PIGEONS IN MOTION



Introduce yourselves and tell us what you've been up to recently?

Hi there, we're Pigeons In Motion from Urmston, Manchester. We're a 4-piece Pop-Rock outfit and we've been together since 2005. It has been quite a hectic time for us over the last 6 months or so; two of us have become first time dads and along with moving houses and other personal activities it has been a busy time for us all. We're keeping things ticking over with the band though and have mid to long term ambitions to release a follow-up to our 2011 EP 'Flashing Lights & Blinding Skies' which can be downloaded for absolutely nothing from http://www.mediafire.com/?sbvuf2g3apay3 !

And how did you get together? The name?

For us getting together it was the old cliche of all being in high school together. Myself (Dan) and Chris, the bassist always wanted to start up a band. We dabbled with a couple of bands but they were all absolutely awful and we couldn't find anyone who wanted to write original music or get involved in a pop-rock outfit. We started speaking to Rob in school and it turned out he was a really talented guitarist and a cracking guy to boot. He fitted in really nicely and added another dimension to what we wanted to do. Rob then recommended a guy he'd been in a couple of bands with to play drums, Barrie. We had a look at him and his ability and personality fitted in well with the band we really wanted to be. The rest as they say is history. The band name came about via our bassist's brother, Droo. We were sat around listening to 'Motion City Soundtrack' and a pigeon few past the window, I'm not quite sure about his thought process but I assume the 'Motion' in the aforementioned band's name and our pigeon friend flying past the window somehow merged into 'Pigeons In Motion'. I'm pretty sure it was meant as a joke but it has stuck ever since!

Who are your biggest influences?

The great thing about PIM is that we all bring different influences to the table. And whenever someone asks what kind of music we are we always tend to struggle to answer the question!

For me (Dan) I love the pop-punk scene and take influence from the likes of Blink-182, Fall Out Boy, Yellowcard etc. Lyrically I love what Justin Pierre (Motion City Soundtrgack), Andrew Volpe (Ludo) and Max Bemis (Say Anything) do with the quirky touches they put on their lyrics, I really like that kind of thing.

Rob takes his influences from a different side of music. He likes the melodic styles and that reaally comes out in his guitar playing style and really comes out in our music. Think;
Teenage Fanclub, Blur, Barenaked Ladies, Athlete, The Beautiful South, Jimmy Eat World etc.

Chris has a bit more of a background in the heavier side of music, which adds a bit depth to the melodic sound; he'll have the Punk/Pop-Punk background and still take influence from the likes of Rage Against The Machine and Cancer Bats

Barrie is a bit of an exception. Although he takes some influence from guitar bands he really likes bits of Hip-Hop and Dubstep. Different genres where the drums are really prominent. He also used to be in a jazz group so he's a bit of an all rounder, our very own Maris Piper potato!

As a band I guess we've agreed on a few influences; Feeder, Jimmy Eat World, U2, Angels & Airwaves

We've heard a fair few comparisons to other bands vary from the likes of U2 all the way to the likes of Bowling For Soup! Quite opposite!

Here at Designer Magazine we're all about supporting the scene.. which are your fave local bands and why should we check them out?

There's a few great bands we've played with or we know that are great and well worth checking out:

Minor Blues - An exceptionally tight Blues/Rock band. We played with a band that a couple of these guys were in before. They're so good at what they do and well worth a listen.

Landmarks - We went to school with most of these guys and we kind of grew up alongside the previous guises of this band 'Roadkill' and 'Chokeslam Charlie' We've aalways liked what these guys do and this new offering is no different. Full of energy and a fantastic Pop-Punk/Easycore sound.

Gramatones - A great live band with some really great melodies and harmonies

We're lucky that Manchester has such a rich and thriving music scene

What's your biggest promo tips you can give to other local bands? How do you push your band forward?

In the past it was probably most important to constantly be gigging and keep on getting your name out there but in recent years the vast emergence of social media has become impossible to ignore and if you don't use it you risk being left behind and forgotten. So nowadays I think it has to be a mixture of old methods and new methods. DO keep gigging as much as possible but also make sure you stay close to your fan base via the likes of Facebook and Twitter (You can forget Myspace though!)

A final point to make on this is be as supporting as possible to other local bands, we're all part of the same scene and as such are all on the same team. don't see other bands as your competition but your team mates. This is where the #supportthesceene movement is so important.

Where do you go for pre gig food and where do you go post gig clubs in Manchester?

Pre gig food is usually something quite unhealthy to be honest, it usually involves KFC or maybe if we're feeling a touch healthier maybe a Subway! If you're looking for a club in Manchester you can look no further than 'Pop, Bubble, Rock' in Manchester. It's the most fun, accessible club night in Manchester and now all around the UK! it's not pretentious like some of the Rock/Alternative club nights can be, it just focuses on cheap drinks, good music and good times

What do you like most about Manchester?

I think it's just got to be the creativity that the Manchester art and music scene has. The city is so accepting to the diversity that can be found within the thriving creative arts the great city has! Oh and there's also Old Trafford!

Best gig you've been to of all time (and why?)

I think there's something special about seeing a 'big' band in an intimate venue. It doesn't happen often and when it does it's usually so much better than an arena show. I think getting to feed off the energy from the band at a small venue and for them in turn to feed off the energy and excitement provided by the fans results in a show not to forget. This happened for me when New Found Glory played an all request show (apart from closing with My Friend's Over You) at Manchester's Club Academy. It was so great and seeing the band play songs from their back catalogue on demand was great to see

What one book would you say all of your fans should read and why?

I hate to say it but I don't think any of us are massive book readers! Chris really likes 'The Hobbit' for all of the action and adventure. If anyone has read a book with a pigeon in it I'd happily give it a read!

Fave movie or TV show of all time?

I think for us Anchorman and Old School are big favourites. I think countless band practices have been spent quoting lines from those films. I sometimes think we'd have more releases if it weren't for those films! Rob is a massive fan of Pixar films and I have to agree. Their films give a sense of life that other animated films simply don't, 'Up' is a great highlight.

In terms of TV shows me and Rob really enjoy The Ricky Gervais Show and Chris is kinda obsessed with South Park. As a group I think we all love the Inbetweeners. I think it gets the youth of today spot on and has the type of British humour totally down, I can't see the American version being anything near as good. Kind of like how Skins ended after one series in the US

Which football team do you support?

Rob isn't really into football but had a great interest in the Paralympics just gone and has tried wheelchair basketball and rugby. It's not easy and really inspiring!

Barrie supports Liverpool (God knows why!) He really likes Stewart Downing, again; nobody knows why!

Me and Chris are both Manchester United fans and were both at Old Trafford for the Champions League Semi-Final against Barceelona in 2008, I think it's safe to say Paul Scholes' goal in that game was our favourite moment. I think we both like Antonio Valencia, he can cross, dribble, tackle, pass, he's pacey. A really well rounded player

And finally we're all about the live sweaty gigs - final chance to say why we should check you out live?

I think for it it's not just about the music, don't get me wrong the music is important but I think it's all about the show. I like to think we offer a lot of energy in our gigs as well as a dash of humour and crows interaction. We don't take ourselves too seriously and try to ensure the audience don't just hear good music but come out with a smile on their faces too

And if we want to know more whats your facebook / twitter addresses?

www.facebook.com/pigeonsinmotion

www.twitter.com/pigeonsinmotion

 

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