Retrospectives look forward

The band’s Will Stocks answered some Chad questions:

Q: How would you describe the band and it’s music to someone who’d not yet heard you?

A: We’re basically an indie rock three piece who’s music is deeply routed in pop and rock music from the past. We’re big fans of music from the 60’s and 70’s and that definitely finds it’s way into our music. We’re massively inspired by singer-songwriters such as Elvis Costello and Tom Petty, and are big fans of bands like Free and Led Zeppelin. It’s safe to say our sound lies in this sort of area.

Q: What can people coming to the Diamond show expect from a Retrospectives gig?

A: Our live shows are incredibly high energy, we love to really go for it at our gigs and hopefully that will come across at our show in Sutton. The gig is part of our Co-headline tour with a great singer-songwriter from Manchester called Douglas Francis, so anyone coming down can expect to see a great set from him as well!

Q Have you played Sutton before? What did you think of it?

A: We’ve played at The Diamond in Sutton before and we absolutely love it. The sound is immaculate and the people who work there seem to really care about live music which is quite refreshing actually. It’s a great venue and we can’t wait to be back.

Q: What do you think of the state of live music in the UK at the moment?

A: I think live music is as strong as ever. Perhaps there’s not as many people heading out to see bands on a local level anymore but I think the ones that do are more passionate about it then they have ever been. To us that’s all that matters. The UK has some of the best independent bands and venues in the country, and the scene especially in the North and in the Midlands is really thriving.

Q: What’s the best and worst thing about being a Retrospective?

A: The best thing about being a Retrospective is that we all get a long really well. You see some bands that argue all the time or who constantly have disagreements but that’s really not us. The worst thing is probably how much of our time is spent waiting around! We just want to write and play music but especially in the studio or on tour you find yourselves spending a lot of time not doing very much. It can become a bit frustrating but it’s definitely worth it.

Q: What’s the best and worst thing about hitting the road on tour?

A: The best thing about heading out on tour is seeing new places and meeting new people. When you meet someone who has listened to your music on the internet for example, then made the effort to come out and see you play live, there’s nothing that can really beat it. I’d say the worst thing about touring is how unhealthy it can make you. We spend so much time eating fast food or drinking beer that by the end of the tour we all feel a lot worse then when we set off! We’ve made a promise to ourselves this time round that we’re going to be a lot healthier, we’ll see how long that lasts!

The Retrospective play The Diamond, Sutton, on April 3. For more details, call 01623 456617 or e-mail [email protected]