Vibrant and Animated
Last year in a short interview with The Best Bad Influence, I described them as “one of the bands I am most excited about”, that label still stands today. They are one of the most vibrant and animated live bands I’ve had the pleasure to witness in recent years, bringing the raucous spirit of rockabilly to a new generation, much like the 80’s revival did for me. In doing so, they also allow the likes of older music fans like myself to regain some of their youthful enthusiasm for the music. Their bouncing gigs are a melee of old and young. Punk, psychobilly, and rocker – all vying for a piece of the action as the send us into a fervent sweaty heaving mass. A joy to behold.
So, it was to my great joy and delectation earlier this month, unlike SpaceX who had to delay the launch of their rocket, the band pushed ahead with the firing of their own Rock It! Their impressive rockin’ debut album unveiled on a variety of streaming platforms. I even overcame my usual reticence about streaming music to ensure I could immediately enjoy the stellar tracks on this striking debut.
Interview
The band also took some time out to answer some questions about the album and the impact of COVID 19 on their steep ascendency.
The Ginger Quiff: You recently released your debut album Rock it! on all the major streaming platforms. What impact did the whole COVOD 19 pandemic have on your album release plans, are there plans for a physical release at any point?
The Best Bad Influence: We did plan to have a whole launch gig with friends and other bands. We were looking into multiple venues in Glasgow and were hoping to get our friends out to support us. At that gig we were hoping to sell physical copies but with COVID going on we thought streaming would just have to do for now. A belated release gig isn’t out of the question in the future though.
GQ: I’ve been enjoying your album immensely. The energy of your live performances comes across in the sound. I read an interview with Brian Setzer a while back when he was talking about the Stray Cats recording process, all being in the studio at the same time to try to reproduce the live sound. How do you approach recording?
TBBI: We headed up to Glasgow and right into Headhunter Studios. We recorded the whole album live and only really took 1 or 2 takes per song. The whole thing was done in under 3 hours and we were talking about maybe re-recording some parts that weren’t perfect, but we realised that we like the rough sound. We’re not perfect live so why should we be on the album? We used some old 50’s and 60’s recording techniques to get the sound we wanted and just played.
Pure Escapism
GQ: One thing I love about the album is the songs are pure escapism. Like being transported to another place or time. Sometimes to the 80’s with memories of The Stray Cats, and closer to home the likes of The Polecats and the Shakin’ Pyramids, or back to 1950’s America with visons of cars and diners. Where do you get the inspiration for your lyrics?
TBBI: We’re all inspired a lot by both the 50s rockers and 80s revivalists so we’re happy you’re getting those vibes. As for writing the songs, we all have our own styles and at least 2 songs on the album we wrote and then brought to the other boys.
Alexander: I’ll just think of a chorus then build the song round that. Always go with a catchy chorus then fill in the verses. Listening to songs from the time constantly helps with tapping into that vintage feel with phrases, interests, or licks.
Lanky: I usually either hear a melody in my head and write the lyrics after, sometimes they’ll mean something, sometimes they’re just a series of phrases I thought sounded good together.
Nyall: I’m just really into making the audience dance and feel good. I’m not too massive on songs I write needing to have deeper messages other than just “go wild and feel good.”
Favourite tracks?
GQ: Do you have a favourite track on the album, and why?
Alexander: Isa Blue for me. For me it just jump starts me. Full of Energy whenever I hear it and love the part where the solo goes into “Mary had a little lamb” Cliff Gallup and a few other rockabilly cats used it in their solos. So, it’s just a neat call back.
Nyall: Interstellar Boogie for sure. The whole otherworldly sound of the riff and just how weird the song is makes me feel good when we’re all playing it. The drumming and screaming in it are pretty fun to do as well.
Lanky: Has to be Polka Dot Cadillac. The speed of the song makes my heart race every time I hear it, and play it, it’s certainly got more of a modern rockabilly sound to it but it’s my favourite nonetheless.
Live Energy
GQ: Going back to your live energy, the band thrives on a live performance, I even feel tired after watching you live. How are you releasing your energy during lockdown?
TBBI: We’ve all just been doing the usual quaran-routine as everybody else. We’ve been writing quite a bit and sharing ideas with each other, some of which we’re even thinking would be good future releases.
GQ: You were constantly playing live pre: lockdown. It felt like every time I logged on to Facebook there was another live date announced. Obviously that all came to an abrupt halt. What do you miss most about not being able to play live?
TBBI: Definitely making an atmosphere and just getting to make folk feel something. Making them dance or jump in their seats. Missing the part that just jumps alive inside of us when we’re putting on a show. Also been missing getting all 3 of us together and at least just seeing each other.
Maintaining Momentum
GQ: There was never going to be a good time for a crisis like this, but for you, it felt like the worst time, you were on a constant steep ascendency, getting better with each time I saw you, and, obviously, you had your debut album planned. How do you think you can regain that momentum when it has been so suddenly taken away, especially when it still looks like a long way off being able to play packed gigs again?
