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l-r Neil, Mike, Dave
Engerica talk about sex,violence,irony, and the fact they aren't 'sexy american poutmeisters with dangerous hair'....
How has the tour been so far?
Mike: Yeah it's been wicked! This is the third date, so only just started really but it's been great! First date we played club Kerrang in leeds, loads of people there! We met Acey from Skunk Anansie which was cool, hung out wth him. Last night was really good, loads of people there , they all really got into it so I'm enjoying it!
How would you describe your sound? It doesn't quite sound like anything else.......
Dave: Just alternative music really with a bit of intelligence to it, trying to use irony and things to make the band a bit more interesting!
What has been your best gig?
Mike: The biggest one we've done so far, Camden Electric Ballroom with Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster, that was really really good! We're big fans, they're wicked.
Dave: I really enjoyed Northampton last night. I'm really looking forward to Sheperds Bush on Monday.
Mike: It's hard adjusting to different venues, playing really little ones then really big ones, and it's completely different!
How about your worst gig?
Mike: Croydon!
Neil: No, the Barfly in Liverpool! We did a local festival day thing, we were in the middle of all these hardcore punk bands so we didn't go down too well,they were abusing us before we started! That was the only gig where I've been really really happy when someones turned the engine on the bus so we can go home!
Is there any story behind the name Engerica?
Dave: We chose it because it sounds like a womans name, I was keen to not be perceived as a traditional macho rock band, I wanted it to sound more feminine, more intelligent with a sensitive edge to it.
You've got some rather unusual lyrics, where do you get your inspiration from?
Dave: When the band initially started I wasn't too bothered with lyrics, but I suppose I think a little differently to normal people! I have a hard time thinking in a normal boring manner. I don't like singing about issues and girls and stuff because I don't really know about it, I know what it's like to think about violence and sex and things though as I watch films like that!
Mike: The thing is though, how he sings is what he's like! He's a very witty person can come up with things just like that, that's what he's like when he writes his lyrics.
Neil: He writes what he wants!
Your recent single 'Trick Or Treat' received rave reviews, being made 'single of the week' on several ezines, how did it feel to see this reaction?
Mike: That was fucking cool!
Dave: I don't think we've received a negative one yet. It's encouraging, it's really cool!
Also, NME commented that trick or treat 'would be SOTW (Single Of The Week) if they were sexy American poutmeisters with 'dangerous' hair' - seemingly ignoring the fact that it's their fault that those bands are so popular-, do you think this is accurate, if so do you find it frustrating or does it just spur you on?
Neil: I think it's exactly right actually! It's a very good sum up! I thought it was spot on, one of the best reviews I've seen.laughs
Dave: They kind of judge bands that dress cool, to make their magazine look cool. They're ignoring the musical aspect now, plus they seem to have stopped writing words in there, every articles like two lines long!
Mike: They don't know shit about us either.
What is your favourite song of yours and why?
Mike: Mine's Deutschmark, it's a little bit different, it sounds really evil. I don't like happy go lucky stuff, it's a bit miserable in a way but I like it. It's a new song too which helps.
Dave: I really like 'The Smell', it'll probably be the next single. It's got that riff and it's kind of goofy.
Neil: I really like 'Did You Hear What Sylvia Said?'. It shows a different side to us, sort of deep thinking imaginative musical brains! I don't think people would ever expect to hear it from us.
Some of your lyrics seem quite tongue in cheek, was this intentional or are they actually deadly serious but have just been interpreted in the wrong way?
Dave: A bit of both I suppose! There's an element of truth to everything though.I like listening to Therapy? for example, their lyrics are really melodramatic but some of it is true in a way in that sometimes you really do feel that bad, like 'Dear diary I wish I was dead!' You don't really wish you were dead but it's an exaggeration of a feeling. I think that's why a lot of people miss the point, they don't see that we're taking the piss out of those bands, they think we're being serious.
If you could tour with any band past or present who would you choose and why?
Mike: Queens Of The Stone Age for the hanging out side of things. For the show side of things then Muse, that'd be great! Rocket Of The Crypt too.
Dave: I think Nirvana just so you could meet Kurt! laughs. 'Oooooh I love you, you changed my life!' squeals
Any embarrassing moments?
Mike: I've fallen over a couple of times! It's worst where you've fallen over and it's really obvious, but you try and gold it for as long as possible to make it look like you meant to! So you make it look deliberate!
What would you say is the best and worst things about being in Engerica?
Mike: We all love this band 100% so we can't hate it! Just playing music we all love and hanging out with the people we love as well.
Dave: I'd say the worst thing about being in Engerica is having to listen to Mike's cliched responses! Mike: Best thing, is the attitude of it all, the light hearted aspect. We don't give a shit what people think!
What are your ambitions for the coming year?
Dave: To start recording an album and increase the profile of the band. Mike: Play a festival! I'd love to play Reading or Leeds, on the new band stage or something!
What advice would you give to anyone thinking of starting a band?
Dave: Be honest. If you're into a certain style of music then play it, don't try to do something just because it's cool! Do your own thing.
Mike: Don't be frightened, it doesn't matter if you fall flat on your face!
