thebandshoes

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Rock band members with long hair and legendary personalities come and go. This is but just a little look inside of the one and only Rob Graham. Many know him for performing in the short-lived two piece band Wet Nuns with the late Alexis Gotts, as well as in the thunderous three-piece band Drenge alongside the two Loveless brothers and if you are really up on the scene in the mysterious band Logs.

Only time will tell the impact Rob can and will have on and off the stage but a story it will be. We were able to catch up with the multi-talented, down to earth, long-haired, mustache wearing, fierce sideburn having, living legends a while back and caught up on the early days and a bit of everything in between up until now. 

Here the interview with a tremendous man, one who we believe has the high chance of having a memorable rock career.

BandShoes: What is your name and what’s your job in the band?

Rob: My Name is Rob Graham, I provide bass guitar, 6 string guitar, and outfits in a band called Drenge from Sheffield in the UK. 

BandShoes: Drenge is not the first band you have played/toured with; how has the transition from fronting Wet Nuns to keeping the vibe with the boys in Drenge been?

Rob: I’ve played in bands since I was about 13/14, I first went on tour with Wet Nuns in 2012. There was a gap from October 2013 to January 2015 between finishing fronting Wet Nuns and playing for Drenge. In that time I was pretty much just bumming around Sheffield being totally uncreative, fairly depressed and working in a lovely little independent coffee place. So the transition wasn’t totally straight. I think, to begin with, I just kept myself to myself, played my parts and stayed out of the limelight with Drenge. As time has passed and I’ve rediscovered my “mojo” a little I’ve stepped forward and had a lot more fun on stage. I don’t know whether this keeps with the vibe, but I like to think I’ve added a bit of something to the live thing, I’m a total shameless poser after all. 

BandShoes: Did you answer a Myspace ad for a place on the Drenge team or did the hunt you down for your skills? 

Rob: We’ve been friends for a long time me and the Drenge boys. We went to a small rural school in the peak district together and have always shared music we like with each other. I think they just hated seeing me not making music and working 9-5 in the coffee shop they go to and asked me to climb in the van to get me out of the city and back into being creative again. Very nice move which I will probably be forever grateful for. 

BandShoes: Why and when did you pick up the art of performing and how did you find the confidence? 

Rob: From around 15 years of age I worked in a local tourist attraction giving guided tours of a cave. I think this probably had something to do with my ability to stand in front of a bunch of people and say things and “perform” to some extent. I’ve never really thought too much about why I want to do the band thing or why I enjoy it as much as I do. These days the confidence probably comes from a mixture of not really giving a shit what people think about, what I have to play and say (I’d happily watch and listen to someone else do what I do, I think) and having a healthy few brews before a show. Nowt like a bit of dutch courage is there? 

BandShoes: What type of music did you grow up listening to and who are some musicians you have been listening to lately that are inspiring you? 

Rob: I listened to all sorts growing up. Started off with a load of really obvious stuff like The Beatles and The Stones, Nirvana, The Ramones, The Hives, White Stripes and that sort of thing. Quickly expanded with plenty of influence from magazines, school friend’s and their parent’s record collections; this is where I found Bob Dylan, T-Rex, Led Zepp, Sabbath, a fair bit of classical piano based stuff (Chopin is a favourite of mine). But there’s a plethora of other shit that I love/have loved at some point or other. Lately, I really got into the Loaded album by Velvet Underground, I’m super late to the party with them but they’re a band that has always passed me by up until quite recently. I really love this Swedish band called Pärson Sound at the moment, I came across them a good while ago but am revisiting lately. They’re a kind of jam band that eventually turned into International Harvester, really jammy loose stoned-out kind of vibe, fucking hippies. 

BandShoes: What are your go-to shoes for a gig and does a lot of thought go into your fashion choices prior to a show? 

Rob: I think I’ve pretty much exclusively worn Doc Martens boots for every show I’ve ever played with Drenge, not least because they make me feel slightly taller in a band of two much taller people than me. They’re also really comfy, hard wearing and not too bulky to hit pedals and so on. I don’t really “dress-up” for stage, I just wear kind of slightly ridiculous clothes all of the time. 

BandShoes: What has been inspiring your personal fashion style? 

