Concert Crap: Can you talk about a brief history of the band?
Stephen Murray: It was a little bit of a happy accident to be honest! We had all played in bands previously, although not all together. Mike (Drums), Chris (Bass) and I had played in a band which broke up and I think we had all kind of accepted that we had probably came to the end of the road and fell out of ‘the way of being in a band’ a little. I took it pretty badly and didn’t even play the guitar for a few months – then I picked it up and wrote a new song within about half an hour. I had a few other ideas from a while back which I had always wanted to try with a full band so I got Mike and Chris back together just for the sake of making some noise
We quickly realised that none of us could sing or write melodies or lyrics. Haha – I had known John for years as a close friend of my brother and thought the stuff we were playing suited his style. I had followed his old band ‘Kicking Buckets’ for years and knew he had this knack of writing a really catchy and upbeat hook. I asked him for help with a song and he just fitted in right away.
John Allan: Stephen is being polite here… We had a practice and it went quite well, but I think I maybe muscled my way in a bit. I really liked what they were doing and invited myself back I think. That is how I remember it anyway. Like Stephen says he felt – when my last band broke up I was a bit heartbroken. I know that may sound dramatic, but it is so true. So much time and effort is invested in something, and so it can be pretty tough to take when it falls apart. While being some of the best times, that can leave quite a big gap…
SM: In terms of a history since we got together I/we’ve certainly ticked some bucket list items off. We’ve had national airplay on major radio and television in the UK (Radio1, Kerrang!, STV). We have played some amazing shows, personally really proud to have headlined King Tuts Wah Wah Hut in Glasgow as an Album Launch show, that venue has been a rite of passage for years and there are so many amazing bands who have and continue to play there. Beyond that – we play outside of Glasgow a lot, we’ve played with some smashing bands, met some great people and generally had a ball.
JA: Funny you should mention the bucket list stuff. I felt the exact same – but I think it is a strange thing, because all it does is make you want the next high.
CC: What does your band name mean?
SM: It’s the scratchy type, buzzy type sound you get when you put a record on the turn table at first, you know the ssscchhzzzrrzzhhhsscc
JA: I’ve recently been informed that the noise Stephen has nailed in print there is caused by dust on the groove of your record. So we could be translated as ‘Dusty Groove’. Boke
CC: Who are some of your musical inspirations?
SM: Loads and loads and loads. The music I listen to has diversified a lot over the last few years. Traditionally I listened to blues, guitar driven rock – anything from Led Zeppelin to Pink Floyd and the descendants of them. A while back I got more into U2 and then The Killers and Kings of Leon which progressed into Editors, Interpol and The Smiths etc. Iloved the massive sound these guys achieved, quite often with minimal use of the guitar – more just using it when needed to tremendous effect. More recently I’ve been loving stuff from Clean Bandit, Sia and a few other pop acts and I think that all comes into the writing at points but always back to a good guitar hook.
JA: I thought Tap was being really cool there and saying the Descendents – I caught them at Punk Rock Holiday this year and they were so good! I am really into Against Me!, Enter Shikari, NoFX. Then I get my dance on to some Chvrches.
CC: Who would you like to tour with realistically and un realistically?
SM: Unrealistically – The Rat Pack, Tom Jones, The Stones and Led Zep – I think they guys would have been an absolute riot on the road!
Realistically, I think a tour with Billy Talent or Against Me would be great for us – I think we would go down really well with their audiences and have a cracking time while we were doing it!
JA: At first I thought the Rat Pack was a pure rubbish response, and now I am sitting fantasizing about how absolutely incredible that would be. I’d drink Whisky on the rocks if we did that tour. Maybe I will just start drinking that anyway. No chance, it is really burny… and that is from a Scotsman.
CC: What does the rest of 2016 have in store for you guys?
SM: Again, loads more fortunately. We’re busy all the time just now. We have a new single out in October and probably one more before the end of the year with a video and tour to support each release. We’re writing and recording pretty much every week or second week at the moment and the stuff is sounding great, we’re right in the middle of sorting out and applying for festivals next year and hoping to have some pretty exciting announcements to make in the next few months!
Oh – and Christmas – we love Christmas!
JA: A Certain Shade of Red will be out really soon. I am excited to get the new stuff out. I think this is the start of a momentous period for us because we’ve managed to get lots of material banked. If we keep recording it and playing about with cameras making videos then we should be able to have lots of stuff out soon. I’m not saying it is good, but there will be lots of it. Quantity – not quality – that is what I say. I don’t know why I’m being weird. It’s late.
CC: Is there anything else you’d like to say to your fans or anyone that may be reading this interview at all?
SM: Thanks very much to you for having us, to anyone who reads it and takes the time to listen to us – feel free to get in touch on Social Media and come down to a gig for all the drinking and dancing!
JA: YEAH! What the big chap said. And thank you for supporting independent music, we need people like you being like you and liking people like us being like us.
Additional Info:
All social media = @startstaticuk
Music available to purchase and stream across all digital platforms as well as BandCamp and Big Cartel.
Latest Two Singles & Videos: Shut Up I’m on it and Big Ideas
New Single released later 2016 available at soundcloud.com/startstaticuk.
All questions answered by John Allan (vocals) and Stephen Murray (guitar).
Other Members:
Michael McCrossan (drums) and Chris Kay (bass).
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Post and interview by Corey Kleinsasser
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