I have these two good friends across the pond – Lance and Mark – they live in London, you see. Sometimes… I tell ya, I wish I had joined them over there (and there’s more to it than the obvious party we’d constantly be having). Seems like the United Kingdom has a music landscape to drool all over, and it’s no secret that PEV would relish the opportunity to the take the scene on a test drive. Don’t get me wrong – we’ve featured some amazing European talent, but to be able to check out a band like Dry Riser (the latest group to answer our XXQ’s) in the flesh – that be friggin’ awesome.

Dry Riser is one of those bands that have figured out how to spin the 60’s influence into something fresh on today’s mainstream, and the band’s “Two Many Chiefs” EP is certifiable proof. Guitarist Matt Lintott says “The EP was really the beginning of a new direction in songwriting for Nik (Ledgard) and myself. We wanted to strip away all the crap and just leave the essentials of a song. Making your part critical to the song or get rid of it. Taking away the multi layered approach and leaving just the structure, the bones of the piece. You have to be savage with your own creativity and that can be hard sometimes. We also tried to showcase a wider range of influences too, which I think really shows. A lot of reviews referenced the vintage feel of the record, citing the likes of The Small Faces and The Kinks.”  

Nik, Matt, and the rest of the band (Pete and Jack) are busy wrapping up a full album and then trust us, you’ll see them on the road (perhaps PEV can take a quick trip). There’s much more to learn below, so keep reading for the answers to the XXQ’s.

XXQs: Dry Riser

PensEyeView.com (PEV): What goes through your heads the minute you walk onto stage?

Jack: Find out where all the good looking girls are then make a decision on which side of the stage I stand.

PEV: Hailing from the United Kingdom, what is the music scene like there and what were you listening to growing up?

Jack: The current music seen is rubbish, a bit too fashionable for me, I listen to old music.

Pete: it s all very similar – so not exciting!

Nik :  The UK music scene is currently a bit safe with the exception of Radiohead and the female bands are the only ones stand out from last year like Florence and the machine anyway, and growing up I was fed lots of  AC/DC and the Doors.

PEV: What kind of environment do you surround yourselves in as a band to create music?

Matthew : Usually mess and chaos with no natural light. Those are normally the cheaper places to practice. An aroma of dead things comes for free.

PEV: What can fans expect from a live show?

Pete: We try to get lots of energy into each show, making sure the visual is as good as the music. We’re working on each set having a journey of intensity and mood rather than just having one track after another. The set as a whole has to be considered as well as each song.

PEV: Tell us about your first live performance together. How have you changed since that first show to where you are now?

Pete: The first few gigs were summer festivals. Nik and Matt had a set of songs which Jack and I only had a few rehearsals to get into. Then it was straight to opening the main stage at Wardstock! Not a bad first gig at all...Vince our manager got practically lynched afterwards when we said we had free cd's to give away. A box of 100 went in an instant so... it seemed people liked it. The gig was streamed live to our fanbase on our website www.dryriser.info too.

PEV: Backing up a bit, what first made you each jump into the music business?

Jack: Vanity, passion for music came out of that. Also the feeling of not being told what to do

PEV: What can fans expect from your recent release, “Two Many Chiefs EP”?

Nik: A penny change from a fiver.

Matt: The EP was really the beginning of a new direction in songwriting for Nik and myself. We wanted to strip away all the crap and just leave the essentials of a song. Making your part critical to the song or get rid of it. Taking away the multi layered approach and leaving just the structure, the bones of the piece. You have to be savage with your own creativity and that can be hard sometimes. We also tried to showcase a wider range of influences too, which i think really shows. A lot of reviews referenced the vintage feel of the record, citing the likes of The Small Faces, Kinks etc.

Nik: The EP got us into a position to go looking for the right musicians to play the material live with, which is exactly what we got in Pete and Jack. They were the first two musicians we invited to play with us, which was unbelievably lucky. We thought it would take ages to find the right guys... but the feel, the attitude was all there straight away. So after a hectic period of playing as many gigs within the shortest time as possible we are now ready to take the new material, the new set up into the studio for a whole album.

PEV: Tell us about the creative time behind the making of the album? What was it like creating this 

Pete: We went into the studio with a loose idea of sounds we wanted and with loads of different instruments, kits, amps and mikes etc to play with. There were just so many options. We spent 2 weeks in pre production looking for the right balance, tones and textures.  We are working with a great young producer in Ben Miller Williams. He has helped us to find some great sounds for the kit and acoustic guitars particularly. After 4 weeks we are still in the early stages of the recording process however, there is plenty still to do.

PEV: What do you find to be the biggest difference between the fans in different countries around Europe, you’ve played? Any similarities?

Nik: There are language issues unsurprisingly... No one understands your lyrics! But music is universal so if its good its welcome.

Pete: The weather and people are happier in the sun!

PEV: What’s one thing we’d be surprised to hear about the members of Dry Riser?

Pete: We’ve all grew up with different musical influences and backgrounds, mine for example would be rock and metal whereas Jack has a love for vintage rock and blues. Between all of us we’ve found a way for our influences to gel and create music that excites us all.

PEV: Was there a certain point in your life when you knew that music was going to be a career for you and you were determined to make it happen?

Matt: Music has always been such a part of my life I would feel crippled without it. I knew it was something that was important early on but there wasn't a significant event or record that acted as a Eureka moment...the desire just got stronger and stronger as time went on to learn and write music instead of just listening to it.

PEV: What one word best describes Dry Riser?

Nik: Hi. 

Matt Dry.

PEV: Traveling is now a large part of your life as a musician. How is life on the road for you? Best and worst parts? Any fun stories?

Nik: What happens on the road stays on the road, that's the rule.

PEV: How have all your friends and family reacted to your musical careers? What’s it like when you get to play at your hometown?

Pete:  I get a lot of support, thanks, it’s all good! I've been playing drums pretty much constantly now for nearly 10 years so I think most people I now realize its what I do.

PEV: What can we find each of you doing in your spare time, aside from writing and performing?

Nik:  Looking for new music, checking out other bands...going to gigs to support friends that play too.

Matt: Working on our website with in the astoundingly talented designer that is Mason O'Dell. Check out his artwork at www.dryriser.info and you will see what I mean. He did all the EP photography, typography and design. Most reviewers pick up on it and one even said it was worth the money just for the artwork! So big up the hippy....

PEV:  Is there an up and coming band or artist you think we should all be looking out for now?

Jack: My friends band ‘Babe Ahadow’, they’re cool.

Matt: I thought that band 'Cha Cha' we played with recently in Brixton were quite impressive... they are gonna do an album soon too so I am looking forward to seeing how they get on. ...Oh and if you haven't heard The 'Yellow Moon Band yet'...get on it.

PEV: If playing/writing music was not your perfect career, what would each of you most likely be doing? 

Nik: Travelling, probably learning the guitar thinking 'why didn't I pick this up sooner'...

Matt: Managers wife said I would be a pimp.

Pete: It is! But I guess I’d  be teaching.

PEV: If we were to walk into your practice studio/space right now, what would we find?

JACK:  A dead hooker!

PEV: So, what is next for You ?

Nik:  Lunch.

Vince: A cold beer back into the studio! Finish the album and tour!