It’s often said that rock music is dead, but bands like Birdman Cult prove that that statement just isn’t true! The band hails from Bristol, mixing a few different rock and indie sub-genres together, as latest release Highs and Lows shows. The track mixes some nice melodies together with a cool sense of attitude, showing a band that can really do it all! Find out more about Birdman Cult in our interview with vocalist Joe below!
By Jane Howkins
You recently released a new single titled Highs and Lows. What can you tell us about the track?
It’s a war cry of an aging rock and roller, a feted little grotesque who never quite realised his grandiose dreams of taking over the world. Who’s coming to terms with it and accepting that maybe ‘this is as good as it gets’. The narcissistic nature of getting up on stage and shouting at people about ‘your feelings’ or lack thereof , or even writing about yourself in the 3rd person. It’s a melancholy mid-life crisis masquerading as a drug fuelled rant.
I started writing lyrics for this when we first started making music as a band in 2010, back when my lips were fatter and waistband slimmer. The guys write all the music during jam sessions mostly, I do my best to keep up. I never throw anything away lyrics wise, there’s still a tonne of stuff on post-it notes from when I was 13 still kicking about that I’m sure I’ll use at some point. But thematically speaking at its core, it’s about hedonism vs normal life, compromise and growing up. We only get one spin on this rock and I wanna experience it all while I’m here.
How has the reception to High and Lows been so far, and where can it be purchased?
It goes down great at live shows due to its obnoxious chorus – as I mentioned, the guys keep it dynamic otherwise it would literally be a Geordie talking/shouting for 3 plus minutes. But yeah, it’s been one of our more ‘successful’ releases in terms of reach and feedback so far.
Do you have any more singles planned for release soon?
No this marks the end of our single run, we’ve put out 8 or 9 over the last few years so it’s time to shit or get off the pot (so to speak).
Are there any plans to release an album or EP anytime soon?
Yessirybob, our self-titled album should be out late summer on 12” vinyl via AnalogueTrash Records.
I read that you started out in 2020. How was it starting a band in the midst of a pandemic? I assume it was difficult?
Well actually we were already a band, we were called THREE KINGS HIGH and that band started back in 09 or something. Our sound was progressing into something unfamiliar to when we started – after changing a few members, it felt like a good time to herald in some changes. So in 2020 we decided to bin the old ‘nom de plume’ and rebrand for lack of a less wanky term.
Birdman Cult took flight, and wings were clipped a month later when lockdown was announced. We did everything to remain enthusiastic,as a lot of venues were in hot water and bands were quitting as the months rolled on. Generally everything was fraying but we did what we could like others to keep our name out there; podcasts, radio, and of course writing and releasing music.
Your music has an indie rock sound. What/who are you most influenced by? What have you been listening to recently?
We all have very different tastes and influences I guess, our bassist is a classically trained guitarist and our guitarist is a jazz bassist so that makes for weird dynamics. In terms of bands I was raised on The Kinks, The Band, The Stones – by the time I was getting my own tastes it was bands like Ocean Colour Scene, Wu-tang Clan, The Verve, Queen, Nonphixion, Smut Peddlers, REM, RHCP. These days its Black Angels, Fat White Family, Wave Pictures, old British folk and stuff, but it’s always changing.
You’re based in Bristol. What is the local music scene like in your part of the world?
Bristol’s great, very accepting of all types of music and a city where whatever your into there’s a night on that week to cater for you. I grew up in the north east of England where the main underground scene was hardcore, and ironically even though I’d love that now, I was into making hip-hop so sort of missed that one.
Do you have anything else exciting coming up over the next few months?
We have a music video for Highs And Lows that came out recently and we will be making some more once my hair grows back, I had a shit haircut the other day, made me look a right plonker. You go in there and ask for a few inches off and walk out like you’ve just been conscripted.
Do you have any tour dates lined up for the UK?
Our album release tour will kick off mid-September in the UK.
Any last words for the fans?
Don’t believe the hype, there’s a lot of misinformation and cults out there all appealing to your insecurities. Just dial your compass to being a decent human being and you can’t get lost.