Following a short set at Sunday afternoon music & comedy showcase, ‘The Electric Sound Cafe’, Marcus Erridge caught up with Foxes’ songsmith Nigel Thomas at The Bedford, Balham, for a quick chat.
The set itself was a tightly formed collection of well polished tunes. From the strong EP ‘Depression, Joy And A Moment Of Fame’ came the first of their work to be produced by John Cornfield; ‘Get Me’, ‘No Reply’ and the cracking indie fizzer ‘Something About You’. The intimate setting of the Bedford saw The Foxes re-jig a couple of tracks to a more acoustic, stripped back form, which Thomas described as “less punky than our earlier stuff, with a more relaxed feel that helps bring the vocals out”. This worked especially well on the unreleased gem ‘Sweet Little Wonder’.
The Foxes came sharp-toothed from rehearsals at the remote Sawmill Studios in Cornwall, which is set amidst woodlands in an old sawmill, next to a deserted train track and only accessible by boat. This special setting has clearly had an effect on the band: “It’s extremely secluded” says Thomas “and it really helps you focus on the music”. Having released their own singles on DIY label ‘Room 10 Records’, Thomas added that the band learned a lot in setting up their own record label: “it acted as a helpful stepping stone”. The Foxes are now looking to work with a bigger label to help with “one big push” for the album.
The earlier, spikier Foxes sound is still alive and Thomas spoke of the story behind their ‘Bill Hicks’ single of 2009. The song was inspired by the classic Hicks skit on music, in which he compared the relative merits of New Kids On The Block to Jimi Hendrix, and extolled with visceral bombast, that bands should “Play from the fucking heart!”. In order to gain permission to use Bill Hicks’ name, the band wrote to his family to ask permission. Little did they expect the response they received. A reply came back from Bill Hicks’ family saying that they enjoyed hearing the song, and thought Bill would have liked it too. In London, for the Movie premiere earlier this year, the band even met up with the Hicks family, who continue to keep in touch. “It was a massive compliment” added Thomas.
After being invited to play a couple of benefit gigs in South Carolina and Hawaii, the Foxes decided to hire a van and equipment and set up their own mini US tour, hitting New York, Dallas and New Orleans along the road, and appealing for a free place to crash at the end of each gig. “Everyone was so warm and friendly…we found somewhere to sleep every night, with one band in Austin even handing us their fee!”
Having worked their socks off for the last couple of years, and meeting Richie Havens, swapping CDs with The Zombies and playing the Isle of Wight festival along the way, the Foxes seem to be riding on a wave of good karma. Recording the debut album is heading towards an autumn completion, and judging on the strength of their live set and the EP, The Foxes seem to have a bountiful collection of upbeat melodies and purposeful blues-rock riffs to choose from. If it’s negative karma you’re after, then try arranging a fox hunt on the London underground at rush hour. Bad juju.
