The Hoosiers Interview

The Hoosiers are not a normal band. Their rider consists of hummus, nuts and raisins, fruits, red peppers, pitta bread and water. The customary bottle of Jack Daniels stands to the right, but as far as I can tell, it’s untouched. Upon commenting on the randomness of the spread before us, we receive the reply that touring for weeks and eating rubbish makes them fat - so now they ask for the healthy stuff.

Introducing themselves are Irwin (vocals and guitar), Martin (bass, guitar and more instruments than you could fit on a page: ‘Grade 8!’) and Alphonso (drums). The band are chatty and in a great mood; maybe something to do with the break that have just had prior to playing this gig in Newcastle - they did the festival season in Belgium.

As we entered their dressing room, we noticed lots of furry amps on the stage. What’s with those, anyway? They decided that lots of bands had big amps on stage, and decided to dress theirs up. The furry ones are Yetis, and now they have a robot They’re getting a bit bored of the Yetis now, though, and want to change the general theme.

The next thing we do is enquire into the origin of the name ‘Hoosiers’ (and who doesn’t, apparently). At first Alphonso is indignant, claiming that we should have done our research (the reason is on their MySpace). After a brief pause, they decided to explain anyway! Some of the band spent time in Indiana, which is known as ‘The Hoosier State’. The band then go on to say at least they weren’t in ‘The Wanker State’, but choose not to elaborate, and we don’t ask (some things are better unsaid).

In keeping with the Freshers’ Week theme, we asked them to talk a bit about uni and their own Fresher’s experiences. Well, Martin didn’t go, Irwin did Performing Arts and Alphonso did Creative Writing. According to Irwin, if you remember your Freshers’ Week, you probably weren’t there. This may be because he missed his, as some of the band were still in America, and he only arrived as lectures were starting ‘after a change of heart. We decided to go back England and not spend another 3 years in the States’. So maybe his statement was more to do with absence than drunkenness (but he had a point)!

We then ask the band to tell us something they have never said in an interview before. This usually produces amusing/interesting results, but the exchange below was one of my favourites.......

NSR: Tell us something you have never said in an interview before.
Irwin: CUNT! I’ve never said ‘cunt’ in an interview before!
NSR: Doesn’t he normally swear?
Band: Not normally
(pause)
Band: Oh.... the Hoosiers aren’t touring. We never say that.
Irwin: I’m sorry for swearing... in front of girls as well!
Band: The Hoosiers are shit!

Even if the only thing you have heard about the Hoosiers is this interview, it’s fairly easy to tell that they have a good sense of humour; their blog is fun to read, and Irwin appeared on Never Mind the Buzzcocks a while back. So what we wanted to know was: how does this humour relate to, and influence, the songs? Irwin explained that whilst they take their music seriously, and their lyrics try to include themes that are important to them, they don’t particularly take themselves seriously. They know they are ‘pop music’, but in doing this, you can also make real music. Some of their songs have ‘misogynistic lyrics’, and they laughed as they said that a few would never get played on the radio (as opposed to Goodbye Mr. A, or Worried about Ray, I guess!).

In addition to this, they state films & books as their influences, as opposed to ‘one band’, or just a couple of things. For life, Irwin says that Alexander Bell is his hero, as he invented the telephone. ‘A telly and a phone all in one! Where would be without it!’. They would love to support The Flaming Lips!

Their tour manager comes in, apologising that they have to go to a different interview now. I ask if there is anything else they would like to say? We have to all go to the gig they are playing in November. They know where we live, and will find us... Also: ‘Stay in school!’

The Hoosiers: Gentlemen, intelligent, talented and amusing. Not entirely un-insane. What more can you want from a band?

Katie Ashworth
Solveig J. Werner
Kate Edwards