Liverpool trio Eyesore and The Jinx play a headline show at Whelan's Upstairs, Dublin on Saturday 22 July. We asked vocalist/bassist Josh Miller the BIG questions . . .
Tickets for the gig are on sale now here.
Eyesore & The Jinx’s early singles and debut EP were released by Merseyside taste-makers Eggy Records. They recently released new single An Ideas Man with their debut album Jitterbug due this November.
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
I’m from the mean streets of West Derby in the Northeast of Liverpool. I used to play an instrument called the Euphonium when I was child because I think my parents despised me. I also spent many a summer in Swords in Dublin as a child. Shout out to the other nerds who used to hang around the Pav.
How would you describe your music?
It’s a bit like an anxiety attack in mp3 form or, the last ten seconds of an eBay auction that you’ve been watching tirelessly for days on end, only for some schmuck to lash a bid in with six seconds remaining and leaving you scrambling to increase your bid by a couple of pennies. Basically, it’s the sound of life at its most stressful.
Who are your musical inspirations?
Anything immediate that gets in and gets out or, equally anything that takes a novel approach to rhythm. Minutemen, Devo, Primus to name a few. More contemporary stuff that we’ve taken a nod from are bands like Protomartyr, Parquet Courts and of course Gilla Band.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
I went to see ZZ Top in a circus tent on the banks of the River Mersey with my Dad, when I was about nine years old. I’d never heard of them before we went and to be truthful I’m not sure my auld fella had ether. Think he just wanted a night out the house. I was hooked from then on though. Billy Gibbons has a lot to answer for come to think of it.
What was the first record you ever bought?
Nu-metal was massive when I was growing up, so it was probably something along those lines. Hybrid Theory by Linkin Park, was a favourite at the time. I used to gel my hair up like the singer and have chains hanging off my kecks. The other kids in West Derby humoured me, but honestly it’s a wonder I didn’t get bullied more, in hindsight.
What’s your favourite song right now?
Out of the Races and Onto the Tracks by The Rapture. It features on the soundtrack to The Rules of Attraction, which is a film I watched recently, and would recommend in spite of it’s horrendous, and slightly unjust reviews. Anyway, I’ve been on a Rapture binge ever since, and the EP this features on is a real ripper. Especially if you like your fi’s a bit more lo.
Favourite lyric of all time?
I think Baxter Dury is one of the best lyricists in the game at the minute. I wish I could write songs like him, but my life has unfortunately been infinitely less cool and colourful than his. My favourite lyric of his comes from Leak at the Disco and goes, 'Once a sexual forest fire/My flame had been dampened by the monsoons of fear and age.’ He delivers it in his usual nonchalant droll and it kills me every time.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I think versatility is key to this. It needs be a song that you that works in both the best and worst moments in life. I think Ms. Jackson by Outkast would be my choice. It has the right balance of needle and humour in the lyrics which I think all great songs have and let’s face it, it will always be cool.
Where can people find your music/more information?
You can find us at all the usual spots where we’ll be posting about new tunes from our debut album Jitterbug and our upcoming live date on 22 July Upstairs at Whelan’s. We’re on twitter @eyesorejinx or Instagram at @eyesoreandthejinx and you can also find us on Facebook.
