In the second of our interviews with upcoming artists to mark Great Escape Week 2011, M talks to Dinosaur Pile-Up about the band's visit to the Brighton showcase in 2009, and why they would pick ABBA and Slayer to play at the next showcase if they could...
Dinosaur Pile-Up are a three-piece power-pop band from Leeds. They specialise in grunge-tinged blazing guitar riffs, chugging verses and addictive melodic hooks. They are slowly gaining traction at home and abroad, having garnered rave reviews for their energetic live shows at SXSW and Camden Crawl earlier this year.
Describe The Great Escape in three words…
Bands near water?
What was the highlight of your trip down there in 2009?
It was just a really really great show. The venue was totally rammed out, I think it was Audio? It was totally packed and the vibe was really great. People were up for the gig kicking off and that's what it did. It was super fun.
What difference did it make to your profile at home and overseas?
Well, The Great Escape is an important festival, and it's known everywhere you know? People know SXSW or whatever, and The Great Escape is on that list. So it's a good thing for sure! Plus if you jump in the sea naked wearing only your guitar while playing heavy metal at 11pm people are gonna talk. Right? Right.
How does the Great Escape differ from other industry showcases?
Well, it's right by a massive huge body of water. So that's one thing... Everyone's up for a party too.
What are you looking forward to most at this year’s Great Escape?
I just can't wait to play it again. Last time we played Brighton on tour I was hugely ill, so I'm really looking forward to nailing it without feeling like I'm gonna pass out and puke my brain through the top of my skull. We have really close friends in Brighton that are also playing The Great Escape so it'll be a riot.
Do you have any tips for building up a following for your band?
Write good songs. Talk to people. Be a nice person. That should do it.
What is your favourite song to play live and why?
Probably either Traynor, because it's super heavy and gives me good vibes, or Daydream, because it's our new song and it's a real song.
You get to curate a showcase at this year’s Great Escape. Which three acts/bands do you choose?
Do I actually get to do that?? Oh... I don't?... How come? It would be Dinosaur Pile-Up, ABBA, Slayer. Done... Kidding. I don't know - there's too many good bands. It would be cool if Dinosaur Pile-Up could play, The Xcerts, Turbowolf, Pulled Apart By Horses...blah blah. I listened to the Everything Everything album the other day, its actually pretty rad. I like 80s stuff, and it has that vibe to it.
Dinosaur Pile-Up will perform at the PRS for Music showcase at Jam, Brighton, on Friday 13 May at 21.45.
The band's debut album Growing Pains is out now on the Friends vs Records label.
Watch Dinosaur Pile-Up live at SXSW 2011:
Dinosaur Pile-Up are a three-piece power-pop band from Leeds. They specialise in grunge-tinged blazing guitar riffs, chugging verses and addictive melodic hooks. They are slowly gaining traction at home and abroad, having garnered rave reviews for their energetic live shows at SXSW and Camden Crawl earlier this year.
Describe The Great Escape in three words…
Bands near water?
What was the highlight of your trip down there in 2009?
It was just a really really great show. The venue was totally rammed out, I think it was Audio? It was totally packed and the vibe was really great. People were up for the gig kicking off and that's what it did. It was super fun.
What difference did it make to your profile at home and overseas?
Well, The Great Escape is an important festival, and it's known everywhere you know? People know SXSW or whatever, and The Great Escape is on that list. So it's a good thing for sure! Plus if you jump in the sea naked wearing only your guitar while playing heavy metal at 11pm people are gonna talk. Right? Right.
How does the Great Escape differ from other industry showcases?
Well, it's right by a massive huge body of water. So that's one thing... Everyone's up for a party too.
What are you looking forward to most at this year’s Great Escape?
I just can't wait to play it again. Last time we played Brighton on tour I was hugely ill, so I'm really looking forward to nailing it without feeling like I'm gonna pass out and puke my brain through the top of my skull. We have really close friends in Brighton that are also playing The Great Escape so it'll be a riot.
Do you have any tips for building up a following for your band?
Write good songs. Talk to people. Be a nice person. That should do it.
What is your favourite song to play live and why?
Probably either Traynor, because it's super heavy and gives me good vibes, or Daydream, because it's our new song and it's a real song.
You get to curate a showcase at this year’s Great Escape. Which three acts/bands do you choose?
Do I actually get to do that?? Oh... I don't?... How come? It would be Dinosaur Pile-Up, ABBA, Slayer. Done... Kidding. I don't know - there's too many good bands. It would be cool if Dinosaur Pile-Up could play, The Xcerts, Turbowolf, Pulled Apart By Horses...blah blah. I listened to the Everything Everything album the other day, its actually pretty rad. I like 80s stuff, and it has that vibe to it.
Dinosaur Pile-Up will perform at the PRS for Music showcase at Jam, Brighton, on Friday 13 May at 21.45.
The band's debut album Growing Pains is out now on the Friends vs Records label.
Watch Dinosaur Pile-Up live at SXSW 2011:
