The Lion And The Wolf [Interview]

The Lion And The Wolf (aka Tom George) is a master of melancholic songcraft. TMMP talked to Tom about his upcoming 2000 Trees set, his earliest gig, and going for a pint with Bill Murray…

You’re playing 2000 Trees this year. What can the curious expect from your set?

Well, it’s just me and my guitar – so normally people can expect some fairly melancholic numbers but with light-hearted Alan-Partridge-esque banter in-between.

What’s the story behind the first gig you ever played?

Ever? Oh man – I guess it would be back at school in 1999, or maybe 2000. [My band was] called Exit 540, and I was beyond terrified. It was in front of everyone in our year and we messed up half way through and all I can remember shouting was “…keep going!” and needless to say, it didn’t go overly well.

Your music tends to be very layered. What’s your creative process like? Where do your ideas come from?

Recording-wise, with Symptoms, yes – it was layered. We built the record around Read more…

Posted on 01 July 2015

Samoans [Interview]

As a lifelong Deftones fanatic, any band willing to incorporate even the tiniest hint of said legends’ sound into their own noise is more than welcome in my earholes. Samoans do what all the best bands do with their influences: chuck them all into a metaphorical blender along with some extra-special spice, shred the lot to hell, and see what comes out when it’s tipped upside-down. TMMP talked to Samoans guitarist Oli about his band’s upcoming set at 2000 Trees Festival, and much more…

You’re due to play 2000 Trees this year. How’re you feeling about it?

Pretty excited really. We did ArcTanGent festival last year which was great, so hoping for a similar vibe. Loads of bands we absolutely love are playing. I missed the Mclusky shows last year, so I’m looking forward to that.

What can the curious expect from your set?



Loud bits, quiet bits, and occasionally bits that are somewhere between loud and quiet. We’ll be playing songs from our debut album Rescue, which we released a year ago. We might drop in a couple of new ones for good measure.

What’s your band’s origin story?



Dan and Calvin met at a birthday party. I don’t know the details but it probably involved a dispute over pass the parcel. They played overly complicated tap-happy music for a few years with a number of different drummers until Read more…

Posted on 30 June 2015

Paolo Raineri [Interview]

TMMP regulars will have read much about experimental instrumental group KoMaRa, comprised of David Kollar, Pat Mastelotto, and Paolo Raineri. Here, TMMP talks to the ‘Ra’ in KoMaRa…

How’re you feeling about the release of KoMaRa’s debut album at the end of this month?

I’m excited, can’t wait to release it! I’m really curious about what people will think about it! We worked really hard to make it better and better: billions of different versions, overdubs, changes in structure, thinking what to do.

And Pat’s team is just great: Adrian who helped us a lot with sounds, structure, mixes; Bill recorded amazing voices over the album and did some mixes; Denis with his stunning graphic work for CD [and] vinyl and, of course, Adam [Jones, of Tool] who created the creature of KoMaRa. Unbelievable team and very nice persons.

I want to mention also my bandmates David and Pat: it’s really a pleasure Read more…

Posted on 25 June 2015

David Kollar [Interview]

For KoMaRa, boundaries are not boundaries. They are merely silly notions, ideas to be ignored. That cryptic name refers to the first two letters of each core member’s surname – those members being Slovakian guitar maestro David Kollar, King Crimson drummist Pat Mastelotto, and Italian trumpeter Paolo Raineri – and their music cannot be easily categorised.

KoMaRa’s music is best described by stating what it is not. Jazz, fusion, rock, prog, industrial – KoMaRa represents none of those genres in their pure or traditional forms. However, the trio in question do borrow elements from each: Improvisation, attitude, balls, storytelling, and grim, gritty harshness – not to mention a middle finger raised in the direction of compromise.

Here, TMMP talks to the “Ko” from KoMaRa…

KoMaRa’s debut album is coming out at the end of this month. What thoughts/feelings are going through your head at the moment?

It was a very Read more…

Posted on 15 June 2015

Marco Minnemann [Interview]

For regular TMMP readers, drum legend Marco Minnemann will need little introduction by now! Creator of EEPS (TMMP’s second-favourite album of 2014) and brand new album Celebration (reviewed on TMMP here); the skin-beater currently backing up Joe Satriani and Steven Wilson; and one third of globally notorious fusion heavyweights the Aristocrats (alongside Guthrie Govan and Bryan Beller), Marco Minnemann is, to say the least, a truly rare talent and artist.

Here, Marco talks about his brand new album, creativity, darkness, and rubber animals. Enjoy!

Your new solo album Celebration is out now, less than a year after your last one, EEPS. How do you manage to maintain such restless creativity?

Well, I’m enjoying the writing and playing music world and ideas sort of sometimes fall from the sky or get triggered by experiences. So inspiration is present if you walk through the world with an open mind and a lot of imagination.

Plus, portable studio equipment makes things really easy on the road. So, there are virtually no Read more…

Posted on 05 June 2015