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| PHONIC SOUNDS: Dan Moore meets the Stereophonics |
| The Raveonettes Live Review |
Nearly ten years ago, a young Welsh band forced their way into the spotlight by releasing a simple single which was both powerful
and poignant; 'Local boy in the photograph.' The Stereophonics soon found themselves being compared to Blur and Oasis, bands
who at the time of the Stereophonics emergence, were at their creative peaks. The world of music in 2005 has a very different
landscape, numbers one’s change nearly every week, new albums from established acts always debut at number one and not every
established act can keep the momentum going under public scrutiny. 'Language, Sex, Violence, Other?' the Stereophonics' fifth studio
album and the first release to feature Javier Weyler, an Argentinean musician who first came to the attention of the Stereophonics
when he served as a backing musician on their fourth studio album, 'You Gotta Go There To Come Back.' With a new member in
place, critics were lining up to take shots at the Stereophonics and what would probably be their final attempt at garnering
mainstream attention.
'Dakota,' the first single from the new album, rampaged its way straight into the number one position on the Singles chart. Seemingly,
the Stereophonics have come full circle, attracting new fans on a near monthly basis through singles and live shows. Continually
reassuring and pleasing long time fans by constantly reinventing their sound on each album, 2005 looks likely to be the year that the
Stereophonics are finally accepted as hard working honest musicians who have earned all the success afforded to them.
"What do you get the man who has everything?” Kelly Jones retrospectively muses over the question that the Stereophonics were
asking themselves when supporting David Bowie. “The only idea we could come up with was a stuffed horses head, which we sent to
his dressing room but we’re not quite sure what he did with it. He probably left it in there, utterly bemused by such a ridiculous item.
But then we, as a band, were going through that stage of trying to push the limits of what we could actually ask for on our rider, the
highlight being a piñata shaped like an ass filled with miniature bottles of liquor. I don’t think we actually touched any of the bottles of
liquor, it was just the smashing of it that interested us. We were young and foolish so we had our reasons for doing it.”
“The only reason why we chose Javier as the new drummer was his tea making skills, after all why else would we have picked him?”
Richard Jones, the tall one who happens to play bass, quietly muses. “In all truth, he was the best man for the job, just jamming with
him in the studio gave Kelly and myself a buzz that we had not felt for a long time. It feels as if we are a new band who have just
released their debut album. The work we have done so far with Javier is being treated as our most potent and exciting since 'Local
boy.' Everything at this moment in time could not be better.”
Singer Kelly Jones subtly reveals the inner most thoughts of a rock and roll star…it’s fun when people know and like your music. “It
finally feels right to be playing the bigger venues, we have the sound and catalogue to make it work. In my opinion, there’s just a
confidence within us all due to how well the new material is going over with the live crowd. 'Dakota' is such a thrill for me every time I
sing it; the crowd are there with me singing word for word. It's utterly exhilarating.” Kelly‘s musings continued. “Having been
compared to Oasis and Blur when we first stepped into the public eye, similarities are often drawn between us and our chosen
musical paths over different releases. I feel that a lot of the musical press were expecting us to fall some way short of the bench
marks set by both Oasis and Gorillaz over the last few years. Personally, I’ve never taken that much notice of what journalists have
written about me or the band. We create music that we as a band want to listen to. It's always been a bonus that people have actually
liked listening to it. There will be no tenth anniversary celebrations for 'Local boy.' We’ve never been a band that looks back upon our
past achievements with the thought that it will help our record companies sales. We’re not attempting to alienate our fans by letting
the anniversary pass but why should we celebrate something when the music we are presently making is just as good? That is why
there will not be a greatest hits until the Stereophonics no longer serve a purpose in the world of music. Once we stop creating music
that we love to listen and play then that will be the moment that the greatest hits comes out; somewhat as a form of closure for the
band and all the fans. But I am pretty sure that will not happen for a very long time.” Richard Jones concludes by answering the
question that has been on every Stereophonics fans mind for a long time.
Kelly, Richard and Javier know their place in the food chain of music, along way above Franz Ferdinand but still, despite recent sales
and popularity proving otherwise, slightly below Oasis and I’m betting that they don’t really care what their legacy will be once the band
has run its course. They are here to make music and have fun. What more can you ask from a band?
