Various Propositions: Ten Questions for Mashemon.
One band guaranteed to warm up a cold evening is Mashemon. With their witty, intelligent and very often dark lyrics and happy synth melodies they certainly make a gig worthwhile. With a new E.P. out now - grab it while you can from Liverpool's Probe records or News From Nowhere - and gigs on the way we took this chance to
give the bands' Ronny ten questions...
#1
Hi guys – it’s been a while since our last interview way back in 2010. How are
things with the band?
Ronny:
Things are going very well. Since 2010 we’ve done a pile of gigs, broken some
strings, had some hangovers and released another 3 EPs. Furthermore I am now A Man With A Beard. It
seemed like the right thing to do.
#2 There are rumours of a new E.P out soon for the world to consume. Tell us of
its charms…
Ronny:
The rumours are true! Our second EP of the year is being launched on Saturday
15th December at the Pilgrim. It has a number of charms, spread
across 5 songs. It is probably our most Pop collection so far, although when we
try Pop it inevitably gets a bit skewed and distorted. It’ll be available for
free in Probe and News From Nowhere but if you hand over £3 at the gig we’ll
give you a Best of Mashemon CD as well. My
personal high point is the line “tongue against alveolar ridge”. Classic rock.
#3
The end of the word may well be upon us soon. Where would you like to be if the
Mayans are to be believed and what will you be doing?
Ronny:
I would be keen on being on a world that was not actually ending. I’m sure
there’s a high chance that somewhere out there in the vastness of the cosmos
there is a place where I would fit right in and where people who make electro-rock
nonsense are treated like kings. That’s were I want to be.
#4
Is the good deed for a CD deal still on? What’s the nicest thing that’s been
done to your knowledge in exchange for a Mashemon CD?
Ronny:
We tried to appeal to the good in people and that pretty much failed. Then we
tried to appeal to the bad in people and that failed too. So now we just want
their money.
#5
We were recently listening to Removal Music and it still hasn’t lost its charm.
Any plans for a second full length release?
Ronny:
Funny you mention that. Plans are afoot to create our second long player next
year. The EP launch gig will mark the first in a series of 5 monthly gigs in
which we will be playing a new song and dropping an old one. We’ve got two in
the set already so by April we should have 7 new tunes rehearsed up and ready
for the studio. Add a couple more to that and we will have a whole album’s
worth. With luck and a following wind it should all be ready for September
2013. That’s the plan anyway.
So
if people want to witness the genesis of this new masterpiece they can turn up
to the gigs and see it all take shape.
#6
You’ve augmented the band with a third member in the last year. How has this
changed the dynamics of the band?
Ronny: Bringing Andy in to play drums
was a stroke of genius which we have been congratulating ourselves for ever
since. He’s brought a lot to the band, not just with his drumming but with all
his musical knowledge and production skills, not to mention the fact that he
has his own recording studio! He gets the best out of me as well, with his
unique motivational phrases:
“Do it again, only do it properly.”
“Do it again, only do it so it is less
shit.”
“Do it again, only in tune this time.”
“Just do it again.”
In the past couple of months we have
expanded even further with the inclusion of Matt on guitar and we seem to have
had another stroke of genius. Matt is a great guitarist and a thoroughly decent
chap to boot. And he’s a scientist, which is an area in which we were lacking
previously. So we’re growing apace, like some kind of awful, awful diseased
carbuncle.
#7
One element of a Mashemon gig that many enjoy is the visuals. How are they
conceived and what is the bands favourite?
Ronny: The visuals are all Mike’s
doing. He seems to be able to track down the most obscure and brilliant bits of
film to put to the music. My current favourite is the film he has done for new
song Catalogue. It’s absolutely brilliant.
#8
You’ve played gigs all over Liverpool. Where’s your favourite venue?
Ronny: We’ve really enjoyed gigs at
the Lomax, they make us very welcome there. The Mello Mello has also been a
good place to play. I think the best gigs we’ve done in terms of atmosphere
have been the ones we did in Next to Nowhere. We are trying to recreate that
vibe with the upcoming Pilgrim gigs.
#9
One of our most loved songs is Frank Bloke. Was it inspired by anybody? (Feel
free to lie if you can’t say!)
Ronny: I used to work as a hotel
barman and Frank Bloke is really a composite of all the sorts of people I would
meet on a regular basis. Bad, brutish monkey-men who stank of booze, fags and
violence. I wouldn’t be surprised if somewhere out there is someone who
perfectly matches the character in Frank Bloke, but I wouldn’t want to meet
him, at least not without a big stick.
#10
Finally, give a quote to describe the year 2012 as it was for you!
Ronny: 2012 was a gateway year, like a
Class C drug or lingerie catalogue. 2013 will be the year that sends us to the
hospital, the asylum or the cemetery. Merry Christmas Everyone!
