By Benjamin Bland
(((o))): So, first and foremost, who are Bearfoot Beware and what are your musical backgrounds?
Bearfoot Beware are Tom, Mike and Ric. Mike is the only member with a credible musical background having been in a number of bands previous and studying music at school and university. Tom and Ric are basically self-taught music fans that enjoy stumbling hap-hazardly upon combinations of guitar note thingys, singing different notes in several thingys and making them combine into some sort of thingy.
(((o))): How did the band come together?
All objects exert a gravitational pull. When an object becomes as large as Ric and Tom’s egos the forces involved become so large things start to gravitate towards it. It was only a matter of time before a collision occurred. Poor Mike was just an innocent comet dragged into the terraform.
(((o))): Please describe your sound in poetic form.
Listen intently,
A Three of Thrashing humans
It never quiet.
(((o))): How has your local scene impacted you as a band?
Leeds has an incredibly deep pool of musical talent and variety, not only in the rock scene, but in every available genre. We all try to get out to as many gigs as possible and it'd be silly to say that we weren't inspired by what we see. There are bands like Cowtown, That Fucking Tank and Bilge Pump that have been credible staples of the scene here for years and watching them do what they do well drives us to get better.
Saying that we also make sure that whatever we write is different, we're not interested in replicating what other musicians have done. We want to stand out on our own and build on it.
(((o))): Your third EP is just about to come out. What can you tell us about that?
I really feel like we're finding our feet now. The previous E.Ps have been us playing around, seeing what we want to sound like. We listen to all sorts with several influences shared, so it's nice to finally settle on a sound we're happy with.
(((o))): What do you think is the most difficult challenge facing new bands starting out in the music industry today?
The beliefs that all new bands probably have, I know we did, the belief that all it takes is a lucky break and that lucky break will come. It takes all the money you have, all the time you have and all the social skills you have (or manage to fake).
(((o))): Every band has different aims. What would have to happen for Bearfoot Beware to make you feel that you’d “made it”, so to speak?
Ric: It changes every time something happens. At first it was play Leeds festival.. but we did that.. so then it was tour Europe .. but now that’s booked for April of 2014. So I guess for now it’s going to be the Japan tour.
Tom: I'll feel like we've done it when we make and sell records for a good living. I've no interest in substantial amounts of money or popularity, just the ability to do this until I'm decrepid.
(((o))): What has prompted the need for the bearfoot to beware?
(((o))): You’re given the opportunity to create your own All Tomorrow’s Parties Festival. What would be the first five bands on your list?
Clearly the best question we have been asked to date!
Tom: Red Fang, Devin Ocampo (Medications/Faraquet), Henry Rollins (stand-up or spoken word), Maps & Atlases and LITE. I'd also like to point out that it's pointless saying Shellac as they're the House band. They play anyway. In fact I'd have Steve Albini on a throne just behind the sound desk. If he doesn't like the band playing, he gets to press a button that activates a trap door underneath the stage.
Ric: Red Fang, Faraquet and LITE I agree whole heartedly. The rest I’d swap for a bit of Hot Water Music and ASIWYFA.
(((o))): Are there any upcoming bands you’d like us to feature soon?
Our good label friends - Bear Makes Ninja
Our good topless friends - Alpha Male Tea Party
Our goodest friends - Super Luxury
(((o))): What are the band’s plans for the near future?
The next 12 month is hopefully going to happen in the following order
E.P
UK tour
Europe tour
Album
Galactic Domination