TBBI: We did have a lot planned before the lockdown happened. Packed weekends for us and such that we were looking forward too. Since the lockdown has been eased, we are looking into ways to build up a more online presence, a few live streams and similar stuff hopefully now the three of us can get together.
GQ: As a band, you are totally immersed in the whole rock and roll/rockabilly scene, including the clothes. What attracts you to this era and the fashions that go with it?
TBBI: It’s just the rebellious nature of it. Even nowadays, it’s rare to see someone in a leather jacket and jeans with their hair all pomped, rocking out to Stray Cats or any of the earlier artists. The music isn’t too extreme by today’s standards, but it just has a certain charm to it that makes you want to dance and go wild.
GQ: I’ve seen Mark with a stand-up bass in pictures online. Can we expect that to be making an appearance when you can get back to performing live?
Lanky: I’ve been practicing as much as possible on my own with it, trying to learn all of our original songs and a few covers. I was as surprised by it as others are when seeing it for the first time. It was bought for me, broken, as a gift and we put it back together and painted it to make it look the way it is now. She will definitely be making an appearance soon.
Lockdown Listening
GQ: Who have you been listening to during lockdown? What are your musical recommendations?
Alexander: Been listening to a whole load of The Jets. I can’t get enough of “Drunk Again” of the ‘Session Out’ album. Amazing bit of guitar and it adds a little something to it because they’re also Scottish. Apart from them the usual. Buddy Holly, Eddie Cochran, Stray Cats.
Lanky: I’ve been listening to a lot of Ray Campi and Dale Hawkins recently, I highly recommend them, they’re two of my favourite rockabilly artists from the 50’s/60’s. Ray Campi perfectly merges country, skiffle and rock n roll and Dale Hawkins just has that wonderful boogie-woogie rockin’ sound that makes you want to get up and dance
Nyall: I’ve not really been set on listening to one thing recently. Been into tonnes of rock ‘n’ roll and rockabilly from past, and modern bands like Pat Capocci, Richard Hawley, and Dion, to name a few. But I’ve been listening to random pop, alt-Rock, and indie stuff recently. None of it beats good old rock n roll though.
Thanks to Alexander, Lanky and Nyall for taking the time out to talk and signing off with the perfect quote from Nyall there at the end to start off my review…(Nothing) beats good old rock ‘n’ roll.
Rock It!
If that statement resonates with you, then Rock It! will tick all the right boxes. Like the Stray Cats, The Polecats, Shakin’ Pyramids, and a myriad of others did in the 80s, The Best Bad Influence have re-energised and re-vitalised those rockin’ sounds and given them a makeover for the 2020s. Despite the obvious musical references and plundering of the past, the songs sound vibrant, vital, and fresh – essential listening for a new decade. I ensured my quiff was piled hight, and pressed play. From the off, I wished I’d gone the whole hog – Havana shirt, pegs, and creepers. I should have been more ready to jump, jive and wail.
What D’Ya Mean you can’t dance?
From the opening bars of Big Al’s all-Night Diner my foot was a-tapping, the play on words that is Isa Blue bringing a wry smile and the call and response chorus of What D’ya Mean? – well, three tracks in and the album had sealed its place as an essential part of my lockdown listening. There is so much going on in the world that can get you down, and while I do love my music with a liberal dash of politics and commentary on the state of the world, at the same time I also occasionally need to be transported elsewhere away from all the daily dose of bad news.
Rock It! is pure escapism for me, taking me off in one moment to a classic American 1950s diner in one moment (opening track Big Al’s All Night Diner), and onto the dancefloor of that diner the next (What D’ya Mean? (you don’t know how to boogie) fast cars and fast women and racing hot rods in Rat Rod Mama. Best of all though it how as a whole the album transports me back to my youth in the eighties and loving the old school rockabilly sounds created by the likes of The Stray Cats. I’ve mentioned it before, but they always give me flashbacks to seeing Out to Lunch busking in Sauchiehall Street during my lunchbreaks at work.
Howl at the Moon
Voodoo Woman stylistically could sit side by side with tracks on Music that Inspired the Cramps compilations. While Wolfman has my mind working overtime. The howls right from the off sowing the seeds. I am thinking of suggesting a TBBI/Run Into the Night collaboration – what with this song and the latter bands take on the Cramps classic I was a Teenage Werewolf. Just sayin’. They’re comin’ for you – don’t resist – tune in and howl at the moon with this trio of snappy young wolves.
Elsewhere Dream Girl is the dream walk rock ‘n’ roll you might expect from the title. Earlier single Miss Shaker is a as slick as their pompadours and Interstellar and its tales of little green men is as sharp as the creases in their pegs. The frantic urgency of Polka Dot Cadillac is a headrush that leaves you gasping for more.
Bring back gigs…
If there is one thing that upsets me while listening to this album, is the fact that it reminds me just how much I’m missing live music, and how long it might be before it returns. I can’t wait until I can get back into a sweaty club gig and see these bangin’ tunes played live, witness Lanky and his stand up bass, Nyall and his vigorously animated drumming and frontman Alexander leading the way with his slick riffs and dulcet tones.
Don’t be square, kick back, chill out and get in the groove with these hep cats (or should that be cubs).