Interviews

Kong

Bill Cummings 13/07/2008

Menacing Manchester three piece Kong (nominally the new project of Oceansize rhythm section Mark Heron and Steven Hodsolood) unleash the fearsome masked swagger of their new single Of A Dove/A Hint Of Rennit Innit through Brew Records on the 28th of July. They're raw, brutal sound is causing a stir, even Andy Falkous of Mclusky and Future of the left fame has delivered a massive on the exploits of Kong:

Kong is not a name chosen by accident. It does not describe an effeminate collection of callow fuckers thrust together by a desire to look plucked or sound eager to please.

All are/were/shall be in other, perhaps more commercially viable bands, which is notable only because it fills out their biography and creates the impression of a deeper back-story, which becomes, by definition, massively interesting to idiots. Yes, Nancy was in Jane's Addiction, and Milicent founded ITV.

Kong's music, such as it is, takes all the risibly obnoxious elements of lots of very loud, credible bands, feeds it non-brand specific lager, then comes on it in its sleep.

In truth, they are difficult band to describe unless you're a music journalist, in which case you'd probably pick a large animal (elephant, dinosaur or a fantastical creature of myth) and put it in an unusual place (Middlesbrough) with predictably madcap results.

In summary - the first time I saw them play I felt a burning sensation on my arm and realised that I had developed eczema.

The album, 'Snake Magnet', will follow when somebody grows balls and fucking puts it out there.'
We caught up with Kong guitarist (The Magpie) for a quick fire chat:
Hi there, how are you?
FEELING GOOD, SIPPING ON A SCOOP AND PUFFIN ON A PIPE

What's your name and what do you do?
IM THE MAGPIE, I PLAY THE FOUR THIN STRINGS IN THE BAND ...I ALSO BRAND A GREAT MUSTACHE ALSO KNOWN AS A NOSE BEARD IN GERMANY!

When did you meet as an act?
MY OLD BAND WERE SUPPORT TO OCEANSIZE ON A UK TOUR A WHILE BACK AND WE SHARED A TOUR BUS SO THAT'S WERE I GOT TALKING TO KREM AND LULU WAS IN A KICK ASS PUNK BAND AND LIVED ON MY SIDE OF THE TRACKS...IT WAS ALL VERY NATURAL.


Who would you pinpoint as your main musical influences?
IT'S MORE LIKE WHAT WE WOULD PINPOINT. OUR SONGS START IN THE STRANGEST PLACES A GOOD EXAMPLE IS OUR SONG "LONG" THAT WAS STRUCTURED AS A GRAPH YOU KNOW LIKE A MATH DIAGRAM AND WE JUST CONVERTED IN TO BLASTING GUITARS. I SUPPOSE WE ARE STILL VERY BLUES THOUGH.....

Where does the concept behind Kong come from? What's with the masks?
NO REAL CONCEPT MORE A SHIELD....IT'S AMAZING WHAT YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH WHEN YOU DON A MASK AND RED THREADS.... IVE BEEN KNOWN TO GO TOO FAR THOUGH , IVE HAD A FEW FISTS THROWN MY WAY.....

Is Kong a side project? Or do you prefer not to talk about your other musical ventures?
NOT AT ALL, WE'RE VERY MUCH A FULL TIME BAND ITS JUST THAT AT THE MOMENT WERE 100% DIY ....YOU KNOW WE HAD 2 DAYS TO DO OUR L.P! WHERE AS ALL OUR OTHER PROJECTS HAVE BUDGETS AND TIME ...WE HAD NITROUS OXIDE ...IN FACT WE JUST GOT STUNG FOR THAT! £85 HAHAHAHA

Is the name in any way connected to the film King Kong? Or are we barking up the wrong tree?
WRONG BARK

Can you describe your sound in five words?
DOGS AND BALLOONS IN ROOM

What can you tell me about your label? How did you end up working with Brew?
THEY MET US FOR BURRITOS AND TOLD US THEY'D STARTED A BRAND NEW LABEL AND IT WAS A REALLY COOL BURRITO.

Are you flattered by Andy Falkous comments on Kong? Are you Mclusky/FOTL fans?
I'D SAY BOTH "THE DEFFENCE......" BY MCLUSKY AND "CURSES"BY FOTL ARE TWO OF THE BEST BRITISH ROCK RECORDS OUT!
IVE DONE SOME RECORD SLEEVES FOR FOTL LEFT AND WE TOURED WITH THEM BRIEFLY! FALKO THINKS ABOUT OUR BAND WHIST HAVING A HAND SHANDY IN BETHLEHEM!

What can fans expect from your live show? Who is supporting you?
OUR SHOWS VARY A GREAT DEAL..I TEND TO LIKE SMALL CRAMPT GIGS WHERE ,EVEN THE PEOPLE THAT DON'T LIKE US , CAN'T GET AWAY FROM THE SCRAP...BUT RECENTLY WERE PLAYING BIGGER ROOMS WITH BIGGER PA'S ,ON TOUR WITH OTHER BANDS SO OUR BACKLINE IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE EVEN MORE LUDICROUS THAN IT ALREADY IS!
I LIKE TO THINK OF OUR SHOW AS A PARTY ...A SEXY PARTY!

Can you tell us about your new record Blood of a dove? How long did it take to record your single? It sounds quite raw and aggressive, was that the idea?
OH YEAH. WE RECORDED THE WHOLE ALBUM IN 2 DAYS, LIVE, 'BLOOD OF A DOVE; IS TAKEN FROM THAT. IT'S OUR SLOWEST, MOST DIGESTABLE NUMBER.

Do you like touring? What do you like to listen to on your tourbus? What do you like to do on your days off?
LOVE TOURING, WERE ROAD DOG'S. MAN WE LIKE TO PARTY, EVERYTHING END'S UP AN OCCASION. BURRITO PARTY, BALLOON PARTY, BATH PARTY,DODGING K HOLES PARTY, CELLOTAPE THE TIPEX PARTY, YOU NAME IT. WE LISTEN TO DEVO N SHIT YOU KNOW...


What do you think about the new music download revolution? How is it changing the business?

IT'S PRETTY FUCKED UP BUT WE'RE NOT REALLY EFFECTED.I DO SEE THE NEGATIVE EFFECT IT HAS ON PEOPLE I KNOW WHO ARE DEEPER IN THE BUISNESS BUT I THINK I'LL ALWAY JUST CHILL OUT IN THE SHALLOW END.

Since my site is called God Is In The TV what's your favourite TV show?

RIGHT OK....AS A BAND ANSWER I'LL GO FOR REEVS AND MORTIMER SHOWS OR OLD GLADIATORS ...ME N LULU ARE WWF HEADS TOO!


What are your Future plans?Albums?Tours?
RELEASE SNAKE MAGNET ALBUM AND DVD ! TOUR, WE ARE WRITTING L.P NUMBER 2, MEK A VIDEO ON ROLLER BOOTS!

Thanks for your time

CONDOM X