I recently reviewed Sons of Beaches’ upcoming single, “Turn Me On”, so I thought I’d better catch up with frontman Carl Wilkes to see what else the band was up to… and the answer is… A LOT!
Lou: Hi, thanks for taking the time out to answer my questions – it’s very much appreciated. For the benefit of anyone who hasn’t listened to you yet, please could you describe the kind of music that you play?
Carl: Its predominently classic rock but with a contemporary twist.
Lou: Who is in the band and how long has this current line-up been together?
Carl: The band are myself on vocals, Danny Holloway on guitars, Richie Milton on drums, and Gaz Webster on Bass. Sons of Beaches are about 3 years old but we’ve had many line up changes and have been a 5 piece then a 4 many times. Gaz joined us in February this year and were now happy as a 4 piece. The core of the band myself, Danny, & Richie are original members though. I think as long as were together there will always be an SOB.
Lou: What got you into music and what made you want to create music?
Carl: I’ve always loved music but I suppose the albums that switched me towards rock in particular was Guns n Roses Appetite for Destruction, & Bon Jovi’s Keep the Faith. Although the jury is still out on the new GNR line up, I saw them with Robin Finck in 2005 and to this day its still the best show i’ve ever seen. Bon Jovi however, have lost their way somewhat in the last few albums.
Lou: Musically, which bands/musicians are your biggest influences?
Carl: There’s loads! Between us the influences really vary:
Aerosmith, Alter Bridge, Bad Company, Bon Jovi, Creed, Def Leppard, Free, Guns n Roses, Queen, Pink Floyd, Blackstone Cherry, Velvet Revolver, Seether, Hinder, Steel Panther, Billy Idol, Black Sabbath, Metallica, Skid Row, Led Zeppelin. Way too many to mention all.
We get compared to Bon Jovi a lot and thats not a bad thing. You don’t sell that many records if your shit, but We’ve definately moved a long way from that comparison in more recent stuff. Songs like Stockholm Syndrome, The Snake, Know ya beat, Face at the window, & Woman got me Drinkin’ would knock Jon Bon Jovi on his ass!
Lou: What sort of subjects do you like to talk about in your lyrics?
Carl: When we first started out it was the usual women, beer and excess, just stuff like that. Now though we work on a lot more thought provoking stuff, like politics (on Broken Streets), Torture (on Eyes wide open), Kidnap (on Stockholm Syndrome) and the loss of a loved one (on My last words.
Lou: What equipment do you use and how to you achieve your sound?
Carl: Well Dan has an original Les Paul Gibson guitar but never uses it! He’s fell in love with a couple of Patrick Eggle guitars and has even given me a lend of his Gibson! He ain’t never gonna see that again!
Lou: You’ve got a single coming out called “Turn Me On” (which was recently reviewed on Loucifer Speaks), why did you choose to release this song over any of your others?
Carl: I ain’t gonna lie to ya Lou, It was the 1st song that was finished from the songs recorded for the album. To be fair I think it’s perhaps the most radio friendly but still rocky and catchy enough to win both sides of the fence over. Were hoping to launch something of a chart campaign to get it in the top 40 but im not sure of the details yet.
Lou: Will the single be available on CD or is it purely a digital single? Where will people be able to buy it from? When will it be released?
Carl: It will be available both as a cd and a digital download from Monday the 27th September. Our fans are very much partial to owning an actual product and they like to collect the artwork etc… Im the same. I hate this download stuff, bring back vinyl! As a download it will be available on the usual sites like iTunes, Spotify, Amazon etc… The Cd’s are going on sale in HMV in Worcester City and will also be available directly from the band.
Lou: I’m very excited to hear the forthcoming album, “In High Definition”! When will it be released?
Carl: I wish I knew! Its way past schedule now and i’d be lying if I said we were happy about it! It’s no one’s fault, we just put too much on ourselves and tour relentlessly and don’t leave enough time to fit recording in, then with losing our former bass player we had to re-do the bass once Gaz was up to speed. It’s in the final stages now just a few vocals to go on then were done. Originally it was meant to be out in May this year, but were hopefull of having it out in February 2011.
Lou: Are you able to tell us anything about it? Maybe hint at some of the track titles?
