Introducing the super talented Cornish trio AUCTION FOR THE PROMISE CLUB....
© JULIAN BAIRD 2015 WWW.JULIANBAIRD.COM
We happened upon this brilliant Cornish 3 piece at the Exeter Phoenix Arts Centre when they supported local Exeter band The Sherpas recently (you can read the review of the gig HERE). They blew us away with their hard edged, melodic style and we wanted to find out more.
We caught up with Toby from the band and had a chat about musical influences, buying Haddaway CD's and kicking ducklings, here's how we got on....
We know very little about you other than you’re from St Agnes in Cornwall, can you tell us a bit more about yourselves and your music?
Zoe and Toby are brother and sister who met Perran from Perranporth, Perranzabuloe through a mutual friend called Kenver. The music seems to be fairly rocky with lively gigs but it has atmospheric bits too!
Auction For The Promise Club isn’t a name I’ve come across before, where did it originate and who thought of it?
Cor it’s a long, tedious story that requires a bottle of Demerara rum and a hurricane lantern, a stormy night, with the waves crashing on the rocks and wind rattling the window panes.
When and how did you form as a band?
I think out first EP came out in 2012, so 2011? Kenver introduced Zo and Perran and then it stared from there, Toby got involved to help out.
We saw you recently when you supported The Sherpas at the Exeter Phoenix Arts Centre, being from Cornwall, do you feel this limits your chances of playing with bigger touring bands unless you travel out of the County?
It’s a funny one because we have supported The Pigeon Detectives and Reverend and the Makers in Cornwall but we haven’t supported anyone else out of Cornwall when we have been around the UK. The Southwest has some awesome gigs going on so we thought ‘bugger it’ we are staying more local for now
Do you all share the same tastes in music?
Between us, we have a wide range of tastes in music Perran's quite a fan of Nick Cave, Sonic Youth. Placebo are a top band, Muse etc all sorts of genres and feels, anything that brings a feeling I suppose
I read in a recent interview that you’re currently enjoying the output of many South West based UK acts, who (apart from yourselves) do you think has what it takes to take it to the next level?
Moriaty are pretty awesome, The Blacktamborines have got some great tunes too! Brother and Bones’ new single/album is going to be booooooming!
What are your views about the use of smartphones and video recording equipment at gigs?
It is what it is I suppose?!
Your Video for ‘This May Hurt’ was uploaded to YouTube recently, tell me more about how Adam Taylor went about creating it.
Adam is a really talented Animator. He produced that video in a week! He made our next video too so keep an eye out for that one very soon. The song is about drive and determination so he took that and made the set and the Sharman crow character. The Crow over comes some obstacles on its journey to get to the top of the mountain to reach their goal. All good fun!
Who would you say are your main musical influences?
Loads - Placebo, Radiohead, Muse, Editors, Sonic Youth, The Slits, Bjork
If we were to put all of you in a UFC fighting cage, who would be the last one standing?
Perran… when he is hungry and he smells meat… he would tear anyone apart and kick a small duckling in the face
I have visited St Agnes before when I was very young, if I were to return now as a grown up, please tell me where to go in town for food, beer and live music?
The Driftwood Spars would cover all bases in one stop!!! Especially on the 10th July when we are playing there ;-) he he! But we seriously recommend No. 4 in Peterville Sq, fabulous food cooked by Vasey and Markie and front of house by the lovely Nola. Exquisite!
If money was no object, what would be your ‘dream’ musical instruments to own?
A ridiculously old skool Ginger Baker drum kit and cymbals. Zo once played a 1953 Gibson Les Paul ‘Gold Top’ that was worth about £40k-50k, one of those wouldn’t be too shabby to record on! and Perran loves Kazoos.
You’ve played an impressive range of festivals in the past including an appearance at the Olympic Park in 2012, how did that come about and what did you play?
The guys at Emerging Icons put us on 4 times! Its was a great experience, the atmosphere was buzzing and we met loads of great people from all over the world. We played quite a different set from what we play now, but 'Dancer' and 'Under China' were still in there!
Are you planning any music festivals this year?
We can’t wait for the Looe Music Festival! We are playing the BBC introducing stage! On the 11th July we are also playing at the Welcombe Beer Festival - look out, those guys know how to party!
Tell me about the first ever gig you attended as a paying customer
Blimey… some dirty rave up in a cave probably.. can’t remember!
If you were to liken the band to a fictional character, who or what would it be and why?
The Mad Hatter, always late, running around in circles
What was the first ever CD/record that you bought?
Ha! Haddaway – What is Love?!
What are your plans for the remainder of 2015?
We have the B-Side to ‘This May Hurt’ to release very soon which is called ‘Instincts’ and then another single called ‘For No One Else’ and then another one called ‘You Don’t Love Me’. Then we have the next EP to release!
Having just released a video for their kick ass track 'This May Hurt', we were going to let Toby off having to sit through the painful experience of the quickfire question round, I soon came to my senses and thought, NAH !!!! Here's how he got on....
Breaking Bad or Game of Thrones?
Never seen either
Beach or Pool?
Beach
Springwatch or Baywatch?
Baywatch
Cornish Pasty or Cornish Pixie?
Pasty!
Slush Puppie or Smoothie?
Smoothie
Camembert or Stilton?
Bert
Lie in or early riser?
Lie in
Al Pacino or Robert de Niro?
Al
Star Wars or Star Trek?
Star Wars
James Brown or James Blunt?
James Brown
Devon or Dorset?
Devon!
PS4 or XBoxOne?
AK47?!
Night out or Night in?
Night Out
Cider or Ale?
Both
Beards or No Beards?
Stubble
God or Google?
We'd like to thank Toby for taking the time to sit through our questions, we wish them every success in the future and look forward to seeing them live in the near future, who knows, we may even attend the gig at The Driftwood Spars on July 10th....In the meantime, why not crack open another cold one and go check out their social media channels, I've listed them below, just point and click!
Social Media
Interview by Steve Muscutt