| All About: The Little Explorer | FIRST GIG:
Victoria Inn, sometime 2001 INFLUENCES:
Cap'n Jazz, The Casket Lottery, American Football, Planes Mistaken for Stars, Spy vs Spy WHO LISTENS TO YOUR MUSIC?
Jim: People with ears.
Beal: That's no offence to people without ears... |
Now whenever I transcribe an interview with a large group of people in my trusty notebook, I always assign a number to a name in the order of where they're standing around me - The Little Explorer, fascinated by my coding system crack it a bit earlier than those that do and embrace it for the first question - how did they get started? Garrick, 24, the drummer kicks off "In college, me and Jim had a jam together," bassist Beal, 21, says "I practiced for a bit but I wasn't in the band," before guitarist Jim, 21 takes over speaking the code lingo; "Basically, Garrick was in a band - '1' with '2' - '1' joined '4' - reluctantly, '2', '1' & '4' joined permanently and '3' came in after we decided he was alright!" The key for that conversation is -
Garrick is '1', Biff is '2', Beal is '3' and Jim is '4'. Breakfast, Bagels & Beyond As always, ambitions and targets will keep any band going and luckily this band is full of them. Garrick says they'll be "touring a hell of a lot." Jim says they'll "release a new album." Beal says "Hopefully eat some fry-ups."
"I'd like some fry-ups!" 24-year-old guitarist Biff says, "Beyond bagels!"
Beal hopes for more steaks which has them reminisce about a story involving them not shaving their beards for three months until they went out for steak dinners. | "Generally when we're in a town though, we rate breakfast." | | Beal on touring |
"With regards to music, more touring!" Beal says, "Generally when we're in a town though, we rate breakfast." Particular approval is given to Grimsby, Manchester and Margate. Biff is looking forward to having another breakfast in Margate. 'What Ifs' Their best gig causes dispute - Biff says "The Vic, the last time we played." Jim says "Raffles with the band 'Fine before you came'", Garrick says "The London one with 'the Cable car Theory' at the verge." Beal concludes "Any gig we did."
 | | The Little Explorer |
Beal says they'd have to be sick of each other for the option to give up to become viable, "And that's 30 years away!"
Biff says they'd "Divide up the milk bottle full of 2p & 1ps."
Beal realises "I'd have to buy some equipment." Garrick adds humorously "The bassist doesn't even have a bass."
Beal finds he genuinely doesn't have anything of his own - "I've got a plectrum!" he reveals enthusiastically. Biff asks "Haven't you got a strap?" to which he replies "Jim's got that..." With regards to what they consider success for the band, Biff answers, "Playing Europe. Or Japan - if we got to go there, that'd be ace." Exploring everything else Derby as a general location for live music is the next question posed. After a brief moment of silence, Jim answers "It’s alright;" before Garrick says "It’s nice to get out of it."
"A lot of good bands come and go through Derby." Beal defends, to which Jim adds "It'd be nice if we could get all the ‘bads’ out." Refusing to say the actual word, Beal agrees "Get all the S-C-E-N-E-S out." As the interview winds down they consider what they need - Garrick needs a symbol, Jim needs a wallet for his card, Beal definitely needs to get his phone fixed and Biff needs sleep.
"We've got a music video that's gonna be on the BBC Film Network." Biff comments, an animated affair by their friend Aaron Bradbury which should appear online within the next couple weeks. They come to some agreement about wanting to grow their beards back at some point and the interview ends as its time for their performance.
So we end where we came in; the gig was a fantastic showcase of their current set, it was loud, proud & relentlessly professional. The Little Explorer manages to get around the country more regularly than most - and that’s probably because they're well worth hearing. > The Little Explorer even has a single out. 'Chair Legs' is available at Reveal Records in Derby. |