Dave: Courage in your convictions.
How has the tour been so far?
Mike: Yeah it's been wicked! This is the third date, so only just started really but it's been great! First date we played club Kerrang in leeds, loads of people there! We met Acey from Skunk Anansie which was cool, hung out wth him. Last night was really good, loads of people there , they all really got into it so I'm enjoying it!
How would you describe your sound? It doesn't quite sound like anything else.......
Dave: Just alternative music really with a bit of intelligence to it, trying to use irony and things to make the band a bit more interesting!
What has been your best gig?
Mike: The biggest one we've done so far, Camden Electric Ballroom with Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster, that was really really good! We're big fans, they're wicked.
Dave: I really enjoyed Northampton last night. I'm really looking forward to Sheperds Bush on Monday.
Mike: It's hard adjusting to different venues, playing really little ones then really big ones, and it's completely different!
How about your worst gig?
Mike: Croydon!
Neil: No, the Barfly in Liverpool! We did a local festival day thing, we were in the middle of all these hardcore punk bands so we didn't go down too well,they were abusing us before we started! That was the only gig where I've been really really happy when someones turned the engine on the bus so we can go home!
Is there any story behind the name Engerica?
Dave: We chose it because it sounds like a womans name, I was keen to not be perceived as a traditional macho rock band, I wanted it to sound more feminine, more intelligent with a sensitive edge to it.
You've got some rather unusual lyrics, where do you get your inspiration from?
Dave: When the band initially started I wasn't too bothered with lyrics, but I suppose I think a little differently to normal people! I have a hard time thinking in a normal boring manner. I don't like singing about issues and girls and stuff because I don't really know about it, I know what it's like to think about violence and sex and things though as I watch films like that!
Mike: The thing is though, how he sings is what he's like! He's a very witty person can come up with things just like that, that's what he's like when he writes his lyrics.
Neil: He writes what he wants!
Your recent single 'Trick Or Treat' received rave reviews, being made 'single of the week' on several ezines, how did it feel to see this reaction?
Mike: That was fucking cool!
Dave: I don't think we've received a negative one yet. It's encouraging, it's really cool!
Also, NME commented that trick or treat 'would be SOTW (Single Of The Week) if they were sexy American poutmeisters with 'dangerous' hair' - seemingly ignoring the fact that it's their fault that those bands are so popular-, do you think this is accurate, if so do you find it frustrating or does it just spur you on?
Neil: I think it's exactly right actually! It's a very good sum up! I thought it was spot on, one of the best reviews I've seen.laughs
Dave: They kind of judge bands that dress cool, to make their magazine look cool. They're ignoring the musical aspect now, plus they seem to have stopped writing words in there, every articles like two lines long!
Mike: They don't know shit about us either.
What is your favourite song of yours and why?
Mike: Mine's Deutschmark, it's a little bit different, it sounds really evil. I don't like happy go lucky stuff, it's a bit miserable in a way but I like it. It's a new song too which helps.
Dave: I really like 'The Smell', it'll probably be the next single. It's got that riff and it's kind of goofy.
Neil: I really like 'Did You Hear What Sylvia Said?'. It shows a different side to us, sort of deep thinking imaginative musical brains! I don't think people would ever expect to hear it from us.
Some of your lyrics seem quite tongue in cheek, was this intentional or are they actually deadly serious but have just been interpreted in the wrong way?
Dave: A bit of both I suppose! There's an element of truth to everything though.I like listening to Therapy? for example, their lyrics are really melodramatic but some of it is true in a way in that sometimes you really do feel that bad, like 'Dear diary I wish I was dead!' You don't really wish you were dead but it's an exaggeration of a feeling. I think that's why a lot of people miss the point, they don't see that we're taking the piss out of those bands, they think we're being serious.
If you could tour with any band past or present who would you choose and why?
Mike: Queens Of The Stone Age for the hanging out side of things. For the show side of things then Muse, that'd be great! Rocket Of The Crypt too.
Dave: I think Nirvana just so you could meet Kurt! laughs. 'Oooooh I love you, you changed my life!' squeals
Any embarrassing moments?
Mike: I've fallen over a couple of times! It's worst where you've fallen over and it's really obvious, but you try and gold it for as long as possible to make it look like you meant to! So you make it look deliberate!
What would you say is the best and worst things about being in Engerica?
Mike: We all love this band 100% so we can't hate it! Just playing music we all love and hanging out with the people we love as well.
Dave: I'd say the worst thing about being in Engerica is having to listen to Mike's cliched responses! Mike: Best thing, is the attitude of it all, the light hearted aspect. We don't give a shit what people think!
What are your ambitions for the coming year?
Dave: To start recording an album and increase the profile of the band. Mike: Play a festival! I'd love to play Reading or Leeds, on the new band stage or something!
What advice would you give to anyone thinking of starting a band?
Dave: Be honest. If you're into a certain style of music then play it, don't try to do something just because it's cool! Do your own thing.
Mike: Don't be frightened, it doesn't matter if you fall flat on your face!
Dave: Courage in your convictions.
© 2003 Jen Thomas
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