Introducing: Pioneers
Twisting, turning 5-piece from Yorkshire (and further north)…
YOUR NAME: Phil Airson.
BAND NAME: PIONEERS.
WHAT DO YOU DO/PLAY: Guitarist, vocals, songwriter.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN TOGETHER AS A BAND/PLAYING MUSIC: Playing a little over a year but writing for around three prior.
GIVE US 3 REASONS WHY WE SHOULD TRACK DOWN, LISTEN AND DISCOVER YOUR MUSIC.
We are trying to do something different and we see our music and lyrics as just as important as making songs an audience would enjoy.
We love playing live,. Our live shows are passionate and full of energy… we try to make it a great night.
You have nothing better to do! I’ve seen your schedule! Plus, local music needs to be supported so people continue to create new music.
WHERE DO YOU SOUND BEST – FESTIVAL, CLUB, BEDROOM – OR SOMEWHERE ELSE?
Personally I would say we sound best through a pair of giant headphones while locked in a dark room eating a steak and contemplating the real cost of meat!! Kidding of course, but we do sound great in your ears, we take a lot of time and pride to really layer our music so you discover things the more you listen, we really do treat it as art.
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST…
RECORD? Oh man, I bought two at the same time it was ‘Christmas with the Smurfs’ and Shania Twain’s ‘That Don’t Impress Me Much’. Oh god, why did you make me remember that… you’re paying for my therapy bill!
CD? Again, double header: I bought Metallica’s ‘Black Album’ AND Jay Z’s ‘Black Album’ as I had been recommended to sample ‘The Black Album’ and got confused at the HMV counter… But I loved both.
DOWNLOAD? It was ‘De Ja Entendu’ by Brand New. This really made me care about lyrics and the craft of writing a song and it’s still one I stick on from time to time.
SO, WHEN IT ALL GOES RIGHT AND YOU’VE GOT A MANSION AND A SUPERMODEL GIRL/BOYFRIEND, WHAT WILL BE YOUR BIGGEST MUSICAL INDULGENCE?
Hmmmm… well I would obviously need a whiskey cellar… perhaps a whiskey tap too. But MUSICAL indulgence, I would maybe pay healthy sums for Phil Collins to stand near me at all times so I can whip him in the eyes anytime I need cheering up and throw his back-catalogue against his remaining hopes and dreams.
SO, WHEN IT ALL GOES WRONG AND YOU’VE ACRIMONIOUSLY BROKEN UP CITING HUGE MUSICAL DIFFERENCES, WHAT DO YOU FALL BACK ON?
I feel like the sensible answer is my psychotherapy degree, but honestly I’m dumb enough to say “my looks” or “my dancing”. Ironically, I wouldn’t be surprised if either of them got me into the situation in the first place… or got me killed before then.
PLEASE CITE SOME INTER-BAND MUSICAL DIFFERENCES
Hmmm… Rob (guitar/vocals) and I have pretty close musical tastes, although he likes sludge and I like mess (there is a difference). Dave (guitar) likes a good mix but probably nothing as distressing as me and Rob. Lummy (drums) likes Oasis and The Stone Roses which is good because Dave and Lummy keep Rob and I from writing operas about mental health! Andy… I’m not sure if bassists have any musical influence? I assume they just listen to the low-hum of a heating unit and try to copy that? Nah, he’s so cool it infuriates me and he likes all of the above and then cool things we’ve not heard of.
WHO ARE YORKSHIRE’S FINEST IN CULTURE, SPORT AND MUSIC?
The inventor of the Yorkshire pudding, the Yorkshire vet and, I dunno, probably Greengrass?… Was he that homeless lad off Emmerdale?
NAME YOUR SUPERGROUP – WHO’S PLAYING WHAT AND WHO’S ON VOCALS?
It’d be Jesse Lacey from Brand New, Tom Yorke from Radiohead, Connor Oberst from Bright Eyes, Andy Hull from Manchester Orchestra and Freddie Mercury all writing songs about their inner most desires and workings… It would be a cappella and it would cause mass breakdowns and people to void their bowels.
GO SEE THIS FILM: Hot Rod. Stop, seriously see it now it’s amazing and stupid!
GO READ THIS BOOK: Sapiens. Educate yourself you jerks. Nah, not really, books are for nerds.
GREAT LOST BAND/ARTIST: Alkaline Trio. The old stuff was dark punk and the first real band that made me want to rebel and do music that pushed people. Or Kevin Devine. He’s a great acoustic artist I enjoy a lot. Or the Movielife, although I am sure they aren’t forgotten. Their music still kicks you in the rib cage… it’s beautiful.
WOULDN’T BE CAUGHT DEAD SUPPORTING: The Alt Right?… I don’t know, if I was caught being dead whilst still supporting something/someone then you should 1) be scared that I am now a zombie and 2) wonder why I chose my resurrection to go and support a controversial sports team. Also, that I was caught means I was doing it in secret! Perhaps in a whisky cellar drinking fine scotch from a Newcastle United mug in my undead pants only to be rudely interrupted… But in case you meant musically, probs Beiber.
LONDON, L.A OR LEEDS?: LEEDS LEEDS LEEDS! The others are too crowded and don’t have the Otley run which I don’t think they could hack! Prove me wrong THE SOUTH and LA! Once in Leeds I took part in a competition with strangers where you climbed in a BIFFA bin and were thrown down a hill, if you survived and could stand you made it to the next round. I LOVE Leeds, it’s bloody magic.
AND FINALLY… AS YOU LEAVE THE STAGE, WHAT ARE YOUR PARTING WORDS?
GOOD PEOPLE OF THE WORLD… LOVE ME… AND MY BAND!!!
For more info visit: facebook.com/UKPioneers
