| We know very little about The
Automatic. We of course know what the press release drip feeds us – that they’re
a teenage four piece, that they’re from Wales and that they’ve toured thus far
with Hard-Fi, reality TV’s the Ordinary Boys and Welsh national mascots Goldie
Lookin’ Chain. But what we do know for sure is that they’ve got one hell of a
way with a chorus. Their recent single ‘Raoul’ is certainly competent when it
kicks off; tight, aggressive chords puncturing the silence – we’re thinking a
less wet Hard-Fi, or perhaps early pre-privatisation Manic Street Preachers. But
it’s when the chorus erupts with a wondrous clenched handful of synthesized excitement,
like The Cooper Temple Clause jousting with the Kaiser Chiefs (weapon of choice:
red-hot tickle stick). And that’s enough to get us interested. There’s an album
to come later in the year, but in the meantime we have a double virtual chinwag
with Frosty and Pennie from the band to find out where there heads are at now.
Where are you now? What can you see?
Frosty: Northampton. I
can see the backstreet behind the venue which is the Soundhaus.
Pennie: I'm
on our tour bus in Northhampton. I'm watching ‘Sin City’. What was the
last thing you ate?
Frosty: Pot noodle
Pennie: Leftover pizza. What
was the next album you intend to buy?
Frosty: Graham Coxon's new one,
when it gets released. I'm a massive Blur and Coxon fan and the new single he
has is ace so I can't wait for the LP.
Pennie: These Arms Are Snakes, a US
punk band I heard through our guitar tech. What was the last movie you
saw?
Frosty: ‘Boy In The Plastic Bubble’. For the second time. Its gripping.
And badly filmed but totally amazing too.
Pennie: The South Park movie. It’s
amazing, the funniest thing I've seen in ages - Satan singing an Ariel the mermaid
style song about living on earth is genius. What are you most looking
forward to?
Frosty: The summer festivals
Pennie: Going to Japan,
we are playing Fuji rock festival there this year. I love Japanese culture and
can't wait to see for myself. What do you hate right now?
Frosty:
Cancelling gigs, we had to do that a few weeks ago for reasons out of our control.
Really hated not bein able to play those couple of gigs.
Pennie: Not having
a shower since yesterday morning after playing a gig last night . What
was the last thing you liked that you saw on TV?
Frosty: We don't have
TV in the bus so I ain’t watched it for ages. Alan Partridge series 2 is on constantly
at the moment on DVD.
Pennie: Umm… Ok Go's new music video. They filmed it
themselves and performed a dance routine to their single. Where or how
do you feel most comfortable?
Frosty: In this new tour bus, its awesome.
Pennie: Waking up in my bed at home and not getting out of bed till I want.
Doesn’t happen often! What would you class as your most defining moment?
Frosty: Getting signed, that kinda defined what the next couple of years
will be like.
Pennie: Playing a tiny little gig in Sunderland on one of the
smallest stages we've played on 2 days after playing in the (London) Astoria with
The Cribs and still playing an awesome show to a packed little room. It’s really
cool to know we can still play the little sweaty gigs after big shows What
are your plans for tonight?
Frosty: Playing a gig and there's a clubnight
after so plenty of fun.
Pennie: I plan to go to soundcheck, get everything
set up ready, relax a bit then go and do a show. Should be pretty fun.
www.theautomatic.co.uk
James Berry for Crud Magazine 2006©
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