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North-East England noise merchants LoGOz have just released their new single; the high-energy ‘Digital Detox’, and we spoke to frontman Peesh about the formation of the band, what it’s like playing alongside his son in LoGOz, as well as his own personal musical memories. Read his thoughts below, and don’t forget to check out this incendiary band online…
Q: What are the origins of LoGOz? How long have you been playing together? I believe your son Kieran plays bass in the band?
A: We formed in the summer of 2012. It was then I first discovered the Rancid album ‘And Out Come the Wolves’. Up till then, I’d kinda ignored them but this album blew me away! I was playing in a band at the time but I wanted to do something more in yer face punchy and straight to the point! So that was a big influence on getting LoGOz started! I recorded a bunch of demos and formed the band with Paul on lead guitar then eventually Carlos on drums. We originally couldn’t find a Bass player to fit in so we rehearsed so many times as a bass-less 3 piece it kinda became our unique sound by default! We still do the odd gig as a 3 piece occasionally due to circumstance etc so it makes us flexible and unpredictable I guess haha!
It’s only recently the last 2 years my son Kieran has joined the band! He did his first performance with us just before his 15th birthday! It’s still kinda surreal being up there with my boy but also one of the best feelings ever! I couldn’t be more proud!
Q: How did you feel performing your first gig as a band? And how was it?!
A: Our first gig was in late summer 2012 in our hometown Ashington at a local club The Grand with our original drummer Harry as a 3 piece. From what I remember it went well! It’s always good to get that first gig under your belt.
Q: What should people expect when they check the band out? How would you describe yourself?
A: I like it when other people come to see us and they describe the energy they see and feel when we’re performing! That’s a massive positive! A lot of it is high tempo with melodic hooks and heavy riffs, sing-along choruses. Although the lyrics don’t always suggest everything is great with the world, the vibe is definitely upbeat and we like to enjoy ourselves onstage. It’s a great place to be, so we’re missing that feeling a lot right now!
Q: The new single, Digital Detox, is out now, what was it about this one that made you chose it as a single? The lyrical themes on the single seem quite self-explanatory?
A: Yeah the idea came from a conversation I had with someone who said they were fed up with social media and they wanted to detox from it! So I instantly thought of the title and wrote the song pretty much straight away. It’s one of our most recent songs and always goes down well live too.
Q: The video for Digital Detox features live footage filmed in various UK grass-roots venues, it’s a major concern that so many of these venues are facing the risk of closure. In what ways have LoGOz benefited from these vital venues?
A: Usually we would have shot an official video with Graeme Baty from Blank Slate Creative who done our previous 3 videos ‘Anti Social Media’ ‘Bones of Yesterday’ and ‘Disgraceland’, but obviously due to the current situation it wasn’t possible. So I had the idea of kinda putting together a montage of phone video footage from our friends, fans followers, etc to give it that homemade underground feel. So yeah a lot of these cool venues like Bannermans in Edinburgh, Fulford Arms in York, Trillians in Newcastle are some of our favourite places to play in the UK and we have benefited hugely from these venues! Meeting and playing with new bands, promoters, and gaining new followers along the way! So it’s a very worrying state of play right now when the only thing on the horizon is socially distanced gigs! Some places just may not be able to sustain that? But we all remain hopeful that things will get better next year.
Q: In what ways has the band grown since 2018’s Long Time Dead EP
A: That EP was put out as a kinda short limited run and it was just before Kieran joined on Bass so if kinda tied up the first phase of the band really. Those songs are now repackaged on our Psycho Radio album. So we’ve literally grown another member since then and gives our sound a heavier dimension which can only be a good thing.
Q: The new music scene is bursting at the seams with fresh talent, in what ways do you feel that a band has to stand out from the others trying to build a name?
A: From our perspective, we never try to be like, or worry about anyone else. That doesn’t mean we don’t enjoy other bands Cos we do! It’s ok to be influenced by your contemporaries or your heroes but you do it in your own style. If you believe in what you do and it’s from the heart then audiences can see and appreciate that.
Q: Who do you feel is the next band to break out?
A: We’ve been fortunate to play with some brilliant bands over the last few years and some of our favourites are: Panda Lasagne, Bar Stool Preachers, The Spangles, The Yalla Yallas! I hope to see them all back in action very soon.
