FRESH from supporting Demob Happy last week, Big Society are preparing to release a new single, and play the White Rabbit in Kensington Gardens during The Great Escape weekend.
Below guitarist and vocalist Jack McNally introduces the trio.
“ME and guitarist Matt Campbell met at a house party in Brighton and started writing some songs together a few days later. Brighton’s so small that we all pretty much knew each other in some shape or form through mutual friends on the Brighton music scene. I’m originally from Liverpool, while Matt is from Norwich and [drummer] Rob Mason is from London.
“Two of my all time favourite bands are The Cure and Brand New, both from completely different musical backgrounds. What really sells a band to me is when I find one who have never been afraid to stray away from the genre which they happened to fall into when they started. If we’re still a band in ten years I can almost guarantee that our sound will be worlds apart from what it is right now.
“I had [first single Nowhere] floating round my head for a few years and was determined to make it work with a band after a few failed attempts over the years. I had about two years where I didn’t play at all before forming Big Society, so it was kind of my own unfinished business to make this song our first release. It’s one of the lighter tracks which leaves our heavier side to be discovered live, which keeps things a bit exciting. Our single launch in March was a really special night – we packed out Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar and played better than we had ever played in our lives. It really felt like the beginning of something.
“We’ve know producer Christoph Skirl for a few years. He really became a member of the band when work started - the passion for his work is quite priceless. His studio, Echo Zoo studios in Eastbourne, has on site accommodation so it made a huge difference to escape Brighton and live at the studio for a few days. He made me play an open mic night to hear my voice at its very worst, weeks before we went into the studio. His pre-production methods are totally unique!
“Cameron’s idea of The Big Society was nothing more than a smokescreen to justify cuts in public spending, and I like to think that the vast majority of the UK laughed it off ages ago. Not that the demise of the NHS is a laughing matter, but our so-called leader telling us to take pride in rich greed most certainly is. Politics isn’t something you’ll see us getting involved with an awful lot. Our band name is just a tongue-in-cheek statement about the times we are living in. I think the majority of our audience haven’t even heard of or certainly don’t care for Cameron’s Big Society, and I wouldn’t mind keeping it that way for a bit longer.
“We’re talking about touring, recording, touring again and recording again. And then going back on tour and then making a record or something, so expect a lot of that. When all that’s done we might take a week off...”
Big Society are part of new artist collective Family Tree who are running a secret stage at the White Rabbit, in Kensington Gardens, from Thursday, May 14 to Saturday, May 16 outside the official Great Escape. Among the artists performing stripped back sets from 8pm on Saturday are Big Society, Yonaka and Wildcat Strike.
Look out for a new single this summer.
Find out more: www.facebook.com/wearebigsociety
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