| All About: My Psychoanalyst | 1ST EVER GIG: May 2004 at the Bless OUR INFLUENCES ARE... My Bloody Valentine Pixies The Smiths The Jesus and Mary Chain Joy Division |
As far as easy-going goes, it doesn't get as laid back as My Psychoanalyst. Genuinely nice people who make decisions as spontaneously as they perform (the singer decided to flip-jump off the stage twice during their set because it seemed like a good idea) they are entertaining without being formulaic, they don't take anything too seriously and luckily, they haven't succumbed to their own hype. The name 'My Psychoanalyst' they say was chosen from an Alan Ginsberg poem called 'Hell.' "We just thought it sounded quite cool." says 20-year-old guitarist and vocalist James Machin, while bass guitarist Callum Holmes, 19, ventures "But we were worried it sounded a bit emo." The drummer, Tom Ward, 19, has had to leave for work but the remaining pair reflect positively about this year's Ponce, despite Callum not being able to remember much of it. James though distinctly approves of Friday's performance by You Judas. Asked to describe their own band's music, they agree; "Noisy." Before James adds "And 'poppy,' in a strange way." Callum sums it as "It sounds like Kevin Shields and 'Thirst and More' throttling Morrissey & Marr."
 | | Tom Ward, Callum Holmes and James Machin |
The band has been all over recently, including gigs in London. The best gig remembered by Callum though, was "Sheffield in that squat - that was really good, the sound was good and we had loads of fun." This year he says the plan is "To carry on playing really shambolic places." They note however that the next big step could perhaps already be upon them; "We signed a management deal with some people in London. Its doing what we're doing but on a more national scale. At the end of the day, its all about playing songs." The deal involves the management scouting for new locations for them to perform, with an emphasis on London, vital of course in the quest for building an audience. They even have an album 'I need radical back-up' available at Derby's Reveal Records released by 'Cowboy Democracy Recordings' earlier this summer. | "It sounds like Kevin Shields and 'Thirst and More' throttling Morrisey & Marr" | | Callum Holmes on their music |
If the plan doesn't work though, Callum says "I'd be a carpenter, because Jesus was a carpenter and it all worked out for him." James says thoughtfully "I'd be a pilot or a cowboy." and Callum changes his answer to "I'd be a sailor so I could do the entire YMCA - or a policeman just so I could have a gay uniform." Pursuit of these alternative career paths will have to wait a little longer though; with another gig just outside of London before the month is out, the future of My Psychoanalyst looks to be right on track. | 
