Six.Point.Five (minus the Tenor Sax)

Last week, TheBootsGirl and the TemporaryBootsBoy (Lee, of previous Drastic Rustle fame), met Six.Point.Five at TOGFEST, the annual music event held at Bradwell Abbey. Like the enquiring journalist she aspires to be, straight after the gig, TBG immediately caught Dave , the drummer, backstage. Luckily for you readers, unlike the person who writes about herself in the third person, these are complete transcripts of what was said.
Right down to every last detail. Enjoy.


TBG: Hi Dave, do you mind if I ask you a few questions and stuff?
Dave: Sure! But it depends on what it’s about really
*laughter*
TBG: Okay, first of all, NICE set today
Dave: Thanks!
TBG: And what do you think of the whole Togfest idea? Good opportunity for kids who wanna get into music or..?
Dave: Yeah, definitely, definitely, cos it’s a family venue as well so anyone can come along and experience different styles of music. Like, theres parents who until today might never have listened to it beforehand.

Now, with the arrival of Bassist SIMON, it gets tricky as the conversation splits into two. First of all, TemporaryBootsBoy and Dave, as they were actually talking about music-related things. TheBootsGirl and Simon chose to discuss the merits of free food.

TBB: So do you go to school in ACM?
Dave: Yeah, I’m in Surrey at the moment studying. Well “studying” of course.
TBB: Whats it like?
Dave: Yea its pretty good
TBB: Is it really hard work?
Dave: Well, its not too bad really

TBG: Hi Simon!
Simon: Helloo
TBG: Have you SEEN the free food and drink? Knocked myself out on that!
Simon: *laughs* Is there any beer?
TBG: There’s a beer thing.. bar.. over there
Simon: Sorry, I’m probably interrupting your interview
Dave: Yeah you ARE Simon!

TBG: Anyway, whats the deal with your sound at the moment? Because I’ve heard rumours.. RUMOURS that you’ve been changing. Of course some fans are happy, some fans arent, what do you think?
Dave: I agree, yeah we have changed. Erm I suppose on our first album, all the songs on that, some of them are quite different but I think its cos we’re developing our sound and that was our first recording and stuff. And now our new material, I think that’s more.. the way we wanna go. But we tend to just write what comes to us really.
Simon: Exactly.
Dave: Its true a lot of the riffs we’ve written recently have got a slightly more heavy element to them rather than all just being happy-go-lucky ska. Cos its too cheesy *laughs*
TBG: So how do you guys write your songs? Like some people have one person writing all the songs..
TBB: Or do you just have a jam?
Dave: Err normally like a guitarist or bass player has written a riff and they break it to us and we all like-
Simon: -develop ideas as a band.
Dave: Yeah, we all work on it together and write more riffs and harmonies and stuff to make it sound like it does!
Simon: And sort of when you play it you add new bits and you think like yeah that’s good. We really kind of do it as a group really.
TBG: I spy Rob coming over...
Dave: ROBERT!
Simon: You can ask Rob questions too now!

Right, here at MKSZ, we like to think we give the people what they want, THUS (and how I love that word) before the interview itself, TBG went around asking certain MKSZ readers for questions that they would like to be asked. Let’s just say the chosen question was the most “normal” out of the lot.

TBG: Okay I gotta ask you a question from the readers themselves now. Its not mine, so please dont give me strange looks, erm here we go – If your music was a colour, what colour would it be?
Rob: *with determination* Purplish blue.

<*laughter*>

TBB: And why?
TBG: Thats a good question. I’m meant to be asking the questions here.
Dave: Cos we’re liking those colours..
Rob: Cos. We’re. GAY.
*laughter*
Rob: Nah, I’m only joking
Dave: Black! *does death metal stance* Blaack!
Rob: Yeah! Black, cos it’s metal.
Simon: And we’re metal?
[Simon and Dave do “metal sounds”, you’d get it if you heard it.]

