Kenton: I'm deeply depressed, so I feel great. Detroit is shrugging noncommittal fineness to my right.

Jack Bomb: I'm at work, and being mobbed by transsexual grannies

Flash: Well I'm all funked out

SkidMcSkidder: Can I ask - how'd you get the idea for the bandname ist? Is it a Monty Python style pun on Christianity or am I looking too deep for a meaning??

Jack Bomb: Yes

Flash: That seems close enough to be neither right nor wrong-ish!!

Kenton: The istianity came later but ist means lack of prejudice, being the suffix of words such as racist sans prefix

SkidMcSkidder: Ah.. cool

Flash: Ponce

Jack Bomb: That ends in ix

SkidMcSkidder: (Laughs Out Loud)

Jack Bomb: Like twix

Kenton: Plus the tribute band called be pist so that's cool too

Flash: Kenton get with the programme honey

SkidMcSkidder: You formed in 2001 yeah? - how'd you all meet?

Kenton: I had recorded some terrible demos with session musicians and this lot took pity on me..

Jack Bomb: We certainly did

Jack Bomb: And no one else would let me bring my curtains to rehearsals

Flash:: All I'm going to say is blame Canada

Kenton: I had some songs, Jack Bomb had no friends, Flash had an advert outside the toilets of a folk club and Detroit had a brother that I worked for...

Jack Bomb: This is so true . yah ... yeah

Flash: He's such a lovie

Kenton: I told the truth for once...

Jack Bomb: When

Flash: When he admitted to being Canadian

SkidMcSkidder: Heh heh

SkidMcSkidder: You're signed to the Pink Box label how'd that come about?

Kenton: I talked the founder into paying for the first EP with my weasly wiles

Flash: We have photos of the label owner smuggling chocolate fingers

SkidMcSkidder: You've recently hooked up with Mindless promotions - what's the deal there?

Flash: Bigger gigs more money fatter chicks for Jack

Kenton: We needed better promotion. So we got some... Mindless has a nice istian ring to it, me thinks

Jack Bomb: Plus it was the only free email address we could find....

Jack Bomb: "HAHA"

Kenton: Hush. Or we'll have you buggered by Yorkshiremen

Jack Bomb: Mummy?

Flash: What about tits for Kenton never forget the tits

SkidMcSkidder: How'd you find the local response to the ist scene?

Kenton: Openly hostile. We can play. They don't like that round here

Jack Bomb: Haha is there any? oh yes, anger

Flash: Shite they are all jealous of our sporllling

Kenton: They used to love us until we started doing well

Jack Bomb: They did. so now we have a point to make......

Jack Bomb: Kenton.... enlighten them

Kenton: Its called Freudian corduroy. 11 1/2 songs about the consequences of sexual behaviour

Jack Bomb: Or lack thereof

SkidMcSkidder: Is there a lot of rivalry between Local bands in the Leicester area?

Kenton: They know us, they loathe us, they try to be us

Jack Bomb: Yes we are the biggest band in Leicester. Apart from some of the others

Jack Bomb: Yeah, lots of rivalry, shitty attitudes, laziness and pot

Flash: Not enough pot

Flash: Not that I agree with drugs maaan

Jack Bomb: Depends what they are

Kenton: There's talent here. Not much drive. We're slightly more bloody-minded than most. The thought of not making it to a level where people can hear the music is anathema to us... so we do more...

Jack Bomb: And say

SkidMcSkidder: You're spearheading a kind of local band co-operative in the Leicester area - tell me more about that..

Flash: It would work if they got off their fat arses

Flash: Leicester is Yiddish for lazy shits

SkidMcSkidder: Not enough interest?

Kenton: That's a project that's kind of taken a back seat. I'd like to see it roll on it's own merits but motivation, as Flash says, is somewhat thin on the ground at the moment. But we certainly got the scene as a whole paid more attention to...

