Winston's Zen

LETTING NEW ACTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES

When a band name themselves after the police radio code that describes their particular racial demographic, you probably won't be surprised to learn that you won't be discovering their CD's in the Easy Listening section of your local HMV. Just as well, because no one's life is long enough to endure meaningless musak.

The IC1s are five West London lads who are most definitely White Europeans, and have a penchant for gritty, honest rock 'n' roll songs, the kind of songs that shake you by your lapels whilst demanding your pocket money.

Here at Winston's Zen we like it a bit rough and ready so we were happier than pigs in muck when the lads agreed to play for us at our Zen-trifuge night on August 27th, (Grab your tickets here) and happier still when drummer Andy Faulkner took time out to answer our Q&A.

Tell us how the band got together.
Me (Andy, Drums), Robin (Lead Guitar) and Jake (Bass) are old mates from school. We’d been jamming for a while and last summer we met Daniel (Vocals) during a game of pool in a North West London pub. We needed a singer and he needed a band. He brought Alex (Rhythm Guitar) in and we started gigging soon after that.

What’s the least accurate description of your music that you’ve ever seen or heard in the media?
A review of our first gig included the line “Dashes of Red Hot Chili Peppers and perhaps Incubus were evident in The IC1's repertoire”. That’s pretty way off man.

Set the record straight. How should journalists be describing The IC1s?
We’re just a bunch of ordinary lads, who play fucking great rock n roll music for the masses.

Put your iPod / MP3 player on random. What are the first five tracks?
1. Slide Away - Oasis
2. How does it feel –The Zutons
3. The man who would be King - Libertines
4. Railing Pt 2 – Roni Size
5. Diesel Power – The Prodigy

What can a punter expect from an IC1s gig?
Bleeding ear drums and beer drenched clothes! Everyone puts in 110% effort - the band and the crowd! There’s so many anthems in the set, each one takes you on a journey.

What was the last record that made you stop in your tracks?
Ian Brown’s new single Stellify.

And the last one that made wish you were deaf?
Anything by Scouting for Girls.

What’s going on for the The IC1s right now?
Our first EP is being mastered as we speak. It’s called Lowering the Tone – look out for for further news of its release on our myspace page www.myspace.com/ic1s.

Don't forget folks, you can catch The IC1s live at The Good Ship, Kilburn High Road on Thursday 27th August as part of Zen-trifuge: The gig night by Winston's Zen. Anyone who can identify me (and I'll be wearing a clue) should approach me for a beer. You'll find I'm quite generous when drunk.

MP3 - The IC1s - Never The Now

Back soon,
Winston