Walking In A Hinter Wonderland

• 23rd May 2007

Ant Standring joins us with a piece that is more than an interview, it is an assessment of The Band Rock City's Sound System Couldn't Handle.

For most people, it’s just another hazy Thursday night. Tonight however, Hinterland, a Nottingham based, three piece alternative rock outfit, have realised the aspirations of any upcoming band. Finding them as they begin a photo shoot, here in ‘The Basement’, one of Rock City’s side rooms, I bare witness to a non-phased spot lit threesome, as they jump through hoops for tonight’s talented shooter, Jessica Patel and her man marvel partner, Alan.
Revealing certain dynamics within the band as they pull pose after pose, Lee (drums), Gavin (bass & backing vocals) and Darren (lead guitar & vocals) clearly work well together, through whatever comes their way. Darren, every bit the showman, as a more reserved Lee and Gavin happily take a backseat from the banter, almost cheekily chipping in whenever they see fit. Ending as suddenly as it began, give or take a couple of hours, the photo shoot is over and in order to escape the imposing sound check, we head backstage to the dressing room and the quiet restraint it provides.

The beer is set to chill, so are the band, and so we begin our interview. Seemingly eager to please, the mood is vibrant and peppy, as they each immediately pounce on my first question, why was Hinterland the chosen name? Originally a ready-to-rock four piece with no ideas for a band name, they took their own names and threw them into an internet scramble engine and voila! Hinterland it was. An obvious resentment of the Canadian space guitar band of the same name is vehemently displayed from Darren upon my mentioning them. There is, for the record, no reference to the hip hop outfit ‘AIM’, who had a massively acclaimed LP called Hinterland.
I ask if they’ve considered LL Hinterland (ladies love, old school rapper & actor LL Cool J) as an alternative, given that these guys are, some would say fancied, some would say stalked by the ladies. Tongue in cheek, they admit they are sex pests! Lee and Gavin are smugly ambiguous as they tell me, in no certain terms, of their hesitance to get involved in all that. Darren proceeds to drop a bombshell that isn’t at all dwelled upon. Darren is going to be a daddy! His wife (sorry girls) is expecting a girl in September. I congratulate him as the three of them fall subtly sombre. I can’t help but suspect that this could hold unresolved repercussions for Hinterland. Moving swiftly on then!

‘Hinterland’s lyrical component is Darren, scrupulously inserting every carefully chosen lyric into its equally important slot within a songs structure. He continues to explain that although there is no particular source of inspiration for his lyrics, he has to be a meticulous wordsmith, in order to perfect the necessary emotion and delivery. Gavin adds that often, a backing vocal will be changed only minutes before going into the studio to record a track, and smirking, thanks Darren for the privilege! Hinterland go on to share some of their personal favourite lyrics! “She’s adept at pissing on herself” (McClusky). “Guitarist and Songwriter, that's what I thought I was, I never had no dreams of being a waiter” (Reuben) and some of their own as requested by yours truly! – “I’m not a god, but I’m getting there” is a mutually favoured line.

Asking who might be the most likely to go either solo or crazy when they’re all fat cats, some serious deliberation ensues before the three of them amicably agree that Darren has the ego to go solo, Lee has the potential to go crazy, I guess this is owing to his more insular character. Laughter breaks out when it’s suggested that Gavin will end up as a hermit, living as equally secluded atop a barren hill as he might within the confines of a house. Again I guess this is down to his reserved aura. Keeping with the jollity of the moment, I ask if they’ve any tales of rock ‘n’ roll mayhem to share with us, and given the amount of touring these guys have done, it’s as I expect and they have quite a few to relay, ready and off the cuff, they spill the beans. Without going into too much dirt trodden detail, I can reveal highlights including a lady wringing out a discarded sweat soaked shirt directly into her mouth, a lady keenly offering herself to the band, just as she proceeded to do so with anyone around, before drawing the line at one poor souls acceptance of her kiss! And shock, horror, another lady! Her peachy behind commonly a point of referral amongst associates! Darren recalls how she enjoyed reciting from her Goth bible, enjoyed, when she could, the company of men and when she couldn’t, she was handy at pleasing herself! Darren admits that he does seem to be a bit of a freak magnet; also something that Lee and Gavin are no strangers to.

