Remember last month, when Upset teamed up with Fluffer Records for the fourth edition of all-dayer, Custard Thruster? With IDLES headlining and fab bands like Nova Twins and such further down the bill? Housed in an industrial unit in East London, over a dozen new bands played all afternoon, from 1pm right through ’til 3am. There was even a BBQ.
Well, the party doesn’t stop there. This weekend (Saturday, 10th December) marks the fifth instalment, with headliners God Damn, as well as And Yet It Moves (Ex-Amazing Snakeheads), Yowl, Dead Coast, Dead Pretties, Dressmaker, Average Sex, Dolls, Savage Mansion, Mush and The Das.
God Damn’s Ash Weaver glances up from the football (“one of my favourite pastimes”) to dodge questions about the band’s top secret 2017 plans.
It’s been a little while since we last spoke – how have the past few months been for you guys? What’ve you been up to since ‘Everything Ever’ was released?
We’ve done a lot of touring off the back of the album. Immediately after the release we went on a UK tour in support of Red Fang and Torche, and then straight away went over to Europe with Frank Carter And The Rattlesnakes for three weeks. Aside from that, we’ve been rehearsing a lot for our upcoming December shows.
Was the record received as you’d hoped? Do you feel like people ‘got’ it?
Absolutely. We haven’t finished yet, but so far it’s going really well. We’ve only given you one single so far, so there’s plenty more to come from us.
Aside from the album, how has 2016 been for you guys? Any particular highlights?
It’s been good; there’s been a lot of planning towards the album, and a few tours to boot. Main highlights have been releasing the second album and getting our first daytime Radio 1 play, which was pretty insane. We still have two big headlines to end the year on, Custard Thruster in London on 10th December and the Hare and Hounds in Birmingham on 16th. I’m already counting these as highlights before they even happen, that’s how excited I am.
Are you looking forward to Custard Thruster? Any bands on the line up you’re especially keen to see?
Yeah, I really like the set up they have there, the last one we did for them was great and the line up this time around looks amazing. There are so many great bands it’s hard to pick out just one or two to mention. We will be filming a live video during the set too, so it will be good to look back on and see everyone losing their minds.
Do you get a break over Christmas? How do you relax after a busy period?
We will get a little bit of time off over the Christmas period, but not too much as we like to keep busy. It will be nice just spend time with family, hang out with mates and just be ‘normal’ for a bit. Drink too much, eat too much, and make the most of home comforts while we can.
Will God Damn be buying each other Christmas presents this year?
We don’t really bother with presents. Ever since we’ve known each other, it’s always been a mutual agreement. We prefer to buy each other a pint instead.
You’ve just confirmed for Download – have you many other plans for 2017? Any dates for the diary?
There’s plenty of things being talked about, but nothing we can mention yet, all I can say is that we want 2017 to be our biggest year to date. We already have Download UK and Spain in the diary which is very exciting.
If you could choose one thing to do or achieve next year, what would it be?
It’s always hard to choose one thing, so I will say we would like to do it all again, but bigger and better.
Are there any albums or returning bands due during the next twelve months or so that you’re especially looking forward to?
I reckon 2017 will be a good one. I can’t wait to hear new stuff from QOTSA, one of my favourite bands of all time, they never fail. Frank Carter And The Rattlesnakes have a new album coming out too, which from what I’ve heard so far sounds great both on record and live. I’m looking forward to what Liam Gallagher is going to do as well, say what you want about him, but I think he’s class.