TBG: Talking of metal, do you think your sound has become more metal these days?
Rob: Not really, I think, we just play what we like and.. we’re all into our metal and stuff so.
Dave: Yeah, I think rather than the “metal noise” its more.... chunky riffs really.
TBG: What do you think of your fans?
Rob: Nice people
Dave: They’re great, they’ve supported us all the way
Rob: We appreciate it as well, they’ve been so good to us.
TBB: Are some of them a bit too.... WAAA *goes on to imitate a crazed fan* (It was good)
Rob: HYPER? *laughs* Nah nah, it all adds to the crowd
Dave: Yeah its cool, I mean its something you gotta get used to, cos I mean we weren’t used to it at first *laughs* But we’ve seen those that have come tonight, we’ve seen people every time, even if they live miles away, they somehow manage to find a way to get to us
Rob: Yeah we appreciate what they do.
TBB: And what’s the groupie situation like then?
Simon: Its gooood.
TBG: Any vacancies?.... For ....TBB of course.... ahem
*laughter*
Rob: Yeah, every now and again
Dave: There’s a three month waiting list


*********************************


Okay, its well known that when interviewing your idols collectively for the first time and whilst winging it, you can say THE most stupid things. And its true. When meeting with the rest of the band (minus Tenor Sax, Andrew), TBG starts with the most retarded opening line “Feel free to repeat yourselves”
(Quick! Here's my chance to redeem myself!) It WAS aimed at the previously interviewed, Rob, Simon and Dave but…. well... you can see what happens next.

[*muffled sound as recording contraption thingy is switched on*]

: Okay
: Okay
: Okay
: Hi my names David
: Hi my names David
: Okay

*laughter*

TBG: We were saying about your fans earlier, what was it you wanted to say?
Voice in background: (Okay)
James: Just a big thank you really and we’re all really grateful to have them and we’d be nothing without them so erm.. they are really important….
*pause*
Rob: *knowingly*… standard textbook answer
*more laughter*
James: Ohh yeah! (which I’m later told was not unlike Duffman from the Simpsons lol)
TBG: Alright, [to Dave, Rob, Simon] I already asked you guys about the colour but [to James] Ive got a question that’s from the MKSZ readers and this time it was “If your music was a colour, what colour would it be?”
Dave: *whispers* Black, say black!
TBG: Its gotta be his own answer, I’ve already asked you!
James: Pink
*laughter*
Voice in background: Greebo colour
*more laughter*
James: Erm...er.. I dunno, [that’s because here at MKSZ we like to challenge the mind of course] I’d probably say
Voice in background: Brown cos its shit
*laughter*
James: Yeah *laughs* brown cos its shit
Dave: A kind of sloppy brown as well

TBG: *laughs* Right, so you’re all what? 18—19? So most of you are students as well. What’s it like having to juggle music and student life?

Voice in background: Its rubbish
Rob: We don’t, we just play music
James: Yeah, we just play music, *laughs* We’re all failing our A-levels. We’ve all finished our exams and err, a couple of us are free now so we now er.. have to go get jobs. So that should be fun...

TBG: So what are your plans for the future? Are any of you going to Uni, and if you do, what’s gonna happen to the band?
James: Andrew’s going to Uni and erm, we’re gonna be looking at getting another Tenor sax player in. Erm everyone else is gonna be free for the next year so we’re just gonna push the band for the next year and see where it goes and if next year people wanna go to uni, we’ll see where we’re at.

TBG: Do you definitely see music as something you want to do in the future?
James: *without hesitation* Oh hell yeah, I can’t see myself doing anything other than music.
TBG: How old were you when you realised that?
James: It was Tuesday last week
*laughter*
TBG: [to rest of band] You can all speak as well you know?
*laughter*
James: Yeah, I was probably 8 or 9 when I first realised that I er.. wanted to do music
[*TBB asks Dave something*]
Dave: What was that? Ohh, ermm when I started drumming I was like, I’m not gonna do anything else, but get into a band.
TBB: When did you start drumming?
Dave: Erm... when I was about... eight?
TBB: Wow.

