eeebleee

From: Oxford, England
Find out more: www.eeebleee.com
What we said about them: 'And what's happened to eeebleee? Time was when they were 'that band with the funny name and the double bass', clinging onto the coat tails of more successful contemporaries like the Rock Of Travolta. But a combination of losing one guitarist, adding another and eating three Weetabix every day has really stirred things up down at Camp Eeeebleee, because they've only gone and turned into another band Oxford can be proud of. The double bass that was part of the novelty marking the band out now sits naturally in the songs as it varies from a pulsing undercurrent to Eeebleee's more considered moments to the murder weapon Red Snapper used to beat Beck to death. Multi-instrumentalist Dave is now more than ever the focus of the band, strumming, singing and dancing his way through the set with confidence. And it is confidence that seems to have been as vital an ingredient as any new guitarist or hatful of new songwriting tricks in defining the Eeebleee sound. The drum machine is allowed to put its feet up and dream of synth heaven from time to time, quieter songs given time to breathe and structure themselves around Dave's voice rather than any percussive, umm, beat science. Almost perversely for a band with more flashing boxes than a Dixon's Christmas sale, Eeebleee are all about crafting classic pop songs that are more Robert Johnson than Robert Miles. A final blast through 2001's Shifty Disco single 'Midnight Creatures' and they've made their case. Just wish it didn't have so many 'e's in it, though.'
(We didn't review any eeebleee music ourselves, but took them in at this year's AUDIOSCOPE festival. Thanks to www.oxfordbands.com for the above review)

2002: A year in the life of eeebleee

Who we talked to:
Dave Griffiths: vocals, sampler, keyboard, guitar
Jo Edge: electric double bass
Ben Ulph: guitars

1. What's been the best thing the band has done this year?

Dave: Best thing - the new tracks we recorded at Shonk Studio in September.

Jo: The best thing we have done is recorded three tracks in Shonk Studios, Bicester with John and Brett. It came out really well and we are dead pleased. We've not released anything - early next year we're meant to have a single out though, which will be two of the tracks from the aforementioned session.

Ben: No records this year, but we have done some good gigs, like Truck and AUDIOSCOPE. I especially enjoyed playing in Norwich, at a venue I used to go see bands at when I was 17, like the Th' Faith Healers and the Manics.

2. What are your plans for next year, realistically and ideally speaking?

Dave: We have a new manager, Emily Cooper, who is the radio/press plugger from Shifty Disco. We've given her a new promo, which will hopefully help us get a new record deal next year and get us a bit of radio play.

Jo: Emily, our manager, has been plugging our promo like a little angel. It's had a good response already, so hopefully we will reap the benefits in the New Year. A Peel session would be great.

Ben: Release a single. Record the rest of the album. Buy some nice shirts to play gigs in. Make friends with someone who would like to put our records out or give us some other help. Play a gig on the moon.

3. What has been the low point of the year for you?

Dave: A prolonged 'dry spell' writing-wise in the middle of the year. Thought I was clean out of ideas. Then I realised I wasn't at all. Silly eh?

Jo: Nothing musically as such - just crappy men stuff!

Ben: None. Happyhappyjoyjoy.

4. What are your top albums of 2002?

Dave: DJ Shadow - The Private Press: simply everything that got me into sampling in one handy package (but not as good as Endtroducing).

Jo: Eminem - The Eminem Show: I just love the beats on it - Dre's production is amazing.
Sugababes - Angels with Dirty Faces: lovely dirrrty pop. Three sexy young gals...

Ben: Too skint to buy new albums this year. Although I liked:
QOTSA - Songs for the Deaf: simply for the rock and the roll.
The Young Knives - Are Dead: 'Cos they are luvvley chaps and the only Pere Ubu-influenced band I've heard in ages.
Four Tet - Pause. This might have been released last year, or possibly before. I don't care though.

5. What's the best live band you've seen this year?

Dave: Without a doubt - Fonda 500.

Jo: Nought at AUDIOSCOPE blew me away.

Ben: Fugazi were great as always. Cat On Form are more on form than any of my cats. Rachel's were great. And the Butterflies of Love.

6. Who would you tip as your favourite new band(s) for 2003?

Dave: The Young Knives - when they record and release 'Rollerskater'. Best single I've heard all year.

Jo: I can only really speak from an Oxford point of view. The Young Knives
and Sunnyvale Noise Sub-Element are going to be huge.

Ben: All my friends' bands, 'cos we live in a luvvely clique, oh yes. Too many good bands who all deserve a break because of the work they put in.

7. What are you band's New Year resolutions?

Dave: Never play in Coventry again.

Jo: Err… I dunno. My personal one is to get fit.

Ben: Get out more. Stay in more to write and rehearse. Play.

8. What are your views on the plans for cloning a human in the early part of 2003?

Dave: Well, you saw what happened in Star Wars...

Jo: Why mess with nature?

Ben: Inevitable. But worrying.

9. Sing us a Christmas carol…

Dave: 'Christmas is shit, Christmas sucks arse.' It's short, it doesn't rhyme, but it's accurate and to the point.

Jo: 'Good King Wenceslas looked out, on the feast of Stephen, when the snow
lay round about, deep and crisp and even.' I sang that to a comatose member of Sunnyvale Noise Sub-Element while he was asleep in his bed after AUDIOSCOPE.

Ben: My name's not Carol…

10. If diskant could buy your band one thing for Christmas, what would it be? Go on, we're feeling generous.

Dave: The Kaos Pad II. Wait, that's just me. Get the others oranges and socks. They like oranges and socks.

Jo: A massive glockenspiel.

Ben: A new car for Dave to stop him moaning, some amaretto for Jo and a nice red jumper for me. Oh, and a month's studio time with Brian Eno would be nice

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