Taking time out from a busy schedule, Steve Holbrook has spared time to introduce his band Thee Unstrung.
R13: Hello. Please introduce yourselves to Room Thirteen...
TU: Well as you know –
Steve Holbrook,22 - vocals and guitar
Ben Bailey,20 - guitar and vocals
Rob Power,22 - bass
Ben Tweedy,20 - drums
We're four talented South London fellas making fantastic music.
R13: How would you describe your music?
SH: Hmmm, I suppose it's generally indie pop. It's melodic, upbeat, guitar music. Think in the same vein as The Beatles/Kinks/The Jam.
R13: When did you guys get together and how did it occur?
SH: Ben went to school with my brother so I met him when he started getting into pubs that was about four years ago. We got talking, I told him I played, sung and wrote. He needed a singer, guitarist and bass player. Tweedy was already drumming for him. It all went on from there. We've had many, many bass players. Rob's been with us six months now and as far as I'm concerned he's the best by far!
R13: You've been touring all over the place this year. Which were stand-out gigs and why?
SH: Playing Brixton with Feeder was outstanding - two sellout nights. We went down amazingly and when five thousand people are loving you, you just gotta soak it all in. Our first Paris gig is also up there, we sold out 'The Boule Noire', scorching heat with French stage invasion and heavy partying afterwards. Two days later we played Glastonbury, I can't remember much about that but I'm sure that was great too.
R13: Who has the worst habits on the tour bus?
SH: Bailey – he sets fires!
R13: Your latest gig was an opening of 'Top Shop'. Was it a live performance or just a DJ set? How did it go?
SH: It was a DJ set, very surreal. You just go in and play your favourite CDs for two hours and you get paid brilliantly. But then a suppose that's DJing – musician cop-outs.
R13: Who would you be most stoked to see in the audience of one of your gigs?
SH: Osama Bin Laden/ Jesus
R13: Where's the worst nightclub you've ever been to?
SH: I've been to shitloads of shitholes, too many to name. Just visit Dartford!
R13: The new album 'Lie, Cheat, Steal' is on the verge of release. How long has the album been in the making?
SH: Well last December we recorded it with Chris Difford from Squeeze but as much as we have the utmost respect for his ability the finished article sounded weak and ploddy. So having wasted a lot of time and money we decided to record it again. We managed to get in the studio again in March for a few weeks – then knocked it out pretty quickly, producing it ourselves. The excitement's back in the recordings and it also meant 'Who Runs The Show' made the album.
R13: Is it a group effort or is there mainly one person in the group who writes the songs/music?
SH: Ben and I both write. We write separately then take our ideas to each other. Sometimes when you're in the rehearsal rooms there's a bit of magic where a song will basically write itself, stemming from just a fragment of an idea. 'Panthers of Batignolles' and 'Goodnight' are fine examples of that.
R13: For each of you...which is your favourite track on the album?
SH: Steve - 'Who Runs The Show'. It's a great melodic, angry spat at the cunts in the world! Great lyrics, great solo! Ben Bailey – 'Looking for Nancy'. A beautifully fantastic, melodic pop song. The subject matter means a lot to me.
R13: What's your favourite t-shirt that you own?
SH: My wide selection of Fred Perry polos.
R13: Who came up for the idea for the video for 'Psycho'?
SH: We had the initial basic idea for a psycho girl chasing us about East London. I mean it doesn't take a genius to think that up, they're the bloody lyrics! Then a prodution company got hold of the idea and extended it. Y'know it's ok. I'm not that fond of it anymore!
R13: Where abouts was it filmed?
SH:East London – Whitechapel and Bethnal Green. We actually shot the gig scene in Bethenal Green Working Mans Club. The idea was that it was meant to be very 'Phoenix Nights'.
R13: Are there plans in the pipeline for a video for the latest single 'Who Runs The Show'?
SH: We recorded a very cheap promo video that will be available on the CD, but because the release is more of an EP (seven tracks – not chart eligible), we wanted to concentrate more on getting the track on the radio. We want people to be interested in the EP as a whole and not just sell it on that one song. It's a cracking collection of songs!
R13: How is Thee Unstrung contributing to the Breast Cancer Campaign and how did this come about?
SH: Everyone is affected by cancer at some point and we're more than happy to get involved and help raise some cash. Whether it be for this charity or any. We've approached and been approached by the charity to play live shows, so we will do.
R13: How are Thee Unstrung planning to spend Christmas?
SH: Warm, fat and drunk!