Last Updated on January 7, 2024
Originally published in Beat Motel issue 4
Charlie Brown are like a breath of fresh air (to use a very overused clichÈ). They have the swing of Ben Folds Five with the punch of something far darker and heavier. I thought it was about time someone sat down and tried to figure out what the hell is going on.
BM: So who are ya? Whatcha do?
Joel: Drums
Jo: Bass, Becky is missing somewhere
BM: How did Charlie Brown come about, have any of you been in bands before?
Joel: I was a few high school projects that never did much and one bizarre and rather polite jazz ensemble. Charlie Brown is basically Becky’s fault, she wanted me and Jo to help her out with a gig. We played a few of her songs, then wrote a few of our own, and that was it.
JO: I think Joel hit the nail on the head. I guess Becky started the ball rolling.
I’ve been in the odd high school adventure, and a dinner club with Jim (from All or None) but sadly we’re having trouble getting out of the bottom room.
BM: What are your plans for recording? What do you think you can offer on CD that nobody else has so far?
Jo: We’ve got odd plans for recording but nothing major yet. We’re too unorganised. And why, we can offer free smarties of course =) but no holding me to that.
BM: How are songs written? How prolific are you?
Joel: Generally, we jam and just see what comes out, or Becky will have an idea which we turn into a song. The music and vocal line get done in about ten minutes. Then the songs sit around waiting for lyrics to be written for them for about 3 months and when none get done we get bored and play them live anyway. Sometimes we restructure songs after we have played them live a few times. so at the moment, our output of songs is fairly slow.
Jo: We don’t write half as much as we probably should.
BM: What’s the big plan with Charlie Brown, what achievement would make you feel all the hard work has been worthwhile?
Joel: we all seem to have pretty different plans, id be really chuffed if we made an album at some point. We played some cool venues around England. I would also love to play around Europe. I think whatever happens, it’s been worthwhile. The gigs this year have been wicked.
Jo: A world tour and sell-out album. While signed to an indie label ahem Nah, just knowing that people enjoy and appreciate what we’re doing is awesome (and not cheesey at all…)
BM: Tell us about Becky’s radio show
Joel: I’ve never listened to it. It’s not that I wouldn’t but my computer doesn’t seem to accept the existence of real player.
Jo: Not really listened to it much but they play some good stuff. I hear that Charlie Brown are worth a listen.
BM: Any parting shots?
Jo: POW
