The Moshville Times - Band of the Day: Attic Theory

Anecdotes about Sherlock Holmes, breaking your foot and not realising it and work with Lightning in a Bottle, it’s another round of Band of the Day!

Simple things first – where are you guys from?

Lew: Liverpool, London and South Africa.

How did you meet?

Peter: I used to work with Lewis. I met everyone else during line-up changes, mostly throughout an old band Matchstickmen and when starting Attic Theory.

Dave: Lewis, Peter and myself were in Matchstickmen, then we decided it was time for a fresh start and created Attic Theory.

Lew: Tim was the first outsider to join the new project. We had known each other for years, through the Liverpool music scene and always got on. He was still in Rain May Fall but this new venture intrigued him.

Tim: I realised I had to be with them, I was originally on bass but we thought the sound needed to be bigger. So after Rain May Fall split up, I moved over to guitar, introduced the band to Kenny and here we are.

How long have you been playing as a band?

Peter: About a year as this five-piece line-up. It’s great to be working with a bunch of people that GET each other.

Before you get sick of being asked… where does the band name come from?

Lew: It’s from the second episode of the first season of my favourite TV show Elementary. Jonny Lee Miller plays Sherlock Holmes and believes that the human brain is like an attic: a storage space for facts, but because that space is finite, it must be filled only with things a person needs to be the best version of themselves. I believe that the name suits the journey we’ve been on as individuals and that we, as a unit, make each other the best versions of ourselves.

What are your influences?

Lew: Mine are Stone Temple Pilots, Candlebox, Life of Agony and Sevendust.

Kenny: I’ve always digged Motown and funk stuff. Mix that with a bit of Meshuggah, Tool and Incubus and that’s where I’m at right now.

Dave: I grew up listening to Metallica, Alice Cooper and Led Zeppelin so that’s what got me listening to heavy music but my main influence (singular) has to be Thomas Noonan – ex 36 Crazyfists drummer, his style, groove, weird off time beats and just the way he uses the kit are mental. Got big man love for that guy!

Tim: Alice in Chains, Alter Bridge, Clutch, Tool, A Perfect Circle, Stone Temple Pilots and Smashing Pumpkins.

Peter: Guns N’ Roses, Led Zeppelin and Stone Temple Pilots.

Describe your music. What makes you unique?

Tim: We’re like a groovy soul band that’s found their heavy rock/grunge roots buried down deep and let it all out.

Lew: …And we actually don’t sound like anyone else.

Peter: It’s pulled together through so many different influences and styles that, like Lew said, it doesn’t really sound like any other rock band.

Do you have any particular lyrical themes?

Kenny: Depends on if you can find the clues, I suppose.

Peter: …And generally, whoever has pissed off Lewis.

Lew: I write a lot in hindsight. It gives me a chance to reflect, reflect on my mistakes, reflect on the different choices/decisions I could have made and enables me to tell a more detailed truth within the lyrics while still not being completely obvious with the theme. I’d have to say I’m most proud of the lyrics for our song “Your Light” as there is no hidden meanings, it’s just clearly about my partner, Kelly.

What’s your live show like? How many shows have you played?

Peter: Definitely too many shows to count. Our live show is energetic. We get the crowd involved as much as we can. I always try and make eye contact with a few people at the front and thank them for coming afterwards.

Tim: We provide maximum energy and groove with singalong melodies. We always receive an insanely positive response from fans, old and new, at live shows. We jump around a lot. I once broke my foot and had no idea until the next day.

What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen or done at a live show?

Lew: I’ve seen Mike Patton do a lot of mad shit over the years, mostly involving spit or piss. When we supported Saving Abel, Kenny and myself got drunk with their singer, Scotty and we all drank out of an alcohol soaked melon that had been infused for at least 24 hours.

Tim: I saw Sebastian Bach climb up to the top of the rig at Wembley stadium, I was covered in blood by Gwar and I’ve fallen off a stage and kept playing.

Peter: I saw Tommy Lee do his weird circular drum roller coaster thing at a Mötley Crüe show. I think he does it at most shows but it’s pretty cool to see.

Dave: I threw a candy cane at someone’s face at one of our Christmas shows, I didn’t mean it but I was drunk and things happen when I’m drunk.

Kenny: I saw a dude stage dive and break his neck when I was a kid. Bummer ending to this question.

What kit do you use / guitars do you play / etc.?

Lew: I use Line 6 XD-V35 wireless mic and a cheeky megaphone.

Peter: I play a Tokai Les Paul through Marshall valve amp.

Tim: I use Axefx, Line 6 helix and various guitars – PRS Tremonti, Strats, Les Paul, Line 6 Variax JTV59.

Kenny: I play a Cort Artisan A5 Ultra going through a few basic pedals into a TC Electronic 250 cab.

Dave: Depends on the type of gig really, I’ll use my Pearl Export for smaller venues and Mapex Armory for bigger venues and recording. I also use Vic Firth sticks, Paiste 900 series crash cymbals, Paiste 302 ride/Hi Hats and Pearl Eliminator double kick pedals.

What, if anything, are you plugging/promoting at the moment?

Lew: We’ve just released our debut single “Saints Among Us” on Spotify and all other digital distribution platforms. It’s our debut release. We wanted to release something for the fans, as we’ve kept them waiting a while. The video for the track is available on YouTube.

What are your plans for 2019?

Lew: We are working with Toby Jepson and Rob Town from Lighting In A Bottle on our debut EP.

Peter: Once that’s released, hopefully take over the world through various tour supports and more explosive singles.

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? A chance to plug someone you’ve toured with, or a mate’s band we’ve not heard of before!

Lew: It would have to be my future brother in law’s band, Bloodrunners. Matt can shred like a beast. Headliners would have to be STP, Candlebox, or Wayward Sons but it would be great to play with Saving Abel again. Too many choices!

Peter: I wouldn’t mind supporting Stone Temple Pilots. Our pals, Mr Ted can open for us.

Tim: All of us supporting Alice in Chains.

Kenny: Primus or Faith No More headlining since the whole thing would be like one fucked up trip.