Charlie And The Ghosts

by Andrew Jackson on 2.11.08

Charlie and the ghosts haven’t been around for long, yet they are already impressing a lot of people and promoters in Manchester. Playing venues such as the tiger lounge, night and day, the thirsty scholar and the ruby lounge, it just seems to be getting better and better after each gig. This may be helped by the fact they offer something a little different from your generic indie band. More on the lines of the ‘yeah yeah yeahs’ or ‘long blondes’ meets a harder northern punk. It might also help that the lead singer who is a girl, isn’t just there as a front person, indeed, everyone in the band has an equal footing and it’s really comes through when you hear them.

How the 4Q doing?
Adam: Good Thanks
Dan: Great
Alison: Joyful
Romano: Pretty good

How did the band get started?
Ad – It was Dan really. Over last summer he started writing some tunes. When we got back to Uni, me, Dan and Romano started getting a band together. It was a couple of months or so with just us three.
D – We tried to find a singer but there was so many before we found Alison
Al – It was New Year when I decided I really wanted to join a band. I thought to myself, “Come on you’ve got to do it now”. I went onto the internet and saw an advert for a singer with these guys. There were 3 or 4 others I found in Manchester but I thought these were the best musically out of all of them. “There’s no chance I’ll get in” I thought, “I’ll go for it but there’s no chance I’ll get in”.
R – It was around February that we got together as Charlie and the ghosts and had our first gig in March.

How would you describe the music style of Charlie and the ghosts?
R – Good question
Ad – A bit like surf music but more indie
Al – I think it has a strong punk feeling as well

So would you say punk is your main influence?
Ad – Yeah definitely, but I think we have all got different influences by coming from different parts of the country
D – I think the dead Kennedys have influenced us quite a lot. My dad is well into his punk music so that’s why I like playing punk.
R – These two have already been in a band (points to Adam and Dan). When they asked me to join, I wasn’t sure what I was getting into.
D – Oh, cheers man
All – laughs
R – They seemed to play more punk so I thought I’d be playing just that as well. It feels like it has more of a groove to it now though.
Al – I think I’ve probably brought a pop element to it.

Does the music influence the lyrics?
Al – I think the music does. What we tend to do is the tracks first and then put vocals through it and develop the lyrics

So did you have tracks initially ready before any vocals?
Ad- yeah a few
D – I had about 3 tracks already written
Al – when I joined we spent some time putting lyrics together.
Ad – we had a couple of ideas knocking around but it wasn’t until Alison’s input that we could see the direction we wanted the band to go in.
R – We all like to contribute equally in all areas. If somebody has an idea we’ll work around that and change the music or lyrics here and there.

Where do you do your recordings?
Ad – we a quite lucky because studying music at Salford Uni we get free rehearsal space and studio time

What gigs have you played so far?
Al- thirsty scholar, tiger lounge, ruby lounge. We played at night and day with the mutineers who we were really impressed by. Their music is really good and they are really nice guys
Ad – ‘In the city’ was a big event in Manchester that we got chance to be a part of. We played the Sunday night at dry bar.
D – We’ve built up a nice relationship with promoters, especially at the tiger lounge.

So you’re getting interest from promoters?
R – Considering we are a pretty fresh band, we’re not doing too badly.
Ad- we pestered people for our first couple of gigs but since then, literally, after the back of each gig there’s been an element of progression with better gigs being offered.

And what about those who come to see you play
Al – A lot of people have been quite surprised, especially friends. After they’ve seen us they say things like, “actually, you’re pretty good”.
Ad – I don’t think many people expect a band to be fronted by a girl to have the kind of sound we have.
Al- they think we are going to be like no doubt or the ting tings.
R – We hear back off people after the show that, “I don’t really like a band with girls singing, but I like you”, it’s a nice compliment I guess. I don’t know why people might think that, whether it’s an observation on the way the music industry is or just the fixed image of the typical ‘rock band’ not having a female vocalist.

What would you say was big in Manchester at the moment and do you think your style of music fits in with the Manchester scene?
Ad: From the bands we have played with there seems to be a big folk scene in Manchester
R: I think we fit in. We are a little different but that makes us noticed. There are so many bands you see once and never see again.
Al: I like to think we stand out a bit more than other bands. We have been told that, but on stage you might get a feeling but you never really know till after.
D: Coming from Reading, I’m used to the softer style indie bands. Manchester seems to have more choice and I think that bands that offer something a little different do a lot better here.

Where would you like to see yourself this time next year?
Al: I’d like to tour. I don’t know if its sounds realistic, we haven’t been around long but it would be nice to play the unsigned stage at Leeds and Reading
R: It would be nice to stay in Manchester and get known better. It’s given us some great opportunities so far.
D: It would be nice to play back at home in reading. I don’t want to move away from Manchester any time soon though. I think it’s the best place for any new bands.