TÊTE À TÊTE // YES REBELS

A great time was had by all at our Deadpunk Bank Holiday Special and we're now looking ahead to our next major event...

So in case you didn't already know, us folks at Exchange are spearheading a brand new local music festival in Old Market alongside The Stag & Hounds, Hydra Bookshop, and The Volunteer Tavern.

Amongst the numerous bands on the bill (check out the facebook page for the full details) are Yes Rebels. Tom was kind enough to let us pick his brains for the latest in our Tete a tete series.

Introduce yourself...
Im Tom Kuras, I play guitar and sing backing vocals in Yes Rebels.

What are you currently Listening to?
Currently, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club as I'm watching them play in Bristol soon, they have a newish album that I have been enjoying getting through although I prefer their older material, I think that debut album cant really be beaten.

Tell us about a significant/influential album...
My favourite album of all time is Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys, so in whatever I do I reference back to that. It might sound strange as Yes Rebels can be quite a heavy band and do not sound any thing like the Beach Boys but it's definitely there in me somewhere when I play. To me it's a beautiful and mysterious record and is one of the few where I think every track is incredible. It's definitely my desert island disc.

What's your favourite place?
That's tough, i guess its cheesy but a good stage with some good monitors! on a serious note I do love playing music and when it goes really well its a feeling that cant be beaten so where ever that happens its a good place for me.

Who would be your dream dinner party guest?
Just one guest, now thats difficult, it would be someone obvious like Paul McCartney, that would be fun, he is another hero of mine, im sure he would have some insane stories to entertain me with.

What was the last gig you went to?
It was actually at the exchange, watching The Shimmer Band, The Mother Beef and Adding Machine, 3 bands that are very different but great at what they do.

Tell us about your favourite gig...
I've got a few favorites, we played for Bristol live magazine launch about a month ago, we had something to prove as we were playing with some great bands so we had to up are game, which we did. I've never sweated so much in my entire life.

Yes Rebels are currently in the final stages of mixing their latest release. We have it on good authority that they're planning something pretty darn special for it's launch so keep your eyes peeled. You can catch them at Exchange on the 7th September as part of the Old Market Music Festival.

TÊTE À TÊTE // BANGERS

For the next installment we have the brilliant Bangers who, like WOAHNOWS, are also about to head off on tour in the next few days to celebrate the release of their new 7" 'Blind Hindsight' (available via Specialist Subject Records).

We caught up with Roo...

Photograph by Joe Watson

Introduce yourself…
I'm Roo Pescod, I play guitar and sing in Bangers. Andrew plays bass and Hamish hits the drums.

What are you currently Listening to?
We have an SD card in the van stereo and amongst others it currently contains the new Lemuria album, Blind Wink by Tenement, the California X album, and a couple of Archers of Loaf records.

Tell us about a significant/influential album...
We Are The Only Friends That We Have by Piebald was a really influential record for me. It was some of the catchiest pop punk I’d ever heard but it also had interesting time signatures and great guitar work and Travis’ brilliantly odd lyrics. Every song is brilliant, but the album still manages to peak into pop perfection with American Hearts which has a chorus to rival anything Huey Lewis or Bon Jovi ever wrote.

What's your favourite place?
Constantine Bay in the early morning when the tide’s out and the surf’s good.

Talk us through a typical day...
Typical is tricky. I work three days a week at Exeter University, where I spend my days being ordered around by very smart and inefficient people. Days off I tend to get up early, play some music, watch an episode of something, and hoover and wash up like the good little house husband that I am. Then every day like clockwork I get wasted, shred some waves and party all night.

Who would play you in a film?
Realistically I guess it would be Will Smith.

What's your favourite film?
I (heart) Huckabees. I love how funny and weird and smart it is.

Who would be your dream dinner party guest?
Trevor Cavell. He’d cook vegetarian burritos and I’d mix margeritas.

Photograph by Maz Laisina

What was the last gig you went to?
The last gig I paid into was Tim Barry/Sam Russo/Jimmy Islip/Jon Shoe at the Cavern and I would heartily recommend spending time watching any of those guys. The last gig I was actually at was Out of Spite ‘13 in Leeds and it was another belter.

Tell us about your favourite gig...
The State Lottery and Bangers at Mozarts in Swansea was a great night. After the show we had a lock in and I danced in my birthday to a Bobby Columbo soul playlist with a joint in one hand and a bottle of Buckfast in the other. I wanted that tour to go on forever.

You can catch Bangers at Exchange on the 26th August alongside Sick Of It All and Off With Their Heads at the Deadpunk Bank Holiday Special. To avoid disappointment we recommend grabbing a ticket (available via the website) in advance.

TÊTE À TÊTE // WOAHNOWS

We're kicking off another new feature with Plymouth based Anarcho Indie Punkers (and Exchange favourites) WOAHNOWS.

Having just signed to the London indie label 'Big Scary Monsters', WOAHNOWS are about to head out on their European 'The Joy Disorder' EP release tour.

We were lucky enough to catch up with Tim.


Introduce yourself...
I’m Tim and I play guitar and sing, Wherly plays drums and Dan looks after the lower frequencies.

What are you currently Listening to?
I’ve been really enjoying The Sidekick’s new record. Hop Along, Bangers and Gnarwolves are other ones always likely to be on in the van between our old soul and Motown playlist.

Tell us about a significant/influential album...
Such a hard question, there are really just so so many. I might have to go for Taking Back Sunday’s first record ‘Tell all your friends’. It’s super emo but when it first came out and we were young it had that perfect balance of melody with the rockiness of the punk we would be listening to along side it.

What's your favourite place?
Well Wherly lives in Bristol and we’re always happy to spend a lot of time here. I love how many places are squatted around Stokes Croft and how many shops are independent. It’s one of the few places in the UK where people seem to have a sense of ownership of the streets, which I think is really important and exciting.

...How kind! We're happy to have you!

Talk us through a typical day...
Well I really don’t have a very structured timetable so it’s often different. Although I seem to spend most my time either teaching music at the youth club I work at, playing music, walking my dog or misbehaving.

...and Pasty making?

Who would play you in a film?
I used to always get likened to Dr Who, which I hate because he looks kinda dorky, but maybe I should take the hint. So I’d have to say David Tennant, unfortunately.

What's your favourite film?
It would be a toss up between ‘Little Miss Sunshine’ and ‘Amelie’.

Who would be your dream dinner party guest?
Kurt Vonnegut. He’s my favourite author and I’ve read so much of his stuff that when I read him it feels like talking to an old friend. It would have been amazing to meet him.

What was the last gig you went to?
Leopalooza festival. It’s a really nice little festival and you can tell the guys putting it on do it for the right reasons and work really hard at it.

Tell us about your favourite gig...
I don’t think I could ever really pick one, but the first time I saw Five Knuckle at the Phoenix in Plymouth blew my mind. Seeing Arcade Fire headline Reading festival was another show I’ll never forget.


Be sure to catch WOAHNOWS at Exchange on the 26th August for the Deadpunk Bank Holiday Special alongside Sick Of It All and Off With Their Heads. Pre-order 'The Joy Disorder' 12" via their webstore.