eGigs talks to Rocket the lead singer of Pint Shot Riot

his musical influences, the new single, and setting up a record label on Mon 27th Oct 2008

Pint Shot Riot's 3rd single 'Holes' hits the shelves of record shops today. egigs took the opportunity to speak to Rocket lead vocalist, songwriter and rhythm guitarist of the up and coming four piece.

What are the band up to at the moment?
We're demoing the album at the moment. We've had a couple of publishing offers put on the table, and we're getting everything ready to start recording the album. So, we're demoing loads of songs, and we've been in the studio pretty much none stop for the last three weeks.

And where are you demoing?
In a little studio in Coventry. Our sound engineer is just going through song processes checking what we need and letting songs develop, as we get them down, mix them back, and work on them to get them down to the final however many we're going to stick on the album.

What music of yours is already out there?
We've had our first physical release on CD, a single called 'Start Digging' out in July and we pressed a thousand and it sold out completely. So we've got the second single release out today (Monday 27th October) called 'Holes' and we've pressed a couple of thousand this time and we've also done a few 7" vinyls as well.

Pint Shot Riot


And that's out on your own record label is it?
That's on our own record label, yeah, 'Life In The Big City Records'.

How did you set that up?
We took a view as we're very hands on as a band, and we've got quite a good scene going on here in Coventry. We're quite big here in Coventry, the biggest venue here is a thousand capacity called the Kasbah, and we sold that out in September. We just thought we can do it ourselves, there's been so many bands setting up their own record labels like The Pigeon Detectives, and we thought that was such a good idea. That way we can keep creative control of what's going on, and every aspect of our career.

The two publishers are interested, in us, basically we release on our own label, where we keep control of everything we just distribute through Pinnacle, but publishing wise we've been offered synced in stuff, like EA Games, computer games, adverts, and things like that, basically.

So for those who haven't heard your songs how would you describe them?
I'd describe it as a true representation of the four of us' lives. You can only seriously write about life experiences although we're not too intense when it comes to things. We write about experiences that are not necessarily our own personal ones, but written from an observational point of view, whether it's happening to a friend, or the situation in certain places. It's energetic, sincere, rock and roll with our heart and soul put into the sound we make.

You've had quite a few support slots for The View, The Enemy, Athlete etc, who has been the best one to tour with?
With The Enemy being from Cov as well, obviously we're good friends. We've done quite a few shows, I'm just trying to think. We toured with Pete Docherty, pleasant geezer, who else? The Twang were good lads, they're just down the road in Birmingham. I'd say probably the Midlands based bands, because we've got a bit in common.

You were also the first unsigned band to be streamed across the internet. how did that happen?
Yeah Channelbee. Tim Lovejoy, and Robbie Knox, who were both on Soccer AM, are both massive fans of the band. They do this new channel now Channelbee, which is a new project, and Robbie and Tim both decided that they wanted to do an interview with us, so we did that. Then, they heard about the gig and they put gigs by big bands on anyway like Kate Nash, The Twang, Dirty Pretty Things, loads of different bands they come and film and put on their website. With them being big fans, and the gig being a sell out, they really wanted to film it and get it up there, we just happened to be the first unsigned band. It was cool, it was a good laugh, we had a crackin' after party where Robbie did a DJ Set as well. It was good fun.

So we can expect to see you on Lovejoy's Sunday cooking programme some time in the future then?
Yeah (laughs), well Baby Dave the bass player used to be a chef, he trained as a chef when he was at college, he a really good one, so I'll probably leave the cooking to him.

What are the rest of the band like?
Mini is my cousin and we've been tight for twenty years, in each others pockets, and that's how we know each other. Then Dave and Rob are perfect. Personality wise it's a perfect fusion, where I can be unpredictable, and a little bit quick to change moods, Rob's completely laid back. Everbody counter balances everyone else, so we've got a perfect working relationship, if one of us is playing up then the other three drag them along. Everyone gets on really well.

You play guitar as well, what guitar do you play?
Fender Telecaster, I've got three. My oldest one is around eighteen or nineteen years old, then I've got one that's about five year's old, they're both solid bodies. I've got a Takamini Redner, a vintage blonde one. And then I've got a Thinline, which I bought brand new. But I prefer the oldest of the three.

Who were your guitar influences?
To be honest with you, it was Noel Gallagher, I was of that age when music hit me between the eyes when Oasis came out. It wasn't until 'Morning Glory' came out, when I was 14. I went backwards from there through history and learnt about all the other bands before which had influenced them. But the primary reason I picked up a guitar and learnt to play was Noel Gallagher.

And who is the best band you've seen live?
Well we got some complimentary tickets for Oasis on this tour, a week and a half ago and we saw them in Birmingham and that blew me away. I think it was because of what the songs meant to me, and how much they influenced me when I was younger. I also watched The Libertines in 2002, and up to last week that was the best gig I'd ever gone to. But, then again , I saw Dirty Pretty Things last week in Oxford, I went to see them because they're splitting up and they put on an amazing show. But I'd have to say Oasis because they did 'Masterplan', 'Don't Look Back In Anger', and 'Wonderwall' all acoustic, and it was pretty special.

I suppose it's a bit too early to ask if you've got any festivals lined-up for next year?
Yeah it is, but the album is due out in June I think, with singles out before then. With doing Glastonbury, previously it would be cool to do Reading and Leeds. I'd like to do Glastonbury again, we played on the BBC Introducing Stage.

If you weren't a musician what do you think you would be doing?
Who knows? I can't imagine not doing it. without trying to sound strange or cliched, I feel like this was what I meant to do. I feel if I couldn't do music I would be lost, there would be no point in me being here.

Are you still gigging or is it all about the new album?
We're pretty much getting our heads down with the new album. The songs just keep coming and coming, and we as soon as we feel like we've got what we want on there, another one comes and then another one. We're really trying to get it in place, the sound we want to achieve and who we want to work with on it. But we're still keeping our hand in and getting around a bit, there's a few dates on the MySpace, and I think we might be planning something big in our home town for New Year's Eve, we're just putting plans in place for that at the moment as well.

Pint Shot Riot

article by: Scott Williams

photos by: Julie Weston

published: 27/10/2008 15:41



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