Jack Bomb: Now there are a few local musicians working with us who we won't mention as I can't be arsed. It's less of a Leicester project now, we just happen to be here. It's still very much a co-operation though

Kenton: It's just expanded to a national co-operative of those musicians who really want success

SkidMcSkidder: Talking about The new album "Freudian Corduroy" it has some great tracks on it - how happy are you with the album?

Kenton: Tell us what you think...

Flash: Very pleased especially with ALL my bits

Jack Bomb: My bits are much worse

Kenton: It's a start. We accomplished what we set out to with this group of songs. The next will be a complete different animal. A Puma, in fact.

Kenton: It's a strong songwriting album. And we learned a lot about arrangement in the studio.

SkidMcSkidder: I'm embarrassed to say I can't name my favourite as of yet as I've only managed to review the CD once since receiving it, but I do dig the latter half of the CD - the moody ballad stuff

Flash: Do ya like the spoon solo?

Jack Bomb: Oi. Don't call me spoon

SkidMcSkidder: Can't say I remember that one! (Laughs Out Loud)

Flash: Bah humbug

Kenton: I formulated a theory today. A band's career is like a relationship and your first album is basically your chat up line. We're hitting on the world. We're trying to get them to notice us. From now on, we have to start saying deeper, more interesting things in the hopes of getting them to put out more.

SkidMcSkidder: Any plans for a national tour to support the release?

Kenton: Yes. We're starting off with some high profile University gigs and then hopefully a bigger tour (UK/Europe) in the New Year

Flash: Yeah get us a gig near you will ya will ya poooleeeze

Jack Bomb: Yes, we're embarking upon SOME national tours with The Crimea and Little Hell. Niiice

Kenton: I agree with Flash. Your neck of the woods have been ignoring us, the bastards

Jack Bomb: Who can blame them. Chat up lines are more sophisticated up there. Pie and a pint doesn't always cut the um.. mustard

SkidMcSkidder: There's been a big clamp down on live music in Shrewsbury - some Nazi councilor has been capping the sound levels in pubs virtually putting live music outta business around here

Kenton: We always need more gigs. We can't get enough of live work... America would be nice...

Jack Bomb: If it weren't so nasty

Flash: And so far away and to near to Canada

Jack Bomb: And called America

Jack Bomb: with all those Americans in it... ugh

Kenton: Indeed. I want to play Ground Zero, but I doubt they'll let us...

Jack Bomb: You're already at ground zero

Flash: I want to play ground beef anybody interested

Jack Bomb: In a manner of speakin'

SkidMcSkidder: So let's talk about the internet and your website..

Kenton: Certainly

Jack Bomb: OK

Flash: Go for it

SkidMcSkidder: So when did the band website appear and who did such a great job of putting it together?

Flash: me me me me me me

Kenton: Flash is a great web designer and Professor Gibson Minsky does all our prose work

Jack Bomb: The internet (not to be confused with the intranet, or indeed, spaghetti soup) is great. We have a website.

SkidMcSkidder: How do you find the internet has helped the ist cause in the way of
new fans?

Jack Bomb: We've managed to alienate even MORE people

SkidMcSkidder: (Laughs Out Loud)

Flash: The site seems to be as old as it was or might be in year

Kenton: I think more people like the website than the band... It's more Spike Milligan than Elvis Costello

SkidMcSkidder: Do you get much interest from international visitors to the site?

Jack Bomb: Muffy Bazookoid from Russia go's on a lot

Flash: People now have a bigger forum to insult each other and you've just got to be part of that

SkidMcSkidder: What about the mainstream music sites? Do you use any of the main indie music resources on the net such as MP3.com, Iuma.com, garageband.com, etc to promote your music?

Kenton: We've held off until now. We have an album we're proud of and we'll use any resource to get it heard

Flash: Bravo

Kenton: It's in the works, in other words

Jack Bomb: As in good idea wish we thought of it

Kenton: That too

SkidMcSkidder: I find MP3.com has been the best forum for my stuff - I've had over 17,000 individual listeners in the last 12 months (shameless self plug!!)

