Interview - Fresh Legs

They're a good band, are Fresh Legs. We got them to sign a postcard proclaiming their love for Tom. It's currently on display in my car, alongside a random piece of sparkly jewellery and a Pigeon Detectives keyring. My car is indie as.

Previously published on mINtSOUTH.com in October 2009
Words - Suzy Sims
Editor - Rob Ball
(c) mINtSOUTH.com

FRESH LEGS - SOUTHSEA FEST 2009

mINtSOUTH: Tell me a bit about yourselves.
Carl: “We’ve been going for about three years. Myself, Thom and Karlos were in a band in school called Gravy Boat, it was good fun.”
Thom: “It was very awful.”
Carl: “We went to South Downs College. There was an enrichment course called Rock Band just to play music, and eventually form a band to play a showcase at the Wedge. Me and Thom wanted to start playing together in this Rock Band group and then we invited Karlos to come along and drum because the drummers were rubbish. Karlos knew Ella from PE class so he invited her to come to sing, and then we started practising in rehearsal rooms, started making our own songs, and then gradually got a gig, and we’ve been doing it ever since. Just having fun, making music with your friends.”

mINtSOUTH: Can you describe your music?
Thom: “We try to write pop songs because they’re what we enjoy to listen to and enjoy to play. There’s no need to stray from pop, if that’s what you like doing and it sounds good.”
Carl: “It’s pop but with some quirks in the song to make it a bit different.”

mINtSOUTH: Southsea Fest – discuss.
Thom: “We’re playing at the Wedgewood Rooms.”
Carl: “We played last year and the first year as well. It was supposed to be a mini music festival, you know, a couple of venues along the street. We played at Havana Bar. And then the following year it was absolutely brilliant, absolutely loved it. It was nice to see Albert Road filled with people here to get drunk and listen to music, it just was a unity, we really liked it and we’re glad to be back.”

mINtSOUTH: Any onstage antics to get everyone going?
Carl: “We just played Bestival last weekend, and we all had gold suits on, like all-in-one suits.”
Thom: “Spandex. It looked all right on him but I looked horrible. I looked like a saggy elephant.”
Carl: “Our friend Gary made these pink legs with Fresh Legs written up them, so we’ve got them with us as well which is nice.”

mINtSOUTH: Which band member would you eat first on a desert island?
Carl: “Our drummer Karlos. He has pain au chocolat for breakfast every day.”
Thom: “Definitely Karlos. He’d be lovely. We could all each eat a little bit of ourselves, like cut off our toes.”
Carl: “I would really like to eat my thigh.”
Thom: “I always think that. If you had your leg amputated, would you be allowed to keep it afterwards? And cook it up?”

mINtSOUTH: Do you support any charities?
Carl: “I work for charity. I’m the really annoying person that comes to your door – ‘Hey, how are you doing?’ – stupidly enthusiastic, may I add. I’ve done the Medical Foundation, which is for victims of torture, I’ve also done Scope, which is for disabled peoples, and I’m now doing CARE, which is the world’s largest development charity, working all over the world, in places of conflict, natural disasters and third world countries. Shall I do a pitch?”

mINtSOUTH: How did you choose the name of your band?
Thom: “We didn’t know what to call our band and then me and Carl were sat in a car outside a school and then some girls walked past. You could tell they were going to grow into very attractive women and Carl just went, ‘Fresh legs!’ and we thought we could use that for a while. We didn’t realise it was a sporting term, like ‘Fresh legs on at half time’.”
Carl: “We were going to be called Wellington, which I still really like. But Fresh Legs sort of stuck - it’s a bit embarrassing.”

mINtSOUTH: Gorilla versus bear – who would win in a fight?
Thom: [very excitedly] “I’ve been asking myself this for years! I was watching this video and it was basically gorilla versus bear and the bear was winning, but then the gorilla picked up a stick and just battered him with it. I think the gorilla would win because of its intellect. The bear would just lash out, whereas the gorilla would think ‘Wait, I can see its weak points…’”
Carl: “I agree with that. I think the gorilla would win hands-down.”

Shoutbox – Fresh Legs: “We have an EP – Julian - coming out October 4th. It’s a four track EP, all new songs. We’ve sent a copy to Rob da Bank who’s like a fan of ours. Every track we’ve sent him he’s played on his radio show on Radio 1 which is well nice, so hopefully he can do the same with some tracks from our EP.”

Fresh Legs - MySpace

Live Reviews - Openroom and pals, Flamboyant Bella and chums

A couple of live reviews here from Southampton Joiners, one of my favourite little venues.

Previously published on mINtSOUTH.com in August 2009
Words - Suzy Sims
Editor - Rob Ball
(c) mINtSOUTH.com

OPENROOM, A STRANGER IN MOSCOW, FOREVER WEDNESDAY + SELECT YOUR DISGUISE @ SOUTHAMPTON JOINERS 31/07/2009

It’s not often a review starts with a thank you. Big up to the staff at the Joiners who discovered my mobile on the floor after the Openroom gig and who kindly kept it until I could pick it up. I’m very grateful. All my review notes were on there. It would have been no big loss to the world of music journalism had they been lost, but sans phone I wouldn’t have been able to sneakily check Facebook while at work. That would have been terrible. So thank you, Joiners.