Rob: I had a great time blowing loads of cash on clothes last time we toured the US, I’m kind of into the whole 70’s cowboy thing. I try not to stray too far into disco vibe or full blown CSNY California thing. I just buy stuff I like and try the best I can to look a little bit like I wouldn’t be too out of place in the Allman Bros Band or Sabbath or something. 

BandShoes: Which era do you think was doing it right and how does the future look in music in your eyes? 

Rob: All era’s from the 50’s onward definitely have some area of musical culture that I’m interested by/passionate about. I’m probably most into the 70’s at the moment, Hard-Rock, proto-metal, glam, punk rock etc, there’s plenty there to go on. God knows what the future of music is. I know what I intend to do in the future, but beyond that, I’m not really qualified to say. I guess the album I’m trying to write myself will fundamentally redefine the future of all culture but then again it might just be total crap. I’m a fan of hindsight. Probably just because I don’t want to go out on a limb for fear of being wrong and looking like an idiot. 

BandShoes: If you weren’t a touring musician what would your dream job be? 

Rob: Astronaut. 

If you happen to see Drenge coming to your local area or a planet near you be sure to go peep a gig in person and please don’t forget to buy my friend a pint of Guinness maybe even buy a band tee from his merch person.

photos by @shmandeluca

[thebandshoes]

Sometimes life just comes together, with little pieces of the past and big dreams of the future. The lads from Sixties Future are looking to keep Buffalo, NY on the map, all the while bringing “Dad Rock” along the way with them. I was able to catch up with Mo and Chris to talk about their history. 

Here is our interview with your Dad’s new favorite band. 

TheBandShoes What is your name and what’s your job in the band?

Sixties Future Im Mo Halliday and I play bass and I’m Chris Couche and I sing

TheBandShoes Is Sixties Future the first band you have played/toured with and where did the name come from?

Mo I’ve been in many bands through the years. All that time and those hours have helped me realize what I want out of a band and the result of that is Sixties Future.

Chris This is my first band. The name can mean a lot of things. I think I’m going to be annoyingly ambiguous on this one; we like the way it sounds.

TheBandShoes What are your go to shoes for a gig and does a lot of thought go into your fashion choices for a show?

Mo I do put a lot of thought into fashion choices especially when it comes to the band. There is an overall image I’d like to achieve but comfort is also a factor when it comes to footwear for a gig. My go to boots are Red Wing Iron Rangers. I have a pair in black and another in brown. I don’t think I’ve worn anything else on my feet for over a year. They just feel right and fit my look.

Chris I have a beat up pair of Dr Martens. If I could find something more cliche to say I would. You don’t need to wear them that long to make them look 100 years old. One winter here and the salt rips through everything.

TheBandShoes What and who if anything inspires your personal fashion style?

Mo My style is very influenced by classic 40s, 50s, and 60s american designs. There’s a lot of modern brands drawing influence from those eras but modernizing the cut so they fit much better and that’s what I’m into. High quality denim, western shirts, soft tees, boots and the occasional ratty old band tee sum it up pretty well for me.

Chris I thought we all had Eddie Vedder shrines.

TheBandShoes Why and when did you pick up the art of performing?

Mo I just loved music so much growing up and it really helped me through a lot. I got my first bass at the age of 13 after constantly begging my parents for a year and haven’t looked back since. It just always felt so natural/comfortable to me like it’s what I’m supposed to be doing.

Chris I used to draw a lot when I was a kid and when I got into finding my own music as a teenager, picking up an instrument was kind of a natural extension of that for me. I sucked at guitar but drums came pretty easily so I did that. The few times I played on stage I loved it, but it was a while before I actually viewed it as something I could devote myself to as something more than a hobby. I had felt I needed to follow the traditional path and get a “job”. Seeing Bruce Springsteen live changed my life. Totally changed my perception of music. What it is and what it can be. The potential of it. It was euphoric. A borderline religious experience. Definitely my epiphany moment and when I knew I wanted to make music with my life.

TheBandShoes Sixties hasn’t been a band for very long how has it been trying to grow this band and gain some buzz?

Mo From the beginning of this band it has been all about creating music we truly believe in. So for us not a lot of thought goes into creating buzz. It’s always about the song first and if the song is there hopefully people will catch on.

