About Me
The undercurrent of the band cross references the sizable aspect of its own near diliberate cultishness. It isn't intending to be like some nearrer the Falll than mozart but we see vague cymal larities. We like hard rock but we can't be arsed, we sympathise with criticism, that type of stuff.http://www.chorltonwhatson.co.uk/home/rothwellIntervie
w.phpThe Rothwell Interview
The Rothwell Incident are probably one of the most charismatic, strident and original bands currently touring the local pubs and smaller venues in and around the Chorlton area at the moment, but anyone who has witnessed their unique blend of good ol' ass kicking rock n roll and uplifting, tangential soundscapes can't help but think that they'll be playing to far larger audiences in the very near future. And tunes like "Booster" and "Trapped Nerve" are set to become anthems of the underground.I met up with Tony Rothwell - singer/guitarist and songwriter with the band at the Lounge Bar, only a few days after one of their most scintillating performances to date at that very venue, or more accurately, The Satellite Club which occurs there on a Wednesday as a popular outlet for unsigned Manchester acts.I didn't have to wait too long before Tony, having just returned from a Beach Party at Lytham St Annes where he played some solo acoustic versions of a few of his favouries, came in beaming with his characteristic swagger and an almost camp assurance. A few sips of our pints (his first, my second) and we were on our way.Rob: Are you aware of a certain event that happened in the States involving UFOs and government cover-ups which came to be known as the "Roswell Incident"?Tony: Really? (sardonic glint in his eye)Rob: Mad coincidence isn't it?Tony: Yeah, life is strange. But I'd like to think that listening to us is more than just listening to music - y'know like it's some kind of experience, or "incident" as the name suggests. It's more about reflecting society and life and civilisation and how it's all built together and how it can crumble and we try and reflect it in the sounds we make.Rob: Nothing to do with outer space then?Tony: Well I am intrigued with that aspect of life too, as we all can be, but it's more from the point of view of imagery that can be used to highlight our more everyday concerns.Rob: : Yeah, I sometimes think that Chorlton is as alien as it gets. Like a Bermuda Triangle where there's all these bohemians, musos and artists all stuffed in together.Tony: Well there's certainly a lot of interesting life-forms around here. I think it's all good when there's a few local places to play - it inspires the local talent to get out there and flourish.Rob: What are "Acapulco lips"?Tony: : That's more a play on the word "apocalypse". The song it's from, "Cosmic Bomb", is really about the first atomic bomb tests in the States, you know when even they didn't know what to expect. I was reading about how soldiers would close their eyes and still have their retinas melted from the flash. Amongst other things I wanted to give that kind of momentous experience a kind of sexual aspect in some ways... like a kiss.Rob: In the song "Just A Gigolo" you really seem to get inside the head of the protagonist. Have you had some experience in that field?Tony: (Laughs) No, have you?Rob: Can't say I have. Just trying to dig some dirt - it's what's called "caustic journalism"Tony: I think "Gigolo"s about the truck driver in life, and the hard working fella. The car mechanic and stuff like that, the loner, the maverick. So I s'pose in a way, yeah. When I was a younger lad I used to wander around fantasising about stuff like that.Rob: Having a trapped nerve in the back of your head sounds a bit painful - have you suffered that affliction long?Tony: Definitely. I have it all the time... I think everybody does.Rob: What's the best remedy?Tony: I think to get a Tibetan monk to walk along the back of the head should work. The modern alternative would be nano-surgery.Rob: You've got the classic 3-piece alt rock set up. Is that your preferred line up?Tony: It depends. We got this 3-piece thing going on cos it was fun and it was robust. But we're trying to evolve, and certainly with recent gigs like the one we just did over at The Whitworth the band had been looking good, so we thought it was time to maybe ask a guy that was in Boomjet (Phil) to do some guitar parts. I think he felt a bit let down with them not taking it anywhere so we thought we could keep his fingers busy for a while and give me a bit more freedom to do my thing. He's a clever bloke and I think he'll pick up on the songs quite well. Plus he's got a cool motorbike.Rob: Rumour has it your drummer Clive is a walking disaster area.Tony: You'd know that better than I would, I think, Rob.Rob: I have had some experience. (Referring to the time we went to a friends house for a session and Clive ended up trying to fix a cistern that he couldn't seem to flush, resulting in him nearly flooding the entire flat). Does this herald the return of smashed up hotels and the like?Tony: Absolutely. There's always a place for that sort of thing to relieve the boredom. But I think Clive's element to the band is so vital with his anarchic yet completely anal way about himself. He's an excellent drummer, although you need to quell his leanings towards European Rock at times, but that's what gives him his energy and the band it's oomph. He's like a runaway locomotive.Rob: Of course the driving force of your bass player (also called Tony) has a lot to do with that as well.Tony: Definitely. Tony needs that energy to keep him going - he's that dedicated, he's like the mother - he loves the band and wants it to do its best. And Clive's unrelenting energy seems to propel Tony forward and keep him focused on whipping up those wicked bass lines.Rob: I do get the impression you're a really organic outfit - not so concerned with being slick and together in the traditional sense, but wanting to keep it relatively loose and rugged.Tony: Yeah, that's sometimes difficult to nail down when we're recording but it does mean the band, when we play live, can be something of an experience, instead of just a collection of songs done kind of verbatim. There's a few classical composers who've used that process in the past and it's something I'm quite attracted to.Rob: What's on the cards for the Rothwell Incident next?Tony: Well we're gonna try and do something in the city, do the Tiger Lounge, possibly Big Hands. And The Fremen are very interested in doing some dual gigging with us, and it's great when bands who seem a bit jaded by the scene come out and listen to us and want to play with us, and get their dancing shoes on and start treading the boards again - It's always good to inspire. I always seem to get drawn to musicians who've got sort of humanistic flaws - I think they make the best bands. Word perfect music college people are all well and good and they can write some cracking tunes but sometimes just your regular lads on the street have the most valid sound.Rob: That rings true. To me there's a bit of a Bowie/Velvets/Iggy influence to your material.Tony: Well you're going to draw those influences, especially if you like them yourself. I mean I know a guy who likes the Pixies and he thinks we sound like them. I know you've got Bowie influences yourself and I owe a great deal to David Bowie due to the intricate nature of his music. But even the Beatles I was listening to the other day, you know "Strawberry Fields" and stuff.Rob: That's such a wonderful meandering lyricTony: Yeah, and the tempo changes as well. It shows that songs don't have to have the same beat all the way through --dance songs maybe but really good songs take you wherever they want to take you.Rob: So what motivates your music? Is it to please other people or yourself?Tony: Well that's a core question isn't it? I like pleasing other people cos that pleases me.Rob: And that's a core answer.And with that and a bit more chat about our favourite tunes, we did what anyone else sitting in a bar in Chorlton on a Sunday afternoon would do - got another drink.Rob O'Neill
