Chuck HinsonTHE FORE Interview (with YOUR Questions!)
September 27th 2008 17:51
Accordin' to the Relic's inbox, the response has been through the roof on the recent article about the fab UK band, THE FORE! Ya wanted to know MORE about this wildly popular ensemble -- soooo .... here 'tis!:
They're called the hardest workin' indie band in rock, largely because they rehearse, get gigs, haul and set up equipment, and promote in the same manner as their famous FOREfathers, The Beatles, did in the early days.
Their sound and onstage antics are so reminiscent of the early bands that ya begin to actually feel the good vibrations of a better and more musical time with every show!
But there's more to it than that: It's all, very much, GENUINE! The songs are all penned by bassist/founder Spencer Hannabuss. They actually interact with fans who truly mean the world to them!
The Relic was privileged to interview these lads awhile back, and, since, we've become close friends. So we'll start at the beginning (these are YOUR questions, published verbatim); (Now, what you're about to read in this part will include input by their rhythm guitarist at the time, Luke Bentley. As I toldja recently, they're in the market for a NEW guitarist, as Luker has left due to health problems. We all love the guy and wish him the best)
“Did any of you know each other well (as friends or schoolmates) before coming together as a band?”
LUKE: We all met through a dating site! haha
SIMON: We could have been a great boy band. lol
SPENCER: Whilst Simon, Matt and I all live in and around London, we all went to different schools and only met through adverts posted on the internet/music magazines/shops (Luke’s from Manchester)
“How did you come up with your unique sound? You sound so much like the Beatles and the famous groups its awesome. Plus your vocals sound like Beatles The Everleys (sic) and The Hollies.”
SPENCER: It must be in our blood! I think you’ve hit the nail on the head; the sound has a mixture of all those great bands and more. The Beatles were the band that first got us hooked on music, but, without doubt, the music and the harmonies of The Everlys, The Hollies and The Searchers (to name just four) has had a profound effect on our music.
LUKE: Spencer and myself are huge fans of The Everlys.
"Who decides who sings the lead part of a song?”
SPENCER: When I’ve written a song I tend to know straight away whose voice it suits the best. Maybe it’s just pure luck? But could you really imagine Luke not singing I Got A Girl or Simon not singing Man of Few Words? It just wouldn’t feel right!
Spencer, this one’s for you: “how long does it normaly (sic) take u to write a song and do u do the music as well?”
SPENCER: Not an easy question to answer. Some songs come very easy. For example, I Want To Be With You took one evening to write, but Love For Sale was hanging around for a month until I worked out the riff, which is pretty key to the whole song. Nearly without exception I’ll come up with the melody before the lyrics. I’ll start off with the melody “hook” or riff and take it from there.
Often a song will come quite quickly, but I’ll be stuck on the last verse.
“Matt sounds like George (Harrison) with his guitar but does not seem to talk to (sic) much. Why is he so quite?” (I think she means “quiet”, guys.)
SPENCER: When Matt has something important to say, he’ll say it. I guess he does all his talking through his guitar!
“What’s the biggest show you have ever played?”
SPENCER: Good question! Biggest, in terms of audience, was undoubtedly in Kent, when we provided the live show at Danson Fireworks Display in Bexley. The organisers told us that 35,000 were expected that evening, although we would never have known it — we couldn’t see anything past the first 5 rows due to the darkness!
And, of course, everytime we play a live show on a High Street, we must play to literally thousands of passers-by. I guess we don’t really ever take a stock of that (ie: count of exactly how many).
"What is it like to play the Cavern where the Beatles started? (followup question, same reader ) How did you get the job there to start?”
SIMON: As soon as you’re onstage you feel the energy creeping out of the walls and you feel that all the great 60’s bands that have played there are watching over you! It’s a huge thrill!!
SPENCER: It’s amazing! Technically it’s not the real Cavern (the old one was blocked up as it was waterlogged and unsafe); it actually is a replica of the old venue (which is next door. Legend has it that you can still access the old Cavern via the womens’ toilets), but it has the same magic as the place that the Beatles played. I recommend everyone to get a chance to visit it and take in the atmosphere. To hear a live band playing the old 60s stuff as you’re coming down the spiral staircase is pretty mind-blowing!
SIMON: I believe we emailed the promoter direct who puts on an event called Sounds of the 60s on a Sunday night and, as we do, turned up, played, and they wanted more! )
Now, we'll continue the interview in just a coupla clix, so stay tuned, yardbirds -- you won't wanna miss it! The band's just laid the tracks for their new album, Run and Hide, and it's project to be out in late-November. Having heard some of the songs, I can tell ya that it's a perfect followup to their first, the hit-selling Black & White.
