EchoFreddy
As we speak to Ollie, Tom and Rob from EchoFreddy (drummer boy Matt isn't present, but is probably jumping around on table drunkenly as he was when we bumped into him later on) they're taking a break from a near capacity show with local bands The Maple State, Graysons Hour and Duckhunt. It's not an unusual scene for EchoFreddy who are steadily building up a fanatical audience around country through their DIY approach.
The band are set to release a new EP later in the year on Punktastic Records and as we said when we saw the band support the Beatsteaks at the Hop & Grape - "EchoFreddy are band set to change the musical landscape of Manchester as Lostprophets have for South Wales". By the time Echofreddy have risen to the top and brought through a whole lot of talent in their wake Manchester will be known as Rock City rather than limp wristed indie central.
Q: Manchester's always has a strong rock scene, but
I guess the current crop of bands including Echo Freddy are made up of
the generation too young for Oasis to really have had an impact
Tom: Me and Rob decided to start a band and just
found Matt in some toilets in Stockport
Ollie: Since 2001 i think we've played like 120
shows. I wasn't in the band when it first started, i've been in the band
like 9 months and its been love ever since (laughs). We're just all into
the same kind of music. Manchester's known for Oasis and Morrissey and
things like that, but there are quite a few bands likes us round Manchester
who are into pop punk.
Q: I know Manchester is known as indie-ville, but when
you think we've probably got one of the best rock nights in the city here
in Rockworld there is a shift that you can see whenever you're out around
town. Indie kids are nearly extinct and the rock generation in their hoodies
that are everywhere
Rob: There are really really good bands in Manchester
at the moment. Tonight the bands on the bill are just a few examples of
how good the rock scene is. The rock scene is based more around The Star
and Garter and the Retro Bar than the traditional venues like the Night
& Day and Roadhouse, but we've played everywhere in the city apart
from Music Box.
Q: What were the bands that you guys grew up listening
to?
Tom: I like everything from the Beatles to hip
hop and metal.
Ollie: I listen to pop punk and boy bands. Which boy bands? Backstreet Boys, Westlife, Boyzone...and I like Justin Timberlake as well. I just like anything with a really good melody so boy bands are perfect.
Q: For a Manchester band you're aiming to avoid the
rut of just playing the same venues to the same people. In May you went
out on the Punktastic tour. How did that come about?
Ollie: Touring's the best part of it. We sent
Paul from Punktastic a CD and he really liked us so he invited us out on
the tour. And were also doing the Punktastic compilation that's out in
July, it's just all the best UK bands on there that are doing are sort
of thing.
It's the next step on the ladder really. We've done 3
tours and we're planning on getting out a lot more this year. A lot of
bands we know do go out there and really push themselves, but sometimes
it's really hard sorting it out.
Q: It's still is quite an underground cottage scene
at the moment. Everything's spread by word of mouth and by sites such as
www.mancpunkscene.co.uk. The local press is still trying to find the next
Badly Drawn Boy or Oasis aren't they?
Ollie: 2 or 3 years ago there was a lot of our
type of music in the press, but now it's died down a bit. You never know
what's going to be popular. One minute Green Day are really big and the
next minute its the Coral...it just all changes.
Q: How would you describe the EchoFreddy sound?
Ollie: Were very melodic and easy to listen to
pop punk, but anything can influence us. He's (Tom) into hip hop and metal,
i'm into pop, Matt's into real punk bands and Robs into the same stuff
as me. So when we write the songs it can come out totally different.
Q: So it's pop punk, but not as cheesy as Bowling For
Soup?
Tom: I wouldn't say it was too cheesy, i hope
not. Just a pinch maybe. Pop Punk with a pinch of cheese - that's so going
on the next flyer (laughs)
Q: How was it when you got the Beatsteaks gig at the
Hop & Grape?
Ollie: It was big for us. When the band first
started it was a dream to play the Hop & Grape cos we've seen so many
great bands there and even a few of our good friends have played there
so it was good to be asked there.
Tom: We'd love to play the Hop & Grape again
and get some good support slots. SJM are behind is so hopefully they'll
give us more slots off the back of the Beatsteaks shows.
Q: Have you got that DIY Punk ethic or would you sign
to a major?
Ollie: We're just really enjoying ourselves at
the moment and anything that comes along is a bonus. If people are prepared
to come along and show an interest and do it for the right reasons were
more than happy to go along with it.
Tom: We haven't been looking for a deal to be honest. We've just been getting out there and playing. Were not that good at planning to be honest, but were getting a tour supported for after the summer and who knows after that.
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For more info on EchoFreddy gigs, releases etc
www.echofreddy.com
For more info on Manchester Punk / Emo / Rock Bands
www.mancpunkscene.co.uk
For more info on Punktastic releases
www.punktastic.com
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