UK ARTISTS "LIVE" is..... A musician-supported site for the great unsigned artists of the UK, with an elegant platform offering unsigned acts an opportunity to express themselves via professionally-composed personal introductions and interviews by our seasoned staff of journalists, to educate the reader-listener on the genre presented.
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Lyric LaCeile and Amy Vaughan present "THE TONIC", from Croydon, UK !
The Tonic are a positively brilliant quintet with a heavy influence from the 1960’s Mods scene, now based in Croydon, South London. With recent placement as one of the top, most sought -after unsigned bands in the south of England, these guys have a lot to be happy about these days! With a signing contract awaiting their approval, the sky is the limit for THE TONIC…..Doing “Oasis†covers in the early days, now they have progressed into something which I feel has much more strength and staying power than “Oasis†!!! With infusions of punk (think, Dead Milkmen, The Damned), mod (think, “The Modsâ€, Ohio) and indie, (think, The Smithereens), these dedicated musicians began playing various charity gigs, with an ideal reception! The crowds adored them, and in time, vision was no longer shared by various musicians in the original line-up, not an uncommon thing-which was to elevate to the London circuit, with regular gigs….
With the new line up, THE TONIC reached an entirely new level, the quality of the songwriting became more complex, thanks to songwriters Dave Fleckney and Paul Coveney, offering a more enhanced song structure….The band toured all the relevant London venues ; grabbed some rave reviews with many new followers, and supporting legendary giffer punk band ‘Long Tall Shorty’ on more than one occasion. The Tonic are currently getting air-play on Mod Radio UK, Radio Sunlight, 'The Indie Hour' on Sheffield Live, Radio Rejects, Radio Boudaki, Radio Unsigned and also American Indie Stations Ace Radio and RSU Radio. The band are taking a break from gigging to record, then independently release their debut album, being regularly played on many online and local radio stations…I’m truly enamored of their music, biting wit and earthy charm.
The Tonic are: Justin Cress: Lead vox
Paul Coveney: Rhythm guitar
Luke Edmonds: Lead Guitar
Dave Fleckney: Bassist/Songwriter
INTERVIEW, THE TONIC, By Lyric LaCeile
Lyric : Dave, many artists begin early on and yet others have been late to bloom in the discovery of their talents. It is not uncommon to hear of a child hearing future songs in his head, or playing various household items as if they were instruments. Others developed their talents later in life. You?
Dave: I think for most of us music was something we didn’t take seriously until quite late. Justin, Paul and I originally formed the band when we were 21 and 22 just because we knew each other, we were into the same sort of music and we knew we could all do a different job in a band so we thought ‘let’s have a go!’ and we started rehearsing down my shed!
Luke: I think I’ll have to disagree with ya there mate. For me it was as soon as I could save up for an instrument I wanted to play. At 13 I went and got a job on the local market setting up and taking down the stools to earn as much money as I could to but a guitar as my folks couldn’t afford it. Until I got it my ole' dears’ broom got a beating as I’d mime to all my favorite tracks!
Lyric: I love that, Luke! I preface this next question with the fact that growing up with jazz legends for parents, exposed to amazing an range of music at an early age, from the womb, really, either in person via jam sessions or on records, Miles Davis’ tune, “So What†grabbed my attention at age 9. I always love to ask the artist what piece of music became a part of their souls forever, and why, as it is quite revealing into the direction that their music often takes? Yours???
Dave: If I had to name one track it would be ‘Live Forever’ by Oasis. It came out when I was about 13 or 14, it was the start of Britpop and it really caught my imagination. That was the first time I knew I wanted to be in a band.
Justin: Couldn't name one track. 60's music is in my blood due to being around it for as long as I can remember, going to see The Searchers, Swinging Blue Jeans, Merseybeats, and many others, live at 60's themed festivals with my parents,waking up every Saturday morning to sounds of the sixties on BBC radio2,from when I was a young age, shaped my taste in music, and wow, what a great upbringing to have as a budding lead vocalist!
Lyric: I can see that. The music of the 60’s in the States, both the Brit Invasion, (I prefer my term, the ‘Brit Infusion’!), and our locals like Janis Joplin; Cream; Country Joe; Sweetwater; Mamas and The Papas, we embraced this music with all our hearts. Luke?
