The DangerfieldsThe Dangerfields blew us away earlier this year with their 'Born to Rock' album, so it was only natural that we were going to track them down and follow it up with a full blown feature.
You can check out the review for yourselves to save me repeating myself, but if you like your rock n roll punkie and fast, check out The Dangerfields now.
Anyway, frontman (can you have a drummer as a frontman??) Andrew Griswold chats to us below about all sorts of crap, and for more info you can check em out here.
Hello! How the devil are you? And where did the band name come from – as in Rodney, I’m assuming?
You got it. We were watching Caddyshack one evening and the rest is merry history. We toyed with changing the name a couple of times as it sounds a bit “three-syllable pop punk” – you know, Darlington, Riverdales, Crappingtons – but too much water has flowed under the bridge now…
So what’s the best fuckin’ thing about being in the Danger fuckin’ fields?
The best is yet to come. I’m talking a US tour and trips to more random European countries nobody ever goes to.
If you were talking to a stranger, how would you describe the band in three words:
Too easy: rock, and, roll.
Horror films seem to crop up a hell of a lot in the songs. Do outside influences, like films and art, play a big part in your music? Any in particular you fancy name dropping?
I do love horror films. I also love comedies, arthouse flicks and Sandra Bullock movies but they don’t seem to fit our sound so well. If we’re talking horror, my all-time faves are The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Jaws and The Silence Of The Lambs. Having said that, our next album will be more reality based with less out-and-out movie tributes.
Who (or what) are your biggest influences? Any bands that we might not have heard of that you think we should check out?
My biggest influences are, and will always be, AC/DC, Motörhead and the Ramones. New artists that you should check out include Karloff, Teenage Casket Company and Sadie Hawkins Dance.
What's the music scene like in Northern Ireland right now?
It’s a big fat joke. Unless you’re a mohawk punk or beard-stroking dribbler you may as well forget it.
You seem to have played and toured with a shitload of cool bands. Are there any in particular that turned out to be better than expected after you met them, or on the other hand any that turned out to be a bit crap?
The Dwarves were nicer than anyone could have expected. Jerry Only was also quite a character. There have been a few cunts, principally Leftover Crack. Mostly it’s the promoters and agents who are the cunts though. Bitter, grasping fucks who can’t play an instrument so they have to try and spoil our fun.
The crowds who go to gigs over here in Wales tend to be a bit hit and miss. Have you played/toured Wales much, and what were the crowds like?
We have played quite a bit in Wales: Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, the Valleys, a few shows up north. Like you say, it can be hit or miss, but we always have a good time in Porth for some goddamn reason.
Alcoholic tipple of choice?
Decaf Earl Grey with soya milk. I quit booze three years ago.
Why should the lazy general public make the effort to check you out, and what are your plans for the future?
Because we are the only band in the UK playing high voltage rock ‘n’ roll. It amazes me that we aren’t huge. We’re writing our next album now, for a June ‘08 release.
And finally... what does the word ‘Voltcase’ mean to you?
I always reckoned that Angus Young’s riffs were so big that he had to transport them in 18-wheelers. A “voltcase” could be something similar! |
