Saturday, 8 November 2008

Reemer Interview – Newcastle Metro Arena. Saturday 8 November

If gongs were handed out for enthusiasm, then Reemer at the start of their first major tour would win easily. I caught up with the band at the Metro Arena before the second night of the tour with McFly.

Bassists Max, drummer Dan, guitarist Nick and singer Dave are holed up in their dressing room doing rounds of press interviews, however spirits are high. The band’s ringleaders Nick and Dave explain that there is great buzz about the tour and it is an “amazing experience” even though it is only the second night. Max is the listener of the group- gauging the conversation and then weighing in with a crafty comment or funny line. Dan on the other hand is the nub of the jokes- he said so himself. On being asked who the worst dresser is the band agrees than Dan is the answer. Dan amusingly agrees promoting Nick call him a hero and then sadly admit he is the least hygienic of the group. The band continue in this fashion throughout the interview, regaling stories about Nick being willingly tied to tree for an hour by the others or that he also owns a lovely pair of mousse slippers (which I had taken from the tour bus and presented to him) . This openness between the member rubs of on everyone around- nevertheless, as a band they are together, focused on their goal of being bigger than Busted.

There is a great unity between them stemming from their time at school together. However, the band only formed four years ago, along the way there have been fights with the band admitting “this is the first time they’ve seen” each other since the previous night- with tongue firmly in check.

Manchester is home for the band is big influence on where they are coming from. They are fans of the Manchester music scene especially the Ting Tings. For them they what they aspire to be- “alternative poppy vibes” which is “accessible”. Nick explains “its good healthy competition” and “you can’t helped but be inspired” by what is happening in Manchester and across in Liverpool. Quizzed whether they could beat The Wombats in a fight, the band come over all timid saying they are “soft” and The Wombats would win. When asked about the sports scene in Manchester, Max slinks off- Nick wades in with “Jean Claude Van Damme’s is your (Max’s) biggest sporting hero and acting hero” to much laughter. Although playing Newcastle this evening, the gig in Manchester is the big one for them- the sense of expectation is massive even though the gig is not for a few weeks.

Despite it only being the second night of the tour, the band has found McFly to be “horrid” which is quickly retracted and that actually they are “one big family”. Nick quips that “it’s only the second date, they’ve got be nice”. Sadly because it only the second night they have not got any dirty on the McFly boys, however they said they “would come back” to us when they tour next February. As the conversation continues, we hear the sound of girls screaming as the McFly tour bus arrives. They all admit they want the success although they want the girls behind the fence or iron gates- yet more of Reemer’s humour and general japery roars around the room.
Tea drinking is name of the game for Reemer along with bisect eating and frazzles crisps. There are no airs and graces, just four lads at the start of a magical mystery tour into showbiz, girls and music.

George McSorley 

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