Where did your band name come from and any regrets with that name in today’s climate?

Our previous singer Stu actually started the band when he was at uni and chose this name from a letter his friend once sent him. His friend had signed off the letter 'This Town Needs Guns' in reference to a bunch of scally-wags who had thrown a brick through a bus window at him.

 

Yes, we're actually kind of regretful of the name at times but we hope that people realise it is just a band name and it doesn't convey any of our views on guns or any other weapons for that matter. We'd hope people would take the time to listen to the music before basing their view of us just on a name.

 

How did you come to be in a band together and with what ambitions?

 

The band originally started like most bands - a bunch of friends just wanting to spend their time in a positive and fun way. We recently had a bit of a line-up change in that our singer left amicably to start a family and our bass player left to pursue a career in graphic design. Since Henry has joined us (undertaking both of these duties and more) we've still had the same outlook and just like at the beginning of the band, we've had no particular ambitions besides enjoying what we're doing and taking what opportunities come our way.

 

How would you describe your sound for people yet to hear your music?

 

It's always difficult to pigeon-hole your own sound but other people have described it as indie/math-rock. I thing people get too hung up on having to label music under a particular genre; it's much easier to just check out the music.

 

 

Oxford is your home town. How is the music scene there and does your music draw any inspiration from your home City?  

 

Actually none of us are from Oxford or live there now but the band did start up there. There was a pretty good music scene going back, with bands like Youthmovies, Jonquil and Hreda who we were lucky enough to play with in the past. It was a cool place to live though and we made some good friends there.

 

You have a new album (13.0.0.0.0) due out next week, what can we expect from that and are there any recording or major changes to the sound of your debut ‘Animals’ from 2009?

 

I think we've evolved a lot as a band and also with the recent line-up change I would say to expect something a little different. We were lucky enough to work with producer Ed Rose on this record and his involvement helped us become a little more experimental and try a few things out we'd not had the chance to before. In some ways the new record has a fuller sound in places; there's new instruments and sounds featuring in places that haven't before but at the same time we've also been into the idea of stepping back and not over-complicating sections, instead using space and simplicity more which is something we never really approached properly in the past.

 

I think we're now much more aware of the 'song' as a whole and the process into making a song into it's final format, rather than just having a few riffs written and trying to 'glue' them together. We've also tried to accomplish cohesion within the album as we'd like people to listen to it and enjoy it as a whole, as well as separate tracks.

 

Due to time and money constraints, 'Animals' was purely a bunch of songs that we'd written around the same time. We were still really proud of it and the work we put into it but I think 13.0.0.0.0 feels like we've had the opportunity to fulfil our potential a bit more even though it may be considered by some as if we're heading in a different direction.

 

What is your advice to new bands out there - record label or do it yourself when it comes to getting your music heard and how did you find yourself on Sargent House Records?

 

100% you need to concentrate on your music, everything else can come later. You need people to support you and your music before anything else. Also you won't find (at least what we'd consider) a great label unless they believe in the music your making either. Don't concern yourself with getting your music out there, if the music has enough quality it will spread itself naturally through word of mouth. This will also be the purest and most genuine form of music promotion in our opinions.

 

We were very lucky to be approached by Cathy at Sargent House but I also like to think that we had something to offer them too. We worked hard at the band, getting out and about in the UK fairly early on started to establish a bit of a following. When Cathy approached us and was enthusiastic about what we were doing, we knew it'd be a good relationship and the guys at Sargent House have been doing a wonderful job for us ever since.

 

You use bandcamp, how do you find the format and what are the main benefits to you as a band?

 

The best thing about band camp is its simplicity; it's an easy format for the listener to actually hear your music. For potential new fans this is what a band need; people don't need to know anything else about the band at this stage apart from what their music actually sounds like.

 

When on tour who controls the Radio/CD player in the van and what were the most popular albums you listened to on the road last time out?

 

This is a democracy so we take it turns in a very sensible manner….or we put the a/c heat on full and the first one to wind down a window is out and so on until the last person is left. They get to choose….or everyone is unconscious and we just have some quiet time. 

 

If you could tour with any band, which band or artist do you think you could learn the most from on tour?

 

Gentle Giant, check them out on you tube - there's a lot to learn there especially dress sense and performance grimacing.

 

When on stage is it Jack Daniels, Beer or Water?

 

Yes we drink Jack Daniels' beer-water always.

 

 

The Band play The Old Blue Last in London on Monday 20th Jan

 

Website 

 

Bandcamp 

 

This Town Needs Guns Are from Left to Right:

Henry Tremain– Vocals, Bass

Chris Collis – Drums

Tim Collis – Guitar