Luke: ‘Voodoo Child’ by Hendrix! I know it’s a more obvious choice, but being the youngest in the band I was probably the last to be introduced.
Lyric: Let us not forget, Luke, and our readers, that England gave Hendrix his initial exposure, opportunity, and embraced him, so England should feel as if they rather ‘own’ his legacy in a fashion….He remains a constant enigma in the States, guitarists try and try to emulate his music and they just cannot do it, so never worry that it is ‘obvious’ !!!Great choice….
Luke: I remember the day my dad played it to be on vinyl I spent the rest of the week listening to it so much and trying to work out all the parts! That was the day I knew I wanted to play guitar.
Lyric: Now really, the very first song ever, that one stays with an artist, often inspiring them to become a musician just as it did for you, Luke. However, with your upbringing you were obviously exposed to good music as well…. Any music lessons as a child, and is anyone in your immediate family musically inclined Dave ??
Dave: Our drummer Gav is the only one who’s done his grades and stuff as a ‘proper musician’. The rest of us revel in the fact that we’re self-taught. We have a kind of DIY punk-rock attitude. I think all the best bands are like that.
Lyric: The ‘self-taught’ method is highly admirable to me, as my father ended up a Grammy winner/Hall of Famer, never read a single note!. He played a 5,000 song repertoire by ear. I don’t mean to gloat on my dad, just making a point here, I really have a great respect for all musicians who learn from ear to instrument !!
Lyric : So, Justin, what enticed you to feel that you could sing, in other words, how did you discover your ‘voice’ ?
Justin: I can't play any instrument, even a tambourine is beyond my capabilities, I just seem to have a knack for writing lyrics. As for discovering my voice, singing in the bath I suppose, and on the terraces at Selhurst Park.
Lyric to Luke: First off, what guitar are you playing on “Peacock Feathers�
Luke: Its a ‘Westfield Les Paul’.
Lyric: Ahh….Go to their site, readers and guitarists, you have to see this Les Paul…..You’ll see why I had to ask that question!
Lyric to Luke: You’ve got this marvelous Pat DiNizio vibe happening, again, not placing you in a box here, not at all, yet, do you feel he’s influenced you in any fashion?
Luke: I have to be honest I’d never heard of Pat until now, but after doing some research I agree there are some similarities. Generally things that influence me are albums or tracks I’ve heard recently, the mood of the song when Dave and Paul first play it to me or an idea/style I’ve been wanting to try.
Lyric to Dave: Your songwriting process would you say that it is more of a gradual thing, or do you find that words and lyrics wake you up in the middle of the night, grabbing that pad of paper and pen….?
Dave: We have a mixture of song writing techniques. We used to purely jam, and everyone would make up their own parts on the spot, including Justin who’d instantly come up with the lyrics!
Lyric: The improv thing. Very ‘jazz’-ish there!!
Dave: We wrote some great songs like that but now Paul and I have taken over the songwriting duties. It’s more of an arduous task with us, we can work all evening trying to get a certain part right and we’re making slightly more sophisticated arrangements. Paul and I were quite pleased with ourselves when we wrote Kaleidoscope 'cos it's got ten chords in it, we thought, 'Now we're proper song-writers!'...not that it matters though, a three chord pop song is always better than any over-blown, prog-rock style self-indulgence!
Lyric: I totally concur there….yeah, that ten chords in “Kaleidoscopeâ€, you should be extremely pleased with yourselves~ So, Dave, do you view yourself as more of an iconoclast , a malcontent or do you simply verbalise your view of your purpose on earth, etc??
Dave: erm, Iconoclasts and Malcontents?? Well, neither, I’m Catholic, I think the others are C of E! Seriously, I don't know about a purpose but we do hope the band takes off and the music might be remembered by somebody after we're gone.
Lyric to Dave: Well, darling, either way, the music projects that of iconoclastic artists who SHOULD be remembered! Luke?
Luke: I think we take the punk approach with this one, I think the message we would like to spread to plant earth is: Fuck the government, Fuck Gorden Brown and Fuck the oppression of good honest working people............ Punk rant over!
Lyric: YES LUKE , good rant !!! I love that you can just be direct and honest about it all…..Sounds like my rant a bit, the good ole’ ‘Fuck Clear Channel -Fuck The RIAA -Fuck The Record Industry As A Whole -Fuck Anyone Who Makes It Hard For A Band To Be Heard -Fuck Anyone Who Makes It Hard For A Band To Make A Living’ !!
