Another new month, another new band we give ownership of said month to. This month around it’s the awesome Axes who have the honour, and the month is of course Movember. So, may they soundtrack many a moustache, or many an admiring of a moustache.
Anyhow, Axes are an, as said, awesome four piece based out of London – though they come from all kinds of corners of the globe – who bring an intricate array of instrumental music to the table that combines math rock, indie, punk, old-school emo, post-rock, and a smorgasbord of other things. The band are notorious for putting on a cracking live show that’s kinetic as fuck and just as swearingly fun. They’ve also just released their sophomore, Glory, which goes a long way to catching that sense of live euphoria. GO BUY IT. First though, have a read of this Q&A what I did with the band.
Hello there, how the devil are you, and who am I chatting with today?
Stacey: Hey! It’s Stacey and Jeion. We’re all mixed up at the moment! We’ve just got back from tour so we’re totally buzzing but completely exhausted.
For our readers that aren’t familiar with yourselves, tell them what Axes are all about?
Stacey: We’re a group of friends who enjoy writing and playing music. Sometimes it turns out quite outrageous.
As you say yourselves, ‘ Axes are a four piece based in London via Essex, Scotland, Iran and Denmark’. How’d you guys all get together then?
Stacey: The skies folded and we all ended up in London. We’ve each been in the ‘scene’ for over 10 years now in various guises. Over the years we’ve all played in bands together, played on bills together, worked together or lived together at one point or another. It’s all quite incestuous really. It was only a matter of time before we started a band I suppose.
You’re an instrumental band who mix it up with math rock, punk, emo, and post-whathaveyou, but with a really driven euphoria and a sense of fun – something some instrumental music misses out on. What have been, or are, some of the biggest musical influences you have? Is there anywhere you take your musical cues from?
Stacey: Some of the best experiences we’ve had have been at really raucous, energetic, passionate shows by artists like Deerhoof, Tune-Yards, Chrome Hoof, The Knife, Dan Deacon. They’re all doing really interesting things with their live performances. It’s like you’re attending a huge, amazing party where you leave feeling totally pumped & most importantly, entertained! We find that pretty inspiring!
You’ve just released your second album, Glory, how has the feedback been to it so far?
Jeion: It’s been great. Everyone is picking up on it being a really fun album. It can be hard for some bands to make something in the studio that stands up to their live performance. But we’re really pleased with the recording and it seems people are able to hear what we’re about when listening to it.
Are you touring at the moment? If so, where can we catch you? If not, why not, and when will you be?
Stacey: Bad timing, you’ve missed our tour with Delta Sleep by a matter of days. After 11 shows we need a little sit down, so we don’t have any plans for another tour just yet.
Contemporaries, tour mates, fellow local sceners, who should be looking out for and listening to?
Jeion: Our friends and label mates, Delta Sleep and Woahnows are great bands, as are Aplha Male Tea Party and Cleft. They’re all great live and doing really interesting things. They also have good T-shirts.
Gun to your head, what’s been you band highlight? Defining/biggest/most fun/etc. moment so far?
Jeion: Playing Arctangent in 2013 was amazing. So many people came to see our set and it was a moment that confirmed that people were excited about us as a band.
You have a pet vulture, it’s incredibly cultured, what do you call it?
Jeion: Raif
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