19 October 2006 (released)
19 October 2006
Shuffle blues punksters The Lost Revue are about to tour the UK in October and November as support to Dogs. They’ve been working tirelessly over the past two or three years honing their distinct urchin blues set up and down the country. Championed by XFM and with a glorious mini album, Orphans and Vandals, released earlier in the year, under their belt, 2007 promises all they deserve. Music News recently caught up with charismatic head boy, Al Joshua, and tapped into his devilish world.
MN: When did you first realise you had a gift for music?
Al: Never. I’ve always taken a snide pleasure in being a perverse and thieving imp when it comes to music. Da Beats likes to use the word 'gift' as a euphemism for sexual diseases. Is that what you mean?
MN: No! But the 'gift' as an std makes me think of The Jam's last studio album in a whole new light. Thanks for the imagery. Who were your early musical influences?
Al: Ancient folk songs. The morris dance in may. Cars passing outside my window at night as a boy made a pleasing rhythm. Timmy Mallet’s Itsy Bitsy Yellow Polka Dot Bikini had a tremendous spiritual impact on my body ' when he sang I felt we were as one.
MN: Who inspire you today?
Al: People over the age of consent with boyish nipples inspire me. Arthur Rimbaud and William Blake. Red skies at night but even more so red skies in the morning. Magpies. Sailor songs. Chinese Dragons coming out of the early morning China Town mist like ships out of darkness. This is a time of monsters and assassins Rob, and I am surely one of the them. I adore politicians and their savage shamelessness. Business men delight me as a rare opportunity to smell the sulphur and know that hell is indeed below us. Most contemporary bands equally inspire me with their insipid idiocy. I’m not interested in rock’n’roll anymore. I care only about perversion, inversion and prophecy.
MN: Do you have a tried and trusted song writing format or does the process
vary?
Al: Here’s what I do: I start by calling a halt to all hygienic activities ' no showers, no brushing teeth etc. I cultivate skin eruptions and rashes and mould. I make sure that I am deathly broke and under constant threat of eviction and hunger. I chase after Captain Fog like a mangy dog until my legs give way. Then I sit in front of a mirror forcing myself to smile ' this is good for self esteem ' and repeatedly saying 'You’re the Fonzy, you’re the Fonzy,' while tapping my foot until a song comes.
MN: I believe you met Dr Philphy (guitar) while he was the only person in the
audience in one of your early gigs. Sounds like a classic rock story. What
are your memories of that night?
Al: What an insulting fabrication. Phil was not the only person at my first gig. Ashley was there too.
MN: Apologies, and to Ashley too. I understand you're planning a new recording. Can we expect more musical
gems in the style of Orphans and Vandals, and Pirates Life, etc, or do you
have some diverse shocks up your sleeve? A foray into dance music perhaps?
Al: No. No dance music and no more 'gems' like Pirates Life. The apprenticeship is over and it is time to start burning bridges with all the abandon of a rat leaving a sinking ship. Times are vicious and peculiar. They have made me feel vicious and peculiar. And it is high tide and time there were some songs vicious and peculiar enough to keep their heads while all about are losing theirs. Actually I don’t know when the next record will be, but there should be some demos available soon.
MN: What are your most memorable live moments to date?
Al: Being on stage is a difficult time for me. I find it hard to concentrate on the task at hand because I know that behind me, Da Beats is abusing his position as drummer to just stare at my ass. I can feel his eyes buring holes in my smooth and taut cheeks. Surely this counts as sexual harassment at work. He has a girlfriend and everything. I say to him I don’t like it and ask him to stop, but he pretends not to know what I’m talking about. Then we have a drink and it’s time to grope Raven and we forget all about it.
MN: You've taken your show around the country over the last few months. Apart
from having a London fan base, what other part(s) of the country do enjoy
playing and get a good reaction from?
Al: Playing with Dexter in Birmingham has been a favourite for sheer unsavoury unpleasantness. But we’re touring with Dogs soon and I’m really looking forward to Manchester and Glasgow and all of those.
MN: The Lost Revue were originally a quirky, breath of fresh air acoustic
act. Are there any plans to resurrect that set?
Al: Well we’ve all still got acoustic instruments and I made an acoustic album we give away free called Pigeons, so a few acoustic sets can’t be forever ruled out. No plans at the moment though. If we ever went back to the acoustic clubs though, it would be not with peace but a sword.
MN: If you could be another artist for a month, who would it be and why?
Al: As I said above, Timmy Mallet. I bet he gets a lot of ass.
MN: Do you crave commercial success or are you just happy at the moment
creatively expressing yourselves?
Al: Neither. Anybody can make money and expressing yourself is something they teach in finger painting classes and anger management seminars. I’m interested in heavenly radios that broadcast forever against the barrage of poisonous bullshit. The damn is broken. Here comes the deluge. The whole town will be swept away. I’m interested in building an ark to withstand the flood.
The Lost Revue are:
Al Joshua - Vocals, guitar
Dr Philphy Edwards - Guitar
Raven - Bass
Dave Da Beats - Drums
Music News wish The Lost Revue the very best for the forthcoming tour and look forward to reports of tales of debauchery on the road. Vive la Revue...
Catch them at the following:
Oct 29 Moshulu - Aberdeen
Oct 30 King Tuts - Glasgow
Nov 1 Nelly - Hull
Nov 2 The Charlotte - Leicester
Nov 5 The Zodiac - Oxford
Nov 6 The Roadhouse - Manchester
Nov 11 The Soundhaus - Northampton
Nov 12 The Thekla - Bristol
Nov 14 Kings College - London
Nov 16 Fibbers - York
