Newcastle’s Tired Minds recently released and launched their debut EP via Break Bend. The EP was recorded with Mat Taylor at Scabbey Road Studios (Safe Hands, The Delta Lions) and mastered by the popular Alan Douches in the US. You can grab a copy of it on CD or digitally [Here]. To find out a little more about the band, we caught up with vocalist Ben this week in The Hotseat. Expand this post to check out his answers and stream the tracks while reading.
THE BASICS
Name : Ben Bullivant
Band : Tired Minds
Job In Band : I am the vocalist for Tired Minds
Website Address : www.facebook.com/tiredminds or tiredminds.tumblr.com
HOME
Hometown: Originally we were all from around the area of Wingham / Taree during the end of school; at the end of 2008 when the band formed we decided to head to Newcastle. As a functioning band we were there for a very short period of time. So in essence Newcastle but really it all began around Wingham.
Hometown is best known for: Beef Week
Best venue in your hometown: Wingham, well from what I know had nothing decent venue wise. Taree had the Skate Centre, PCYC and Entertainment Centre and Newcastle has the Cambridge.
Favourite show you’ve seen in your hometown: Oh maybe when Ceremony came through with Carpathian? There were actually quite a few shows that came through Taree surprisingly!
Favourite show you’ve played in your hometown: I would say our first show hands down. We were all so psyched and nervous. At the time we thought there were a lot of people and all our mates were there.
THE BAND
How did the band first come to exist? I love remembering this! Me and Paul had been in a few bands together beforehand which didn’t work out all that well. We were after something we could create from scratch. So we started writing a few things together and then set about getting our mates on board. We told Isaac we were going to be like Mars Volta and Liam we were going to be a punk band.
How long has the band been going? From late 2008. Although we’ve had quite large amounts of inactivity between then and now. We like to think we are little bit more active these days.
Any particular story behind the name? I guess it was a product of my thought process at the time. That and just trying to fit words together that were relevant.
What’s your most recent release? Tell us a little about it… We just released a self-titled E.P, with all the songs written over a span of a few years. We recorded with Mat Taylor and Mitta Norath and had it mastered by Alan Douches. Both Mat and Mitta were really rad to record with, relaxed, on the ball and straight up.
Got a personal stand out achievement of your band to date? I would say just doing a run of shows down the east coast with our mates Postal; we got to meet a lot of cool people and bands in a short amount of time. Almost forgot the CD we just released! That too.
OFF THE STAGE
What was your first introduction to music that made you think seriously about playing it? I would probably say when I became mates with our guitarist Liam. When we used to hang out and listen to punk in his bedroom.
Any particular band / album or song that you personally credit as a major influence? I can’t say it reflects any of our music but I remember first hearing Botchla and Nerdy by Poison The Well and both those songs blew my mind. And Illusion over Despair by The Broderick is rad.
Your first band name, and what style did you play? Oh man, That would be S.O.H and that comprised of breakdowns and screams. I played guitar (I can’t play guitar).
Most prized music related item you own? I really don’t have any that I can think of. Maybe my guitar, which is my dad’s. Which I should probably give back.
When you’re not doing band related stuff, what are you usually found doing? At the moment you can find me getting by with my Uni degree.
The thing you most look forward to just before a tour is… I would say playing in places we never had a chance too before.
The thing you least look forward to before a tour is… Maybe leaving my girlfriend, money and how much sleep I’m not going to get.
ON THE STAGE
When on offer, what’s your one must have item on the rider? If we ever hit the big time, maybe cold coke (the beverage!) beer or dinner.
Favorite place you’ve toured… and why? We had a blast when we played in Melbourne, we got to relax, explore and we stayed at our mate Isaac’s house. They were extremely generous to about 10 smelly guys over about 3 days.
Most memorable show you’ve played? and why? Maybe our first show or our E.P launch. They have both been really memorable highlights in the time we have been a band. From just being able to play a show at all and now being able to release a CD and for people to come and watch us play it.
Got a favorite song to play live? For me that would be Dreadful or Fresh Apples.
Any embarrassing on stage moments come to mind? Not too many big ones. Paul knocking over a fold back and me falling over it. My fly being un done for a set. And maybe dry wretching on stage….hoping that just looked like I was singing.
Any pre-show rituals? For me just plain old nervousness.
What do you find is the hardest aspect of touring in a band today? Hmm maybe money. And I feel like options for venues are decreasing.
RIGHT NOW
Last song you listened to? “Desire” from the new Gaslight album.
Last album you acquired? Probably “Confidence Man” 7 inch by Night Hag.
Which band or album is currently on high rotation? New Gaslight Anthem, Frank Ocean, Birds in Row and The Broderick.
Tell us an up and coming band or artist you think we should go and listen to right now? Lenin Lennon, Safe Hands, Enviktas, Inhale The Sea, Postal, Trigger Mode and Wallow. There’s a bunch more I just can’t think of them all.
What’s on the cards for the next few months for the band? The rest of the year sees us playing a few more shows to end the year with and then when October and November comes some of the guys are heading to Europe and the States to Travel for a few months.
IF ONLY…
You can pick any one album for your band to cover in full, what would it be and why? Hmm that’s tricky. Maybe Poison The Well. I think I just love the progression between every song across all of their albums. I think it’d be pretty fun to do.
You can pick any one band / artist to cover one of your albums in full, what would it be, and why? Well our friends Simon and Luis in the nerd core rap extravaganza known as Spandex Moose recorded a spandex-moosed version of an old demo. That was an interesting listen. So I’d like to see how our new CD would go under the hip-hop juggernaut known as Spandex Moose.
One band you wish you were able to see live but never had the chance? Oh man that another tricky one. I’ve been thinking about the Give Em The Boot DVD with Joe Strummer on it. So maybe Joe Strummer covering Bob Marley. I think that would be a pretty cool experience.
One venue you have yet to play that you would love to? That I have no idea! Any cool venue outside of Newcastle that we haven’t played at. I heard Yours and Owls in Wollongong is cool!
The chance comes up to fill in for a member of a band for one tour, which band would it be, and why? Maybe Parkway Drive. Travel the world and play to thousands of people. Sounds good to me!
A headline tour overseas comes up; tell us two bands you’d take along to support your band. I think maybe Postal and either Enviktas, Inhale The Sea, Safe Hands, Lenin Lennon…. There’s so many more to name! There are a lot of cool bands floating around unnoticed in Newcastle.
PLUG TIME
Got any final words? We have just released a CD via Break Bend so visit breakbend.com or the Break Bend facebook. You can find us on facebook.com/tiredminds . Also listen to Safe Hands, Postal, Inhale the Sea, Enviktas, Safe Hands, Lenin Lennon and Trigger Mode.
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