Releasing my new album “The Garden” and learning to embrace musical opportunities more than I do now. I think next year will bring many changes for me….I feel it in my waters! Keep writing and focus more on my obsession, doing different styles and feeding my suppressed rock notions of having a Marshall ripping behind me. Im gonna let that out next year a little more maybe with a different project.
Im very proud of this years work on the craft of “The Garden” and I’m looking forward to gigging it, playing the songs to people and moving on musically.
Next year I think Im gonna work harder on my own aspirations and be ruthless with my own musical targets. Hopefully a bit of Neil Young spirit will rub off on me…hopefully not alienating everyone in the process though!

Do you have a message for our readers?
If you’re a musician, the Industry is very strange at the moment… never stop writing. People of the Arts unite!
I want this year to be the year individual expression becomes free again.
Lets have some colour…everything’s grey at the moment, go see live gigs again, see art galleries, go see plays and nature.
Tell people how you feel.

The B Of The Bang (Wit – vocals, guitars)
www.myspace.com/thebofthebang

So, 2009 is pretty much up, how was it for you?
It was spiffing ta. Ruddy busy but ruddy rewarding too…our album did pretty well in a few end of year lists so it’s been a good’un…we’ve undergone a few changes and have demoed a load of new stuff already. It’s sounding very different and i’m most excited as to where we find ourselves bowling into blindly next….

Other than your own tunes, what have you been listening to this year?
Everything under the sun, old stuff, new stuff, good stuff, bad stuff. Fave albums of the year would include Grizzly Bear, Wild Beasts, The Antlers. Anything with a wildlife theme it seems….

What one thing would you have changed about the last twelve months?
I would have asked our Rhodesy (newest TBOTB member) to have not spilt coffee in his motor just before a tour. Sour milk is a pretty difficult look to pull off…

What are you looking forward to in 2010?
The new Dawn Chorus album, the new Strange Death album. Getting into the studio again as soon as possible and having a tour-vehicle that doesn’t smell of moose.

Do you have a message for our readers?
Yes. But they’ll have to come see us live to find out what it is.

Joe Black
www.myspace.com/misterjoeblack

So, 2009 is pretty much up, how was it for you?
wonderful, definitely an enlightening experience. I realised how much things can change in a year, both good and bad. Though – mostly good.

Other than your own tunes, what have you been listening to this year?
I’ve been listening to a lot of tori amos this year, always something i can relate too. no matter what is going on

What one thing would you have changed about the last twelve months?
nothing. everything happens for a reason

What are you looking forward to in 2010?
To be kind of like 2009. but better. Though i’m particularly looking forward to supporting the tiger lillies, and getting to germany again.

Do you have a message for our readers?
one of my favourite quotes, actually….
‘Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.’ – Marilyn Monroe