BBC Somerset Sound's Jonathan Bennett chatted with them before the gig to find out what they've been up to lately. You can listen to the interviews with New Rhodes and Thirteen Senses, see photos of the gig and read a review - just click on the links at the top of this page. Are you looking forward to the gig tonight? James: Yeah, we've never played in Glasto before so it should be an experience for us. Hopefully it should be really good. Jack: We like the venue; it seems quite regal and quaint. How does this venue compare to others that you've played?  | | New Rhodes are inspired by real life experiences |
Steve: We've played some pretty strange places. The picture of the Queen is a new thing - we've never been somewhere like that. James: Yeah, I think more places should have pictures of the Queen. Too many places are just so boring and dull and everything is so lifeless and soulless - they're all the same. It's nice to play somewhere a bit different. You're from Bristol originally but now you've moved to London. Do you get back to the South West often? Jo: Not really, just for gigs and visiting family. Every couple of months, I guess. How is it living in London? Is it easier for what you're having to do? Jack: Traumatic. James: It's quite easy. At least you're centralised so it's easy to play lots of gigs. It's always nice to come back to the South West and especially Bristol because we always get such a great reaction as we've built up such a good following. It's really nice. Do you enjoy coming back because it's people you know? | "We're going to get a giant statue of ourselves like Michael Jackson and float it down the Thames which should raise some publicity for us." | | James from New Rhodes |
Jack: Yeah, and I think because we've been going for longer here, so the crowd know us and we know them - it seems more friendly and personal. James: It's people that we've got to know as well. We've been playing for two years, and people we didn't know are now friends and come to our gigs. It's really good - like one big family really. Tell me a bit more about New Rhodes. Who do you compare yourselves to? Jack: The Beatles, Elvis - let's just pick the biggest band! James: I don't really know who we'd compare ourselves to in terms of who we sound like. I think a lot of the comparisons that we usually get are a bit off the mark. I'd rather put us with Futureheads or Bloc Party - that kind of category. They're not trying to be cool or pretending to be something that they're not, like a lot of London bands. What's behind your music? What's your inspiration? James: Real life, it's just experiences. I think that people can relate to it as it's about things that happen to you. It's just everything that happens in life that inspires me. Just walking down the road and hearing people speak, I get such an insight into other people's lives which can really inspire me. Who writes most of the songs? Steve: It normally starts with an idea from Joe or James and then develops from there. Would you say I Wish I Was You is your best song so far? James: I think it worked well as a first single, but I think I prefer the next one. It just missed the Top 40. Are you going to do more promotional work for the next single? James: We're going to get a giant statue of ourselves like Michael Jackson and float it down the Thames which should raise some publicity for us! You're actually going to do that?  | | Jack says they like coming back to the South West |
James: Err no - we haven't got the money. We'll probably get some Lego men and sail them down the Thames. But even then, it's probably a bit out of our budget! What do you think of Thirteen Senses? James: I haven't heard that much of them - just a couple of their songs. Jack: I've heard their singles which were good so we're looking forward to hearing more. It's often the way - you often don't know a lot of the bands you play with and then you come away liking them. What can people expect from a New Rhodes gig? James: Hopefully that they've enjoyed it and hopefully it makes them want to go away and write their own funk/jam/jazz/odyssey. What's next for you? Jack: Our new single, You've Given Me Something I Can't Give Back, comes out mid to late January - dates to be confirmed. As for the album, I think we're going to see how the next single goes and go from there. James: We've also just launched a section on the website where you can go and download a track, and see some video stuff. We're going to put some exclusive stuff on there, so if people are interested, it's worthwhile going to that. | 
