Room Thirteen sent Andy Garratt of No Hope In New Jersey some quick questions regarding their tour, their new album and what to do on a rainy day.

R13: You received a glowing review from R13 for your Download set... But how was the weekend for you?
Andy Garratt:I was listening to Damaged by Black Flag before we got to download and when I arrived I saw Henry Rollins. He is a lot shorter in real life but it was strange to see a legend on stage before we played!

R13: How did your set go, did you have any technical problems?
AG: It was the first time we had ever played a festival. It was literally tune up and play. We enjoyed the set, the audience seemed perplexed by a few of our songs but overall we got a good reaction.

R13: Playing at Download, on a lineup containing Sabbath and System of a Down must be somewhat of a shock after playing the usual toilet venues that smaller bands tour. Have you always known you were destined for bigger things, or is it something you've had to adjust to?
AG: I never thought we would be in the same line up as Sabbath. When I was 14 listening to their albums on a reel to reel player it seemed like they were in a different world but on that day I was in theirs briefly.

R13: How did you secure your slot at Download?
AG: By writing a good album and doing good shows I hope?!

R13: How do you feel about your upcoming tour? Who have you got supporting you and are there any venues you wanted to play but couldn't?
AG: We are looking forward to doing our first headline tour with our album out. It will be the first time we do a tour with an actual release to back us up. It would have been nice to have played our home towns, but a lot of the venues we are playing we have played many times before, when we arrive it always feels like home.

R13: Your website makes you come across as one of the few bands with that hard work ethos- Do you find that it's disheartening when bands appear to spring into the limelight from nowhere when you're putting hard work into creating your record and getting it heard?
AG: We don't mind other bands seeming to appear from nowhere and getting the limelight, we just like having the opportunity at being a band and getting on with it.

R13: What was the lowest moment as a band and what was it that helped you get back up on your feet again?
AG: Our lowest moment was when we sacked our first manager about 8 months ago just before we were about to record our debut album, but I suppose the pick up point was recording the album and getting it mastered at Abbey Road.

R13: What bands take your fancy at the moment... has your musical taste changed dramatically over the years?
AG: My music taste is changing a lot at the moment.I used to be obsessed with raw guitars like Ron Ashton and the Fugazi boys. But now I am finding myself listening to many different styles such as Can, Radar Bros and Dinosour Junior.But I suppose I will never be to far removed from early Sabbath and the sixties bands like the Kinks and Beatles. Which I have loved from an early age and still love today.

R13: Are there any bands that you've come to respect more now you've gone through the process of getting signed and touring etc?
AG: The Smiths, the consistency of their output was phenominal

R13: What drew you to music in the first place and how did you come to play the instruments you play today?
AG: I starting playing the piano when I was 8 but always had my eye on the guitar. I loved the Beach Boys and Eddie Cochran. I associated it all with sunny weather and optimism. Its strange that years later my out look completely changed.

R13: Top three things to do on a rainy day?
AG: Silence, Writing a song, Reading a book.

R13: Top three things to do on a sunny day?
AG: Silence, Writing a song, Going for a walk.

R13: After your record is released, what are you planning to do? Another tour or back to write more songs?
AG: We are going to tour constantly until Xmas and think about songs in the mean time

R13: What's the meaning behind your band name? Are you talking from personal experience (ie, holiday gone wrong!)
AG: It's a bit of a joke. I like being referred to as No Hope Andy as it reminds of being at school again. I got so used to teachers saying I had No Hope that I needed it in my adult life to remember my roots!!