Lyric: So Dave, what’s up with the situation , the requirement of a drummer, as in, have you located one yet?
Dave: As it stands the current drummer Gav is staying with the band, though this is subject to change next time he decides to do a disappearing act!
Lyric: Uh-oh, we can’t have that, can we?! Gav, now you be a good one and stay put, will you? You’re a killer drummer….What is up with the signing of a label, major or indie? Who initially approached you, did they hear your demo and contact you or hear you ‘live’ at a venue?
Lyric: So Dave, would you say that your family supportive of your musical career, and have you any sibs?
Dave: Well my Uncle (Len Fleckney) is drummer for legendary Mod/Giffer-Punk band ‘Long Tall Shorty’. They’re a huge influence on us and we’ve gigged with them a couple of times. Also my brother Jon was a guitarist and founding member of The Tonic.
Lyric: Lon Tall Shorty!!! O my gawd….they are legendary! No wonder you got into music. Justin?
Justin: My wife and kids, and my Mum and Dad are our biggest fans.
Lyric: They are the first to matter most, aren’t they?! Luke?
Luke : Yeah I agree with Justin, family and friends have helped us out a lot.
Lyric: Often it can be so the other direction, I’ve heard many times of great musicians that have absolutely zero support from their loved ones….So, deep question here for ya! I love to ask this one, as it gives me and others reading great insight into your motivation in life….. What disturbs you most about the human condition? For instance, do you detest laziness, apathy, bullies, whiners without solutions, that sort of thing or do you just find it all to be unimportant to your musical process?
Dave: I wish I could say that we were the type of people that lay awake at night contemplating the state of the human condition and that this was the inspiration for our music. I’m afraid we’re just not that deep, and nor is our music! It’s only rock ‘n’ roll but we like it!
Lyric: Its damned great rock ‘n’ roll, and WE like it too!!! Luke?
Luke: I think again, I (and the guys) take the punk approach with once again, the message spread around the earth, “Fuck the government, Fuck Gorden Brown and Fuck the oppression of good honest working peopleâ€!!!............ Punk rant over this time, promise!
Lyric: What is up with the signing of a label, major or indie? Can you mention who initially approached you, did they hear your demo and contact you or hear you ‘live’ at a venue or is this a private matter at this time?
Dave: We’re not really part of the student-ish NME crowd and labels haven’t exactly been throwing contracts at us! We’ve been offered deals before that were so much in the label’s favour, that it’s scandalous!
Lyric: Agreed. Why do you think that I won’t write for “Spinâ€, “Blenderâ€, “Rolling Stone†or “NME†? They’re juvenile, and they all cater to the same untalented bands and I cannot get on board with that at all…I’ve also worked for many majors and indie record labels in Hollywood, I know that drill I can tell you….
Dave: You’ve got to be so careful not to sign the first bit of paper that’s put in front of you. It’s a jungle out there but we’re hoping to sign a deal with a really small record label that’s being set up as we speak.
Lyric: Yep. You best have an entertainment barrister read all legal papers that are placed before you. Don’t trust your own ability to interpret ‘legalese’….Well its all hush hush for now, lets not jinx it.!
Dave: Right. It will be run by music enthusiasts and we’re confident we won’t get ripped off!!
Lyric to Justin : Tell us how your air-play came about on Mod Radio UK, American Indie Stations Ace Radio and RSU Radio.?? Did you submit your material, do reveal all !
Justin: Well, we have worked really hard to put the music out there on as many radio stations as possible. It's an uphill task to say the least! Mod radio UK were really receptive.
Lyric: As well they SHOULD be !!
Justin: A few of our tunes charted highly in their monthly charts and it was great to see our songs above some of our favourite bands like ‘The Kinks’ and ‘The Small Faces’!!
Lyric: I’m not surprised by that honour. It isn’t hard to see that you all have what it takes.
Justin: Even though we realise our music isn't particularly suited to the American audience we sent some demos out and got on the play-lists of a few American, indie and college stations which was great.
Lyric: I totally disagree with that, Justin! I think you will find a great reception from indie labels, radio and venues here for your music. You have some very strong tunes, namely, “History†, “Heroineâ€, and “Peacock Feathers†are all songs that would do well on radio here as well. I’ve worked in radio for over 10 years, for venues booking for seven years and I know from whence I speak….So, Dave , share with us your muse(s) when songwriting??