The Friday night partygoers were out in force, glowsticks in hand, ready for a night of running around in circles and pushing each other in front of the stage. First on were Select Your Disguise. I’m convinced they only actually played a couple of songs as their tunes lasted about four years apiece. Like all good epics, they were passionate and full of variety, switching between pop punk and some metal. The singer was clad in a yellow t shirt advising KETAMINE – JUST SAY NEIGH. SYD were full of vitality and energy and the crowd demonstrated their approval with a Can-Can.

Next up came Farnham's Forever Wednesday, a band who appeared to have forgotten to lend the drummer their hair straighteners before going onstage. No matter; he was kept at the back. The Wed had a fuller sound that was played relentlessly, all full of galloping charges and dramatic echoes. There’s a bit of light entertainment with a cover of the Fresh Prince Of Bel Air theme and everyone is invited onstage at the end.

The tones became darker again as A Stranger In Moscow appeared. Sound-wise, they were far bleaker than the previous two acts. There is a sense of urgency about them, in the dark instrumental breaks and whistling wind noises. The music plays on and on and on, almost bringing you into a trance. It's not all doom and gloom however, as A Stranger In Moscow wished happy birthday to a lucky gel in the front row; just like the bands before did, and just like the headliners would. The crowd continues to jump and mintsouth's snapper almost loses his lens to a stray elbow. It's that sort of night.

After the darkness and the brash punk pop, it was something of a light surprise to hear the warm indie dance of Openroom. The violence in the mosh pit is briefly forgotten as everyone bounces happily, encouraged by the frantic beats and keys. There are a few technical problems but all keep on singing. Big tunes and delicious hooks make Openroom a popular choice for headliner. They’re certainly one of the best acts in Southampton at present. At the end, one by one, the crowd start clambering onto the stage while a lone security guard waves ineffectually for them to get off. Stage invasions to Openroom – an ideal way to start your weekend.

Select Your Disguise
Forever Wednesday -
A Stranger In Moscow -
Openroom

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FLAMBOYANT BELLA, FRESH LEGS, 10P SHORT, + ECHO CHAMBER @ SOUTHAMPTON JOINERS 23/08/2009

There was a very young crowd at the Joiners for Flamboyant Bella. VERY young. When I walked in, the average age shot up to around 20, and I’m sadly way older than that. I was a bit worried I’d be kicked out for not having student ID, or a mother patiently waiting in the car to give me a lift home.

First onstage were Southampton pop makers Echo Chamber, recognisable to anyone who caught the Rumble Strips set at the Joiners earlier this year. I like Echo Chamber. They’re just so damn pleasant. Their bouncy melodies are just right for the close of the season; warm and fun but with enough bite to avoid that hazy sappiness you often get with ‘summer’ songs.

The vocals were a bit muffled, the white shirted drummer looked like he had just come from a job interview at a bank and the harmonica goes missing at one point, but they are thoroughly enjoyable and the hook to ‘The Hounded’ really scampers round your head and it impossible to shake.

The next support were Short of 10p. Short of ten pence, they were also short of style, songs and a decent name. The band members look like they’d been plucked at random from shoppers at the Tesco Express and they keep gurning and bobbing their heads which makes me want to throw something. I won’t deny they can play their instruments well and tunefully and have a much fuller, stronger sound than Echo Chamber, but their boy band harmonies are a bit naff, they start plugging their merchandise after the second song (£5 for a CD is a tad optimistic – people were paying less than that for ‘In Rainbows’ for christs sake) and getting the audience to join in on a singalong takes some balls when no-one knows who you are.

The final song would not have been out of place on an American teen movie soundtrack. You know, on the bit where there’s some sort of party at a mansion and the girl is driving there in the rain to fall into the arms of some hunk. Or that’s the image it evoked. There’s also a weedy ballad and another reminder to buy some merch. I’m sorry boys, I just wasn’t feeling it.

Also with a bit of a crap name are Fresh Legs, but the band let the music speak for themselves instead. They’re quite similar to Johnny Foreigner or Hot Club de Paris in the jerky and yelping department but with a more rewarding sound overall, and the songs are as fresh to the ears as the name promises. Front-woman Ella has a voice which alternates between cute and belting and the perfect detached stare you need to own the stage. Tonight she’s rocking the Fifties glamour swimwear look, while the lads are in checked shirts, arms aloft and shouting at various intervals.

They admit to being nervous in the presence of Flamboyant Bella (whose members are dancing in the crowd) but it doesn’t come across and the Legs sound very self-assured and powerful. ‘Chess’, ‘Castle’ and ‘House’ get outings, and it’s a captivating set.

Flamboyant Bella are very proud of themselves, and they have every right to be. “This is our last unsigned gig,”announces belle Flo Kirton to applause. The band are visibly thrilled to be signing their record deal on Tuesday – “Bloody brilliant!” exclaims Flo throughout the night, whenever she’s referring to the step up in their career, the crowd, the Joiners, the support acts, and pretty much everything else.

“Innocent flirtation never hurt nobody,” they sing, and this sums up the band well. Pretty, cheerful and enthusiastic, Flambo, -as everyone calls them - are near impossible to dislike. Flo is in a shimmering black top which catches the light, while other vocalist and synth magician James McBreen has gone for the polka dot Hot Chip look.

The set gets rowdier and rowdier as it goes on, including ‘Touch’, next single ‘Get A Reaction’, and closing with ‘Absolutely Wankered.’ Not many people in the crowd are that inebriated due to not being the right age to buy their own drinks, but the sentiment is appreciated. Flambo put on a good show and I’d like to see more of them. I’m sure I will.

http://www.flamboyantbella.com/
http://www.myspace.com/thosefreshlegs
http://www.myspace.com/echochambertheband