Feminism is...
Home > Music
Most images copyright Steve Fisher |
The Smears – Deliverance
Genre: Girlpunk, grunge
The Smears are an all-girl tour de force from Nottingham that have treaded the boards with bands such as the Buzzcocks, Uk Subs, ex L7 The Shocker, Get Cape Wear Cape Fly, Just Jack and are now taking on bigger crowds in their own right. They're cute. In a guttural punky doo-wop dogfight kind of way. Download an MP3 and read the interview...
Likened to bands from The Gossip to Nirvana, the Smears are a girl gang playing raw and genuinely unrestrained punk. If you want to delve in, 'Deliverance' is their fiercest track so far. And they've given it to us so you can download it, legally, for free!
"Whisper it for the moment but the UK punk rock scene is currently at it's healthiest for about three decades, and there's not even a safety pin in sight or a jubilee on the horizon. Instead, the likes of Gallows, Lovvers and Nottingham all-girl trio The Smears are kicking up a whole different kind of fuss thanks to a combination of ballsy attitude, chaotic unpredictability and of course, a spittle drenched barrel of tunes."
Drowned in Sound 2007
The Smears Interview
Phill Huxley got to interview the Smears for the BBC (Read the full interview here) and the results were (ahem) positive:
There seems to be a lack of British all girl punk bands around compared with 5 or 10 years ago - would you agree?
Colette: There is a lack of British all girl bands full stop - where are you?
Emma: I don't think there are enough signed girl bands and only very few can represent those who can play well. You know a label once said they would sign us but if we could play like the Raincoats! Have you heard them? Anyway, yes, I agree. I think there is a lack of progressiveness in people's views. Girls are girls, boys are boys so what? You know some feminists really like men... some men like feminists. I'm not sure if I care.
The music industry is generally dominated by middle aged men - advantage or disadvantage?
Colette: An advantage in that we stand out from the crowd being all-girl, yet you still get people who'll write you off before they've heard you just cos you're female.
Emma: That's kind of a discriminative question. When people start asking that to Westlife then you'll know there has been a move forward. Ask Bloc Party, see what they say...
To an uninformed observer like myself, the DIY underground scene appears to be thriving...?
Emma: The D.I.Y scene is where everything great comes from! People appreciate those who have worked at their craft. Oasis go straight to the charts because, even if you don't like their music, people can see integrity and worth in them because they work for it. It's important. Business, comedy, art, whatever... people have more respect for those who have come from grass roots because we all have to work for something. Manufactured bands can be fun but they are never going to have the life and death of real bands.
Nat: There are a lot of decent bands out there with little or no money that are not getting the recognition they should, because they are a poor band. I suggest everyone try and make it to at least one gig a month and support this underground scene. Stop paying big sweaty club owners and pay the bands.
Tell us about the Eastrogen Extravaganza
Colette: We organised it alongside Firebrand (of Leicester) and the Mothers (of Derby).
Nat: It went down a treat, and were are thinking of putting another tour on... I am thinking of calling it "Now that's what I call Eastrogen Extravaganza 2" or "Eastrogen Extravaganza Extra"...
What do you think about illegal MP3 filesharing? Would you be annoyed if everyone just downloaded your tracks for free without buying them?
Emma: Yes, I would. Would you be annoyed if you you bought really great Christmas presents for everyone you know and on Christmas Day they gave them to you instead and expected you to happy? Totally ruined your surprise and left you with nothing. But people who really love bands want the whole package. Having the CD/T-shirt/poster in your collection has a different feel to it. Its not going to stop people going to gigs and buying T-shirts and showing they love a band. Its that type a thing that can forge friendships. Basically I don't think I've made up my mind. I'll let you know...
Colette: Obviously you have to draw a line when it comes to this, as a lot of time, effort and money goes into recording tracks, but I think the Internet is a key way to promote your band and your music. We have a couple of MP3s on our website for people to download in order to get a taste of our music. After that, people will just have to buy our CDs if they want to hear more.
There seems to be a lot of manufactured punk bands around at the moment...your thoughts?
Emma: I'm just sick of manufactured bands full stop. Manufactured punk made my blood run cold when it first happened, you know all those 'punk' T-shirts and everything, but it's for the drones and little kids so it's not to be taken seriously. For some people it might have been the lead to finding some really good bands and that can only be a good thing.
Nat: Pffffttt... idiots.
What about Charlie from Busted now being in Fightstar? Should he be welcomed into the world of punk - or should he be kicked back to pop where he belongs?
Emma: I think almost everyone deserves a chance. Fightstar I don't really know to much about. I saw them on some show on TV and they were really out of tune. Anyway, no-one is EVER welcomed into the world of punk! It's a fight. So no! No open arms for Charlie boy.
Where will The Smears be in five years?
Emma: Older, wiser, a few albums better off... I don't know!
Colette: Hopefully rich, travelling around the world playing gigs.
Nat: Hell yeah! And I am hoping there will be mini Smears and I want to grow old and wrinkly with these two girls. I want to see Em falling over her zimmer frame from one too many gin and tonics...
Who is your favourite TV detective and why?
Nat: Colombo, he's got that cheeky grin...
Emma: Danger Mouse! He was funny, naked, always on a great adventure and his voice was done by David Jason.
Colette: Inspector Gadget, he was cool!
Further links
