In conversation : Earls

05/26/18

I first heard of Earls when i was at an open mic night at The Shed in the Vault when I  heard them sound checking upstairs. They are a force to be reckoned with. Here's what happened when we got chatting.

You played Handmade festival recently, but what’s the best gig of the year been so far?

Anthony:  Handmade was a good one, but we played a really good one at the shed a few weeks ago.

George: It was for a single launch of “We are Skum.”

Anthony: It was a really good one and we’re really happy about that event.

We’re here at the launch of your single “The End is Nigh” tell me a little about the process behind that song and its lyrics.

Anthony: We wrote it a little bit in reaction to the state of the world, like trump and all that bollocks, but really it was just an excuse for me to write a song where I yell the end is nigh a lot like a madman. Our song writing doesn’t go too deep it’ all very face value; it is what it is.

What have you been listening to either individually or as a band?

George: We listen to all sorts, I’d say influence wise it’s a lot of new bands like Idles, Slaves, Cabbage. But then there’s older stuff.

Anthony: Like your proper old stuff; The Clash, The Sex Pistols, The Dead Kennedy’s. All your proper old punk stuff. We’re trying to use those old influences but also the new stuff so it’s not just old man rock.

George: We started this band up and about a week later we heard of slaves.

Anthony: I’ve never been so angry about another punky two-piece; I was like ‘Yes! This has never been done before’ it’s okay I love Slaves, but it was like ‘oh shit Slaves have existed since 2012.’

You’re an independent DIY band at the moment, how important would you say grass roots levels venues are to bands like Earls?

George: Really important because without them you can’t do anything. Especially in the early days who wants to come and see a band that they’ve never heard of. No one, so we need promoters and those venues that want to put on those bands and have someone slightly more established, so that you can work your way up.

Anthony: I think the scene in Leicester has also changed quite a lot in the past two years. When we first came to Leicester all the bands were on very similar levels and nobody came to gigs for gigs, but recently over the past six months or so the shed has been getting really popular. There’s a lot of touring bands playing The Soundhouse or The Cookie that do have local bands playing support.

George: I’d say that’s the main driving force. The refurbishment and new ownership of the shed has completely changed everything.

Do you think you’ll ever sign to a label or do you think you’ll stay independent?

Anthony: It would depend totally on what they’re asking and what they wanted from us. I’d love to make this my full time job but if a label wanted us to be a pop two piece then no.

Your performances are quite energetic, do you try and channel that energy as much as possible?

Anthony: Definitely, as musicians we’re not like extremely talented. So for us it’s in the song writing and performance.

George: Being a two piece as well, when you look at loads of members on stage in a band on stage there’s a lot to look at. But if there’s two people and one of them is sat on the drums you have to bring the energy.

Do you have any particular local band that you’ve been listening to recently?

Anthony: All the bands we’re playing with tonight like Timmas,Gallows high also Graves, they’re older boys and they’re just releasing a single at the moment, it’s really really good. Fiveheads as well they’re Leicester’s weirdest band. I love their sound.

George: Event Horizon, they’re in the metal scene at the moment and they’re quality.

Where can people see you next and can we expect any new music soon?

Anthony: That’s a very good question, we’re rubbish at keeping track of shows. I believe are next gig is at the end of the month at some point so check out our Facebook. We’re supposed to be recording an EP in June, and we’ve just snagged ourselves a band manager who’s going to be putting some money into us, because It’s the biggest brick wall we face. So very exciting stuff in the future.

You can end this interview anyway you want, what are you going to say George: Egg.

Earls 

Latest single; The End is Nigh https://youtu.be/3DnB3WsYewE

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Earlsband/