TBG What about the venues in Milton Keynes? Like, the one’s you’ve played at.
Rob: The Pitz is the best venue in Milton Keynes, without shadow of a doubt
James: I like Madcap. Madcap is.. good.
*laughter*
It’s a really cool venue, they should put more gigs on there it could be a wicked place. There’s so many like er, there’s so many venues, they just like, they need the support of the local people but they have the possibilities of –
Dave: Mono
James: Yeah, like Mono-s – it has the possibilities to be an amazing venue, Empire especially. Its just needs the support from other people.
Dave: The only way Madcap ever put on gigs there is if you actually go to hire it out and do it all yourself. Then you have to put in loads to make a go of it so
James: But we made loadsa money so its all right!
*cheers followed by laughter*

TBG: What do you think about MK bands as well?
Rob: MK bands are well good cos [James: SOME of them are] like of the Pitz and the new bands showcase
[Voice in background: Except Fell Silent!]
[Voice in background: I think we are special]
[Voice in background: Shut up]

TBB: So which ones are you watching out for?
James: I think the bands that are .. well good in Milton Keynes are Fell Silent – not just saying that cos we are mates but they are genuinely are a talented band
[Voice in background]:Phema
James: Phema are wicked but they’ve been on the circuit for years, they’re fucking veterans. But yeah [voice in background: Thios] there are so many well good, up and coming bands Thios like. Err Anti Vigilante [voice in background: Don’t say Thios please, they’re gonna hear us], Desperate Cycle, like all of those bands
Dave: They are all up and coming. I mean some of them are more underground than most but they’re definitely coming out and sounding really good.
*general agreement*

TBG: When recruiting, do you think you’ll take any female members in? Cos I know you’re all like ... guys... *laughter*
James: Alright, I don’t want to sound sexist but
Voice in background: No.
*laughter*
James: *continues* But there will never be a female in the Six.Point.Five. I don’t mind all-girl bands, I have NO problem with all-girl bands but I–
*laughter*
Voice in background: –in your band you wouldn’t...
James: I just think [Muzz: We’d all try get with her!] Yeah, [Voice in background: *laughs* Just like Murray] we’d all try and bone her. (Muzz: What?!) (Voice in background: Yeah, have you seen Murray with-)
*laughter*
James: Have you ever seen six guys and one female? It is NOT pretty!
Dave: By the way James, theres SEVEN of us in the band.
Muzz: Yeah, and Rob’s got a girlfriend
James: The thing is..
Dave: James, there are seven of us in the band you know?
James: *laughs* The thing is, we can’t say we wouldn’t have a girl in the band.

[ *the rest of the band are now at this point discussing with TBB what they would do with a female sax player* ]

James: If we met a really good, a really good sax player who was female then we’d probably consider her because of her talent.
TBG: Of course.

Rest of band and TBB: *still on previous topic*.... and we’d put her in the middle... with a knife...
(I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THIS IS ABOUT– its literally six other voices excitedly talking and shouting in the background)

TBB: so yeah will you be releasing Limited Edition six point five wristbands?

James: No, most definitely not!
TBG: What do you think of wristbands and the like?
James: Wristbands right. *pause* I got this Livestrong band from this American kid who’s dad had testicular cancer. And he gave it to me before they were even out in England.
Voice in background: Wow
James: *laughs* And it had proper sentimental value to it and now there’s so many fucking rip-offs of these things that its like, more of a fashion accessory. Yeah, more of a fashion accessory than people actually

[Simultaneously]
[Dave: Tell us *something incoherent about dying *]
[Muzz: Tell her about the –]
Voice in background: Tell her about the time Lewis stuck his toe up your ass!
*laughter*
Voice in background: Yeah, he’s all up for that!
TBG: [*if I could express a double take in words, I would write it here*] Say that again?! *laughs* now THIS is quality journalism..

Rob: Ask James to tell a story!
TBG: Tell a story James..

