There's no stopping the flourishing scene in Derbyshire. The latest of the new breed to come to our attention are Long Grass. Four lads who wear their influences on the sleeves of their polo shirts and keep their ska shoes firmly on their feet. They are: TJ- Bass and Lead Vocal Dom Hague-Guitar Sam Birtwistle-Guitar Moody- Drums, Backing Vocals You can check out their excellent tune “The Purist” as well as three other live songs “Nevermind”, “Louder Than War” and “Sun Don't Shine On Me” at http://www.myspace.com/longgrass . Rob Massey put some questions to them. When did the band form? November 2004
What are your main influences?
Josh[drums]...''The jam, the strokes, the undertones and kings of leon have all been big influences in me wanting to play music.
Tj[bass]... ''The jam, the clash, The smiths...[morrisey is a big hero of mine]...and the new indie scene is pretty strong...''
Dom[guitars]...''Punk and indie based influences...the new indie sound and old school punk records...''
Sam[guitars]...''As long as the music is good in its own field...there's no genre's just good and bad music...so little bits of everything influences me...''
The music scene seems to be strong in Derbyshire. Tell me a bit about it.
Tj...''Its a good time for british guitar music generally...and i think with the help of the turn it up project and fleet arts, bands in derbyshire that are good enough are really getting a chance to shine...''
Sam...''Yeah...turn it up has a big influence and gives talented young people a chance to express themselves...''
Do you have a main songwriter or are the songs collective compositions?
Tj...''The earlier stuff was more of a joint effort...but in the last six months since its become more serious ive been writing the large majority of the material...the rest of the lads bringing their own indivual style to round off the sound.''
Is there a story behind The Purist?
Tj...''The purist is about how people make themselves out to be completely immune to what other people say...and how quickly people turn and blame each other for their own faults. I had a raw song and a bassline and the lads just added atmosophere and their own input.''
Thats impressive behind the head guitar playing on your video. When did you learn to do that?
Sam...''Well i didnt really practise it...it was just something that came to me...and i used to enhance the song and our performance...''
The music scene has undergone a renaissance over the last couple of years. Which bands have impressed you?
Josh[drums]...''I really like the new dirty pretty things album...Reel Big Fish are a fantastic live band.''
Tj [bass]...''A lot really I really like milburn, little man tate and we are scientists...The newest Kanye west album is pretty good...KlaxonsMetricits all good.''
Dom[guitars]...''The american kinda modern rock...eg the strokes and green day..''
Sam...''I've just discovered ''the pink spiders'' and their new album ''teenage graffiti''...and im impressed by that, due to the sound they produce with only three people...''
If you had to pick one crucial record, what would it be - and why?
Josh...''Divine madness by Madness...because there isnt a bad track on it...''
Dom...''The first Clash album...because it inspired me to play guitar in a band...''
Tj...''All mod cons by The Jam...King Weller at his best...''
Sam...''Jimi Hendrix - Axis bould as love...because it defined a generation and was a huge influence on my guitar playing...'