| The Mules released their second single ‘Polly-O’ on the talent magnet that is the Marquis Cha Cha label in late 2005, joining a short but exciting roster of talented and original sounding bands making headway in the London area. Such a home was just the right open-minded platform the band needed to allow their sound to grow without pressure. Since then the five-piece from Oxford have joined the Organ Grinder stable (pun intended, as are the rest to follow), and developed their rough and ready rockabilly stomp into a refreshing and unusual experience both live and on their full-length album ‘Save Your Face’ due out on August 21st.
There’s elements of skiffle, country-rock, post-punk, love ballads, delta blues and Celtic jigging in their set. The list of likenesses is as long as you care it to be, but at the end of the day these guys kick with a sound that’s completely original. Lead singer Ed Seed also drums from centre stage and there’s no compromise when it comes to lyrics. From the jump-lead country of ‘Polly-O’ to the sophisticated beggary of ‘Ham Shank’ the mongrel, no-nonsense attitude from this lot is worth your time. We caught up with the guys to shoot the breeze…
Howdy, what’s on your stereo at the moment?
Nico: ‘Early sessions’ by the Paul Butterfield Blues Band
Duncan: ‘Shoot out the lights’ by Richard and Linda Thompson
Jim: Roy Orbison’s ‘Greatest hits’
Ed: ‘An Englishman sings American folk songs’ by Lonnie Donegan
Tim: Elgar-Payne, Symphony No.3
What did you grow up listening to?
Nico: Miles Davis
Duncan: Joan Baez
Tim: Jason Donovan
Jim: Buddy Holly
Ed: the soundtrack to ‘Pennies from heaven’
Have there been any particular bands/people that inspired you to perform as you do?
No, not really. There’s people whose stage shows we admire, but we don’t consciously take much from them in performance.
Not many bands can boast an onstage setup that features the drums centre stage and the person playing them also singing lead vocals…do you get many comments on this unorthodox arrangement?
Yes, people seem to like it, but they rarely say much about it beyond referencing other singing drummers. I try and steer them towards Levon Helm of the Band, but we always end up at Phil Collins. Which is fair enough.
There’s a distinct rockabilly thread to your sound…is there something about the ‘badboy’ attitude of old rockabilly records that grabs you?
No, I just love the sound of those records – the slapback echoes and clicky drums and all the twang. The snottiness of it all is fun, but it’s not something we aimed for. I think we’d have trouble trying to pass off as badboys, anyway.
Do you collect vinyl?
Yes, we all do to some extent. It’s very heavy, though.
What’s your favourite thing about performing live?
The third song from the end, if the show’s gone really well so far. Then you can have some real fun. That and getting a genuine encore, which is amazing when it happens.
Any special pre-show preparations or specific items in your rider?
We don’t have a rider, and most of the pre-show period is spent worrying whether all five Mules are going to arrive in time to play. We’ve learnt how to set up each other’s instruments, because at least one of us is always massively late.
If you’ll forgive the terrible pun and the pointedness of the enquiry, are you ever ‘stubborn’ towards each other?
We can be, but it’s all done tastefully, in private. There are ways that things like that get solved, and then it’s all fine.
What’s your most memorable gig?
The first Organ Grinder Records night at the Luminaire, which was the first time we’d put on our own night. Johnny Flynn played, and Fireworks Night, then the Mules. It was packed, and the atmosphere was very excited and interested. And we played all right too.
If you could have any three acts play for your next birthday, who would they be?
The Birthday Party, Sly and the Family Stone, then Frank Sinatra. In that order.
Any tours planned?
Hell yes – details will emerge from our website soon (www.organgrinderrecords.com or www.myspace.com/itsthemules).
Who’s been your favourite musician to play with/support?
Suitable Case For Treatment, who are an incredible vaudeville/metal band from Oxford. They are the best band I’ve ever seen, and we’ve played with them quite a lot. The singer Liam stalks the stage like a carnival barker, declaiming and growling, and the band flicker in and out of giant Beefheart riffs and gospel melodies and that sort of thing. Amazing fun.
Any embarrassing hobbies, phobias or tendencies you¹d like to share?
Nico can’t stand motorway service stations. Duncan doesn’t like being touched. Tim has a phobia of people putting fabric in their mouths. Jim has to set his alarm at seven minutes past the hour. Ed loathes the smell of other people’s fridges. We’re all borderline OCD.
What’s been the strangest or most off the mark comment about your music likening to other performers?
Alan McGee said “They’re fucking weird. I like that”, which was pretty fair, but then he added “They sound like the Libertines”.
And the best?
“I thought I was at a Jewish wedding!”
Where do you see yourself in ten years time?
Desperately Googling “the mules”, I suspect.
And, I suppose most importantly, what’s your favourite kind of biscuit?
Garibaldi. It’s the Pope of Biscuit Town.
www.factmagazine.co.uk, July 2006.
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