I have Boston Manor's first EP downloaded on an external hard drive somewhere. That's not a brag or anything, by the way. In fact, I'd forgotten that I even had it until about a week before this interview. It brought back memories of another band called This Sudden Injury - I'm pretty sure it was their singer that recommended that EP on Facebook a few years ago. It's called Here/Now and to say that they've grown as a band is something of an understatement.
That's what bands are supposed to do, right? Their sound is supposed to change and grow because that's what people do. I'm not the kind of person that spends a lot of time reflecting on the way a band's music grows over time. I'm more the sorta guy that takes the music for what it is in that particular moment. Each record tells the story of where a band are in their lives.
Which is perhaps why their debut album Be Nothing is as refined as it is. It's the sound of a band that's not only spent a lot of time in each other's company, but that has taken the influence of relentless touring - personally, professionally, musically - and created a document of that time, whether it was deliberate or not. The result is wonderful. Be Nothing is a cracking record, and it's very easy to see why they continue to strike a chord with people.
Ash and Mike are just the loveliest dudes, and this podcast is a pretty fun chat. We cover a fair amount of ground in 20 minutes. What's also impressive, and definitely worth sharing because y'know ego and stuff, is that I didn't have access to my questions so it was really just a case of me trying my hardest to remember what they were and rolling with it.
It's probably one of the most "rough and ready" podcasts I've done so far and I really like it. I don't know if I'm eager to repeat the questionless experience, but I can't fault the vibe it brings.
We talk about touring, growing as musicians, breakfast food, sketchy neighbourhoods in America and the fear of President Trump. Fun times.
I hope you enjoy the interview.
Featured Music
Intro: David Szesztay – Combat
Music Bed: Doctor Turtle - I'm What You'd Be Without Her (Long Version)
Outro: Blue Dot Sessions – Inessential
I make no claim to the copyright of any of the music in this episode.