Band Interview: Miles & The Chain Gang
Games, Brrraaains & Head-Banging Life are pleased to bring you an interview with rockers, Miles & The Chain Gang.
1. How did you get started as a band?
Miles: I met Alan and Billy and Tim through a series of coincidences between May and September in 2018, meeting at open mic nights in York. Me and Billy (drums) and Tim (bass) played together for the first time in September 2018. It felt really good. They’re a very experienced rhythm section. Tim played in lots of soul and rock bands over the years, everything from Tex Mex to disco. Billy toured with the Stomp! theatre show. He likes to experiment with different sounds. Alan can play bits of jazz and country. It really helps to have those different elements in the band.
2. How would you describe your sound?
There are different influences: new wave, 80s pop, soul, country and singer-songwriter. It’s a mix of things. All sorts. For me, it’s really about good songs. Billy and Tim then put a different spin on things with their playing. It’s refreshing. A bit like Talking Heads – good songs but with all those other influences coming into the mix, taking it somewhere new.
3. What bands/artists would you say have influenced your style of music?
Everything from The Jam and The Rolling Stones to early Van Morrison, Del Amitri. A bit of Blondie. A bit of Springsteen. A bit of Pink Floyd. Bob Dylan. Just a real mixture. Again, it’s about songs. Good hooks and (hopefully) engaging lyrics.
4. Has the rise of YouTube & music streaming helped or hindered you as a band?
It’s a huge bonus for us. We haven’t played that many gigs. We got our first video on Youtube in February 2020 for ‘When It Comes To You’ and 700 people have seen it (as of June 19th 2020). That’s not many in the scheme of things but it’s our main outlet. Far more people have seen the video than have seen us play live, so far.
5. What do you enjoy doing when you’re not making music?
I present a radio programme on Jorvik Radio in York – The Arts Show. That is good fun. I write a lot, too. Poetry, fiction and bits of journalism. I like to walk and cycle. A bit of tennis. Friends. Cinema. I love films. A dark room and a chance to escape. I’m always working on something, so those moments of distraction are really good. Billy likes to cook and does a bit of martial arts. Tim is a good photographer and likes going to air shows. Alan just loves playing guitar. He does this version of The Doors ‘Riders On The Storm’ which is jaw dropping.
6. What are your future plans musically? Tours?
I would love us to tour but it’s really hard to project into the future at the moment. It could be a year before we play regularly. At the moment I want to focus on recording music and getting videos out there and trying to build a following via social media, Facebook and Youtube. It may be a year or two before a tour happens. We will see.
