The Fins - Voltcase interview

Alternative rockers The Fins complete the Voltcase 'top ten' questions in our latest music feature. Click 'read more' to check it out!

The Fins new album, 'And when you get to the end...', is available now. Packed full of traditioanl fist-in-the-air turbo-charged rock'n'roll anthems, you can listen to samples of this Voltcase-approved album on their website: www.thefins.co.uk

Hey, welcome to Voltcase, how are things!?

Lawrence: All good! About to go panic buying in Morrisons.

Rauf: Great, we’ve got a new album and it rocks!

James: I just bought my first King-size bed, so I’m in a reasonably good mood. But tomorrow is a different day!

Paul:  Fine thanks, our debut album has just been released and I’m looking forward to the festive holiday and a well earned break.

Ryan: Pretty hectic and looking forward to what’s potentially round the corner.

So, how would you describe your music to a stranger in just three words?

Lawrence: Monstrous intergalactic rock?

Rauf: Police eats Megadeth.

James:  Something completely different.

Paul: No holds barred.

Ryan: Explosive dynamic rock.

For someone that has never listened to you before, what one track would you recommend that they check out to first, and why?

Lawrence: I think any of the album would be good, but for instant jumpy catchy appeal I would head straight to Concrete Shoes. The surface of the song is catchy, underneath the darker meaning would hit the listener... assuming they were listening!

Rauf: Ouroboros: If you aren’t stunned into silence then we’ve wasted our time.

James: Ouroborus… clever, original and makes you want to punch your best mate in the chops!! But then say sorry afterwards...

Paul: Oroborus it shows the band at its best on full throttle.

Ryan: Ouroborus, if you don’t like this, you won’t like any of it.

What music are you guys listening to at the moment? Any new bands out there that you think we should check out?

Lawrence: Bumped into The Stanley Blacks in a recording studio the other day, their new album is sounding ace, they hadn’t done the vocals yet though!

Rauf: Bad Religion, Biffy Clyro, William Shatner. New bands that you should hear? Aren’t really good new bands banned from the radio? Cos that’s how it seems.

James: Oasis B-Sides, Subways, Florence….nothing new…although we played with a band not so long ago called The Thirst who I listen to every now and then.

Paul: I am a massive blues fan and was a bit slow to find this guy but I have just discovered C W Stoneking. He's a young Australian who transports you back to the 1930's.

Ryan: Wombats

So, what’s the most rock’n’roll thing to happen to you while on tour?

Lawrence: Running into a glass door at full pelt and smashing my eye open. That was a highlight. After banging my head I don’t remember any of the other moments.

Rauf: Stealing the fuse from our acoustic guitarist’s straighteners…

James: Lots of things…there was this one night in Bolton... I really shouldn’t say… ask Ryan. Other than that the lead singer of Reverend and the Makers just after heavyweight champion of the World came out asked me for a fag and offered me 50 pence for it... to which I refused.  Also spending an entire evening and morning with Bez from the Happy Mondays... that was an eye opener.

Paul:  Too much detail here may result in my arrest.

Ryan: Nearly getting shot by police marksmen.

To date, who are the coolest people that you’ve ever toured or played with?

Lawrence: The Rifles, Supergrass, Reverend and the Makers, I will let someone else fill in the rest. The LEAST COOL.....Alphabeat, in one of the Barflys, to about 10 people.

Rauf: The Fins, complete bunch of loveable idiots…

James: Rifles were nice, Supergrass were awesome but Mani from the Stone Roses was the coolest. He was carrying an Asda bag and yet he still commanded everyone’s attention, liked him a lot.

Paul: We played a warm up set for Mani from Primal Scream and being a Massive Stone Roses fan it was a dream come true. The man oozes cool.

Ryan: All of the above, Bez Happy Mondays (not that he knew what day of the week it was)  and Young Knives.

Do you believe in the supernatural? And, if so, have you ever had any personal ‘spooky’ experiences?

Lawrence: I firmly believe. Plenty of spooky experiences, but you just wouldn’t believe me.

Rauf: I don’t believe in ghosts, but I think there are no such things as coincidences so I suppose you could say that I think there is stuff going on under the surface that we can’t quite understand… yet

James: I do to a degree but no… never.

Paul: What a strange question. No and no.

Ryan: I’ve seen two ghosts so I guess yes.

If you were interviewing yourself, what question would you ask yourself? And what would the answer be?

Lawrence: Q. If you only had one gig left ever, who would you want to play with. A. I think Muse would be the best, I would hang up my sticks with a smile IF I HAD TO.

Rauf: Q. Why the fuck do you still bother? A. Because If I don’t no one else will.

James: To myself? Q. Are you happy? A. Most of the time.

Paul: Q. Are you out for a drink later? A. Yes I am!

Ryan: Q. What Festival would you most like to headline? A. Glastonbury.

If you were stuck on a desert island with only one album, what album would you chose?

Lawrence: Racecar is Racecar Backwards – Reuben. That album has something for everyone I think.

Rauf: Del Amitri – Twisted.

James: Oooh, tricky one, cause different albums mean different things at different times. Stereophonics, Word Gets Around.

Paul:  Muddy Waters live at Newport.

Ryan: Adam and the Ants, Kings of the Wild Frontier.

And finally... what do you think the word 'Voltcase' means?

Lawrence: Highly Charged Head Cases?

Rauf: The German way of saying fruitloop! Das Voltcase.

James: The European word for Flux Capacitor.

Paul: Someone who is addicted to electric shocks.

Ryan: Someone who’s been struck by lightning.