Nine Lives!
Band Interview
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| Photo Credit: Kathryn M. Bartlett |
If you haven’t already
heard of prominent local band Even Nine, you soon will. Based
primarily in the Camborne area, Even Nine-consisting of drummer Brett
Stepto, bassist Greg Godding and brothers Rick and Jody Martin (lead
guitar & lead vocals respectively); have racked up a solid
number of gigs in the past few years, and have gathered a formidable
fan base; both locally and nationally. On the brink of launching
their highly anticipated, first full-length album, I caught up with
the band for a jovial chat...
KB:
“How and where did you meet?”
BS: “2001, a friend of
mine who worked with Jody..”
RM: “I’ve known Jody
since I was about two really; I’ve known him all his life!”
JM: “Met Brett in 2001 &
Greg in 2005.”
RM: “We were introduced
to Brett and we wrote and jammed and things, got out and did a few
gigs, then we met Greg.”
GG: “In 2005.”
It seems in talking to the
band, that although the trio of Jody, Brett and Rick had enjoyed
success previously (including the release of a warmly-received EP);
it wasn’t until Greg joined the band that the guys really gelled as
a whole and everything ‘clicked’; the band agree that this was
one of the high points in their history.
KB: “Can
you describe your sound?”
GG: “Wildhearts with a
softer edge.”
RM: “Some people do
compare us to the Goo Goo Dolls & the Foo Fighters. Rocky,
energetic stuff with melody and feeling.”
JM: “Yeah, we’re more
Foo Fighters.”
KB: “Who
writes the songs, or is it a joint effort?”
RM: “Jody and I usually
come together with most of the ideas and then we put it together as a
band and arrange it as a band; and generally at the moment, I tend to
write more of the words and Jody writes more of the melody, so the
opposite way round to what people think.”
GG: “Can I just add
something, me and Brett do write our own parts; just wanna throw that
in there!”
With musical influences en
mass, that range from Matchbox Twenty, Bon Jovi, & Counting
Crows, & other rock including Metallica and Slayer; to artists
such as Steve Ray Vaughn & Grand Funk Railroad; to all sorts of
blues, jazz, classical music; I wondered what we can expect from the
new CD- tentatively titled either “Ignition” or ”The Difference
Between” (but hey, these are just ideas the band are toying with).
RM: “The whole aim with
this one is to capture more of the energy and the sound we have
live.”
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| Photo appears courtesy of Les Linyard |
GG: “There’s not a
song that we’re not proud of, either recording, or adding parts
to...we’re really, really proud of it.”
BS: “What I’m proud of
about the album, is that it really does take you on an emotional
journey.”
JM: “Any recording
captures a moment in time and when that time’s past, there’ll
always be something that you’d wish you’d done differently
looking back; but at that time, it’s what we were feeling.”
On this record there are
many new avenues explored -different tunings etc used in the
recording; and Rick and Greg are doing backing vocals, which hasn’t
been done before, amongst other new ideas, so really it is a bit of a
new direction for the band; whilst still not alienating their loyal
following.
With achievements ranging
from supporting Thunder on a couple of dates of their recent national
tour; playing at the “Rock Meets Blues” festival at Lanhydrock
House, Bodmin in front of 10,000 people; & playing in Covent
Garden, London at a special event; to nonetheless still important &
fun, small pub gigs in the middle of nowhere all over the country; it
is important that the band are simply being together, playing as a
band, as they are all with their best mates. The chemistry between
all the guys on a personal level is clearly evident, and throughout
the interview I was surrounded by entertaining & amusing banter
and witticisms. This is carried through to the electric atmosphere,
amidst true ability & professionalism, that is present on stage,
at any one of their compelling, energized gigs.
The band aspire to a time
when they can make a living from doing this - make a living doing
what they love; which they wouldn’t want to do with anyone else,
than who they are with now. It seems that Even Nine are right on
track to fulfil their hopes, and with the release of their album due
for the end of June; along with many upcoming gigs, their success
will undoubtedly continue and grow.
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