Ball-Buster Interview with Teasing Lulu
by Dominic Toogood
Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others…
…or at least they should be, especially in the case of the latest big noise that is emanating from Brighton, England. Meet ‘Teasing Lulu’ who with songs like a good strawberry magherita will sucker you in with their sweetness then kick you in the head later!
The kick here comes from the backbone of this punk trio, Louisa Carr who along with her thundering basslines and sweet cohort Lucy Dalton, formed the band just a few years ago in Britain’s self acclaimed epi-centre of cool. Already propping such headliners as Dead Kennedys and The Damned, Teasing Lulu are fresh back from playing the bill of Glastonbury 2005.
We grabbed a few minutes of the next punk-pop sensations time to poke, probe and parry punches with this unlikely 2 girl, 1 guy ensemble and get their view of the crazy world of rock ‘n’ roll. But first, I asked, “Give us a Teasing Lulu adage to live by”…”Piss off and think up your own adage” spits Louisa, a typical response from this band of misfits who are not afraid to rub shoulders with punk legends, an attitude that may yet see them make it.
So, the big news is you played Glastonbury 2005, how did it feel?
Lucy " Fucking awesome. It was something that Lou and I talked about the very first time we met.
Lou - It was amazing, a dream come true you could say! It was one of our ambitions, and to finally achieve it, it’s a milestone for the band.
Playing live is obviously very important for you and you excel at it. Can you describe how you approach a live show and what has been your most memorable performance to date?
Lou " Apart from Glastonbury, I think playing at the Shepherds Bush Empire which was fantastic. It’s such a legendary venue and at that point, the biggest we had played.
Lucy " We don’t do much to prepare before a live show. We literally drink, shit and then play.
Lou " It’s the nerves y’see. Chicks with attitude? You gotta love ‘em!
You have supported some esteemed if not legendary punk bands. Who has been your favourite and why?
Lucy " The Damned were my favourite. Their drummer Pinch introduced me to rock n’ roll mayhem, Captain Sensible in a dress and Dave Vanian in his tight trousers!
Lou " I was excited to play the same stage as the Groundhogs. They aren’t punk, more 70s riff rock, and they have the most underrated British guitarist in their lead singer Tony McPhee. I’d say they were a Teasing Lulu influence even if it’s not immediately apparent!
So what’s currently on your stereos? Lou " I love the new Queens of The Stone Age album, Lullabies to Paralize. The Stranglers always find their way onto my stereo at some point in the day. I’ve been reacquainting myself with their album, Feline. It’s quite odd!
Lucy " I play a lot of PJ Harvey and Black Sabbath. Also liking the Kinks at the moment.
So what bands adorned your bedroom walls as teenagers?
Lucy " Blur, everywhere.
Lou " Unsurprisingly, it was the Stranglers. Wall to wall. Do you know how tough it was to find\Stranglers posters circa 1995? I still managed to cover every inch.
Ok, so let’s step back…..how did you girls meet?
Lucy " I put an ad in our local Guitar and Amp Centre. Lou emailed me and said she liked bubblegum pop and the Ramones. I thought what is she on about? But we met up and had a coffee.
Lou " I wanted to get a band together. I had a bass I couldn’t play, but I thought what the hell. I was going through a Monkees stage, hence the Bubblegum pop! Luckily, it worked out well and we understood each other, despite being unfamiliar with each others musical tastes.
What was your main aim when forming the band?
Lou " It sounds basic, but it was to have fun. I had been a hardened music fan for so long, being a real vinyl geek and following bands, I thought sod it. The time is now!
Lucy " To write great songs and play with other people and to have a good time.
You evolved very quickly over the last few years, what is the long term goal of ‘Teasing Lulu’?
Lucy " We want to get a record out there and play abroad in Europe and Japan.
Lou " Definitely to release a record and to tour. We desperately want to go to Japan. That would be amazing.
You must have record deals in the pipeline given the strength of your sound and character, anything you can reveal here?
Lou " We’ve certainly had some interest here and there. We got such a great reception at Glastonbury - this should be our year.
Onto your website, (www.teasinglulu.com), your fans seem to regularly send you messages on your guestbook. Do you have a loyal following even though you still remain unsigned?
Lucy " Yeah, we’ve got our ever present fans Robin, Ange, Steve 284, Bosh and Peter.
Lou " It’s great looking at the audience and seeing Bosh grinning away and Dancing " we do have a very loyal following that we’re very proud of.
Girls sometimes get a bad rap in the big bad world of punk music, any thoughts?
Lou " If you don’t allow yourself to be treated badly you won’t be. We have always stuck to our guns musically and that wouldn’t ever change. We please ourselves and aim to write kick ass tunes.
Lucy " Sometimes people haven’t taken us as seriously as they should’ve. We’ve had some bother, but funnily enough, from other females in bands, which is a shame.
Whilst you girls clearly have your feet firmly on the ground are you celebs in your native Brighton? What’s the current scene like down there?
Lou " Nah! Eveyone is in a band and we all know each other. It’s no big deal in a town like Brighton.
Lucy " Definitely not celebs. So we turn to the diminutive in stature but not in sound male drummer, Robin, the bands new recruit, for the final word.
Robin? I’m doing fine thank you. As so would I be playing behind such talent as beauty as Louisa and Lucy " who just stamped their stiletto heels on one of their biggest stages in the universe that is Glastonbury. We of course wish these girls well and know with their machine gun attitude and wit and a handbag full of kick ass punk songs they really could be as big as they can only dream.
