Dublin alt-rockers Slouch have released their debut album, I Got This Job because I'm too Stupid to Steal. We asked them the BIG questions . . .
Formed in 2014, the band were a trio of Conor Wilson (vocals/guitar), Kevin Shannon (bass/assorted noises), and drummer Malachy Burke before Shane McDonnell joined on guitar.
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
Conor: I’m a 29-year-old pro-wrestling fan who believes in the power of the chipper chip.
Kev Shannon: Avid synth noodler, Margarita consumer and shorts wearer.
Malachy: Poker enthusiast, an avid gamer lord and a recent father.
Shane: Recovering blues guitarist with a fondness for disco and wine.
How would you describe your music?
Conor: I would describe our music as sonically chaotic, capricious, and stormy. It’s designed to create an intense cacophonous live experience while still maintaining a thread of melody so the songs can grip the listener before taking them wildly off-road.
Kev: Quite chaotic. We like to have a lot of tension building in our songs before we pull the rug out from under you and go a different direction, tossing curveballs and riffs at the listener.
Mal: Melodic and groove orientated, interspersed with heavier and more chaotic tension building sections.
Shane: Grungy with the occasional groove. Lately, we've been with playing some synth inspired tunes, which is fun.
Who are your musical inspirations?
Conor: My own personal inspirations are very broad but, I would say as time has gone on there are a few that have been constants in my life. Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys is probably my biggest influence because when I heard his music from around the smile sessions era, it gave me an insight into how far popular music as a concept could be taken. I’m a massive Beatles fan too for similar reasons.
Kev: Osees are always at the top of the pile for me inspiration-wise. A band with a million albums and are just raucous live. There is a rawness to them that I love and try to imply in my music in the band in my own flavour. If you haven’t seen them live, do yourself a favour and go. (Come and see Slouch too, though).
Mal: I’ve always been a massive Pearl Jam fan, Eddie Vedder’s misunderstood yet timeless "yarling" singing style is a great source of inspiration to me. Other bands would be Smashing Pumpkins, Led Zeppelin, Pixies, King Gizzard, and the Lizard Wizard, Gojira, Spirit of the Beehive, Ovlov.
Shane: Mostly the classics like Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Steely Dan. I'm a big fan of a lot of the virtuoso musicians like Guthrie Govan, Chris Thile etc.
What was the first gig you ever went to and the first record you ever bought/downloaded?
Conor: The first gig I ever attended was Kings of Leon in the point. I was not a fan, but my friends were massively into them at the time. The first album I ever bought was Eifel 65’s Blue. No regrets, it still slams to this day.
Kev: First ever gig was Blink-182 in the Point Depot back in like 2005. Please don’t publish this, I can’t have people knowing this about me (oops - Ed). First album was Limp Bizkit - Chocolate Starfish and The Hotdog Flavoured Water (tell everyone how tuned in 10-year-old me was).
Mal: The first gig I went to was regrettably Less than Jake. Thankfully, my taste quickly changed from ska punk. The first album I remember buying was either Ten by Pearl Jam or the Blue Album by Weezer.
Shane: The first gig was either 50 Cent or Sum-41, both in the Point Depot. The first record I bought was also Chocolate Starfish and the Hotdog Flavoured Water (oops - Ed).
What’s your favourite song right now?
Conor: I Like to Stay Home by R. Stevie Moore.
Kev: Entertainment by Ginger Root, it’s absolutely slamming, Prince-esque funky Linn LM-1 drum machine vibe.
Mal: Stick - Ovlov.
Shane: Cream of The Crop - Getdown Services.
Favourite lyric of all time?
Conor: This is my favourite verse from Surf’s Up by Beach Boys. It blows me away every time I hear it. I would just place this whole song here but, I’ll save you. "Dove nested towers the hour was, Strike the street quicksilver moon, Carriage across the fog, Two-Step to lamp lights cellar tune, The laughs come hard in Auld Lang Syne, The glass was raised, the fired rose, The fullness of the wine, the dim last toasting, While at port adieu or die, A choke of grief heart hardened I, Beyond belief a broken man too tough to cry."
Kev: Any and all of Jerry Reed’s ad-libs in the song Amos Moses.
Mal: "To the Shell station, he got a gallon of Gas in a can, drove home, doused everything in the house, torched it, Parked across the street laughing, Watching it burn, all Halloween." - Orange and Chimney Red - Tom Waits.
Shane: "Where's that confounded bridge?" - The Crunge
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Conor: Switch it up here, I know I have gone on about Surf’s Up the whole time but, I’ll say Golden Brown by the Stranglers here. There is something nicely hypnotic about it that would make me feel like I’m on a calm voyage through life.
Kev: Blood-Drums by Cavern of Anti-Matter.
Mal: How Many More Times - Led Zeppelin.
Shane: That's The Way - Led Zeppelin.
Where can people find your music/more information?
Spotify, @slouchband on Instagram, Bandcamp, Facebook.
