Interviews: BARRELHOUSE

We have had the opportunity to interview the Swing Metal band BARRELHOUSE from Australia. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or came out just like that?

A Barrelhouse was a drinking and dancing establishment during the swing era so we thought that represents us fairly well.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

Our last project together (Nescient) was a lot heavier and faster and to be honest, we were just getting too old to play death metal! We wanted to write music that was fun, groovey and play metal that people can dance to. All of the boys are fans of swing-revival bands like Royal Crown Revue so we decided to add a swing vibe to the riffs and it actually worked so welll and that became a big part of our writing process.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

Pip, Alex and Jim played in Nescient together for around 8-10 years and are all great mates who work amazingly together. Jacob joined 2 years ago when we were changing our direction and has been a welcome addition ever since.

4. Each band member favourite band?

Jim – Jamiroquai. No, seriously: they’re the shit. Favourite local metal band is Decryptus from Murwillumbah.

Pip – Linkin Park.

Alex – Whoretopsy.

Jacob – Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, Bloodbath and Slipknot.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Jim: It’s usually just a spark in the jam room. Someone will play a line or a beat and it snowballs. The lyrics I write for the band are either tongue in cheek (there’s one coming soon about Hank Hill) or about my failed romantic life. There is no in between.

Pip: I write songs based on what I see and and experience in my own everyday life. So I would say life is my biggest inspiration as far as song writing.

6. Where was your last gig?

Our last gig was at the Gollan Hotel in Lismore back in June supporting Emotion Killer and Level H with brutal locals Scourge of Suffering.

7. Where would you like to act?

Somewhere big and outdoors like The Riverstage in Brisbane.

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

Frank Sinatra if he was still alive. We would open the pit the fuck up for him before he came out.

9. Whom not?

Can’t think of anybody with whom we couldn’t make it work. Maybe Kanye West. 

10. Any of you has ever suffered from stage fright? Any tip for beginners on how to beat that?

We’ve all suffered stage fright in the past, especially when you first start performing. It gets much easier with experience but there are always nerves present before a show. The day you stop getting nervous is the day you don’t care about it anymore.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

For Barrelhouse we’ve drawn inspiration from swing-era and swing-revival big bands and tried to capture that vibe in a metal quartet. Metal visionaries like Diablo Swing Orchestra and Trepalium who were doing the swing-metal thing before us are also big inspirations.

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

If we wanted to buy some cocaine. Canberra is wild.

13. What do you think of your fans?

Our fans are amazing and super supportive. We’ve been slowly growing and meeting new friends every show we play and the response from people has been overwhelming.

14. What do you think of our site?

It’s really cool and you guys are doing great work! Anyone who supports and promotes local music is a friend of ours.

15. Something to add?

We’ll be releasing one new single every month for the rest of the year so keep a look out for that. Let me know if there's anything else you need!