2 August 05                                     [news index]

PRESS: Metrolite has published an interview with The Black Tulips and a review of our recent Hope & Anchor gig.

Here is what we say in the interview:

Metrolite: Tonight was your first major gig as a 5-piece. Where did it all start?
Alexandra: It was me and Tris, doing it PJ Harvey style - big guitar, big voice, quite aggressive. We played at The Pleasure Unit and Dublin Castle, and did guerrilla gigging on the beach. But I really wanted a band.
Tris: I didn't.
Alexandra: Tris didn't, he was very resistant for a long time. He doesn't like people at all.
Tris: No, Asbo man! But then I softened in my attitude.
Alexandra: I used to beat him.
Tris: And then these guys (Barny, Heidi and Ulysses) turned up. It was a beautiful thing.
Heidi: We did, we did! I basically just went to see them at The Pleasure Unit, and I was like (pulls excitable look of bafflement) 'What, you need a bassist?'

Metrolite: How did tonight feel to have your first proper headline show?
Heidi: Great actually, it was such fun!
Barny: I couldn't stop smiling, I was trying not to.
Alexandra: And I could dance with people for the first time, I could go into the audience and dance with girls.
Metrolite: Japanese ones.
Alexandra: Exactly! And boys - I can take them or leave them...
Metrolite: You'll have all the groupies next!
Alexandra: No, not all of them.
Tris: Leave some for Barny.
Barny: Boys?
Heidi: No, just girls! Or whatever floats your boat.
Tris: Also, when it was just two of us, we both had to work much harder, to hold the attention, when we were both continually performing, so it was just kind of nice to have more space.
Heidi: I had a brilliant time jumping around at the front.
Alexandra: I got bashed by both guitars.
Tris: It's like a double-sided phallic attack.

Metrolite: Your website informs me that you are special - what exactly is it that brings you together and reaches your audience?
Heidi: I think it's a love of glamour and drama, and good music. We all love dressing up.
Alexandra: And we mainly share a love for certain.
Heidi: People like David Bowie...
Alexandra: And Morrissey, and people like that.
Tris: Tears For Fears! But when we were out playing as a two, it was alright, but the other bit that these guys bring. It just feels so good playing - since from the first time we tried it.
Barny: I was always in the audience.
Alexandra: Barny was so devoted a fan that we had to include him.
Heidi: We booked this gig for seven and a half weeks after our first rehearsal, so we've only been practising that long, but we thought 'Fuck it, let's do it!'
Tris: But going back to the special, the thing is, I'm not gonna be specific, but most people don't go far enough to write good enough songs, they don't perform well, or give a shit how they look. Generally I'm not the biggest fan of bands; it takes a lot to convince me.
Alexandra: Most people don't make the effort lyrically, or can't.

Metrolite: What are your songs about, as you've said it takes a dictionary to unfold them?
Barny: I was whispering words I don't understand (in We The Lonely Ones).
Alexandra: (berating Barny) You know what simulacra means!
Barny: Hmmm... (unconvinced)
Alexandra: 'Lie Detector' came from watching a girl sitting opposite me on the rain, talking to her boyfriend on the phone, saying 'you're always lying to me, I don't know what you're talking about, lying to me... I love you.'
Tris: They're about the classic things, like sexual dysfunction, depression, death, love gone wrong, fights.
Heidi: Ice cream vans.

Metrolite: The name Ulysses is from a Greek myth; and the black tulip is something of a mythical wonder, so if you were a mythical creature, what would you be and why?
Alexandra: (very excited) VERY GOOD!
Tris: I'd be the one that every time you cut off its head, it grows two. What's that?
Alex: The Hydra. I'd be Medusa.
Barny: Minotaur's a good one.
Heidi: Barny's a Minotaur... I'll be a unicorn!
Tris: I'd quite like to be Zeus.
Metrolite: That'd be almighty! How about you Ulysses?
Ulysses: Care Bear.

Metrolite: Anything else you'd like to add?
Barny: (deadpan) I think we can only get better...

And this is the gig review:

Supporting band to The Black Tulips, Cousin Luke, is apparently fronted by Jack Black, accompanied by Yogi Bear on bass, and topped off by Iggy Pop on drums. But before you run a mile, LISTEN. This threesome rock like a beast! Even if their faux-american accents give them a little emo tinge – they are heavy enough to satisfy, and light enough to hear quite intricate melodies. Really rather quite good stuff going on here in the Cousin Luke department.

The Black Tulips are looking spectacular tonight, looking like they've stepped out of a particularly elegant horror film. Bassist Heidi is sporting an excellent Bowie style fedora hat – this is a band who obviously takes style into serious consideration.

In short, their music sounds a bit like PJ Harvey beefed up, on a collision with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Tris and Barny pound away on their guitars, whilst Alex invites a girl from the audience to come hither, and kisses them on the hand. Then we are witness to an amazing transformation of this quaint, eloquent lady, becoming somewhat possessed when she sings – stalking the stage, daring you to look her in the eye, and frankly terrifying the shit out of everyone. They glamorously storm through their songs with a focused determination, the audience are mesmerised and petrified. Especially when Alex delivers what can only be described as a bloodcurdling scream.

Splendid stuff.

 

earlier news

31 July 05 PRESS: SoundsXP has reviewed The Black Tulips EP...
31 July 05 Alexandra has prose ('Play Dead') and a poem ('The...
27 July 05 GIGS: We will be supporting New York's Schizo Fun...
22 July 05 PRESS: Vanity Project has reviewed The Black...
22 July 05 We are very sad to announce that we will be...
21 July 05 PRESS: Unpeeled has reviewed The Black Tulips EP...
15 July 05 PRESS: Organ Magazine has made The Black Tulips...
15 July 05 RADIO: Plan B have been playing Just Keep Coming...
15 July 05 New pictures from the secret gig in Brighton on 12...
12 July 05 TONIGHT! The Black Tulips play a secret gig at...
6 July 05 Heidi is in the new Heavy Trash video (Jon Spencer...

30 June 05 The Black Tulips return to the Pleasure Unit Bar...
29 June 05 PRESS: Feral and diseased we are, apparently...
28 June 05 The Black Tulips are back from Glastonbury and...
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18 June 05 RADIO: The march of The Black Tulips continues...
10 June 05 Talk in hushed tones on the new Black Tulips...
8 June 05 An almighty week: an incredible rehearsal...
6 June 05 Quick, only a few days to go to catch Laura Guy's....
6 June 05 The Black Tulips will reveal themselves at the....