TalkShow

2^nd November 2001

On the outer limits of the punk universe shine some very bright stars, TalkShow being one of them.  Although they don�t describe themselves as punk, their no nonsense ethic could be described as little else.  Gigging for two years now and starting to get the kind of recognition they deserve from the likes of XFM and Radio 1, TalkShow are in a transitional state between putting out high-class demos and getting that inevitable recording contract.  The bands sound is one that is hard to pigeonhole, and why bother!  Their rhythms and guitars could drive through the heart of a mountain and their melodies force a smile on the face of even the most mardy of the gig going public.  I caught up with the band before their recent gig at Sound in Leicester Square in London, and interviewed them in a cupboard!

First up, tell me who�s in the band and who does what.

Elvis � To my left with a Mohawk like Billy the Kid is Damien Scott Owens (vocals), to my right Spikey Joe (drummer) and tall �fruit� Stuart Anstee on guitar.  I�m Elvis the king, bass, piano, everything I do!

Whereabouts in Wales are you from?

Elvis- The south Wales valleys.  Stuart, Damien and I grew up in the same street in a little town called Porth, in the Rhonda valleys, which is famous for coal!

Does it worry you that you might be bagged in as being a �Welsh band� along with the Stereophonics etc, or do you think you have enough of an identity to just be �a band� rather than a band from a certain area?

Damien � We don�t sound Welsh at all.

Elvis � I think it�s quite difficult because if you are from Wales, we aren�t in that click in Wales, we don�t hang out with bands from Cardiff, we aren�t in that Welsh scene.  Because we are from the valleys it makes us more independent.  But if we did break through people would love to say that we are Welsh, I think that�s what happens.  We cling onto everything in Wales, I�m still telling people how good Tom Jones is!  We do hang onto the fact that we are Welsh; you can�t get away from it.  We ain�t bitter about other bands or labels, or any bands success.  We are going to get there, and how we get there is up to us (I guess).

On your new CD it sounds like you are going for a heavier sound, is this just a natural progression or was it a conscious decision?

Elvis � Definitely natural progression, it wasn�t conscious (we wanted to use a megaphone in a song) we thought we would go for a gimmicky kinda feel to us live.  It just ended up being heavy.  I think we went that way a bit anyway, every single got a bit harder, us finding our roots again.

The punk scene is really kicking of at the moment all round Britain, do you see yourselves as a bit part of that?  You have been described as punk in reviews, but how do you see yourselves as fitting into that?

Elvis -We don�t really see ourselves as being punk, sometimes we sound punky, and sometimes we don�t.  As far as fitting into the punk scene, I think we are borderline (on the edge).  We truly love the punk scene, but trying to be different is very difficult these days.  You have bands like the Strokes and the white stripes coming over to Britain and they have that kind of punk New York feel, we can�t do that because that�s not where we come from, that�s not what we believe in.

Ian Brown once said (of the Stone Roses), �we know we are good, it�s only a matter of time for the people who don�t like us to catch up,� is that kinda the way you are feeling?

Elvis � I don�t think enough right people have seen us.  But people that hate us, that�s good!  We don�t care whether they catch up or not.  I certain record companies look for a certain type of band, and I don�t think we have fitted that agenda yet.  Somebody will like us and somebody will sign us, that�s the way it works (you know).

Is there any particular label you want to sign to?  Major labels?  Or do you want to retain a lot of the control yourself?

Elvis � I don�t think we could go straight to a major, I don�t think that�s the way it works.  If it did it would be great to go straight to a major, but I think you have to go through the stepping-stones of independents, it�s like you probationary period.  You put out a single on an independent and see how that goes, and then take it a step further.  That�s how we see it anyway.

Are you pleased with the remix on the new CD?  Was it weird to hear somebody else�s interpretation of songs that you have written?

Stuart � It�s cool, but you should hear the original!

Darren, you are the bands manager.  Where you friends with the band before, or did you just see them live and have them capture you imagination?

Darren � I saw the guys about ten years ago when they were in another band.  I heard there demo and thought it was one of the best I had ever heard, and got involved with them through my zine, got them a couple of gigs.  Things then went a bit quite again.  Then about a few years ago I was setting up a charity gig and gave Elvis a ring and asked him what sort of bands he was into and if anything was happening.  Elvis said that they had just reformed and would be ready in a month or two.  They played at the gig, and we said well lets go for it!

Finally, is there anything any of you want to say?

Damien � Hi mum.

Elvis � I�ve said enough!

Stuart � It�s only a matter of time before we are signed, and when the right person sees us they will realise they can make a lot of money!

Web link � www.talkshowtalk.com

Andrew Culture