Bryn: It’s gonna be pretty low key - our budget is reliant on favours. It's an introduction to The Shoestrung, with a few nods to stuff that’s influenced us. Eat the document, Rock n Roll Circus etc.
How did the video come about?
Al: We met a man in a pub.
We really like the photos you've had done. What influences the locations and compositions?
Bryn: A good friend of the band did almost all of our photos, he's a fantastic photographer called Sam Hiscox. Check him out.
Al: We hadn't met him before we did that shoot and now he's got a special badge.
Rob: Gerard Makovitz's stuff. Especially his Stones photos.
Bryn: We felt strongly about the depletion of British cod stocks.
Some of your song titles seem quite bitter ("I only smoke to burn a hole in you" and "I'd love to see you get knocked down") yet your sound is quite upbeat. Is there a darker side to The Shoestrung?
Al: I think that's quite a standard thing to do in rock n roll. It’s about having fun despite being fucked over. That’s Rhythm and Blues.
Bryn: Lemons are bitter but they're bright and yellow.
What's the biggest influence on The Shoestrung sound?
Treggy: ZZ Top.
Bryn: We've had a lot of weird influences pinned on us, ranging from The Grateful Dead to T-Rex.
Al: Son House in sparkly trousers.
Bryn: But really it’s the blues and rock an roll, a little band called The Rolling Stones, The Small Faces, but also Elvis Costello and The Clash.
Rob: We are very aware of the music that's preceded us.
How would you describe The Shoestrung live experience?
Rob: Better than the record.
Bryn: Wet knickers
Al: We're a live band first and foremost.
What's been your favourite venue to play so far and why?
Al: Casablanca Jazz Club in Brighton. It’s a big basement. We used to play 2 sets: starting at midnight, finishing at 3. It was where we learnt how to make people dance. We had to entertain a lot of freaks who'd been dancing to shit funk for too long. Sweaty.
Bryn: The Rock Garden in Covent Garden. The Stones played there so we were licking the floor. Unfortunately it's been knocked down to build an apple store, fuckers
Treggy: Two millionaire gentlemen employed us to play at their mansion for an afternoon of fun and frolics. Good tips.
What's going on for The Shoestrung in 2009 that you want to tell us about?
Treggy: In 2009 so far I've crashed the band's car, been arrested, spent a night in a cell and could only afford to buy my girlfriend a McDonalds for Valentines Day.
Rob: I've recently fallen in love.
Al: I wana make a record.
Bryn: In the words of the great Cab Calloway, ‘gonna get me some 'loose shoes, tight pussy and a warm place to shit'
Thanks very much fellas, it’s been a blast. Check out their myspace page for details of their upcoming gigs.
