Last year I placed Frightened Rabbit’s “The Midnight Organ Fight” at #15 in my top albums of 2008 list. A couple of months later, and it gives me a great pleasure to introduce the newest (and only other) member of the team at Not Many Experts by way of an interview with the boys themselves. George has been bestowed with prestigious title of the official interviewer & Director Of All Things Interviewish and can be contacted at george@notmanyexperts.com. Yeah, that’s what you get for working on Not Many Experts; a posh e-mail address and a pat on the back. Whilst it’s sort of relevant – if you would like to get your own very smart e-mail address and write for Not Many Experts, you need only e-mail me at Phil@notmanyexperts.com. Anyway…. I digress. Enjoy George’s first ever interview, it’s a stonker!
1. For those who don’t know who Frightened Rabbit are, can you describe yourselves.
A group of four gentlemen who enjoy the sound of music. We all like pop music, but other than that, we have absolutely nothing in common. Sometimes I wonder if Billy even knows me at all…
2. Where did the name “Frightened Rabbit” come from? Did you actually frighten a rabbit?
I have frightened rabbits in the past, but never shouted at them or chased them for pleasure. They don’t take much frightenening, though. They’s scared of ramblers for christ sakes. The name was in fact derived from my own fear of the rambling and hillwalking community. TRESSPASSERS! Hand me my gun…
3. According to Wikipedia, the centre of the modern world, you once said you were “Still not sure if we’re finished gathering members.” Can I audition for your band? I play the gondola.
No audition necessary, you’re in. What the fuck is a gondola, and how do you play it?
(The gondola is a traditional Venetian rowing boat, which can be played by stroking the sides of the boat with pan scourers)
4. Having released your album in 2008, what can fans expect from 2009?
I would really love to release another record, if it fits the label’s schedule. We’ll hopefully have it all done by the summer, so we’ll be airing a few new songs at the festivals, and also one or two during our upcoming acoustic/quiet tour. I’d like to add that the album we released last year was our second record, not our debut.
5. Who or what are your biggest influences?
I’m heavily influenced by chart pop music, being a total sucker for a fine yet irritatingly hooky melody. The artists I admire include The Band, TV on the Radio, Nick Cave, Idlewild, Animal Collective, Nine Inch Nails, Mersault and The Twilight Sad.
6. Is Barack Obama really gonna save the world?
Nope, but he’s already made it better just by being elected. I can definitely visualise him in a superhero suit, though. He’s a physically fit man.
7. You’ve held down support slots for a number of ‘big’ bands, such as Death Cab For Cutie and Biffy Clyro, what was that like for you?
It was wonderful. Both of those bands have taken the long way round, so not only did they fully appreciate the position we were in, they also really appreciated everything they had, given that they had worked their socks off for years to get there. It was a real privelige to play the same venues as those fellows do, and get to watch a marvellous rock concert for free every night.
8. Your Myspace claims you have recorded in bedrooms, kitchens and cupboards. Just whose cupboard were you in? Was it like Narnia in there?
No, it was a cupboard in my brother’s flat. I slept in there for a month or two whilst I was in between homes. It was exactly the size of a single camp-bed and somewhat akin to waking up in a coffin every day. I wrote the first track from our last record in that cupboard, all the while wishing a big lion would come through the wall and take me next door.
9. If you were made Prime Minister, what would be the first law you’d make?
I would make it illegal for interviewers to ask where the name of the band came from…
10. Snakes & Ladders, or Monopoly?
Monopoly at the top of a ladder with a snake round your neck.
11. Do you like Andy Murray?
I’ve never met him. He seems very competetive.
Many thanks to George & Frightened Rabbit.
Download mp3: Frightened Rabbit – Keep Yourself Warm
Last year I placed Frightened Rabbit’s “The Midnight Organ Fight” at #15 in my top albums of 2008 list. A couple of months later, and it gives me a great pleasure to introduce the newest (and only other) member of the team at Not Many Experts by way of an interview with the boys themselves. George has been bestowed with prestigious title of the official interviewer & Director Of All Things Interviewish and can be contacted at george@notmanyexperts.com. Yeah, that’s what you get for working on Not Many Experts; a posh e-mail address and a pat on the back. Whilst it’s sort of relevant – if you would like to get your own very smart e-mail address and write for Not Many Experts, you need only e-mail me at Phil@notmanyexperts.com. Anyway…. I digress. Enjoy George’s first ever interview, it’s a stonker!
