Following the announcement of their new album Cats and Dogs/Living Together (June 15, Surefire Discs, BADHORROR & ShoveItUpYourCultRecords), we asked Southsea’s The Stayawakes to take on our A-Z challenge so we could find out more about them!
A song that made you want to make music?
Johnny B Goode… particularly that scene in Back to the Future where Marty McFly imitates Chuck Berry
Best rider you’ve ever had?
A warm can of John Smiths kindly donated by Wurzel from Motörhead (RIP)
Craziest thing you’ve experienced in the band?
Washed Out Festival in Brighton got pretty wild!
Deepest lyric one of your songs features?
A heartfelt plea… “Calling all sides now and pulling in favours too make it alright dear the taste is still bitter through “
Easiest song you wrote?
No Shame was written on demand after a bottle red wine to fill a gap in a recording session
Favourite song in your set?
Little Explorer. It’s got a mesmeric repetitive mid-section, which builds. We just lock in and ride it out.
Guest you’d most like to feature on your record?
El Morgan… strangely enough she does feature on our record
Hardest thing about being in a band?
Post-tour blues
Interesting fact about one of your members?
Jimmy changes his bass strings most days
Jokes you have in the band?
Compulsory visits to Cash Converters in every city on tour… usually met by disappointment in their stock
Key to writing a song?
Red wine
Longest distance you’ve travelled to play a show?
As a band, Leeds. Dave (keyboards) has performed in Japan
Most inspiring musician you’ve experienced?
We did some recording with Kenneth Ishak from Beezewax. Beezewax are a huge influence on our sound, and the experience was truly inspirational and formative.
New band you’d recommend?
Camcorder
Opening for this band would be ideal?
Roswell Kid
Place you’d most like to tour?
Japan
Quote you’d like to pass on to our readers?
Dr. Peter Venkman: This city is headed for a disaster of biblical proportions.
Mayor: What do you mean, “biblical”?
Dr. Raymond Stantz: What he means is Old Testament, Mr. Mayor, real wrath of God type stuff.
Dr. Peter Venkman: Exactly.
Dr. Raymond Stantz: Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers and seas boiling!
Dr. Egon Spengler: Forty years of darkness! Earthquakes, volcanoes…
Winston Zeddemore: The dead rising from the grave!
Dr. Peter Venkman: Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together… mass hysteria!
Mayor: All right, all right! I get the point! (Ghostbusters)
Reason for the title of your recent/forthcoming release?
Ghostbusters
See us live at?
11/07 – Heartbreakers, Southampton (with Beezewax)
The old days of music were better than the current, do you agree?
Yes and no.
Unusual merchandise?
Travel mugs
Variations you’d like to do of any of your songs?
When recording the Album we did a fast version of Overdue. It’s pretty pumping! We’ll probably release it as a B-Side. Little Explorer with a full orchestra would be pretty epic!
What do your fans mean to you?
Our fans make us feel like part of this awesome rock’n’roll community
X-rays or any other treatments needed for band related injuries?
A broken ankle …stage stunt gone wrong!
You’re late for a show, whose fault is it?
Dave. His parachute jump will have been delayed, or he accidentally made it through to the UK snowboarding championship… stuff that actually happens to him.
Zoo animal that best describes the personality of your band?
A kangaroo.