I share my hatred of the ‘Big Brother’ house, to find that Darren has a parallel mindset when it comes to the subject. Like me, he too sees that the words seem to go hand in hand with words like ‘machete’, ‘scare’ and ‘freak’. Darren sees this as a sure way of winning the votes! He also reveals how he could have a lot of time for Craig from ‘Big Brother’ #1. After correcting my assumption of Darren’s sarcasm, he explains how he identified with and even liked Craig. Lee and Gavin add going berserk on live T.V. could be fun! After much pondering and a fresh beer, I get the answer to my asking, what do God and the Devil whisper into your collective ear, when they’re stood on your shoulders. A combination of behave, well wishing and instructions to succumb to the Devil is offered from the Lord, whilst drugs, ladies and reclamation of Hinterlands soul is on the books from Satan!

Pete Doherty (Babyshambles), Casey Chaos (Amen) and Jordan (Katie Price) are a few big shots out there, who Hinterland might want to, temporarily take under their wing, in order to offer up some direction and maybe even a game plan for life. Craig from ‘Big Brother’ #1 rears his head again too! When I touch upon the issue of life and old age, by asking for a preference, sanity or senility, Darren self confessedly becomes almost passionate and euphoric with his response. Whilst Gavin really can’t decide whether to join up with the ‘its cool to drool’ camp or just settle for respect and some awareness of it, Lee and Darren both go with sanity and the obvious benefits that come with the avoidance of wetting yourself in public or forgetting who your kids are!

What law would you each enforce, given the power to do so? Hinterlands collective mind is rattled as it comprehends the limitless boundaries of my question. Gavin breaks the deadlock, calling for an ugly and horrible end to speed cameras, fines and all associated terrors. Not exactly his words, but with his suppressed anger brimming to boiling point at the thought of such things, he reveals his inner road rage. Lee, still toiling with inner turmoil, remains preoccupied with the question, and stays that way until the next question is posed. Darren continues, taking us back to a time when waiting until Monday morning to hear a bands new release, was not only obligatory, but also somehow wholesome. He explains that given the chance, he would outlaw radio stations playing tracks before they’re released or even considered for a single. ”Radio 1 is killing music by smothering us with songs we like, months before they’re out, to the point where we’re sick of hearing them. It’s wrong”. Onward from there, I ask, what is the wrongest wrong of all wrongs in the world today? Darren quick to verbally assault Radio 1 again before veering off slightly, regarding something I believe he is equally distraught about as he is correct. Greatest hits L.P.s released by acts who haven’t got more than one ore two tracks under their belts. Whilst Darren takes a breather, Lee and Gavin ponder the wrongness of Channel 4s ‘Virgin school’ and the latest tampon with a skirt. Wrong! Then I can’t help but notice Darren’s eyes suddenly afire, as he begins again! Bonus tracks on L.P.s or different tracks on vinyl that you can’t get on the C.D. Exclusive flip-sides found on singles, aimed at the desperate fan and his wallet to sell every format they can dream up. Unit shifting monkeys!

I ask what the state of music will be in ten years from now. Will guitar music still be relevant or even recognised, or will it have been swallowed in an acrid sea of keyboard orientated, soulless chart dance music? ‘Hinterland’ sit up for this one. They like this question. They answer in harmony with each other, illustrating one of the bands strengths. Whether they’re aware of it or not, these guys share an adoration of guitar based music that runs deeper than getting to play live and record songs. Darren, as he so often and naturally does, punctuates the point with his unabashed love of original guitar manufacturing. Endorsed by LAG guitars as they are, it’s natural to find that they hold a special place in their hearts for decent instruments. Drawing to a close, I ask what it is that will tell Hinterland that they’ve made it. Their answer goes a long way to show the level headedness of this band, avoiding all the obvious replies like ‘having the ‘Foo Fighters’ call up and ask if they can support us on out tour’ yada yada yada. To be self supportive, able to wake up and drive to the studio in your own time, as opposed to driving up and down the country to record a track or two! All agree that would be nice, as they do about other tell tale signs like Gavin living as a hermit, Lee going mad and Darren, well, dead! To close, I ask for any jokes they can offer up, and as this one is of a musical nature, I’ll share it with you! Why does Snoop Doggy Dogg have an umbrella? Fa drizzle!

Hinterland is made up of three keeping it real guys. In the time I’ve spent with them they haven’t mentioned their new single ‘Vote with your feet’ taken from the L.P. ‘Simian’. And more surprisingly, they didn’t once mention the fact that were bigged up on Radio 6 by none other than Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden), who referred to them as a jolly good British rock ‘n’ roll band or something like that! With a live act almost as sharp as their album, two grounded members to counteract the egotistical one, the combined result is a band with enough self belief and modesty in good equal measure to do just about what they want! But “Septembers not so far away” as ‘The Field Mice’ once said.