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Mistys Big Adventure
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Article
written by Mary B
Sep 25, 2006.
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I caught up with just Gareth out of Mistys Big Adventure because there are eight of them and I am running low on tea bags and the like. Over a brew we discussed He-man and other such important current affairs...
SoundsXP: Your music is one big adventure! There appears to be so much energy in the band. Where do the ideas come from? Where did the name come from?
Gareth: Our name comes from a Magic Roundabout annual from 1968. There is a story in it called Misty's Big Adventure and is about a cat that makes friends with the dog next door and realises you shouldn't always believe what you're told. The cat had been warned the dog was evil. I don't know where the ideas come from. We listen to a lot of different music and a lot of weird films. And I'm totally obsessed with writing songs. It's all I've done since I was nine.
SoundsXP: There are an awful lot of you. I bet you dread putting the kettle on! How do you all get on professionally/personally? And who are the twins in the band?
Gareth: That's spot on! 8 cups of tea is a logistical nightmare. That job is normally left to Erotic Volvo! We get on very well. We've been doing this quite a while now, and we continue to get closer. Lucy and Hannah, our saxophone and trumpet players are twins.
SoundsXP: So Lucy Baines (saxophone/vocals) is the finger puppet Queen? I would like to see you do a musical with finger puppets depicting the current political climate. What say you?
Gareth: She is! Lucy's a really great artist as well as a musician. I'm sure a finger puppet extravaganza would be a worthwhile pursuit, but would probably take a lot of planning. I'd want to see them burn at the end of the musical.
SoundsXP: If you had to write a song about the state of our world today what would you call it and what would the opening line be?
Gareth: I'm actually writing it! I've been listening to TalkSport a lot recently because it fascinates me. One thing everyone who rings in always says is "This country's going to the dogs". That's what I'm calling the song!
SoundsXP: You are pretty busy touring in October/November yet I notice that you are free on the 5th November, my birthday. Dare I dream that you might put on a gig in my livingroom for me? Describe to me your weirdest gig experience.
Gareth: Possibly! Though I'd have to ask the rest of the band. We might need the day off! There have been many weird gig experiences. The weirdest one this year was
playing to about 15 emo teenagers in a tiny holiday resort in Germany. They loved it! We played for over an hour and a half and it peaked with Erotic Volvo doing his first ever stage dive! That's honestly one of the funniest things I've ever witnessed.
SoundsXP: I absolutely love the song 'Two brains' Do you really believe in the idea of a parallel universe?
Gareth: It's difficult to know what to believe. Science was never my strong point. But I like the idea.
SoundsXP: I am giving you super powers for one day. What will they be and why?
Gareth: That's very good of you. I guess I'd like to be He-Man for the day. Go round picking up heavy objects and moving them somewhere. Riding around on Battlecat. Hanging out in Castle Greyskull. 4 year old Gareth would be grateful.
SoundsXP: Who do you admire in the world of music? Has anybody in particular influenced the sound of the band?
Gareth: Lots of people. Julian Cope was my favourite when I was younger and that influence has stayed I think. But then, I love Raymond Scott, Faust, Ivor Cutler and The Beatles of course. The list is endless.
SoundsXP: You hail from Birmingham. What is the music scene like there at the moment?
Gareth: I'm not particularly up on music scenes. That would involve me going out more! Kate Goes... are really good and coming on tour with us. There's a band called Poppy and The Jezabels who are only 14 but I reckon have got a lot of potential. Pram have got a good new album coming out soon. But I have no idea what the bulk of the bands are like in Birmingham. I just pray no one is trying to sound like The Editors because they aren't very good.
SoundsXP: You have called your latest music offering Black Hole. A black hole is 'a region of spacetime from which nothing can escape, even light' (Boffin alert!) Are you trying to trap listeners with your music? Is there sci-fi reasoning behind your tunes or am I just watching too much Star Trek?
Gareth: I like grand ideas! The Universe is the best because your brain can't cope with what might possibly be going on out there. Science can be a bad thing because it wants to prove stuff, whereas I like to be able to daydream. But I came up with the title Black Hole because I was in a particularly depressed state around that time, and I felt like I was in one. In a way, making that album helped me out of it and I'm a lot more content at the moment.
SoundsXP: Talk to me about Bestival. Anything that comes into your head. I wanted to be there but I could not afford it so feel my senses up with your words.
Gareth: It's a pretty nice festival in that everyone dresses up and it's in a beautiful place. I prefer the daytime part of it. There's still too much rubbish dance music going on at night. But I'm just a grouch!
SoundsXP: What is the best/worst thing about being in a band in 2006 on planet earth right now.
Gareth: Well the internet's pretty good. Myspace and Youtube are definitely helping us. The worst thing is that record companies are still going, but fingers crossed
they're on their way out. I don't like untalented people trying to make money out of talented people.
And talented people you are, Gareth! Black hole is out now so buy it and fill the void in your life. Or buy it and just listen to it, works too. And catch MBA at my house (well maybe) on the 5th November. Free entry, no exit...
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