The bad joke that ended well play a garage rock, psychedelic and blues infused music with incredibly energetic shows. Playing on 60’s garage and psychedelic influences such as the 13th floor elevators to The Monks as well as influences ranging from Tom Waits to The Black Lips. This is the bands second record, the first having been released a year ago and having a country twist to it. The band play with a distorted banjo at times that ads to the diverse sounding garage feel. In the line up is also guitar, bass, drums and organ. The new album which is self titled has 8 tracks on it which range from ‘I’m not there’ a full blown carnage of a garage punk rock song to dance of the dead being a sombre guitar led blues piece. The band are based in Bristol, UK.
01. How did you get started in music?
We started off as a three piece playing in our home. I was playing (Alex – singer guitarist, banjoist) drums with a bass drum on one foot and a tambo-shoe on the other. Theres only so far you can go with that so we got drums in and eventually some organ.
02. Where did your direction come from?
I used to be in a band called Ballbag Express and the Marching Band where we played country rock and blues. We had a banjo playing with distorted guitars and I liked that so I just carried it on to this band. Now were dropping the banjo a bit more because we think we’ve exercised that instrument enough. Thats kind of where it started. That and boredom.
03. Who are your major influences and inspirations and who do you despise?
Honestly we all like very different music. I personally take a lot of influence from old 60’s garage as well as a lot of psychedelic stuff. Obvious bands such as The Doors, 13th Floor Elevators and Love influence me heavily but do much less for other members in the band. In-fact our drummer hates The Doors. I’m also a huge fan of the new garage movement happening mostly in the States. Bands like Ty Segall, The Back Lips, The Growlers, Demons Claws, Mikal Cronin, The UFO Club, Night Beast etc. As I said we take influence from a lot of things. When I grew up a listened to a lot of grunge as did Mat. John and Edu enjoy some electronic music and Jason loves 80s power rock. I take big influence from the likes of Tom Waits and Elliott Smith as well as old blues like Blind Willie Johnson and Mississippi John Hurt. I could go on forever so I’ll stop!
04. What inspires you to make your current type of songs and sound?
Theres quite a good movement going on with garage music right now and I feel we havnt had a rock n roll movement for a while. I like the idea of being able to go out and watch bands knowing your more likely too see something good than bad because everyone riding the same wave. Saying that though were not playing this type of music for any other reason than thats what comes out when we play. I love it and I love playing it live. Theres a lot of energy in it and alcohol to fuel it.
05. What can someone who has never seen you live before expect from your live shows then & possibly even now?
Were not good looking. We got very energetic shows. In-fact we had a couple of slower songs that we’ve axed from the set because people loose attention unless your constantly on some high octane level. Were constantly making new songs and testing them at shows so that you shouldn’t get bored from hearing the same thing over and over.
06. How do you begin your songs? What types of themes and subjects do you deal with?
Generally I write a skeleton of a song and bring it to the practice room and we see what evolves. Other times something just comes out of nothing while were practicing. As for themes. This album has a lot of mountains and alcohol in it. The last album was more about the end of the world and mountains. I guess theres more in there but its up to the listener to interpret it as they like.
07. How has your music evolved since you first began playing?
Its moved on a lot from me in front of my computer with a banjo, guitar, tambo-shoe and cardboard box. There was a country influence thats all but gone. I still like the stories but im not aiming on a folk or country song in any sense or form. We also had some accordion in there for a while. That was interesting. Its pretty much straight forward psychedelic garage rock now… maybe with some blues thrown in.
08. What has been your biggest challenge? Have you been able to overcome this? If so, how?
Recording. Money and money. We want to record and release more but it costs money. I’ve just started a record label and were releasing our current record on vinyl that way. I had to work a lot to pay for it but its the only way it’ll happen. As for overcoming it. No. Were nearly ready to record the next album and I have no idea how were going to pay for it.
09. Do you play covers? If you could pick any song, which would you like to cover most and why?
We’ve never done a cover and I don’t think we’ve got time for them. It takes long enough practicing our own songs let alone someone elses. I think we played Whole Wide World by Wreckless Eric once in practice. That was good. We’ll cover that. Either that or Primitive by The Groupies or I’m a Man by Spencer Davies Group. I did want to do that The Bag I’m in by The Fabs but Ty Segall just covered that.
10. Where did you envisage being in five years time?
Hopefully about 10 records down and earning more than enough money to keep on making them.
11. Who would you most like to record with?
Tom Waits or Steve Albini.
12. What should we be expecting from you in the near future?
Sell some records, play some shows, record the next record and do it all again.
Links
Facebook: thebadjokethatendedwell
Website: the-bad-joke-that-ended-well
Sound cloud: the-bad-joke-that-ended-well
Record Label: stolenbodyrecords
Photos by: Harry Rook
“Heavy drug addled blues, booze soaked rock ‘n roll perversion. These dudes are keeping the English tradition of the fuzz drenched face melt alive. Do yourself a favor and buy that shit!.” – Al Lover (San Francisco Producer)