TheBandShoes What’s your go to pre or post gig drink of choice?

Mo A mainstay for us since day one has always been good ol Genny cream ale.

Chris Same.

TheBandShoes What type of music did you grow up listening to and who are some artists you are listening to now that inspire you?

Mo The first thing that ever made an impact on me growing up was a Pearl Jam single my sister would always play it was for the song Alive. From there I went through many phases but eventually ended up finding Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers and that was it, my all time favorite. For me it’s all about songwriters writing great songs from Petty to Springsteen to Fleetwood Mac I draw a lot from the greats. The War on Drugs is one of the more modern bands I really love. I think they were able to create a classic album that has obvious nods to the past while still having unique aspects to it pushing things forward. I also love anything Ryan Adams does.

Chris I grew up with music kind of in the peripheral with the majority of my early memories coming from 60’s rock, pop and gunfighter ballads in my dad’s car on the way to baseball. He had Darkness on the edge of town too; I remember that and some of The Who’ records. The artists I “love” I am generally in love with their persona or how they carried themselves through their career. There’s kind of an inherent degree of bullshit that’s going to occur somewhere in the marketing of things regardless of whether or not you’re trying to stay authentic, so the artists that make an effort to keep that to a minimum I love. Bruce being a primary one. Warren Zevon being the one that resonates the most with me. Brutal honesty and a sense of humor that really hits me. Especially when I first really listened. Totally floored me. I never put his book away. It kills me that I’ll never see him live.

TheBandShoes Which era do you think was doing it right and how does the future look in music in your eyes?

Mo Most of my top 10 albums came out in the 70s so I’ll go with that. I think while there was a lot of bloated and bad rock songs coming out there was a counter culture for creating unique and honest rock n roll; to impress no one but themselves. That I just really love. I think the future of music could be very bright. There is a lot of great bands doing it right now. Where the potential problem lies is the listener. Are they willing to open their ears and go out and find new stuff? Or are they content with whatever gets shoved in their ears by pop radio?

Chris Isn’t “music peaked in 78” the cliche? I can’t argue with what Mo said mat all.

TheBandShoes If you weren’t a touring musician what do you think your career would be?

Mo I’d love to run a Barcade or a classic Hi-Fi store. Im also really into flipping gear so if I weren’t playing music I’d love to make a living doing one or all of those things.

Chris Nothing good. Probably being the worst employee at Mo’s barcade.

After watching their fans raise them up and crowd surf them around historic Mohawk Place a few weeks back, trust me when I say Sixties Future is a bright spark in the music world and don’t seem to be just a flash in the pan. 

Obviously, music is all subjective so it’s about whoever or whatever truly resonates with you personally so go give them a listen, I’m sure you will dig them and be willing to support the movement. Help keep them from having to have real jobs for a while and let them do what they love and enjoy to do. Oh and don’t forget to invite your Dad when they get to a venue near you.

photo by Zach Acee

[thebandshoes]

Have you heard or listened to SUDS yet? If not what are you waiting for? The bright and fresh garage rock band poised for something really cool out of the UK have not been around very long but we think are here to stay! Fresh off their ep “Wash Your Mouth Out” released late 2015 we believe 2016 will be a very exciting and expanding year for these bandmates. We were able to catch up with Maisie-Mae the singer and the “six string strumming” front woman who has found a new career path other than “selling curtains”. She makes up one third of the band and is joined by Oli and Oliver on drums and bass. A young band with so much range in their sound, you can just about do anything to their tunes whether it is rage, mosh, cry, laugh or just sit. She began performing around 14 and from then on knew it was something she had to do more and more of. “All I wanted to do was belt out some T-Swift covers on my acoustic guitar, until I started writing my own tunes”. And her own tunes like “Sheet of White” are not exactly your mainstream country pop song but it well give you all the feels. We asked Maisie-Mae a few questions and her answers were priceless. We first asked her what she grew up listening to and who she was listening to now. The “Spice Girls then and now Viva Forever” as well as artist like David Bowie and Morrissey. She has recently been stepping back into her teen years and listening to “old” artists like Stornoway, The Staves, Marika Hackman, Laura Marling and Bon Iver to name a few, the reason “they were the folks playing folk that really inspired me. I'm in need of some inspo!” We then moved onto her inspiration behind her gig fashion, “probably my dad because he wears the things I wear, big up Big Gaz”. Her pre show outfit choices don't take much effort she says “not a lot of thought at all, usually I'll grab what I find! Which is usually a tee and some jeans and a battered pair of converse or standard DM's” which her exceedingly small feet usually find themselves in. One of the most exciting parts of this young band is their leap to not be sectioned off to one sound or one distinct feel. In their tunes; you are able to have any emotion prior to turning on their music and just be okay with it. The band is nearing the one year “first gig together” this coming July so be sure to catch their “close to hometown show” on April 8th at The Voodoo Lounge and be sure to play their songs on repeat no matter the weather.

