MORE ABOUT THE BAND: The Clash

2016

BAND INTERVIEW: BEANS ON TOAST WITH JAY MCALLISTER

Music and politics have gone hand in hand for years, with artists such as The Clash and Billy Bragg using political and controversial lyrics to attack the establishment since the 70s – but it didn’t end there. Today, young artists are becoming more and more politically aware, and are using music as a platform to inspire the future generations. Among those artists is Beans on Toast, fronted by Jay McAllister, who confirmed that the band name fits well because “it’s cheap, easy and English, and who doesn’t like Beans on Toast, eh?”

Currently hitting up the states on tour with his new album A Spanner in the Works (available from December 1^st), I managed to have a quick chat with Jay in-between his time gigging, pre gig ritual drinking and exploring New York City. When I asked him how things were going, he replied “Great! I’m currently in the US for 5 weeks, touring and drinking, and spending my time talking about Donald Trump with like-minded people in veggie cafe's” which then lead on to ask why he titled his new album ‘A Spanner in the Works’, and in his own words “it is referring to the phase – fucking things up”; which inevitably means it’s time for change. Noticed for being an openly topical lyricist who sings about politics, war, drugs and love, I wondered whether the front man realises that his music has a substantial impact on his audience, however the folk music singer told me “I take it with a pinch of salt, but I do believe in 99% of my songs”, he goes on “ It is extremely important to talk about movements, thoughts and feelings that are happening at the time, it’s just a simple way to change quit a lot”, and this definitely doesn’t go unnoticed in his new album.

Singing about current affairs, one track really stood out – ‘The Drum Kit’ – where we are introduced to the issues facing the music venue industry. Intrigued, I asked Jay what his thoughts where about this, in which he replied “I used to work in a music venue, I know what it is like, noise licenses can be tough, but I don’t think music will go anywhere.” Obviously an issue very close to his heart, the Beans on Toast singer goes on to speak of how “the pressure should be on how we can open new music spaces, as well as clinging onto the old ones because that is just as important”, and he’s not wrong!

I asked Jay where his love for music came from, and what inspires him the most, in which he replied “my parents are my inspiration. They’re music lovers, my dad’s into country music and my mum is huge Beatles fan, but my influence to write comes through my thought and feelings and life itself.”

Beans on Toast - 2016

With his UK tour coming up, Jay told us “I’m looking forward to get going, I love touring”. Playing at Sheffield’s most iconic venue TheLeadmill on November 24^th, the band are “extremely excited to get back to Sheffield after a long stint away”, noting “ we don’t underestimate the power of playing a gig, so we will be mixing up the line up with new and old tracks for everyone”.

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, by moreabouttheband

1977

MY TOP 3 FAVOURITE SONGS: STAY FREE - THE CLASH (2/3)

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, by moreabouttheband

1992. motorcycle emptiness

MY TOP 3 FAVOURITE SONGS: MOTORCYCLE EMPTINESS - MANIC STREET PREACHERS (1/3)

I've been rummaging around a lot of other music bloggers websites recently trying to find inspiration and well I felt this was one of them mandatory things you should do for your blog readers; except I've started to actually think about it and it is really fucking hard to decide. I knew however that they would obviously come from my 3 favourite bands; Manic Street Preachers, The Clash and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.

Here is my number one.

1/3: Manic Street Preachers - Motorcycle Emptiness, Generation Terrorist

OK, so I lied a little, this one didn't even take me 30 seconds to think about. I joke to everyone that this is my life song but really it is not a joke. This is the song I want to get married too, have children too and even die too... and probably have it playing at my funeral also. And what is more it was released in 1992, the year I was born!

Generation Terrorists - Manic Street Preachers

1992, and many would have deemed the thought of a young British band such as Manic Street Preachers delving into arena rock as odd, especially during the pop concept. In those days the Manics looked cheap but beautiful, and their music depicted every characteristic they owned.Generation Terrorists, the album from which we first heard Motorcycle Emptiness, walked a weird line between punk rock, romantic melodicism and glam, with the lyrics so obviously patterned around politics like that of The Clash and Public Enemy.

The Manics living in Blackwood, South Wales, a place where I imagined to never really have a huge connection with music, especially in the 90's. A place where I imagine to have lacked in life, and not just because of poverty, but because of the independent feeling of not mattering and the dead industries. Motorcycle Emptiness was the introduction to their punk rock roots, and the first and best shot they had to restore revolution to rock and roll at a time when Britain was hugely dominated by techno and acid house. 'Under neon-loneliness/ Motorcycle Emptiness', the perfect soundtrack to paint that iconic picture of the flat, ignored landscape that was Blackwood.

Manic Street Preaches - 1992

The whole album was a portrayal of the bands personal and political views, developing a connection between global capitalism and personal struggle. Track 4, Motorcycle Emptiness screams power and resentment. A track that was purposely written to criticise consumerism as an empty dream that makes human life overtly commercialised; describing how young people are expecting to conform. And that is why I fucking love it. 'Living life like a comatose/ Ego loaded and swallow', it doesn't get much more real than that, and this was the 90's. Let's take a look at today, the 21st century and we are more commercialised and drawn into consumerism than ever before.

This song moves me to the brink of tears, no matter how many times I hear it. And why, because in all 5 minutes and 02 seconds of its endless guitar licks and solos I find myself realising that everything I need I already have.. and that I definitely don't need to buy another pair of shoes.

'This happiness corrupt political shit'

Motorcycle Emptiness - Manic Street Preachers

I wanted to include a video at Glastonbury 2014, when the Manics came on stage and blew the crowd away opening their set with this iconic track. I was there, and it is easily the best moment of my life so far. The sun set and atmosphere was beautiful and the live version was ever better.