In today’s A-Z challenge, we wanted to learn more about Steal The City so asked guitarist James to tell us all about the band.
A song that made you want to make music?
ACDC – You Shook Me All Night Long. The groove and the power certainly opened my eyes!
Best rider you’ve had?
We have occasionally received some light snacks and beers from a number of venues but the best for me was getting first dibs on a birthday party buffet! Man there were sausage rolls and breadsticks everywhere!
Craziest moment you’ve had in the band?
Having our three singles off our album featured on Kerrang Radio was pretty crazy! As for gigs, we once hired some electric scooters to take us home after a gig whilst dressed in our stage gear. We must have looked like the worst tribute to Sons of Anarchy.
Deepest lyric one of your songs features?
‘Even though you feel alone, it doesn’t mean you’re on your own’ (Stand Together)
‘I’m gonna stand up and I’m not going down, I’m gonna live, I’m gonna make you proud’ (Tomorrow’s Another Day)
Easiest song you wrote?
We put a lot of time and care into our songs, to which none are partially ‘easy’ to write, but the basic demos which hold the initial ideas for song structure and dynamics sometimes come relatively easy. Drag Me To Hell was one of these songs which just seemed to fall in place.
Favourite song in your set?
TIMEBOMB! This did surprise me as it was a last minute edition to the album, but when we play it live and the breakdown riff hits, I can’t help but get in the groove.
Guest you’d most like to feature on your record?
It’s a tough question as there is many but I have to go with Jacoby Shaddix from Papa Roach as I’d love to hear his take on some of our material.
Hardest thing about being in a band?
Organisation! For a band to be efficient and for things to go smooth, a band must be organised. A lack of organisation can be frustrating and cause stress and tension between members, which is not good when you are supposed to be a creative team. If the stress increases, the enjoyment and the creativity magic decreases!
Interesting fact about one of your members?
Ellis has been on Bargain Hunt and lost spectacularly.
Jokes you have in the band?
That Ellis has been on Bargain Hunt and lost. Also as Ellis is quite the organised drummer, we joke around trying to make things as difficult as possible! It’s not just Ellis that we joke about as everyone has their fair share. We joke about Smit A LOT, solely down to the fact that he is a bassist. We joke about Joe who is constantly fixing anything he can get his hands on, and they all joke about me for my love of country music. It’s all fun and games and jokes aside we all enjoy the banter!
Key to writing a song?
The key is to write it as a collective. Don’t bring a fully polished song to the table and expect it to be perfect. With four members, the song must include everyone. After all, that’s what makes it a Steal the City song.
Longest distance you’ve travelled to play a show?
The longest distance we have travelled as a band I believe was to a festival in Great Yarmouth. This gig also won the award for longest distance from venue to hotel, since we had an hours walk after the event at 1am.
Most inspiring musician you’ve experienced?
It saddens me that I never saw him live, but one of the most inspiring musicians I’ve experienced on the screen is Johnny Cash. Not just for his attitude, character and humbleness, but also because his songs were never over complicated, yet they were filled with meaning and sung with a lot of emotion.
New band you’d recommend?
Florence Black! We saw these guys when we played Call of the Wild Festival and then later on at Download Festival and man they sounded tight on on it!
Opening for this band would be ideal?
Beartooth, Motionless in White, Black Stone Cherry, Ice Nine Kills, I Prevail, While She Sleeps… Just to name a few!
Place you’d most like to tour?
For me I’d love to tour America and play all the different states!
Quote you’d like to pass on to our readers?
‘The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing’.
Reason for the title of your recent/forthcoming release?
The album title is derived from the perspective of being in bands for many years. In our earlier days, there was a clear image of where we are heading. It’s only as we have grown and matured as musicians that we realise that writing, recording, and performing live music is not about a destination, as the end point is irrelevant. It’s about enjoying the journey with your band mates and the sites along the way.
See us live at?
The old days of music were better than the current, do you agree?
I believe that in the ‘old’ days, it was more about the music and you’d get out there and gig as much as you could to spread the word.
In today’s world, gigs are still a thing but it’s about your social media status and if you’re trending and getting views/likes/comments.
Though social media has linked everyone together, it’s also changed everything about music distribution which does have its positives and negatives.
Unusual merchandise?
The best unusual merch you can get are items that people use everyday but don’t expect to be able to get a custom variant. For example, we could do a STC phone case, or STC cheese grater. The audience wouldn’t know that they needed these items until they saw them!
Variations you’d like to do on any of your songs?
A big hobby of mine is to write songs, release them and then record them again in a different style. Imagine ‘Drag Me To Hell’ with just a piano and an orchestra! One of these tracks has already been recorded and produced and will be released soon.
What do your fans mean to you?
EVERYTHING! A band is nothing without their fans. The fans ARE the bloodline of the artist! These are the people who will push you forward as a band, either by listening to your tracks, by spending money on merch and then by spreading the word to others.
X-rays or any treatments needed for band related injuries?
(DON’T READ IF YOUR SQUEAMISH)
Some of the worst injuries we have had mainly hangs around the guitar players of the band. I know Chuggy has had several guitar strings penetrate under his finger nails which is NOT pleasant. For me personally I did a gig shortly after an operation on my finger and ripped the six stitches holding it together. That was also… not pleasant.
You’re late for a show, whose fault is it?
100% our bassists fault. Even if it isn’t… it is.
Zoo animal that next describes the personality of your band?
Probably monkeys, as we all mess around and love performing!