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UK-based trio Zilch. play a mix of melodic and aggressive music with influences spanning from the 70’s up to present day. Consisting of Thom Dewhurst (guitar/vocals), Cal Neathway (bass), and Crag Sharpe (drums), the trio recently released their killer new single ‘Misgiven’ and the guys were on hand to talk us through the early days of the band, as well as what to expect when cranking up some Zilch.
What are the origins of the band, how long have you been playing together?
Cal: I’ve known Thom since about 2006 when we were teenagers, we played terrible music together back then and we’d been wanting to do it again. Crag and me jammed a lot together and gelled well. It just fell onto place and we started jamming in 2018.
Thom: Like Cal said, we played together in a terrible band when we were teenagers. I had a jam with Crag not long after he moved to Worcester and had no idea who he was and I didn’t see him for a few years. I joined his band, Navajo Ace, for a few months, and then when that ended, we started this.
What should people expect when they check the band out? How would you describe Zilch.? – sidebar: it must do your head in that every time you type the band name, complete with a full stop, autocorrect instantly changes the first letter in the next word to a capital letter – or was that your plan all along, to ensure that people never forget the name, Zilch.?
Cal: I’d like to think they can expect catchy melodies mixed in with a decent level of fuzzy heaviness. Basically, the heavy/poppy grunge thing.
Thom: The full stop thing was just a design decision, there was never really any intent behind it – we just liked the way it looked.
We like heavy music and pop melody, so some sort of amalgamation of those 2 things is what we aim to deliver to people. The closest we got to showing our fragile side was “Strangers” on the “Cigars & Diazepam” EP, but it hasn’t happened since. Time will tell though.
How did you feel performing your first gig as a band, and how was it?!
Thom: I remember being really nervous, but it was so great to show people what we’d been working on. All of our songs were still in their embryonic stages at that point, so things sounded and felt different. I just love playing, so I had a lot of fun.
Cal: It was decent. I’d been off stage for a few years so was mildly nervous. The first show was in our hometown supporting Dobermann from Italy so we dragged our pals out. There were more cover songs back then to pad the set out.
The new single ‘Misgiven’ has just been released, really cool choon! Very light and poppy in places, and killer, sharp riffs in others; what was it about ‘Misgiven’ that made you pick it for the first Zilch. Music of 2022?
Cal: We picked it originally to release as a standalone single because a lot of the other new material is heavier, but then we thought we’ll just whack it on the next EP anyway.
Thom: Timing was what really made it the first release from us for 2022, but it worked out great for us. I think it sounds quite different to our other releases, so it was nice to release it at a time when everyone is reflecting on change.
The single deals with mental health struggles, the artwork for the single is very simple, but also very effective: who came up with the concept?
Thom: Our good friend, Christian, over at Antidote Design Company does all of our artwork. We were struggling to think of anything, so we left it in his very capable hands and it turned out great. I think he took some inspiration from Sunny Day Real Estate and the kind of illustrations you get on safety cards and it’s just very bold, which is what we were aiming for.
Is ‘Misgiven’ indicative of what the other new material that you are working on will sound like?
Crag: No. There is a lot of dynamics throughout our material. We like to get melodic but we also love a heavy tune here and there.
Thom: I think in terms of the way our sound has developed, yeah. But, like Crag said, our love for heavier styles of music hasn’t dwindled at all, so there will still be heavy stuff on the next EP.
In what ways has the band grown since the debut single in 2018?
Crag: Hair has grown. Ball sacks have lengthened.
Cal: I think how we write songs hasn’t changed very much, but maybe we trust our instincts a bit more. We’ve got more self-belief now when we’re gigging in the sense of, we’re comfortable just letting go and getting roped into the song.
Thom: I think we definitely pay more attention to the writing process. We go in and tweak small things, try out different things, etc. We have more open discussions now too, which has been detrimental to the way we write and play together. We’ve always been honest with each other right out of the gate, but it feels a little more constructive now.
In terms of a similar audience, which band out there at the minute do you feel you would be best suited to open for?
