Above Them – Q&A

!_Archive Post_

Doncaster Live February 2008 Edition
Q and A: Above Them

Inhaler’s latest signings Above Them are their biggest and boldest act yet. With an EP on the horizon, a major tour and having conquered the States Richard Mushet catches up with the band on their visit to Doncaster.

How did you meet and get together as a band?

Mark: We’d all played in local bands and Tom had played in a band called Seed, who were plodding along pretty well. I’d played in local bands, only really playing Pontefract and Wakefield now and then. My band were basically splitting up and Tom and Oli were wanting to do something more and they asked me because they knew I played bass from seeing me locally in other bands. We started practicing, but nothing serious, just playing in Tom’s room, then we thought “Actually, it’s alright this.”

And how long ago was that?

Mark: [after coming to conclusion with Tom and Oli] Yeah, December 2004.

There’s a mix between small webzines and larger magazines that have reviewed you. How are you taking the positive reviews from this mix of sources?

All: It’s pretty good, yeah. We’re just grateful really.

Mark: We enjoy writing and playing our own stuff, so it’s just a bonus other people like it as well.

You’ve been gigging a fair bit too. How was America?

Mark: The first time was…

Tom: …hard work.

Mark: Yeah, and hot. The shows we played were with bands that weren’t really our style, musically.

Tom: They were into motorbike rock, which is quite coincidental really… [As a guy continues to rev his Harley Davidson outside the bar]

Mark: …but it was fun and we were grateful for the experience, seeing the country that way. We came back a stronger band.

Tom: You appreciate the shows over here more after playing ten straight shows over there.

Mark: Then a month later No Idea records [who’ve released bands such as Planes Mistaken For Stars, Atom & His Package, Less Than Jake and Hot Water Music] asked us to go back and play The Fest in Gainesville. At first we weren’t going to go because of money and work, but the we thought “F**k it” because everyone said we were stupid to not go. It was the best weekend ever.

So did you make any good links or friends out there?

Mark: We made good friends out there with a band called New Bruises, who run a DIY label called Kiss Of Death records.

Tom: It was good seeing bands that we look up to…

Mark: Just seeing them walking down the street was ace.

Have there been any bands you’ve really enjoyed playing and touring with over here?

Mark: The Attika State, [points in direction of basement where Attika State can be heard soundchecking] a band called Chillerton, Driveway Speeding from Basingstoke who split up recently and a band called The Machines Will Take Over who’re from the same town as us.

Above Them’s EP, Put Your Heart Into This is available now from Inhaler Records.
Above Them Myspace
Inhaler Records Shop

Words: Richard Mushet