For more on the lads, visit their website at http://www.theforeband.com (be sure to click on their music widget, where you'll hear clips from Black & White) ... and get ready: You're witnessing rock reborn ... and, soon, with label bigwigs checkin' these guys out closely, it's just a matter of time before ya hear them everywhere ... and see them in arenas around America!
The Relic's seen, been and played there and with the big ones over the years, so take it from me: You're lookin' at tomorrow's superstars!!
See ya on the flip side with more!
But there's more to it than that: It's all, very much, GENUINE! The songs are all penned by bassist/founder Spencer Hannabuss. They actually interact with fans who truly mean the world to them!
The Relic was privileged to interview these lads awhile back, and, since, we've become close friends. So we'll start at the beginning (these are YOUR questions, published verbatim); (Now, what you're about to read in this part will include input by their rhythm guitarist at the time, Luke Bentley. As I toldja recently, they're in the market for a NEW guitarist, as Luker has left due to health problems. We all love the guy and wish him the best)
“Did any of you know each other well (as friends or schoolmates) before coming together as a band?”
LUKE: We all met through a dating site! haha
SIMON: We could have been a great boy band. lol
“How did you come up with your unique sound? You sound so much like the Beatles and the famous groups its awesome. Plus your vocals sound like Beatles The Everleys (sic) and The Hollies.”
SPENCER: It must be in our blood! I think you’ve hit the nail on the head; the sound has a mixture of all those great bands and more. The Beatles were the band that first got us hooked on music, but, without doubt, the music and the harmonies of The Everlys, The Hollies and The Searchers (to name just four) has had a profound effect on our music.
LUKE: Spencer and myself are huge fans of The Everlys.
"Who decides who sings the lead part of a song?”
Spencer, this one’s for you: “how long does it normaly (sic) take u to write a song and do u do the music as well?”
SPENCER: Not an easy question to answer. Some songs come very easy. For example, I Want To Be With You took one evening to write, but Love For Sale was hanging around for a month until I worked out the riff, which is pretty key to the whole song. Nearly without exception I’ll come up with the melody before the lyrics. I’ll start off with the melody “hook” or riff and take it from there.
Often a song will come quite quickly, but I’ll be stuck on the last verse.
“Matt sounds like George (Harrison) with his guitar but does not seem to talk to (sic) much. Why is he so quite?” (I think she means “quiet”, guys.)
SPENCER: When Matt has something important to say, he’ll say it. I guess he does all his talking through his guitar!
“What’s the biggest show you have ever played?”
SPENCER: Good question! Biggest, in terms of audience, was undoubtedly in Kent, when we provided the live show at Danson Fireworks Display in Bexley. The organisers told us that 35,000 were expected that evening, although we would never have known it — we couldn’t see anything past the first 5 rows due to the darkness!
And, of course, everytime we play a live show on a High Street, we must play to literally thousands of passers-by. I guess we don’t really ever take a stock of that (ie: count of exactly how many).
"What is it like to play the Cavern where the Beatles started? (followup question, same reader ) How did you get the job there to start?”
SPENCER: It’s amazing! Technically it’s not the real Cavern (the old one was blocked up as it was waterlogged and unsafe); it actually is a replica of the old venue (which is next door. Legend has it that you can still access the old Cavern via the womens’ toilets), but it has the same magic as the place that the Beatles played. I recommend everyone to get a chance to visit it and take in the atmosphere. To hear a live band playing the old 60s stuff as you’re coming down the spiral staircase is pretty mind-blowing!
SIMON: I believe we emailed the promoter direct who puts on an event called Sounds of the 60s on a Sunday night and, as we do, turned up, played, and they wanted more! )
Now, we'll continue the interview in just a coupla clix, so stay tuned, yardbirds -- you won't wanna miss it! The band's just laid the tracks for their new album, Run and Hide, and it's project to be out in late-November. Having heard some of the songs, I can tell ya that it's a perfect followup to their first, the hit-selling Black & White.
For more on the lads, visit their website at http://www.theforeband.com (be sure to click on their music widget, where you'll hear clips from Black & White) ... and get ready: You're witnessing rock reborn ... and, soon, with label bigwigs checkin' these guys out closely, it's just a matter of time before ya hear them everywhere ... and see them in arenas around America!
The Relic's seen, been and played there and with the big ones over the years, so take it from me: You're lookin' at tomorrow's superstars!!
See ya on the flip side with more!
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