Having finished the sound check at Old Portsmouth’s Square Tower, Oliver Wilde kindly took some time out to talk to Mr Teeth Reviews outside a venue with a history dating back to the 15th century, although in recent years is more associated with weddings and corporate events rather than that of live music…
So, you’re from Bristol on tour but this gig isn’t listed on your website – so I just wondered how it came about?
“Oh is it not, I don’t have any control over the site but we played at Southseafest for the guys at Pie and Vinyl , they said if we’re back in the area to give them a shout so here we are and it’s cool they’ve put us on to play at the tower.”
As you’ve already mentioned the tower I was going to ask, what do you think of the venue?
“It’s really nice playing unusual venues, when you’re touring and playing the same kind of places it can sometimes feel unfulfilling but then you come to a place with a different atmosphere, there’s already an energy in the place and it’s much more exciting.”
Have you got to play anywhere else slightly unusual lately?
“We played St Pancras Church last year which was cool but this run of dates the focus has been more on promoting the new material, although it’s just nice tonight to come somewhere with a bit more character.
How do you find recreating what you do live, as with the experimental side of things it’s not all straight forward guitar/bass/drums etc?
“It was initially really difficult, but became an exciting challenge gathering various members and set up to get the perfect balance in order to recreate something I’d written at home with the laptop. I enjoy the idea of coming to a gig for a different experience of what you’ve heard on record.”
I guess that leads on to my next question of what people can expect from tonight?
“The records can be relaxed and quite calm whereas live there’s more energy with the different dynamics in the band turning it up a notch.”
So with the band then who else have we got?
“We have a live drummer, a different bass player to when we started and the guitarist I’ve known pretty much all my life. Our violinist has been in the band about a year now so although it’s called Oliver Wilde, live it’s a collection of people with different influences.”
It feels more a band behind the name kind of thing then?
“Yes definitely, there’s also going to be more joint ownership on future recordings – after all, I’m going to run out of ideas eventually!”
Do you see foresee any specific changes or is it just a see what comes?
“Not really anything specific, we all go through life and the others ideas are going to be just as valid as mine so hopefully it will naturally take us to explore different areas in our songs.”
Stereotypical question I guess but anyone, alive or dead, you’d like to collaborate with?
“Unfortunately a lot of my heroes are dead! I’d love to have worked with Mark Linkus/Sparklehorse, but we have been given the opportunity of a lifetime to cover “Waiting for Nothing” on a tribute album being put out by an American label called “Box Full of Sparkles” alongside acts such as Flaming Lips, Granddaddy and Mark Lanegan – so it’s the closest I can get to collaborating with Mark Linkus himself.”
I loved Sparklehorse too – I take it they’ve been a big influence on you as an artist then?
“Totally – there’s something about the likes of Mark Linkus, Nick Drake and Elliot Smith as although it may sound morbid, their legacies haven’t been somewhat tainted and their legacy isn’t being diluted somehow, as of their death there’s a beauty in everything they stood for, their legacy, being preserved forever.”
With that our conversation turned to the likes of Conor Oberst’s Bright Eyes and another insight into those that have inspired Oliver Wilde before it was then soon time to head back inside, soak up the ambience of the venue and get ready for what was sure to be a special evening.
Thanks for your time Oliver Wilde and thanks Pie and Vinyl for sorting the interview opportunity (and the pie).
Mr Teeth
