5 MINUTES WITH... THE BOXER REBELLION
21 August 2009
Music & Movies
0 stars
One part Australian, one part American, and two parts English, London-based breakthrough act The Boxer Rebellion are about to drop their second album on us, and front man, Nathan Nicholson, has taken some out to chat with ZOO.
So Nathan, what’s your most 'Rock Star' moment?
Probably just throwing stuff. Back in the early days I would often lose my voice by the end of the gigs. I was frustrated so I’d throw the mic stand or the tambourine - never anything too expensive though, because we were broke.
What about pre gig rituals?
We all get together and have quite a nice little four-way hug. It’s a bit of a sports moment, but it does the trick. At this point we’re like brothers so just a little family bonding sets the mood.
Ever been too pissed to play?
I usually do not partake before a gig because the sauce dries out the ‘ol vocal chords. If I have a few while playing it’s never enough to get me leathered. Our guitarist and drummer on the other hand have had pissed gigs where I could tell they were struggling.
Have you ever suffered an injury mid-gig?
Besides knocking myself in the face a few times with the mic I’ve avoided injury. A few months ago I ripped my big toenail off playing basketball and played a gig the following day where I made things a little worse by jumping around. Try and keep your toenails on.
Funniest groupie proposition?
We always seem to get couples as groupies, but nothing that ever feels like a proposition. When we were still doing the part-time job thing it was funny and humbling to tell a groupie that I have to leave so I can get up early and sell shoes. It’s not a very rock n’ roll move.
What’s the most evil thing you have ever done?
It wasn’t out of spite or lunacy, but when I was a kid I put a remote control car on a girls head and when the wheels started to spin all of her hair became tangled in the wheels. So much so that her parents had to cut her hair. I’m pretty sure it was her birthday.
What’s the worst state you’ve ever left a hotel room in?
I’ve left in a pretty bad state myself, but the hotel room has always stayed in tack. We are fairly tame really. On our first ever tour we broke a bed wrestling, but that’s the extent of it.
Check out their lead single below, and if you like what you hear The Boxer Rebellion’s debut album, ‘Union’, is out Saturday 22 August on Cross Section through Inertia.