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The who?

No Tal Wilkenfeld.

Who, Tal Wilkenfeld?

Yes you read the name correctly! Tal Wilkenfeld is the ever so talented young lady who left the Commonwealth of Australia for The United States of Music and released and album entitled “Transformation” nearly a decade ago, is back at it again but this time using her voice as well as her bass lines. Tal has just hit our map radar; sure she’s been a touring and recording musician for a while now with big names like Ryan Adams and Herbie Hancock but where did that big voice come from. With the release of “Corner Painter” on the forth of March it’s clear to see the force is strong with this one. The song begins with sirens in the background and a belting almost semi Radiohead-ish guitar lick dragging you into a western trancelike heartfelt battle cry. Tough questions are asked and replies are expressed from that same calming voice. In this up and down back and forth guitar rock song released in early spring Tal begins to thaw the winters ice which helps make way for a new sense of feeling and growth.

Now that she is using her voice and displaying her range we will patiently wait for a sequel to her debut album “Transformation”. If her single “Corner Painter” is any indication to her transformation as an artist her success and rise to gig headlining spot will occur in the not so distant future.

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The Boys Room

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An object in motion stays in motion while an object at rest will stay at rest. Over the past several years of tours in the Americas and across the pond in Europe the three brothers who together form Radkey seem to be piecing together something really “rad”. After their late summer of 2015 album debut “Dark Black Makeup” Radkey seem to be in possession of the keys to the race car your “cool uncle” bought in the summer of 79’ and they don’t seem to be in the mood to layoff the clutch to slow down anytime soon.

The heart of punk rock has been awakened with these young mates who have been waiting in the midwest developing and attempting to master their craft of musicianship and entertainment. I was able to catch up with the lads prior to their gig at the Grog Shop in Cleveland, Ohio this past December when they rolled into town to support London’ workhorse Wolf Alice.

When they walked into the venue they just stood out they looked the part, they really looked to cool for school (and being a dropout I know). Sunglasses at night, in the middle of winter inside a venue. I thought to myself that’s what you have to do to stay in the zone; I need to ask to shoot a few promos for them after their soundcheck and before they become bigger than our little blog and NME/Rolling Stone want them to grace the front covers of their magazines (if neither have yet to plan on it they should/will soon). So I walked over to the dimly lit table they were all circled around and asked if they had time to take a few photographs and just like that I convinced them to stand in the men’s bathroom while I pretended to know what I was doing behind the camera.

Luckily for me I didn’t mess up their pre show vibe because they came out on stage on fire and ready to perform. I could write down fifty words describing how great their live show was and how I couldn’t understand how the youngest brother Solomon could be so good at an instrument he had only picked up to be part of the band several years earlier or maybe I could write about the eldest brother Isaiah’ never ending energy on stage and ability to give the band the second vocals to complement Dee’ iconic lead vocals but I won’t. Why because my words just won’t give them justice. All I can say is go and see a live show next time Radkey are in your area this year because your inability to focus on one band member for too long or the loss of control to not dance and jump around will make you understand why punk rock has been waiting for them for a long time.

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Made Violent

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I was privileged enough to catch up with the young lads in Made Violent from across the pond in good old Buffalo, New York prior to their set at Brixton Academy in London. They were getting ready to wrap up a career changing tour with the mighty but oh so elegant Wolf Alice and the “circle pit” brothers plus one from Sheffield the talented boys in Drenge which took them across most of the larger cities in the UK.

