How do you begin to describe a band like Flash Bastards?
They’ve had a career spanning over a decade and their sound has changed and grown with them. But at their core remains a purity of sound and a DIY spirit you don’t often see a band retain as their popularity grows. Soggy and I caught up with the band in their rehearsal space to see for ourselves how a group like this stays true to its roots whilst navigating a changing musical landscape.
Jeans – “Well, first things first, thank you for taking time out of your rehearsal to speak with me–”
Twelve – “We really can’t take too long. When Ed met Soggy last time–”
Jeans – “I’m sure they’re fine…”
Crowley – “Just get on with it, little lady.”
Jeans – “Right, of course. Sorry. Your earlier albums featured a different guitarist and a keyboard player. You guys have such a great sound, it’s really evolved. What’s the scoop on that?”
Twelve – “Funnily enough, I helped mix those albums and worked with the guys in the studio back with the original lineup. So when they needed a new guitarist, I stepped up because I already knew their sound.”
Crowley – “And ‘cause there was no chance in hell me and you’d end up–”
Twelve – “So, no keyboards now, but I honestly think that gives it a purer sound. Fewer distractions, right Crowley?”
Crowley – “Heh, right…”
Jeans – “A lot of a band’s sound can be attributed to influences and then the gear. Who have your inspirations been?”
Crowley – “Well, I don’t care for genre really; if a song’s good, I’ll like it. At the moment I’m digging Dance the Night by Dua Lipa.”
Jeans – “I never would have guessed!”
Crowley – “As for other bassists…I really admire Matt Freeman from Rancid. That guy plays harder and faster than anyone else in punk.”
Jeans – “What about you, Twelve? What influences you in the studio?”
Twelve – “I lean more towards classic rock when it comes to guitar, although early on I think I helped foster a vibe reminiscent of The Stranglers when Flash Bastards still had a synth sound. We worked on it together; me and Izzy, the sound engineer.”
Jeans – “Crowley, your bass seems pretty special. It’s unusual for someone of your age to have stuck with an instrument for so long. What makes it so special for you?”
Crowley – “It’s…just my bass. We’ve been through a lot together. It was a gift when I turned fifteen. I learned to play on it and I’ve never wanted another one.”
Jeans – “Seems a really sentimental gift. From your brother?”
Crowley – “No. Someone else…”
Interview was halted for a moment as Crowley abruptly left the room.
Twelve – “If we’re talking equipment, I’m the one to ask. Crowley plays a Ibanez GSR 200, and usually busts a string once per show. I play a Gibson SGl with a custom headstock. Ed’s kit was once a Pearl EXX 7 piece, but last time I checked he’d replaced the cowbell with a piece of pipe he found on the street that he liked the sound of.”
My interview ended here. Crowley did not return, and Twelve left to continue rehearsal. Hopefully Soggy had more luck…
Soggy – “Ed! Loki! Good to see you both again!”
Ed – “YOU! I haven’t forgotten what you did–”
Loki – “You mean when we made you a glitter princess?”
Ed – “Don’t think I can’t lift the both of ya’s up this time if you give me any lip…”
Loki – “Don’t worry, no pranks this time, I promise. We don’t have a lot of time, so could we begin?”
Soggy – “Sure. How did you guys meet?”
Ed – “I’ve known this ’un since we were nippers, we were in the same year at school. But we couldn’t go anywhere without his little brother tagging along.”
Loki – “My brother Crowley and I have always bonded over music. I’ve been singing to him to help him sleep ever since he was little.”
Ed – “Crowley’s not gonna let you get away with that!”
Soggy – “Crowley? You’re known as siblings but you adopted him when you were twenty. That must have been a big responsibility at that age.”
Loki – “Well, I didn’t do it alone. I had help, but…”
Ed – “Listen mate, we don’t wanna talk about that.”
Soggy – “How did the rest of the band come together?”
Ed – “I met Sweeney, our first guitarist, through work.”
Loki – “A similar story with our prior keyboardist, Morpheus. He came through my work and we got talking about music. Me, Ed, and Crowley had been playing together casually for years, but once they joined, we all really committed. Crowley especially, I think. It was the most I’d seen him show up on time!”
Ed – “Yeah, Crowley was really hands on once they got involved…”
Soggy – “Last time we checked in with the band was right before the show at the Garden of Eden Festival, but the band had been on a hiatus before that. What was the band doing during the hiatus? Did you find that the success of the show has led to greater opportunities? Where do you see yourselves going in the future?”
Ed – “We kept in touch but we went our separate ways for a bit, yeah.”
Loki – “After Morpheus and Sweeney left, it didn’t seem possible to carry on with Flash Bastards. I just focused on my work, but it was probably our lowest point. Five years is a long time to take a break from something, and I honestly thought it was over for us.”
Ed – “Our old manager Nancy was the one who pushed us back to playing again. Reminded us of the old times and the venues we used to fill. He set up the slot at Eden Fest, and ya don’t say no to Nancy when he arranges something.”
Soggy – “You seem hard at work practicing at the moment. Do you have any gigs on the horizon?”
Loki – “We might have some more shows coming up. We are somewhat restricted with our time as my brother, clever as he is, has just started university again.”
Ed – “Yeah…I give him two weeks before he fucks a teacher or something.”
The interview descended into chaos from there. Soggy snuck away before anyone could heft her like a sack of potatoes again.
