Winston's Zen

LETTING NEW ACTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES

Four lads from Brigthon eschewing their cities penchant for glam chopped electro beats, Carter Brown have instead chosen the kind of snarling rock n roll that has been known to cause sporadic outbreaks of air guitar and heads that bang harder than Madame JoJo's headboard.

Seemingly capable of achieving the both the cliche'd Wall of Sound ([HaHa] Too Little Too Late) and the hard-to-pull-off acoustic sing-a-long with both ease and flair, Winston's Zen predicts big things for these boys. Which is exactly why you'll find them headlining Zen-trifuge II tomorrow night at The Good Ship in Kilburn.

The Zen caught up with the lads in the run up to the show;

Tell us how the band got together.
(Jimmy) After the first few months of music college, me and Matt began playing original songs together, Paul soon joined the band and after a string of drummers and a move to Brighton in 2007 we took Will on to hit the tubs full time.
(Paul) Me and Matt actually moved into a house and Jimmy had no nowhere to live so we let him sleep in the cupboard under the stairs like Harry Potter,
(Matt) More like Hairy Pothead !!

What’s the least accurate description of your music that you’ve ever seen or heard in the media?
(Matt) It belongs in the smack and crack dens of Kings Cross !! No shit someone said that, some of our live set is pretty damn heavy but that’s ridiculous, funny though!
(Jimmy) All the elements of Blur and Oasis put together.
(Matt) I like those 2 bands though

Set the record straight. How should journalists be describing Carter Brown?
(Will) What Jack Bauer would listen to, to get him going.

What gets you excited outside of music?
(Jimmy) A nice toad in the hole
(Matt) KFC gravy

What can a punter expect from a Carter Brown gig?
(Jimmy) a faint odour from the stage,
(Matt) hopefully getting as close towards a chaotic shambles as possible without actually fucking up. Always interesting though.
(Will) a massive headache
(Paul) a free T-shirt and loads of sing’a’longs

I sneak a look through your mobile while you nip to the bar. What’s the most famous name I find in the phonebook?
(Jimmy) Zoe Ball
(Will) Fuck off, really !!!
(Jimmy) Well, her email address actually.
(Will) I knew it, liar
(Matt) Jonas Armstrong (Robin Hood) he’s my mate from back home. Ironically for a man playing a character who steals from the rich and gives to the poor, in real life he’s a proper tight bastard ! Just kidding Joe.

Put your iPod / MP3 player on random. What are the first five tracks?
(Matt)- Corrina Corrina / (Bob Dylan) “Don’t Stop Believing” Journey, “Episode 7” of Learn French with Michel Thomas, “Wild About You Baby” Elmore James, “Memo from Turner” Rolling Stones
(Jimmy)- Death from above 1979 “Blood on our hands”, QOTSA, “leg of lamb”, Charles Mingus ”Fausts of Fabous”, The Beatles “Day in the Life” Beck “loser”

What has your move to Brighton brought to your music?
(Matt) Not much really it’s full of niche electro shit and I hate that stuff
(Jimmy) Good weather though.
(Matt) Can’t argue with that Jimmy
(Jimmy) Nope you can’t

One dinner party at your place, five guests (living or dead). Who gets an invite and why?
(Will) Five strippers.
(Matt) Girls aloud, but I’d swap the ginger for Megan fox.
(Paul) I’m kind of up for going to Matt’s party !!
(Jimmy) Yeah man

What was the last record that made you stop in your tracks?
(Paul) Mars Volta- Octohedron
(Matt) Women- Women

And the last one that made wish you were deaf?
(Matt) "I’m going in for the kill" or whatever it’s called by La Roux. It doesn’t even sound in tune!! Some chavs on the back of the bus had a happy hardcore version it blaring out from their phone, they looked about 7, but like proper hard 7 year olds. If I wasn’t such a wimp I would have thrown it through the window. I’m sure they all had knives anyway so probably for the best.
(Paul) Foals- Antidotes, all the tracks sound the same

What’s going on for Carter Brown right now?
We’re currently recording a double A side ourselves which should be ready around October time. We usually just give the singles away at gigs for free. I think it’s more important people hear the music, play it to their mates, and hopefully more people come to the gigs rather than trying to turn over a profit. We were pretty close to signing a deal with an indie label recently but the contract just wasn’t right so we walked. We’re just looking to sort out a booking agent / management and in the mean time just keep gigging our arses off and writing and having a huge mash up on the way. Feel free to join in ‘cos your’re all welcome. Except Chavs on buses !!!!

Back soon,
Winston