Before their show I looked at their eye popping social media pages. A humor so dry it is dripping wet with their personalities spreads through their twitter page. The Made Violent Instagram account looks as if their photographer Andy Deluca has been working for Rolling Stone magazine and National Geographic for decades. A disclaimer is displayed on their twitter page “World Famous American Rock Band” and these earthlings surely hold up to the label. With less than ten shows played in the UK they have played for several sold out energetic crowds at a few of the UK’s bigger venues.

During a tune entitled “Not So Strange” I closed my eyes and for a moment I felt so strange; I honestly felt as if I was being teleported back to 1990 a few years before any of these bandmates were even walking on their own yet alone thinking about taking over the world. Rob Ramono gives the crowd the best of both worlds a Jimi and Santana talent with a crunchy in your face tone in tracks like “Two Tone Hair” and “Don’t Really Wanna Know”. Justin Acee hits his snare harder than anyone I think I’ve seen since possible young gun Dave Grohl and with a precision of the legend Charlie Watt on tracks like “On My Own”. Lead singer and bassist Joe White or as their tour manager Shack calls him Joegee shows his personality by dedicating a tune to “anyone with a hot momma”; he really isn’t reinventing the wheel but he’ll get you pumped up enough to push that wheel up any hill.

Over the past decade the slow chants and cries of “Rock n Roll is dead” have been gaining volume but with Made Violent breaking the scene some 18 months ago those voices have been drowned out with the sheer wall of power that spews from these yanks instruments and souls. “Don’t Listen To Made Violent” was printed on a black tee shirt at their merch table next to a “Join or Die” tee shirt which pays homage to their homie back home Ben Franklin I’m sure. In the end you will remember this name so hop on the band wagon while there is room in the venue. Made Violent have it made and a new album hopefully this coming year will ascend them into a different realm among musics greats.

They are not Nirvana nor The Strokes not even The Kinks; they may have been influenced by these bands but their sound stays true to themselves and their attitudes it’s strictly Made Violent when you hear and see them live. They are headed out to tour the US for two and a half weeks opening up for Drenge and Wolf Alice again just on their home soil. If you are anywhere near the East or West coast even Central USA make it an effort to be early to see your new favourite band. They will be there if you bring the loud, don’t be late.

We asked the boys a few questions that well only fans want to know. They will inspire and educate you on life on the road and give you a glimpse into these boys minds after losing them on the road.

BandShoes: Made Violent what are your names. Made Violent: Joe at aol dot com. Hi I’m Rob and thats Justin.

BS: What is your least favorite color? R: Silver JA: Neon Lime Green JW: Any color is great as long as it’s in the right place

BS: If the earth stopped rotating how long would it take for the oceans to calm? JW: 6 to 9 days JA: That’s a loaded question… How long would it take you to be calm?

BS: How are you? JA: Sick R: As calm as the oceans JW: I’m well, thank you for asking.. How are you?

BS: When you’re on tour who or what makes you laugh the most? R: Andy makes me laugh JA: Everyone and anyone. Probably the rob and andy combination tho

BS: What did you eat for dinner yesterday? JW: I had the worst/best mac and cheese of all time R: A veggie burger.. Because it came with a free beer JA: Late night hotel pizza

What would you do if you were not involved with music? JA: Listen to music R: Farm JW: I don’t know cook probably

BS: What movie is better in your opinion? A) A League of Their Own B) Home Alone 2: Lost In New York C) Homeward Bound 2: Lost In San Francisco D) Baby’s Day Out R: C Homeward Bound 2 JW: B Suck brick, kid! JA: B Home Alone 2 obviously

BS: What shoes did you wear yesterday? JW: Base London Beatle Boots JA: Black Chucks R: Aldo Boots

Check out their music video for “Wasted Days” where director Ian Perlman created a world for them http://youtu.be/zhIOIBJ3M6Q and visit their website www.madeviolent.com for updates on tours and everything else Made Violent.

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This blog(?) will be dedicated to bands, shoes and everything else in between.

We’ve been blessed with the opportunity to spend most of our lives on the road and we want to show you it.

Follow on our journey; meeting new people, seeing new styles and trying new things.