Tags: Ghostrock, The Hope Of The States, The Northwestern
‘The Red, The White, The Black, The Blue’…ring a bell? Well, thank you Lord! Rising from the defunct, yet still smouldering ashes of Hope Of The States, those concerned seem to have got the ‘I wanna make music feeling’ again in the pit of their stomachs once more. And if you were a disciple of the indie smoozing HOTS don’t worry, its all very much the same musically. The Northwestern’s ‘Ghostrock’ EP is out now, so we thought we’d grab the guys for a quick chat about what we are to expect from them in the coming winter months…
What have you guys been up to since the days of Hope Of The States?
Writing songs, walking dogs, selling records, shifting stadium rock bands gear around, moving a few tonnes of dirt around, arguing.
Could we have a little background on The Northwestern and how it all started please…
We started recording a couple of weeks after hopeofthestates split up. Made a record over a couple of years, got bored with it, wrote some more songs, went out on tour.
First gig as The Northwestern?
Winchester Railway Inn. Was amazing to be playing again and to have people show up to see what we were doing after so long away. Did have to play after possibly the worlds worst ever sub limp bizkit style abomination though which sucked.
What’s your situation with labels at the minute, signed? Unsigned?
Unsigned but we are putting things out on Bloodbank, our label. Hopefully we will be putting out some of our other bands stuff at some stage too.
Describe The Northwestern’s sound in four words for our readers…
Fuzzy, guitar, disaster, nonsense…
The musician that made you pick up your instrument?
None really, I suppose Nirvana made me want to be in a band.
The music your parents used to listen to?
Everything apart from the Beatles. Beefheart/syd Barrett era pink floyd/Bruce Springsteen.
What influences outside of music have an impact on your songwriting?
Books and movies. Possibly more so in the past, I think I’m more insular in my influences these days, more stuff from when I was younger than new stuff. A lot of those slightly dark 80s kids films, Darkcrystal/The Goonies. Mainly for the weird atmospheres not anything specific.
What shows are the band looking forward to playing on your upcoming UK tour?
Any and all. I just really like playing shows. Oftentimes the ones I look forward to suck and the ones I’m dreading are sweet so…
Some quick ones;
Best band/artists you’ve had the pleasure of performing with or before?
A band called Inouk who supported hopeofthestates in the US were pretty cool.
24 or Lost?
Both, DVD boxsets are the worlds greatest achievement
Elvis Presley or Bob Dylan?
Bob Dylan always
Your favourite homecoming venue?
London Astoria (RIP)
Fresh Prince or Carlton Banks?
The butler dude
Night Rider or A-Team?
Airwolf
Vinyl or CD?
CDs because I can play them in my car.
The worst song on your iPod?
One of my old demos
The worst band name you’ve ever heard?
Think About Life
The tear jerking song in your collection?
Tom Waits- ‘Tom Trauberts Blues’
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About the Author:
AshMeikle is the co-founder of Shout4Music. Experienced in online and print publications, He has written in both London and New York for publications such as; Q Online, SUP Magazine/Online, TourDates, Disorder Magazine, Disappear Here Magazine, along with Whisperin & Hollerin.
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