Cal: Probably Dinosaur Pile Up, Metz, or Tigercub from the newer bands. From the old guard maybe Dinosaur JR, Mudhoney, and Alice in Chains.
Thom: I’m going with Cal’s answer on that. DPU and Tigercub are 2 of my favourite bands.
Crag: With the struggle of getting gigs these days I would open for anyone.
Excluding yourself, which new band would you like to see break out and become a success?
Cal: In terms of a band who is right up my musical street, I’d say Queen Cult who we played with a few weeks ago. They’re killer. Some of our pals in Hipflask Virgins, Mukow, Nuns of the Tundra, and Plane Crasher are all great.
Thom: Queen Cult, for sure. We played with them and LibraLibra recently and they were both incredible. I’d like to see both of them go on to do well, and I’m sure they will.
What are your own first musical memories? And what was the lightbulb moment that made you go “I want to do that”?
Cal: The earliest songs I remember hearing on the radio are ‘Monkey Gone to Heaven’ by Pixies and ‘Kiss from a Rose’ by Seal. I think the first time I heard the Sex Pistols and asked my family about them and the vibe of just picking up a guitar and doing it, THAT was what made me want to give it a go. If they could do it, why can’t I?
Crag: Hearing music at home at a young age from the likes of Beatles, Stones, the Police. I tried guitar. I sucked. My friend started playing drums and asked if I wanted to take up lessons. So, I tried it and it was like an instant addiction.
Thom: My first time would have been Madness – listening to them made me want to play saxophone, which I never ended up doing. Listening to bands like Korn and Slipknot when I was around 9 years old got me really interested in guitar-centric music and it kind of went from there. I was tone-deaf when I was younger too, so it’s great that I get to do this now. I actually had to have an operation due to how bad my hearing was, so I’m very grateful that I’m able to write and play.
What was the last gig that you attended as a fan?
Thom: Too long ago for me to really remember, but I think it was CKY.
Cal: Christ, I’ve been quite slack and Covid hasn’t helped so I think it was Bloodstock last summer. Any gig that has gone ahead sells out really quickly now.
Crag: Bloodstock festival. Lots of bands. Lots of memory loss.
What current social issue are you particularly passionate about?
Cal: It’s a very broad answer, but it boils my piss at how the western civilizations treat the world in order to get a quick quid. From the destruction of the natural world, biodiversity, and the environment to the way we shit on people and countries in the global South to further ourselves. Also, fuck the Tories.
The album that you have in your album collection/Spotify playlist that would surprise most people?
Cal: Maybe Highasakite ‘Camp Echo’. I just love Ingrid Håvik’s voice. It’s Norwegian synthy pop but is quite downbeat almost. ‘God Don’t Leave Me’ is my favourite.
Thom: Probably Björk or Duran Duran.
Crag: Probably a John Mayer album or a guy called Brett Dennen.
Although 2021 was another year to forget, there were some amazing new albums released, what would be your album of last year?
Cal: Tigercub – ‘As Blue As Indigo’ narrowly beats Gojira ‘Fortitude’.
Crag: H.E.A.T – Heat II. Phenomenal.
Thom: Tigercub “As Blue As Indigo”, by a mile.
What does 2022 hold for you?
Crag: Another EP recording and hopefully some gigs.
Cal: Hopefully loads of gigs, a second EP to be recorded and released, maybe a music video to be hacked together.
Lastly, David Bowie would have been 75 this year, so many special Bowie highlights to choose from; but what would be your favourite Bowie era?
Thom: The world has slowly been going to shit since he died. Musically, I think I’d have to go for “Aladdin Sane” just because it’s such a rollercoaster of an album. Image-wise, it’s got to be “Station To Station” – The Thin White Duke era. The dude looked suave and did some amazing shows.
Cal: I have a lot of respect for Bowie, but I’m not a fan. We used to do a cover of ‘Suffragette City’, so I’ll say that era.
Crag: ‘Let’s Dance’ album. Front to back incredible.
Connect with Zilch. here.
