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Paves ·
Interview: Meet... Paves (London)
It's always great to find new bands who rock our guitars, and since this year's SXSW, we've started to feature interviews with more up-and-coming Eastwood/ Airline-playing acts. Today, we talk to London's Paves.
Of course, we don't know all the bands and artists who play our guitars, but whenever we come across new bands who play Eastwood our Airline, we try to check them out. That's the beauty of social media: Paves tagged us on Instagram a few times, and the pics were cool and they looked like a very pro, hard-working touring band... so when we found out they were playing near our European HQ in Liverpool (last week at The Magnet) we had to go to their gig and show some support!
We weren't disappointed: Luke Shield (Lead Vocals and Guitar), Mike Whitaker (Lead Guitar), Perry Read (Bass and Backing Vocals) and Tom Triggs (Drums) make a sometimes 70's-flavoured rock'n'roll, but always with enough passion and energy not to sound retro.
With a busy touring scheduled, Paves will be playing at some popular UK music festivals soon, such as Liverpool Sound City (27th May) and Isle Of Wight Festival (June 8th), as well as the new Margate Wonderland on 28th May, opening the main stage and sharing a bill that includes Howling Bells, Duke Spirit and The Kills.
Bassist Perry and his Airline MAP bass
Paves are a new band worth paying attention to, so we caught up with bassist Perry to learn a bit more about them.
CAN YOU TELL US HOW/WHEN DID YOU GET TOGETHER?
It all started when Mike and Luke met at university in London and started jamming. From there they met Tom, by going to gigs, and asked him to play with them. After a little bit of time and a different bass player I joined through mutual friends, and here we are after two years, and a couple of name changes, Paves as we know it!
WHAT ARE YOUR BIGGEST MUSICAL INSPIRATIONS/INFLUENCES?
We're all in to a lot of different stuff! We hope that different musical backgrounds all come through in what we're doing, for example Tom and I used to play in metal bands growing up. Tom's into stuff like the Foo Fighters and Joe Bonamassa. Luke's inspired by a lot of literature and by 60's art & music. Mikey's got his roots in 80's rock like Guns N Roses. I'm all about the psychedelic scene and I also made hip hop for a while.
Saying that there's a lot of common ground and crossover through bands like The Rolling Stones, Led Zep, the Beatles, the greats you know. We're constantly showing each other new music that we think we could get a kick out of. We hope our different influences all melt together and inflect on our sound.
HOW'S THE MUSIC SCENE IN LONDON AT THE MOMENT?
It's thriving! There's so much going on all the time and of such a high caliber that it's quite overwhelming! Trying to see all the bands that you're friends with and have heard good things about is a battle in and of itself, but so worth it! Everyone's pretty supportive of each other which is what it's all about really, helping each other and building a community. The scene's very much alive and is starting to do some very interesting things for music. The only downside is that London's an expensive city and beer doesn't grow on trees!
HOW DOES A NEW, UNSIGNED BAND KEEP GOING IN BRITAIN 2017?
By getting out there and playing. If people like what you're doing they'll keep coming to the gigs. There's some amazing individuals and companies putting on gigs on all over the country keeping the spirit of rock n roll and a DIY attitude alive! Nights such as those put on by This Feeling have put us on all over this island in front of excited and interested crowds, also making new friends and acquiring a trail of hangovers along the way! They're growing and helping bands such as ourselves to grow alongside them, This Feeling just released our latest single on their label and put us infront of some great festival crowds last summer. Other people, like John Giddins who organises the Isle of Wight festival, have done some great things for upcoming bands. Alan from Cherry Cola gave us our first proper gig and now has us playing a festival in Margate, Margate Wonderland, with some huge names! You've gotta put the time and effort in and others doing the same will help you, it's symbiotic.
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE MONTHS AHEAD?
At the moment we're finishing up a tour round the UK then it's time to get stuck in to probably our favourite time of the year, festival season! You can't go wrong with summer, music and good company.
- article By Ivan. Live pics by Anthony Wild