5 minutes with...Molotov Cocktail Party
Molotov Cocktail Party are: DAN KISS - Guitar and Vocals; MATT BRINKWORTH - Bass and Vocals; JOEL COUSINS - Drums
How and where did you all meet?
M: Well we did not start off as Molotov Cocktail Party. I was looking to form an acoustic blues band haha so my friend, guitarist of a local band Hard Pursuit, told me about Dan and we got in contact. A few jam sessions and the loss of a lead guitarist later we found our drummer Joel who lived near Dan and decided to just write whatever it was we fancied playing.
How would you describe your style(s) of music?
D: Well, a pick and mix of our influences really.
J: Yeah like making a cake with everything we had in the kitchen.
M: I guess I'll steer away from food references and say we're an Old School Southern Blues Punk Rock band really. We never stop to think if a song matches our style, it's more "hey I fancy ending our set with a song that's got a fair bit of hardcore punk influence" thus Earth Punch was made. Just like that.
Who are your musical idols?
J: JoJo mayer, Dave Weckl, John Blackwell, Dream Theater and hundreds of other bands ...the list goes on forever.
M: John Entwistle is my only individual idol, Queens Of The Stoneage are a big influence. I love a lot of hardcore punk bands that are around now also.
D: The Beatles, Jack White, Elmore James.
Would success ruin you, do you think?
M: Give me success and I'll tell you hahaha
D: Agreed!
J: Definitely not. Success would only spur us on to greater things.
Which of you is the best musician?
D: Me
M: Me
J: Me haha
Joel, how did it feel to win South Wales Young Contemporary Drummer Of The Year, and were you ever in any doubt?
J: It felt great, to me it was what i was aiming to do since the year before, where I won my age category but not the overall drum competition. I suppose it gave me that little extra push to pull out everything I could. I was in doubts as the piece I played was quite a bit different from other competitors styles, mine combined jazz and latin funk together rather than your basic rock like a lot of the others. But the judges obviously liked it and I'm thrilled.
Dan and Matt, what '... of the year' award would you most like to receive?
M: Most determined band I'd like.
D: Best dressed male.
If you weren't in this band what would each of you be doing?
D: What I'm doing now in Uni, except passing!
M: Involved more in the managing and promotions side of music, something else I enjoy.
J: The same as what I was doing before and what i'm doing now, playing drums.
Do you think you have a Welsh sound?
D: I'm not sure, I wouldn't like to describe our sound because might come off a bit pretentious.
M: I suppose if you look at the local bands we perform with and are friends with, we draw some influences from them. Other up and coming Cardiff bands like Houdini Dax, Hard Pursuit and Parsection all influence the way we write music as opposed to the more famous Welsh bands like Lost Prophets, The Automatic, Stereophonics etc.
J: Apart from Dan's voice, no. It's an all over sound.
Which is your favourite Welsh venue to play?
D: BarFly
J: Yeah BarFly was great.
M: I'll admit having a free crate of Stella in the BarFly "dressing room" was cool but our best gigs have been at The End in Cathays. Always a laugh, great crowds and Jeff of Circular Music who put them on is a great guy!
Describe the best gig you've ever done...
D: Yeah probably at The End, all our mates and bands we love and support either there to watch or perform. Drunken fan backing vocals always go down a treat too!
J: Such a fun gig, lovely crowd.
M: We love The End haha.
What are you doing for Christmas?
M: With the family I suppose.
J: Staying in with the family eating as much as possible.
D: Mmmmm roast turkey.
What is your favourite restaurant?
D: The greasy spoon cafe's in The Market by far.
M: Outside of the city center it has to be Villagio in Whitchurch, not only is the Italian food top quality but it's owned and run by the family of Pino Palladino, one of the most successful bassists in the world and current bassist for The Who!
J: Anywhere down the bay.
What is your favourite bar?
M: Buffalo Bar.
D: Yeah Buffalo.
J: I don't do bars.
What is your favourite club?
M: Clubs aren't my kind of thing really.
D: TigerTiger?
J: Hahaha not a club person either.
Where would you take someone on their first visit here, to show them Cardiff at its best?
J: To show Cardiff at it's best I'd have to take them to the Millenium Stadium when theres a game on.
D: A night in the center of town for sure, start off at a gig at The End or an acoustic night at Buffalo Bar. Move on to the bars in Greyfriars road. End it at St Mary's street and wake up to breakfast in the nameless cafe in Cathays where Gavin and Stacey was filmed.
M: And if that isn't enough, head down the bay for some culture and a really good meal. Most of the buildings are impressive enough down there, also home to Cardiff's best guitar shop Cardiff Guitars.
Check out Molotov Cocktail Party's myspace site at: myspace.com/molotovcocktailpartymusic