Interviews

"We just love music"

Ethel are a band on the up and up. Sounding better at every gig, they very much held their own at the recent bh one Live event with Toupe. About to release their second ep, Chris Kyriacou caught up with Joe, Nick and Dougal to discuss all things music.

CK: how did you form and what bands were you in before Ethel?

Nick: It started with me and Joe in Con 23.

Joe: No, it was Myriad.

Nick : We played at Smiths a couple of times where we saw Dougal playing in a band called Soul Kitchen, and we decided to start a covers band called Dougal, because we were so uninspired at the time we named it Dougal.

Joe: When that broke down me and Nick joined Con 23 and for a while. Even Dougal joined Con 23, because our drummer moved to London, so we were all in Con 23.

Dougal: Then I went and joined a Queen tribute band. You can leave that bit out. (laughs) Which absolutely did nothing.

Joe: And then you joined a band called Get Amped.

Nick: I left Con 23.

Joe: Then I left.

Nick: After Con 23 me and Joe started writing together again. I always wanted to work with Joe again. We can criticise each other positively.

Joe: We have a similar style.

CK: Dougal, did you record any videos with Get Amped?

Dougal: Yeah, we recorded four videos. I was in three of them; we even went to China.

CK: Why did you leave?

Dougal: I left on a diplomatic basis.

Joe: Once we knew Dougal had left that band we pounced on him straight away.

Dougal: I was actually in bed one night and they jumped on me.

Joe: We slept with him vigorously. When we were writing for this me and Nick said if we could have any drummer for this band we would have Dougal, but he was in Get Amped so when he left it made perfect sense.

Nick: I wasn’t a singer until I joined Ethel. I got a few lessons and here we are.

CK: You have already released your first ep, and you were in the studio Sunday recording your second. How did it go?

Joe: We are fresh out of the studio, it went really well. All the parts are recorded.

CK: How have you changed the sound from the first ep?

Joe: There’s a slower track and it’s more diverse.

Dougal: It’s slightly different.

Joe: The ep is called 'Gods of TV'. It's about the idea that TV rules our lives.

Nick: 'Boy Genius' is about a guy who is not using his full potential.

Dougal: Like Rain Man.

Nick: The last song is about frustrated relationship which is called 'You Will Learn'. But unfortunately Dougal never learnt it.

Everyone laughs.

Dougal: I am gonna kick your arse.

CK: What are your main musical influences?

Joe: Nick is very good at his mainstream cheese and rock. You’re in to your punk and grunge.

Dougal: Yeah.

Joe: We all like a mix of guitar music.

Nick: We are an older generation of Bournemouth musicians.

Joe: We are the older generation of the younger generation.

Nick: I started going off going to Megadeth and Pantera gigs when I was young. I was at Download last year so I like the heavy stuff right down to Counting Crows. I just love my guitar music. We just love music. We love playing live.

CK: So why Ethel? How did the name come about?

Joe: When I was younger I use to hang out with my mates and change cool words with our grandma’s names, and my friend’s grandmother was called Ethel so we decided that would be cool.

Nick: And it was cool on the website where we change the slogan after our name to funny stuff like Ethel is banned from swimming pools, stuff like that. It is quite light hearted.

CK: What is your most memorable gig you have played so far with Ethel?

Dougal: I really liked the Green Room.

Nick: We have a real problem with gigs. Me and Dougal will like a gig and Joe will hate it. Joe and Dougal will like a gig and I will hate it.

Joe: We never play a gig where we’re all happy. There was one gig were we weren’t able to wear suits.

Nick: I wasn’t happy because I wasn’t in character. It is good to turn up not wearing your everyday clothes. It’s different and people remember it.

CK: So this is the reason for the suits?

Nick: Yeah, it’s a bit of fun. It’s not what we wear every day.

CK: What was your most memorable gig Joe?

Joe: I really liked the launch gig (at the Gander.)

Dougal : I hated that.

Nick: You didn’t like that?

Dougal: No, I am just being awkward.

Joe: We are looking to playing the bh one night at the Gander. That will be our best gig ever. And Toupe are playing.

Nick: Toupe rock.

CK: Most memorable gig you’ve been to?

Dougal: Tool last year after ten pints of Guinness. They were still amazing.

Joe: Pearl Jam at Wembley and Oceansize at the Villa. It was the first time I heard them. They were amazing.

Nick: Red Hot Chili Peppers at Reading.

CK: How supportive has Bournemouth and the live music scene been towards Ethel?

Dougal: Really good.

Nick: We get a lot of compliments.

Joe: We get lots of offers for gigs which is cool.

Nick: About eight years ago there was a lot of bitchiness between bands but that has seemed to have gone now. A lot of ‘we are better than you,’ but that has gone now and everyone is really supportive of each other and you need that because if you get one band that makes it big from Bournemouth then it paves the way for lots of other bands. It doesn’t help when everyone goes around slagging each other off. If we are supportive of each other then Bournemouth will have a much better reputation.

Joe: A slight lack of venues is the problem.

Nick: Even though it is getting better, shame about Smiths going.

Joe: There is a lack of venues supporting live music, only The Gander, the Green Room and maybe The Opera House.

CK: Bournemouth is starting to evolve in venues and clubs. What are your favourites?

Nick: I don’t know if it is evolving. I think it was better five years ago. We just have to see if the Opera House does support live music. Places like Kyps make their money with tribute bands at the weekends.

Nick: The Gander does well to support local music.

Dougal: You have Centre Stage which is now supporting live music.

Joe: I like the Gander. It is the new Smiths. Same stairs, same sound guy, same equipment. It just has windows. When Mr Smiths was open it was our favourite. Somebody needs to open another Mr Smiths.

CK: Who are your favourite bands in Bournemouth?

Nick: Ten To Never and The Velvet Hearts.

Joe: I am a big supporter of Breaking The Girl. They are very talented and young. We saw them supporting Air Traffic at the Firestation and they were amazing. We went to Reading with them and we had a great time with them.

CK: Where do see Ethel going? Any album plans?

Joe: We are going to release three tracks at a time on separate eps.

Everyone laughs

Joe: We are releasing a new ep and seeing how it goes.

Nick: We are happy just playing. We love playing local and we aren’t looking for a record deal, not to say if a big company came in we wouldn’t want to sign.

CK: Do you have a message for the people?

Ethel: We are not just trying to promote our band but we are trying to promote all of the bands on the south coast. Support local music.

CK: When are you playing next and how can we get your ep?

Joe: We are playing on 3 May at The Gander, and you can get our CD then as it's our launch party.

Supporting Ethel at their ep launch will be Kings Of Hearts plus an acoustic set from Ten To Never. Admission is a very generous £3.

Chris Kyriacou