Dave: I suppose I'd say my and probably most of the bands main inspiration is the city, London and the forgotten corner of it called ‘Croydon’. I reckon more of our songs are written about what it's like to live here than any other subject.
Lyric to Justin : I vehemently disagree with the bloke who wrote you up, a good writer I might add, “Peacock Feathers', an early Who-esque with punk edges numberâ€. Personally, I detest putting anyone's originality into a box, but if I must, that tune has more of an early Smithereens energy without the sappy 'love lost' lyrics happening there…nothing 'punk' about it. It's a feel-good tune, like a Troggs song ! Your tunes “No Good Reason†and "The Jam" have a distinct "Croydon" sound…now those are punk songs to be proud of….!
Justin: I think The Troggs are a good shout for an influence on 'Peacock Feathers'. We were really getting into Mod culture and sound at the time and this has a 1960's ‘beat music’ feel to it. As you say 'The Jam' (named not after the seminal mod revival band but simply after the fact it came straight from a jam session!) is a more raw punky tune. I think when you're starting out it helps for people to pigeon-hole you so they can make sense of what you are, which is fine with us. I would say that 60's Mod, Punk and Britpop are our main inspirations. The Jam are the stand-out band among our influences. So I guess the 'Croydon Sound' is New-Mod-revival!!
Lyric: Fun question, if on tour, Paul, what creature comfort would you absolutely have to have with you?
Paul: Ketchup, I can't live without it...it's gotta be Heinz though!
Lyric : Heinz! Priceless…. So Paul, where would you like to see yourselves in a year? In the long haul ?
Paul: In a year we expect to have our album independently released and we'll be out promoting it. Hopefully we'll sign for a label that's as ambitious as us. Longer term we'd just love to our music reach more people.
Lyric: Yes, just make it more on YOUR terms, and you’ll do well. Justin, tell us how your air-play came about on Mod Radio UK, American Indie Stations Ace Radio and RSU Radio??
Justin: Well, we have worked really hard to put the music out there on as many radio stations as possible. It's an uphill task to say the least! Mod radio UK were really receptive, a few of our tunes charted highly in their monthly charts and it was great to see our songs above some of our favourite bands like The Kinks and The Small Faces!! Even though we realise our music isn't particularly suited to the American audience we sent some demos out and got on the play-lists of a few American, Indie and College stations which was great.
Lyric: Paul you can speak for everyone here, there is no question that you are firmly committed musicians ~is it difficult for you to have to juggle day gigs and families?
Paul: We are firmly committed to the band but unfortunately we do have to juggle work and things in every day life. It's not easy but hopefully it'll all come good and the band will be our full time job. The Tonic are good enough to do really well. We know we're better than most of the bands out there!
Lyric: YES YOU ARE one of the finest bands I’ve come across in some time, and not just blowing smoke up your arse !!! We only feature the best of the best here….What do you do to unwind? Paul, you can speak for the band on that one!
Paul: After rehearsals, we all like to have a beer and a fag and listen to our favourite bands. We're all pretty laid back anyway so we don't need to do anything specific to unwind.
Lyric: What is your favourite 'twisted kick' ??
Paul: Sex, drugs & Rock 'n' Roll...we're trying to cut back on the drugs though!
Justin: I've been to rehab with my Kebab addiction, I've recently had a few relapses though.
Lyric: (laughing)Well, Justin, I’m a Kebab freak myself. Hey, I have a feeling it’s a helluva lot safer than a drug spree, yeah?! You’ve been highly entertaining to hang with , and we are excited to feature you. My insight tells me great things are in your future….
THE TONIC, PRESS NOTES:
"Kaleidascope, sound track to summer 2007!" London Calling, Rock Sellout.com
"Great music" Mod Radio UK
"The next Oasis!" The Croydon Advertiser
"Strong 90's Indie sound. 'Bad Times' is awesome!" Match Box Recordings
"These boys deliver a refreshing, no frills sound" rocksellout.com
"The Smiths and Morrisey are touchstones here." The Dublin Castle
"There's a Mod revival going on in the shape of The Tonic!!" Wired Magazine
"The best band in the world!" Dave's mum!
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