Flash: Blimey

Kenton: It took us until this album to get the recorded work up to the standard of the live work. We didn't want any unrepresentative cuts hanging around until infinity. But we have a damn fine selection now, so... off and out it goes. To the masses, Batman

Flash: OK Dobin

SkidMcSkidder: Cool - so you'll be uploading more songs to the net some time soon then?

Kenton: Within days

Jack Bomb: Yes, when our MP3 man gets off his fat arse

SkidMcSkidder: Want to mention which sites?

Jack Bomb: istianity

Kenton: MP3.com sounds good, recommend any others?

SkidMcSkidder: Iuma.com, garageband.com, kweevak.com, risingmusic.com - there're lot's of good independent music MP3 resources out there

Flash: Anybody taking that down I've got me hands full

SkidMcSkidder: There are numerous - take a look at the SkidMark Mp3 page - there're a few links to various sites containing MP3 other SkidMark listed bands use there

Kenton: It's an area we have to explore more. We've really been concentrating on recording and touring for the last eight months, so this is the big promotional push,,,

SkidMcSkidder: What about internet webcast shows?

SkidMcSkidder: There're plenty of radio shows on the net which LOVE indie music

Kenton: That would be great. Suggest how? We are but men, as Tenacious D has it.

SkidMcSkidder: Well, one of my favourites is www.bumpskey.com based in New Jersey, USA

Jack Bomb: That's Flash's fave too

SkidMcSkidder: 24/7 indie music broadcast

Flash: Kenton get a pen ya bugger

SkidMcSkidder: Even I get played on there! (Laughs Out Loud)

Jack Bomb: Haha

Flash: Cor

Kenton: We're taking it all in... I mean down... er...

SkidMcSkidder: In fact I did a hour & half live show a few weeks back via the 'phone

SkidMcSkidder: Another self plug! (Laughs Out Loud)

Flash: Cor yet again

Kenton: Who's being interviewed here anyway? Ask me something I can give a pretentious answer to.

Flash: How big is your knob

SkidMcSkidder: Okay - how many groupies you taken in one go after a gig?

Flash: Jack had one with 5 arses

SkidMcSkidder: Man! I bet she was full of shit! (Laughs Out Loud)

Kenton: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Kenton: I don't tend to pull after shows. Or rather I usually have to. I have two girlfriends though...

SkidMcSkidder: What's the maddest thing to have happened at an ist gig?

Jack Bomb: I get this award?

Flash: We played

Kenton: Jack got left behind in Cardiff. With no money!

Jack Bomb: And 3 arses

SkidMcSkidder: And that was a good thing yes?

Flash: Bugger came back though

Kenton: I woke one morning with two sprained ankles after falling to my knees dramatically (drunkenly) and falling backwards ala Spinal Tap

Jack Bomb: Wild, man

SkidMcSkidder: Wot? Mini stone henge and everyfink??

Kenton: Also fell down a flight of stairs with a bass amp chasing my head

Flash: Give that man a hat

Kenton: Oh, and Julie Bradshaw... That didn't turn out well either

SkidMcSkidder: Tell me more..

Jack Bomb: Detroit bust another bands bass amp, then we caused a fight and insulted everyone else's girlfriends..... hmmm

Flash: Ha ha ha twaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat

Jack Bomb: Seemed clever at the time

Flash: Always does

Kenton: Boyfriend, Pay For This, the way every woman in my life since hisses her name... nuff said

Kenton: Every. I mean both

Jack Bomb: Every woman... Liv

Kenton: And Kirsty!

SkidMcSkidder: Any subjects you guys want to discuss? I'm running a little dry now (ooh-er!)

Kenton: Ask about particular songs. Look at the track listing if you can't remember the names

Flash: I like the song called Jeff

Kenton: Its an anti-pro Vietnam animal welfare song about veal farming "People talk of baring calves, I'm pain in a crate Detroit Robbins)

SkidMcSkidder: Okay - I see on the site you've done a break down for each track but anyway - Boyfriend - that's a talking point - what was all that about - pretty angry stuff!

