After meeting in a London tunnel (as you do) Katie got chatting with Clarence Oddbody and decided they were worthy to be featured as our Band of the Day. So here they are – questions answered by guitarist Paul.
Simple things first – where are you guys from?
London… but Tom, our Drummer, is the only Londoner in the band. I’m from Liverpool and Cliff, our bass player, is from New York.
How did you meet?
We grew in pods… and were born together in a rehearsal room in Hammersmith.
How long have you been playing as a band?
Since the 4th of July 2017.
Where does the band name come from?
It comes from the film “It’s a Wonderful Life”. It’s the name of the Angel in training who saves James Stewart’s character. It’s also a very Northern name, which I love.
What are your influences?
60s and 70s rock and anything from jazz to metal. I think it’s important as a band to listen to all types of music. It’s a big world out there and you can learn a lot.
Describe your music. What makes you unique?
I think it would be very arrogant of me to say we are unique because no-one is unique anymore and everyone can’t help but channel their musical influences. But, with Clarence Oddbody, what gives us a wee edge is the mixture of loud old-school rock with catchy tunes, and each live show is unique and well worth checking out.
Do you have any particular lyrical themes?
Demonic possession and abusive relationships, just the usual everyday things…
What’s your live show like? How many shows have you played?
Fuzzy and loud! We will be playing our first gig on the 3rd of November at Alley Cat on Denmark Street in London.
What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen or done at a live show?
Our drummer Tom once had a drum stool collapse on him during a gig with his previous band in New Cross, but like the pro he is he just carried on. Other than that, we are quite a well behaved rock’n’roll band. Maybe spilling tea on the amps?
What kit do you use / guitars do you play / etc.?
DW drums, Zildjian cymbals, Remo heads, Vic Firth sticks, Protection Racket cases, ACS ear protection/monitors, Rickenbacker 4001 Bass, Fender Precision, Big Muff and Markbass amp. Gibson SG, Gibson Firebird and Epiphone EA250. Fender 65 reverb Twin and Fender 85 Deluxe. Guitar Effects – Echo Plex, Lovetone Brown Sauce, ZVEX Fuzz Factory and MXR Phaser.
What, if anything, are you plugging/promoting at the moment?
Gigs and our tunes on www.soundcloud.com/clarenceoddbody. At our upcoming gigs, we’re offering a free sticker, free CD and a free badge. We think the world needs more badges!
What are your plans for the rest of 2017?
Just to gig around London for the moment and rock!
If you were second on a three-band bill, which band would you love to be supporting and which band would you choose to open for you?
Well it would definitely be Led Zeppelin circa 1975 and the late great John Martyn, also circa 1975 second on the bill. But we would change our billing so we were on first on, that way we could do our gig and then watch how it’s done. Maybe we could do the gig at Carnegie Hall in New York and have a huge afterparty. I would die a happy man!
Upcoming tour dates:
- 3/11/17 – Alley Cat, London
- 3/12/17 – The Dublin Castle, London
- 13/1/18 – The Spice of Life, London
- 7/2/18 – The Fiddlers Elbow, London
Clarence Oddbody: facebook | twitter | soundcloud
