The Drums are a new rock band to emerging from NYC. They have been tipped for big things in 2010 by numerous publications, both in America and the UK (NME, BBC etc.) Their style spans a plethora of eras, amalgamating into classic rock/pop songs that mirror their cool and breezy image. This month they will be part of the line up for the NME Awards Tour and they have also been named as the support for Florence and the Machine’s tour in May. I interviewed Connor Hanwick aptly the drummer of ‘The Drums’ and here it is!
HTF – Hit The Floor
HTF – Hi! How’s it going?
HTF – How and when did The Drums form?
CH – The Drums began when Jonathan and Jacob began an exchange of images, songs, and emails. When Jonathan moved to Florida (where Jacob was living) They started writing songs. Then they called me (Connor) and Adam to join the band and we started playing shows constantly in NYC. It was cool.
CH – Well, yeah… You grow up looking at alot of these publications, They’re iconic. Rave reviews are great from anyone anyway.
CH – Stay in school and don’t do drugs, or drop out and do lots of coke.
CH – My favourite thing about the UK is, I suppose, the history of it. culturally I mean. I have always been obsessed with the music that has come out of Glasgow, London, and Manchester over the last like 60 years. The worst part of it for me, personally is that
HTF – Because of your song ‘Let’s Go Surfing’ – some are dubbing you as a kind of 50-60s surf-rock group, but it’s clear you draw from many influences, with a sound reminiscent of 80s alongside other eras. What bands have inspired your music the most?
CH – Umm, not necessarily in this order, here’s a list:
CH – The idea of that is absurd. But we would all go with C) because if I couldn’t have my hair, I’d just go for the ‘disgusting’ look.
Shockwaves NME Awards Tour 2010:
Thursday 4th February – Newcastle O2 Academy
Friday 5th February – Glasgow Barrowland
Saturday 6th February – Manchester Academy
Sunday 7th February – Leeds O2 Academy
Tuesday 9th February – Nottingham Rock City
Wednesday 10th February – Norwich UEA
Thursday 11th February – Birmingham O2 Academy
Saturday 13th February – Cardiff University
Sunday 14th February – Bristol O2 Academy
Monday 15th February – Brighton Dome
Tuesday 16th February – Bournemouth O2 Academy
Thursday 18th February – Portsmouth Pyramid / Portsmouth Guildhall
Friday 19th February – Cambridge Corn Exchange
Saturday 20th February – Brixton O2 Academy
Mon 22nd Feb – Southampton Talking Heads (headline show)
Tue 23rd Feb – Oxford Academy 2 (headline show)
The Drums Supporting Florence and the Machine:
02-May – Dublin, Olympia Theatre
03-May – Dublin, Olympia Theatre
05-May – Edinburgh, Corn Exchange
06-May – Edinburgh, Corn Exchange
07-May – Blackpool, Empress Ballroom
09-May – Blackpool, Empress Ballroom
10-May – Wolverhampton, Civic Theatre
11-May – Wolverhampton, Civic Theatre
13-May -London, HMV Hammersmith Apollo
14-May – London, HMV Hammersmith Apollo
15-May – London, HMV Hammersmith Apollo
Interviewer: Jen Jaconelli
