Interview: Thee Vicars

In February last year we introduced you to ’60s-nostalgo-four piece Thee Vicars. Over the course of the odd year that’s followed, the band have racked up gigs in the triple figures, set up a record label and released their second record. So it’s about time we caught up with them.
As a very standard opener…tell us a bit about yourselves.
I’m Mike, i play bass and scream and shout. I started the band along with Marcus about 2 and a half years ago, I’m 20 years old and this is pretty much all I do. *laughter*
You recently released your second LP, how’ve you found response to it?
We’ve had good responses to the latest LP, there’s been a lot of reviews online and in magazines and it’s all been positive stuff, which is great.
You played over a hundred gigs last year. What was your favourite gig of ’09, and who did you enjoy sharing the stage with most?
Hard to say. I really liked the Bassy Club in Berlin last year, great atmosphere and great sound! As for sharing the stage, I guess it would have to be when we toured with the Black Lips. We were already fans of their music and they’re great guys too.
With two brilliant albums and all those tours the labels must be kicking the door down to get your signatures…?
There’s been quite a lot of independent labels wanting to do releases with us but no major labels. Independent labels are far better to work with in terms of controlling your own songs so we’re not too fussed right now, but damn we would love some money.
Tell us more about your own label.
Myself and Lee, our manager, had the idea to start out own label to do a few 45s of us and other bands that we love. We put out our ‘Feel So Good’ single but have not had many funds to be able to put out many more 45s so we’ve been doing digital releases. We do have an LP called ‘Get Wyld!’ coming out soon of many different underground garage bands that are around today. We plan to try and do a few volumes of the compilation. It’s great to get brilliant unheard music out there.
You’re obviously stylish fellas, where’d you get your clothes?
Vintage stores, charity shops, eBay…whereever we find something of interest really.
What was your highlight of 2009?
It’s hard to pinpoint any one good point of last year, we worked bleedin’ hard but there were a lot of positives.
Have any tips for 2010?
Watch out for ‘The Wailin’ Yeahs’, we may let them fully off the leash in 2010…
What can we expect from Thee Vicars this year?
Lots of touring, a few singles, a couple of LPs maybe? Who knows.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AK1IF_ad_og[/youtube]
Above is the video for ‘Back on The Streets’ from Thee Vicar’s album ‘Psychotic Beats’ out on Dirty Water Records now.
One Response
20th January 2010
-Squeak- I do love this band. X