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.
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?
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?
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.
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?
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…
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.
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.