Flash: Grrr

Jack Bomb: No it's about a relationship which became so bitter, we tried to eat each other

Flash: Yum

Kenton: Psycho Marine steals illicit girlfriend, beats her up, I make money from it, sleep with girl anyway

Kenton: But meaningful

SkidMcSkidder: Track 9 - who's wallpaper Wendy?

Kenton: Bob the Builder was such a success, Detroit and I wrote a sequel

Flash: A jewish frog princess

Flash: Doh

SkidMcSkidder: Any major plans left for the rest of 2002?

Jack Bomb: Yes

Flash: Beer

Jack Bomb: As I said before, we're gigging a fair bit with The Crimea (Ex-Crocketts) and hopefully Little Hell and Minuteman too

Jack Bomb: That'll see us into next year

Kenton: Get radio play, get reviews, get on the Jools Holland show. Get known, get deal, get happy was a great album

Jack Bomb: Join good band

Flash: Sack singer

Jack Bomb: Oops

Kenton: Kill drummer

Jack Bomb: Turn into girls... oh wait

Flash: Bum killer?

SkidMcSkidder: So finger's crossed 2003 should see the real emergence of ist then?

Kenton: I hope so. We don't deserve it but the songs do.

Jack Bomb: Yeah, we hope so. Things are looking up, we're mixing in the right circles, we feel, and if we carry on touring with these bands, we should eventually get people to take some notice of us

Kenton: We want to be mentioned as great songwriters. We want to become great songwriters... We want Coldplay to die. I want Elvis Costello to like me.

SkidMcSkidder: If there was a mission statement to sum up the ist vibe, what would it be?!

Jack Bomb: ist's mission statement - Beer?

Kenton: It's all about respect for songs that have more class, craft and meaning to them. It's about inspiring the next lot of dysfunctional musicians to become something

SkidMcSkidder: So, do you gig most weekends?

Kenton: Usually. Not at the moment. We're taking a break to do promotional work

Jack Bomb: and Flash wanks

Jack Bomb: Hee hee

Flash: And slowly too

SkidMcSkidder: Cool - I'll have to zip across to Leicester and check you boys out - add to the hecklers!

Flash: Fab

Jack Bomb: Heckler

Flash: Heckler that's a kind of German spaniel

SkidMcSkidder: I'll also ask around local venues see who's prepared to take on you headcases

Jack Bomb: And a roast beef dish for auntie Danielle

Flash: Well spank my muffin

Kenton: We're seldom here, but get the word out. ist and 'Freudian corduroy' are on their way. We're probably in the back of your car with a laptop and a roll of gaffer tape right now.

SkidMcSkidder: No - Lord Lucan's got that spot

Kenton:Kenton: He should try Clearasil

Kenton: I'm being whispered to by the ghost of Kurt Cobain... He says the Vines are a bunch of copycat bastards

Flash: Nah

SkidMcSkidder: Right then boys I'm gonna split and try and make something presentable outta this stuff...

Flash: go and may the forcist be with you

Kenton: Right boys, he's disrespecting us. Put his name on the list. Next to Chris Martin and Noel Gallagher

Jack Bomb: Or at least fascist

Jack Bomb: Or summat

Flash: And remember ist like careful divers

Flash: Yes divers

Jack Bomb: And respect facial equality

Kenton: ist ARE Careful divers

Jack Bomb: Good luck

Flash: Cheers

Kenton: And always, always, compare songs to life-changing experiences involving latex

Jack Bomb: Don't just click the x and delete it

SkidMcSkidder: Thanks for taking the time out to talk(?!) to me guys

Jack Bomb: Albeit gibberish and handycocked spaniel mutterings

Flash: Love and spoons to all

Jack Bomb: Tell Lilly hi

SkidMcSkidder: Later dudes!

Kenton: You know you loved it. Let us know who wins the competition and it had better be attractive women. We'll visit them personally

Jack Bomb: Yes, definitely we'll play a gig in their room

Kenton: A gig in their womb

Kenton: Thanks guy. Now fuck off and make us look intelligent.

SkidMcSkidder: See ya

Jack Bomb: Bye Mark.. thanks

Flash: Bye