We round the working week up with a band with a rather unusual name. Find out where the name came from, and more, below…
Simple things first – where are you guys from?
Originally Jonny and Mav are from Derby and Gregg is from Nottingham, we all ended up meeting in London. We didn’t realise it but we probably lived about 20 minutes from each other when we were growing up.
How did you meet?
Jonny and Mav are brothers and met Gregg when we decided to crack on record the 2nd album. We all got along straight away. In a band it’s all about the chemistry. We had a mutual love and respect of Meatloaf
How long have you been playing as a band?
The latest incarnation is about 2 years old. However, Jonny and Mav have been playing together since around 2010
Before you get sick of being asked. where does the band name come from?
The name Rat Face Lewey exists from the wonder years of childhood. It was the name given to a Den close to where we lived. We would spend countless hours jumping out of trees, lighting fires and rearranging hay bales, completely free and clear. During one of these episodes we were chased by a farmer who came out in his tractor looking for the kids who had rearranged his carefully harvested product. Our older brother Dan shouted “Head to ‘Rat Face Lewey’!”. Some of us escaped over the fence to safety, others faced the music. Our first album was called Wonder Before Mess. It describes the conflict and experiences of childhood with the truth and harsh realities of adult life. Similar to themes from the poem “Birches” by Robert Frost. The band is a way to escape.
What are your influences?
Anything from Nirvana, Nada Surf, RHCP, Manics, John Frusciante, QOTSA and so on
Describe your music. What makes you unique?
We have a raw energy and an honest approach to playing. It’s all about those feelings of listening to music as a kid and being inspired.
Do you have any particular lyrical themes?
On our new album The Fall of Man I write mostly about anxiety, depression and coming out of it on the other side, I felt like I had a noose around my neck and it choked the life out of me for about 15 years. I threw away all negative influences and people and the results are the songs on this album.
What’s your live show like? How many shows have you played?
We have played extensively around London, every venue you can think of, we have kept a record of all our shows on our web page.
What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen or done at a live show?
We played a show in Hackney and a female member of the audience got on stage grabbed the mic and shouted “This is what music is supposed to be!” It woke something up inside of me. My brother Mav is also a wild one at shows, you have to see him perform. He’s like Flea on acid.
What kit do you use / guitars do you play / etc.?
Our drummer Greg uses a DW kit, Guitar wise I’m a Gibson man either a Les Paul or Explorer I love the shape of an Explorer, something chunky for a 3 piece. The bass guitar is a fender Jazz, again perfect for a 3 piece.
What, if anything, are you plugging/promoting at the moment?
We are promoting our 2nd album The Fall of Man which is out on September 6th! We have just released the first single “Comfortable” [see below – Mosh] We recorded the album last year in South Croydon and it’s so incredibly awesome. The backing vocals will make you forgot the planet you live on.
What are your plans for 2019?
We release our album in September and tour the UK in support. We plan to make a music video for each song. Last week we did some filming in Dungeness, it’s the most depressing beautiful place in the UK. The sea is rough and there is a nuclear power station and shanty houses with shipwrecks. You have to see it to believe it. We recorded our upcoming second single “The Pirate Song” there.
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!
I’d love to support the band Heck. I don’t think they exist anymore but they were crazy! We saw them at Camden Rocks 2016 and they were one of the greatest live experiences of all time. I don’t care who opens for us, there are so many amazing people around it wouldn’t matter.
Rat Face Lewey: official | facebook | youtube | soundcloud | spotify
I’m really looking forward to the album coming out!
Great Work RFl!
I’m going to check this band out on my commute home! cheers guys
You’re welcome – that’s the whole point of our BotD feature :)