Another busy band this summer. Northern rockers A Plastic Rose released their latest single Boy Racer in May and have played Indiependence along the way aswell as GiftedLive, Kerrang Award Show, ShireFest, Sunflower Fest and more.
Now they close in on the release of their album with its release expected in September (perfect timing for Electric Picnic so) and will be down at Stradbally for Electric Picnic 2012. They feature in Goldenplec Recommends for Electric Picnic too, we really do think you should drop by and catch their set, Electric Picnic is after all a great festival for finding your new favourite bands.
We talked to the band about all things festivals, puppies on their rider, big moments with Emmylou Harris and the difficulty in getting tents down. Check out their thoughts below.
What is your favourite song to play at a festival and why?
‘Kids Don’t Behave Like This’ has a real festival vibe to it. It has got that perfect foot stomping, head bobby tempo on the bass drum building up to a big jump around the final crescendo. We never leave it out of our festival shows.
If you could duet with any act at a festival, who would it be?
Festivals are all about big moments. I think a real show stopper would be Emmylou Harris. She’s sung on lots of my favourite records – with Bright Eyes and Ryan Adams. She’s got such a unique loose approach to harmonies. She’s a living legend.
If you could have anything, even outrageous. What is the strangest thing you would have on a rider?
I’d like a really similar puppy at every venue just for the day please. That way it would never grow up.
Do you ever camp or do you posh it up?
We’ve always been fairly rough and ready. We look like we’ve just climbed out of a tent every day anyway so it makes very little difference. Sometimes we like to head down, play and leave to avoid the festival madness; but if we plan to hang around camping is where the party is at.
If you could pick 4 headliners for a festival who would they be?
Radiohead, Bruce Springsteen, Brand New and The Frames should do it nicely.
Have you ever been star struck backstage at a festival or gig?
Absolutely. We supported Frank Turner and I ended up in this tiny lift with him and couldn’t say a word, just stared at him. He must have been fairly freaked out. I’m very easily star struck, even by people from little known bands. Gerry loves celebs so he normally does the talking. He wants to meet David Beckham.
Most embarrassing festival moment?
Troy fell over on stage at Glasgowbury trying to play in wellies. Never play in wellies.
How quickly can you pitch a tent?
Pitching them is no problem. Getting them down on the other hand, I normally just abandon them.
Food wise do you have any must have festival foods?
I usually cheap it up and bring a baguette and a few Pepperami’s. Jam them through the middle of the baguette for instant meaty sandwichiness.
If you could never be in a band, what job do you think you would be doing right now?
I’d probably be an architect. I did a degree and a few years experience before the music took me. It’s excruciatingly boring most of the time, but it’s amazing to be responsible for a beautiful building, to put something that big and permanent into the world.
A Plastic Rose will be down playing Electric Picnic 2012. Stay tuned to Goldenplec for Electric Picnic 2012 stage times to find out when they are playing.