Q: What are your first musical memories? And what was the lightbulb moment that made you go “I want to do that”?
A: I grew up with music around me all the time as a kid! My Dad used to blast AC/DC, The Who, Sex Pistols, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Motörhead, etc and my Mam liked The Monkees, The Beatles, The Kinks, etc. So I always liked heavy sounds as well as pop melodies. But I vividly remember seeing Adam & the Ants on Tops of the Pops and thinking Adam Ant was like some superhero! That was my first gig my mam and auntie took me to at Newcastle City Hall in 1982. I played drums as a teenager before I learned guitar and didn’t start writing songs until much later. But The Wildhearts and main man Ginger was and still is the biggest influence on me being a singer-songwriter! So to have LoGOz support my favourite band ever last year with my boy onstage, and my two mates was a dream come true really!
Q: What was the last gig that you attended as a fan?
A: The last major gig I saw was ermmmmm The Wildhearts haha at 02 Academy Newcastle in January 2020 with The Backyard Babies! Great night!
Q: What current social issue are you particularly passionate about?
A: We live in strange times right now with a very difficult social issue that’s changed everyone’s lives globally ie the pandemic. I think everyone is passionate about this situation in their own way. Personally, I feel frustrated by the constant uncertainty and confusing messages from the government but I’ve tried to overcome this by keeping as busy as possible with music. I recorded and released a series of #Isolation Demos on YouTube at the start of the lockdown. I’ve performed a free online Facebook Live acoustic stream every Friday since late March with Kieran. Also my other punk poetry band Cherry & Peesh have released new music/videos too. So throughout these weird times, I prefer to channel anger and frustration into being creative. I’m not sure that even answers your question haha!
Q: There is great debate at the minute about whether or not musicians should use their platform to talk about political issues, some for and some against. Music has always been a form of protest, surely an artist has just as much right as the next person to offer an opinion? Or should they “just stick to the music”?
A: I think everyone has their right to express their feelings towards issues they are passionate about! I like to take care with my lyrics but sometimes a powerful lyric can get lost in a tune if you know what I mean? But yes freedom of speech in songs shouldn’t be censored for me.
Q: What album do you have in your collection/Spotify playlist that would surprise most people?
A: I don’t use Spotify I’m quite old school I love to listen to CDS’s and vinyl. I enjoy having a physical product. In LoGOz we seem to play with a lot of punk bands which is great as I’m a big fan of that genre. But I like us to crossover to be accessible to all music fans. We have elements of punk/pop/rock/alternative and metal in there! I’ve always been a huge fan of other bands like Metallica/Guns n Roses/Def Leppard, as well as the Pistols, Ramones, Green Day, Faith no More, Beastie Boys…oh and ABBA!
Q: Although 2020 has been a year to forget, there has been some great music released; what would be your album of the year?
A: Yeah although to be fair I don’t get the time to listen to much new music I’m usually too busy making my own! But The Wildhearts have just released a brilliant new Live album ‘The 30 Year Itch’ and guitarist CJ has just put out his new mini-album ‘Seige’ which is an angry punk-metal attack on the state of the world right now! Great stuff. Also, I’ve discovered a band from 1989 called The Last of the Teenage Idols and their only album called ‘Satellite Head Gone Soft’ which is a perfect slice of glam punk rock n roll. It was like my soundtrack to this weird lockdown summer of 2020.
Q: Who would you class as an underrated songwriter?
A: You might be expecting this haha I have to say Ginger from The Wildhearts. His sheer volume and quality of songwriting is staggering! In my opinion, he’s been writing consistently great songs for nearly 30 years! There’s everything in there from the full-on punk-metal anthem sing-alongs to reflective acoustic moods and everything in between. Definitely, something I aspire to be.
Q: What are your plans for 2021 should COVID ever disappear?!
A: Well we can’t wait to get back out on the road as every band will be wanting to! To travel again and meet new people and play festivals again would be amazing! It kinda seems a long way off at the minute but we have to keep the faith!
Q: How active are you on social media and where can people connect with you?
A: Personally I’m very active on social media you can find me and the band on Facebook @logoz3 and @peeshlogoz Also on Twitter @LoGOzUK1 and @PeeshNE63