Interview and photographs by Dan Moore
For more info: www.stereophonics.com
and poignant; 'Local boy in the photograph.' The Stereophonics soon found themselves being compared to Blur and Oasis, bands
who at the time of the Stereophonics emergence, were at their creative peaks. The world of music in 2005 has a very different
landscape, numbers one’s change nearly every week, new albums from established acts always debut at number one and not every
established act can keep the momentum going under public scrutiny. 'Language, Sex, Violence, Other?' the Stereophonics' fifth studio
album and the first release to feature Javier Weyler, an Argentinean musician who first came to the attention of the Stereophonics
when he served as a backing musician on their fourth studio album, 'You Gotta Go There To Come Back.' With a new member in
place, critics were lining up to take shots at the Stereophonics and what would probably be their final attempt at garnering
mainstream attention.
'Dakota,' the first single from the new album, rampaged its way straight into the number one position on the Singles chart. Seemingly,
the Stereophonics have come full circle, attracting new fans on a near monthly basis through singles and live shows. Continually
reassuring and pleasing long time fans by constantly reinventing their sound on each album, 2005 looks likely to be the year that the
Stereophonics are finally accepted as hard working honest musicians who have earned all the success afforded to them.
"What do you get the man who has everything?” Kelly Jones retrospectively muses over the question that the Stereophonics were
asking themselves when supporting David Bowie. “The only idea we could come up with was a stuffed horses head, which we sent to
his dressing room but we’re not quite sure what he did with it. He probably left it in there, utterly bemused by such a ridiculous item.
But then we, as a band, were going through that stage of trying to push the limits of what we could actually ask for on our rider, the
highlight being a piñata shaped like an ass filled with miniature bottles of liquor. I don’t think we actually touched any of the bottles of
liquor, it was just the smashing of it that interested us. We were young and foolish so we had our reasons for doing it.”
“The only reason why we chose Javier as the new drummer was his tea making skills, after all why else would we have picked him?”
Richard Jones, the tall one who happens to play bass, quietly muses. “In all truth, he was the best man for the job, just jamming with
him in the studio gave Kelly and myself a buzz that we had not felt for a long time. It feels as if we are a new band who have just
released their debut album. The work we have done so far with Javier is being treated as our most potent and exciting since 'Local
boy.' Everything at this moment in time could not be better.”
Singer Kelly Jones subtly reveals the inner most thoughts of a rock and roll star…it’s fun when people know and like your music. “It
finally feels right to be playing the bigger venues, we have the sound and catalogue to make it work. In my opinion, there’s just a
confidence within us all due to how well the new material is going over with the live crowd. 'Dakota' is such a thrill for me every time I
sing it; the crowd are there with me singing word for word. It's utterly exhilarating.” Kelly‘s musings continued. “Having been
compared to Oasis and Blur when we first stepped into the public eye, similarities are often drawn between us and our chosen
musical paths over different releases. I feel that a lot of the musical press were expecting us to fall some way short of the bench
marks set by both Oasis and Gorillaz over the last few years. Personally, I’ve never taken that much notice of what journalists have
written about me or the band. We create music that we as a band want to listen to. It's always been a bonus that people have actually
liked listening to it. There will be no tenth anniversary celebrations for 'Local boy.' We’ve never been a band that looks back upon our
past achievements with the thought that it will help our record companies sales. We’re not attempting to alienate our fans by letting
the anniversary pass but why should we celebrate something when the music we are presently making is just as good? That is why
there will not be a greatest hits until the Stereophonics no longer serve a purpose in the world of music. Once we stop creating music
that we love to listen and play then that will be the moment that the greatest hits comes out; somewhat as a form of closure for the
band and all the fans. But I am pretty sure that will not happen for a very long time.” Richard Jones concludes by answering the
question that has been on every Stereophonics fans mind for a long time.
Kelly, Richard and Javier know their place in the food chain of music, along way above Franz Ferdinand but still, despite recent sales
and popularity proving otherwise, slightly below Oasis and I’m betting that they don’t really care what their legacy will be once the band
has run its course. They are here to make music and have fun. What more can you ask from a band?
Interview and photographs by Dan Moore
For more info: www.stereophonics.com
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