Interview: Chatting with Puppet Rebellion

I caught up with the Mancunian Indie band Puppet Rebellion half hour before they took to the stage at Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen for their debut London gig to chat about their change in line-up and working with famed producer Gavin Monaghan (Ocean Colour Scene, Paolo Nutini). 

However it's never just a simple chat when it comes to interviewing bands and we got distracted by other things such as wearing nothing but a golf visor on stage along with how much they would love Noel Gallagher to slag them off.

You've had a change in your line-up recently, has the transition been a smooth one?

It was difficult at first finding someone new, we auditioned quite a few people. We were waiting to find the right person. Ollie came in and we knew straight away, he blew us away. He was really good.

Love at first sight?

PR: It honestly was. He looks like a Greek God as well. If he wasn’t a singer he would be a swimwear model. He handsome though isn’t he?

*Ollie blushes and bats away the barrage of compliments from his band mates.* 
Ollie: Can we move on?

Gavin Monaghan is producing your new single, did he bring a lot of new ideas to the table?

PR: It was really, really good to be honest with you. Gavin approached us, being approached by a producer of Gavin’s calibre was very flattering. We’re quite a young band. I think you’ll hear when you compare the single to what we’ve previously released. There’s a big step up in quality and that’s all down to Gavin’s expertise.

Yeah he’s worked with some major talent Gavin; Editors, Paolo Nutini, Ocean Colour Scene. There’s an element of magic, he calls it the Magic Garden Studios and I think that is where the magic happens.

This is your first gig down in London, does London meet your expectations or is everyone just pretentious arseholes so far?

It’s our first gig down here which we’re all very excited about. When we first got here with all the tall buildings I felt like a town mouse coming into the city.

We’re back again headlining on the 5th June.

Yeah we’re on quite early which gives us more time to…

Get to know your fans?

I was going to say more time to get pissed!

I saw on your website you had a blog on your website. It hasn’t been updated in a while but it listed all your personality flaws.
Still there is it?

What would you say your personality flaws are now?

Well it needs updating that list because Ollie and Danny aren’t on it.

It was most probably based on things that might happen during rehearsals.

Might or did?

Yeah..Did! But I would like to say that rehearsals have been going very smoothly recently.

So, right now, what are your personality flaws?

Ollie: I’m just a bit dozy really

I’ll say one for Ollie, he is bit of a perfectionist. He’s hard on himself sometimes and he feels he has big shoes to fill.

Jim’s got an awful memory.

*starts pointing* Big feet…stinks…

You know my voice recorder doesn't pick up pointing right?

Oh yeah! Well, Paul’s got massive feet and Danny stinks out the rehearsal room. Erm, no everyone’s got their flaws and that.

Good banter

Good Shanter! Which is joining together ‘shit’ and ‘banter’. Because no one’s actually funny.

If you could have any musician from history to go on a night out with, who would it be?

Jimi Hendrix for me. Because he liked to party. I know he died choking on his own sick after partying too hard but I would go one level below that.

I’d most probably go for Amy Winehouse. I’d ask if she had any songs she hadn’t released yet that I could have.

I’d go for Noel Gallagher…                                                 

Noel-y G busy thinking up witty insults to throw at
Puppet Rebellion.

He isn't dead!

Does he have to be dead!?

He doesn't have to be dead.

Oh cool! Well he slags a lot of people off and he’ll slag us off if we get big enough.

That’s how you know when you've made it.

I look forward to Noel Gallagher slagging us off. That’s when you know you’re doing something right. He’s a funny guy, one of my favourite songwriters.

Keith Moon, he’s an absolute nutter.

Danny: Why have you picked another drummer? Why have you said that while I’m here?

Because drummers are...interesting

Shanter!

I’d go for Justin Hawkins. The only man to headline a major festival wearing only a golf visor and glittery guitar.

You should wear something like that one day.

Yeah but you've got to earn your glitter. 

Puppet Rebellion will be earning their glitter on 5th June when they'll be returning to the Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen for a headline show. It is not guaranteed that they will be dressed in golf visors and glittery guitars

In the meanwhile, their new single 'Watch Me Fall' will be available from 23rd February. check it out here. 

Day of the Demos

This time of year, all music fans seem to be sitting on the edge of their seats eagerly awaiting album releases from their favourite music artists and oh, do we like being teased with juicy snippets of news! Today I have come across two new demos from none other then Carl Barat and Noel Gallagher.

For those of you who are not a 'fan' of Carl Barat on Facebook then you may not have come across his teasing demo of 'War of the Roses' which would feature on his album in autumn. When I first  came across the song and saw the title, my expectation was that it would be reminiscent of the slow, romantic tracks on his previous album such as 'Shadows fall' or 'So Long My Lover' however I was pleasantly surprised with the direction that Barat has taken his new material. War of The Roses punches the speakers with a kick-ass attitude in the bass line which he complements within his lyrics where he seems to have more confidence in singing then his previous solo work. The song takes us to his urban north London roots with its blare-out vocals towards the end and the catchy rhythm. All in all, although War of The Roses is much more daring then his previous solo songs, it will not disappoint Barat's fans as it has many of his characteristics with a healthy dosage of elements from The Libertines. However as I mentioned before, this demo is just meant to be a teaser and a bedroom recording which Barat 'let slip'.

If you are curious, then head over to Carl Barat's Facebook page; click here for a cheeky listen

Ok, so I may have grabbed your attention with the news of Noel Gallagher's demo of 'She Must Be One Of Us' but it seems I may have been a little too slow in checking out the video as I was met with a rather defiant declaration of 'This video contains content from EMI who has blocked it on copyright grounds'. At least we have a title and a very strong suggestion that there may be an album release in 2013 from the eldest Gallagher.