Where's Strutter? The band from Manchester

With an average age of nineteen, it's fair to say Where's Strutter?
have been living the dream for the past year or so.
Last summer they supported Pete Doherty across the country.
Now whenever they play in Manchester they sell out.
So now's a good chance as any to catch them,
as they come out of adolescence into what looks like a bright future.
I had a chat with them to discuss the Manchester music scene, why they
want to play at Mossley football ground (again) and much, much more.
Where's Strutter? are made up of Paddy (singer), Danny (guitarist),
Max (bassist) and Lee (drummer).



How do you write the songs?
We jam together and then Paddy goes and writes the lyrics. then we come back in and re jam with the lyrics and change things a bit to make em work.

When's the best time to write a song?
We're writing all the time at the moment, so no real best time, whenever really.

Do you write from personal experiences?
Yeah, all the songs are from things that happened to us, the song mud in the morning was written the morning after we had a gig in some pub and the woman booked the show with external promoter - we did our set, packed up and she refused to pay, saying we hadn't played what she asked for ??? - and starting shouting "your name will be in mud in the morning."

What do you think to the music scene in Manchester?
it's so diverse, so many people are in a band or have ties with a band. I don't think any other city is like that. The fact of the strong lineage of Manchester's musical history (prob the strongest in the world other than detroit) makes it hard for bands at first, not easier, because bands get type casted really quickly. At the moment there is alot of good things happening in Manchester: Danny Mahon, The Tapestry, Brown Brogues, Advent 3, Dirty North are all bands we like at the moment. We've been around for about just over 2 years now and seen so many bands come and go its untrue, but we think we are only getting started now. Alot of bands get alot of hype at the start then few good gigs then die away. Oh yeah, Janice Graham Band, fucking love them boys.

Which gig have you enjoyed most so far?
Had a few, some you don't get the relevance of till after like Ocean Colour Scene or Buzzcocks support. Some You look forward to for weeks like the tours with Doherty. But headlining your own shows are the best.

Is this summer gonna be a busy one?
We're not going overboard on the festivals. We wil be happy with five or six good ones, to get the name out there a bit more ahead of some tunes coming your way in the winter.

Where would you most like to play?
We've not got a personal favourite place or desired place to play - obviously people you expect
to say Glastonbury, Manchester Cricket Ground - we're happy playing wherever people will open their minds and listen to us whether that be at Wembley Stadium or whether than be Mossley Football Club, it doesn't matter to us.

With regards to releasing singles, what's your plans?
Should be a free download out in May for everyone. Give 'em a taster of what we are about.

So how are the new songs different to the older stuff?
At the strongest they're really powerful bluesy rock n roll, and can drop down to some really anthemic tunes. The old ones were our curving learn in how to write a song. Now we know the songs have better structure, are lyrically better and have dynamics the way they should be used. Nirvana were brilliant at dynamics. Our ethos is to just play what we love, and for everyone to feel that connection.

Was there a time when it dawned on you that this was
something you were going to take seriously?
Yeah, when we started getting the bigger gigs, then management, then touring. It happened quite fast and as we said earlier we haven't even got started yet. But going and playing to people hundreds of miles from your house and some of them hearing about you before you get there is a great feeling. Had a gig in a pub in Howden a year ago and we were walking round and people were staring, was well weird then at the gig were singing back to us.

What do you love most about music?
The feelings it can give people on so many levels.

Where's Strutter would not exist if not for?
Friendship. We are at the end of the day a gang of mates and thats it.


The Facts
Were joined onstage by Peter Doherty.
Lee once had a row with Lady Gaga.
First band in history to headline
Manchester Academy 2, 3
and club in under 12 months.

Find them on myspace and facebook


Liam

News From Around The Internet

For those with a life, you may be unaware of Rebecca Black.
She's muttered under the same breath as Justin Bieber,
but whether she remains in the public consciousness
for as long as her idol, is anyone's guess.
My guess is that she won't.


Here's her new song, 'Friday'.
For a rounded critique I refer you to my main man, KINGLSEY



And then all of a sudden came the fake Bob Dylan cover,
supposedly dug out from the archives of lost Dylan tapes.
He did a good job of it, but then I guess it's not hard
to sound vaguely like Bob Dylan and strum a couple of chords.



Some embraced the madness, like stvWndrz, who said
"Hearing this again reminds me of the good ol' days...
I remember going to see this live in Barstow in 63',
still chills me now as it did then."
nsr72608 was suitably outraged, "are you all crazy?
THIS IS A SPOOF on the latest viral youtube video".
After listening a good few times and realizing it
probably wasn't real, many confused individuals
went with the simple retort "this isn't Bob Dylan" or
"WTF?!?! Not Bob Dylan".


Liam

Trophy Wife, hot new band for 2k11

Y'all must check out this band.
They first came to my attention back in october,
when I was here. I've been buzzed about them ever since.
Think Foals, The XX and Vampire Weekend,
and you're not nearly there.
They've got their own unique sound going on:
a great versatility which incorporates
both electronic and acoustic instruments.
Trophy Wife have got it all going on.

Here's their new single.



Here's the other cats trying to out 2011 Trophy Wife, clearly not happening.



Liam