[Simultaneously (again!)]
[Tell us about you almost like dying!]
[Or you in (something that sounds like – underwear)]
James: Well BASICALLY I was in hospital the other day
Rob: Tell her about your time in World War II
Muzz: Shit Ive never listened to those
Rob: I remember.. back in the day..
*laughter*

TBG: Okay talking of stories, have any of you got anything embarrassing things that you have done on stage?
Muzz: We all fell over loads
James: Yeah
Dave: He [James] fell over, when we were on stage, about a minute ago (James: Well, I always trip over my leads) - TWICE.
*laughter*
Dave: James pulled out his wireless, as well, a minute ago. Pulled out the plug.
*laughter*
James: Yeah, during that set we just played, my amp vibrated my wireless frequency box off-
Rob: Yeah, what was that noise?
Dave: That was the box! The cable fell out and unplugged itself and just lay there on the floor like-
James: -Yeah, that was the lead which’d come out and was like-
[both imitating the noise that occurs when the cable is unplugged during a show]
[Dave: PHWSSH]
[James: EERGH]

Max: I snapped a string as well.
Dave: Yeah, Max snapped a string as well and everything went wrong but still everything went all right.

TBG: So did you think today was a good day for you guys?
Dave: Well everything going wrong like that tends be... the usual that happens *laughs*
TBG: And what do you think of Togfest?
James: Togfest is wicked. Togmor are wicked. They are proper quality.
[General agreement all around]

TBG: Are you guys staying for Togmor then?
James: Yeah, definitely we’re going to stay around and err.. get wasted *laughs*
TBG: What do you think about the crowd that Togfest attracts?
James: Err, its well good cos theres such a mix, there is so much variety like we got little kids here and .... and ... really old peoples.
*laughter*
James: Which is good!
Muzz: But they refuse to PAY US.
*laughter*
Dave: That’s Murray, all about the money.
*laughter*
Muzz: I want my MONEY.

TBG: So when are you guys next playing then?

Theres a rise in volume as everyone starts to plug the next gig. Simultaneously – who could have guessed?

[Voice in background: Next Sunday]
[Voice in background: Bedford!]
[Voice in background: July]
[Voice in background: Dude, when ARE we playing?]

Dave: *laughs* Yeah we’re playing the 3rd of July in Guildford, Surrey
Max: Have a flyer *hands one to TBG*

{ – maybe MKSZ will offer it as a competition prize “Flyer- touched by Max”. Maybe.}

TBG: Why thank you.
Muzz: Advertise our gig for us!
*laughter*
James: Our next gig near Milton Keynes is on the 16th of July at er...
Muzz: If 20 people dont buy tickets for that by next Thursday then…
TBG: Trying to fill up the coach eh? Well heres your chance, what can you say to persuade us to get on that coach? Tell me why should they go on the coach!
James: It will be a laaaaaugh
Muzz: There will be drugs, alcohol and .... SEX
*laughter*
James: Maybe not in that order.
TBG: Fair enough.
TBB: Will the people going be involved in any of that? (TBB sounds interested all of a sudden!)
Dave: Well we’ll all just be going out for a laugh
James: Yeah, it will just be a good day out, there’s always a well good atmosphere on these trips. Regardless of the band.

[At this point Muzz, who seems to have started on the drink already if you ask me, makes some kind of animal sound. No, really.]

James: We are just getting some support down to Bedford but yeah its cool, it will be a good day, we’lll have a good time.
TBG: All right then, well thanks very much, thats all I got.
James: Oh, and if you dont come, then you are a c**t
*laughter*

Great ending to an eventful interview, there were plenty of laughs this time round as the Five.Point.Five that we talked to are genuinely decent blokes. Its not often you cover so many issues in such a short space of time and in such an .... interesting way.
And for the ladies who want to get in there? You heard the man – All you have to do now is learn to play the saxophone.

Six.Point.Five are playing Bedford Esquires on 8th July. To buy tickets and for more info go to http://shop.sixpointfive.co.uk/