We LOVE these guys, having first seen them way back in 2010 when they were flogging their guts out on the road promoting their debut record Growing Pains we've had the pleasure of bumping into them at various festivals including BOARDMASTERS and most recently, in Bristol where they did a mighty fine job of supporting DEAF HAVANA, we caught up with guitarist/vocalist Matt Bigland to chat about life on the road and how they survive at major music festivals.....
I recently watched you tear the O2 in Bristol a new hole when you supported Deaf Havana, what can the people of Download Festival expect from you this year?
We're super excited to play Download this year - it'll be our first time playing it so we'll be going hard. It'll be heavy and we'll be having a really fucking good time, so people should come to kick it!
Staying on the subject of Deaf Havana, you just finished touring Europe with them, any amusing stories from the road that you can (legally) share with us?
Many, those guys are a riot. That was such a fun tour and we're bummed it's over - instead of a tour it was just like a three week constant party with shows in between. At a show in Italy we fucked up in the last chorus of "Friend Of Mine" because Deaf Havana had thrown a tortilla at Mike from side of stage, which hit him directly in the face temporarily blinding him, so we like crashed into the last chorus all wrong. Everybody died laughing. The same night I watched James from DH run down the street totally naked as the bus pulled away for the next city. For a great rock band that lean on the side of pop those guys are literally off the chain!
If you were to cover any track by an act performing at this years DOWNLOAD Festival, which would it be and why?
It would probably be Covet by Basement because I just love those guys. We toured with them last year and they're just the nicest dudes and their band rules. Great alternative rock. It would either be that or Slayer South Of Heaven because thrash metal is the fucking shit!
Download is a MASSIVE event, which other bands are you looking forward to checking out?
I'm pumped about a lot of bands this year. Slayer, obviously, Red Fang, Suicidal Tendancies, Mastodon, Biffy. There's a whole bunch so I'll be all over.
What are your top 3 tips to surviving a large music festival?
First is simple. Drink a bottle of water in between your beers because let's face it - the chances you're gonna get super hammered are high and you don't want the party ending before you want it to end. Keep those waters coming and you can pretty much drink beers forever and wind up being the MVP. Second is BRUSH YOUR FUCKING TEETH because that weed you smoked yesterday on top of those 100 beers is making your mouth smell like shit dude. And three is chill out and have a good time. Enjoy your life and use it whilst you got it.
You’re off to America soon supporting Chevelle and Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes (we saw Frank in Exeter, it was brutal), do you find the US audiences differ from the UK ones? If so, how?
Uh...I guess every audience is slightly different. We love the US crowds because they're just super open to rock music in general. If you can kick it then they're probably gonna get behind you if they're watching you live, and we love that connection. Also just getting to play in the US regularly is so cool for us so we just love playing shows there full stop. Even though the drives are totally insane and you have to eat shit like never before it's super fun.
Where in America do you feel you get the best reception?
I don't know really, all over I guess. Colorado Springs get's it, Denver, Omaha, loads of random places. I love getting out to the west coast because I love the sun.
You’re pretty much tied up for May and half of July and early August in the States, might we see you on a stage on a certain farm in the West Country sometime in June?
Haha, I don't know - that would be awesome but I'm not sure the West Country is feeling DPU yet. But don't hold me to that. We're out in the States a lot yeah but we can't wait to get back to the UK and do some headline shows. It's been way too long and I think it'll go off when we're back.
You released Eleven Eleven back in Oct 2015, surely it must be time for a new record, any new material in the pipeline?
A lot actually. I've been writing all the time whilst we've been away touring so there's plenty of new songs kicking about. As soon as we get off the road we'll go record a new record I think, but then again we're on the road forever pretty much so it's whenever we can fit it in right now!!
We'd like to wish DPU all the very best and we're really looking forward to seeing them at DOWNLOAD Festival in June, until then, you can keep up to date with their whereabouts and shenanigans by clicking on the links below;
