INTERVIEW: The Steeples
- Posted on January 30, 2008 4:48 PM
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Interview by Katie Spain
What is it about Liverpool? The place pumps out more successful bands than anywhere else in the world. The latest notch in the city's bulging belt of success is 'The Steeples' - a much talked about Indie band from Ormskirk.
Catchy hits in the making such as 'Britney's Tears' and 'Loosy Lucy' have sent ears flapping and tongues wagging. Some call them "Quirky", others "Catchy". One thing's for sure, you're bound to hear a hell of a lot more of them in the not-too-distant future.
When I catch up with lead vocalist and guitarist Andy Culshaw, he's busy ordering lunch. Moroccan veggies for him and a lengthy chat about the band for me. As we tread the verbal line we talk tours, failed Pop stars and Natalie Portman. Ooh la la.
I hear that 2008 is going to be the year of the Steeple? Did you make any other New Year resolutions?
Don’t get too stressed about things and to enjoy myself.
What things do you like to take with you when you hit the road?
A good book to start with; some decent music on an ipod, tea bags is also essential because the hotels never have enough and milk for the same reason. That is generally it!
Ah, the life of a rocker! So, enlighten me; where exactly is Ormskirk?
It’s a little place near Liverpool.
What’s the music scene like there?
It’s non-existent!
So how did you guys actually meet and go on to form the band?
Me and Danny - the two songwriters on the band – actually went to school together and lived a couple of roads away from each other. We have both been in separate bands; we have been friends since we were three of four. Funnily enough, through a twist of fate, both the band that we were in ended up splitting up at the same time so we ended up writing songs with each other. We ended up writing some decent songs so we formed The Steeples. We then recruited the others from another band in Liverpool and then just set off and started gigging.
You and Dan must almost be like family then?
We fight like brothers but we really have that kind of connection as well. We both know exactly what the other is thinking as well; we know each other inside out which is a good thing and also a negative thing.
Back in November, I read that the tour van was kind of new. Have you trashed it since?
It has just been in for a service actually. I did have to clean it out myself though. It is the third time we have cleaned it out. The things that we found in there were not pleasant. There hasn’t been any clichéd ‘on tour’ stories though. We did have to do the first few weeks of the tour without any heating in the van. We were driving along at about 60 or 70 with the cold wind blowing in our faces. The cold November wind in England is really not very good. We went to Dundee and it was like minus three and we had no heating in the van. But no, it’s not trashed yet!
Now, what does one have to do to be a Steeplette?
Err, just enjoy our music really! It is not specifically aimed at the Almost Famous film. There is quite a few girls that follow us about, especially up in Scotland.
Your music is refreshingly happy; it makes me want to chuck on my glad rags and hit the beer-soaked dance floor. Do people tend to do that when you play?
Well yeah, we usually have stage invasions and everyone gets really involved. We write the music that we want to listen to. By the end of a show there’s always lots of people dancing which is the way that it should be.
What is a typical Steeples jam session like?
We usually start play a chorus. When we go into rehearsal, somebody will come in and be like ‘have you heard this song?’ We then play around with it. We do a Lily Allen cover sometimes too in our own style. As far as writing goes, me and Dan do the songs and then record them; the other guys learn then and then we generally create the Steeples sound.
Britney’s Tears is a great song. XFM certainly love it. Tell me the story behind that one.
It is nothing to do with the failed Pop singer – well, not failed! It’s kind of about bands that are not in it for the music anymore. The ones that are just in it for the music scene and to look cool. Not enough bands care about the music that they do write. It’s a song against the whole idea of being in a band.
Now that you are in the industry you must see that happening quite a bit; it is quite disheartening…
Yeah definitely. I have been to gigs – not naming any names – where I have been really disappointed with the band because they are either mashed off their face or don’t know what they are doing. They should be concentrating on how they write their songs - not the way they look .
Does that side of fame worry you?
I don’t know, I have not yet been spotted in the street. I can imagine it being quite difficult to keep yourself grounded though. That side of it doesn’t really bother me but I haven’t really experienced it yet. Maybe if you ask me in six months I will say that I hate it. At the moment I am kind of looking forward to it to see how I do react to it!
I hear that you and Danny have been messing around in old warehouse. Can we expect some more random acoustic action?
Yeah, definitely. We might be going to do some this afternoon actually! All the acoustic videos are places in Ormskirk. We are going to go and find some more venues. The woods we used are the ones we used to play in as kids; all of it had relevance and all of it has meaning.
What is the worst job you had before you got into music?
Working in a call centre; it was absolutely horrible. I did it in the summer holidays while I was doing my degree. It was just a nightmare; horrible!
Do you have a celebrity crush?
Oh yeah definitely, it has got to be Natalie Portman!
What was the first album that you ever bought?
I think it was Guns and Roses.
What is the most memorable concert that you have ever been to you?
It was a small one; an independent band called Marillion, they have been going for years now. It was the first gig that I ever went to. The first time is always the best! I suppose that speaks for a lot of things in life. When you listen to a band and watch them on TV and then experience them live, well, you will never experience that again.
Related links:
The Steeples tour listings and tickets.
The Steeples on MySpace.
The Steeples official site.
Single ‘Britney’s Tears’ is out on Easy Money Records on 3rd March 2008.
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