Carl: I’d say our 2 previous EP’s were much more uplifting and radio friendly than the album will be. There are quite a few dark tracks on there and a much more edgy sound than usual SOB. Still not as heavy as the new stuff were writing though so future releases look set to move in a heavier direction. The tracks that made it from the ep’s to the album have had a complete re-working and the title track from our 1st ep ‘Never be the same again’ has an almost tribal, epic feel to it. The new ‘unheard’ material on there shows the natural evolution of the band. Instead of naming what is on there i’ll tell ya what isn’t as some fan favourite’s are missing from the full line up. Songs like ‘Who I am’, ‘Can’t rain all the time’, and ‘Sexual innuendo’ didn’t make it. Sorry guys but had to make room for new material.
Lou: Will there be a release party? Can I come? Please… I’ll even do my happy dance…
Carl: Yes there will and we’d love you to come Lou, depending on how good the review is of course!
Lou: Not only have you got the single and album coming out (and you seem to consistently tour), but you also have plans to release a Christmas single! Seriously, do you ever sleep? I really don’t see how you have the time! Anyway, what is the Christmas single called?
Carl: To be honest we don’t know how we fit it in! We’ve took our foot off a little this year to give the album a chance of being finished. Last year we did just shy of 70 shows, this year we’ve only done around 30 so were off the pace a little, but if your recording you have to make time so it had to be done.
The christmas single is called ‘Santa I’ve been good this year’ and is a classic crimbo anthem.
Lou: What made you want to release a Christmas single? Isn’t there a risk that it will come across as a little bit cheesy? Or is that the point?
Carl: It’s as cheesy as sin! Dan and me both love christmas where as Richie sees it as a major inconvenience. Last xmas whilst very drunk Dan whipped out the acoustic and we churned this out. As Dan says it makes you feel all warm inside. Be warned it’s not a rock song, and is nothing like usual Sons of Beaches! We should probably go under a different moniker for the release but I don’t care all great rock bands need a ballad, then a christmas song. It’s the Law!
Lou: Will you be making a video for either of the singles that you’ve got coming out? If so, would you be able to tell us anything about it?
Carl: We have toyed with the idea of making a live footage video for ‘Turn me on’ and a Storyline has come into play for the xmas song but nothing has been set in stone as yet so we’ll see. Why? do ya wanna part? lol
We have got plans for a short movie project after the album is released but gotta keep quiet on that front.
Lou: I mentioned that you seem to play a lot of gigs… What gigs have you got coming up?
Carl: We are mainly in the Midlands at the moment but the managment are currently working up a tour idea to promote ‘Turn me on’, that’s why September & October have been kept quite free for now. Over the next few months we have got shows in Worcester, Birmingham, Leicester, Cannock and Wolverhampton. Were hoping our lovely friend Lou (Of Loucifer Speaks) can hook us up down London! pleaseeeeeeee?
Lou: What has been the best gig you’ve played so far?
Carl: There’s a few really memorable ones. Mainly the Cavern Club in Liverpool which was a sell out show, that was amazing as its stooped in history. Then there was this years Glastonbudget Festival where we played to around 1000 people, That was pretty cool if im honest.
Lou: Has anything embarrassing ever happened to you on stage? Tell us about it… you know you want to!
Carl: I split my black jeans whilst on stage, which in itself I could cope with, but not while going commando!
Oh and I also jumped off stage to do a high 5 with all the crowd at the front, as I got to the end I slipped straight on my ass! Luckily one of our fans caught me.
Lou: Do you prefer normal gigs or festivals?
Carl: A festival is great when the sun’s shining and everyone is up for it, but I hate only playing 40 mins etc… I love a headline 1-2hr show! That’s when you get a real SOB show!
Lou: If you could tour with any band, who would it be and why?
Carl: My personal choice would be Aerosmith, just because i really wanna find out how much of a diva Steve Tyler really is.
Lou: If you could cover a song by any other band what would it be?
Carl: In Loving Memory by Alter Bridge. A really touching song with amazing vocals. Even better live than recorded.
Lou:Do you have any merchandise available? Where can we get it from?
Carl: There’s a small selection of stuff available from www.spreadshirts.com/sonsofbeaches but there are new designs being made around the album artwork and tour.
Lou: Do you have any final words for the readers of Loucifer Speaks?
Carl: Yeah thanks for taking the time to look us up and we hope to see you at a show very soon. Look out for ‘Turn me on’ as it is released and Tell Loucifer to pull her finger out and bring SOB to the bright lights of London again! Cheerio folks!
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