| The Ratells |
 I’m sat in the Lucorum with The Ratells, an adolescent five piece band from Sheffield.
They’re on first, with the lucrative Glass Youth headlining. A week after this successful gig, they played at The Boardwalk supporting Glass Youth, Alvarez Kings and the Elephant Keys, arguably the best line up I’ve seen in a while. So, with the Ratells creating a buzz and a rapidly growing fan base, was it the right time for their ‘Rhythm Provider’ Luke Brotherton to quit? CF: You have a new song ‘Snakes’ and I would guess that means a new EP is on its way, but has Luke leaving slowed things down? Rory: Erm, not really. Ben: It’s better us knowing now rather than later, when it gets more serious. CF: Has Luke leaving left you with any opportunities? Ash: To get another guitarist and to get stuff done faster. Danny: We’ve got it down to two guitarists, but we had some right shit people come and have a go. CF: How much has Luke leaving effected things? Ben: Only really as mates, it hasn’t really affected the band that much. Ash: Yeah, we’re still like best mates with him Danny: He’s still playing in September because it would be too short notice for him to go now, we need time to get a new guitarist. CF: You said you hope to be on tour, is there a dream venue? Ben: Leadmil main stage, when it gets going in there the atmosphere is immense. Danny: Manchester Apollo, saw Franz Ferdinand there and I was quite far back but the atmosphere and stuff like that didn’t fade. Ash: Yeah, Manchester Apollo just because loads of people can go. Rory: I’m with you, Manchester Apollo. CF: what’s the best venue you’ve played at so far? Ben: Academy Danny: it was just buzzing, it was filled, and the atmosphere was just immense. Ash: That... and the back there is right good, we had a fridge full of beer, crisps and penguins. Rory: It was easily our best gig CF: What is the worst gig you’ve played? Rory: When we played at Penelope’s Ash: Oh god, Luke Snapped his strings and ended up sat in crowd watching us. CF: Do you have any pre-gig rituals? Ben: I have a shave. Ash: I don’t know why, but I can’t stop yawning, I did about ten yawns when we played at academy. Danny: We like, pump each other up, you know, like punching each other. CF: Was juggling GCSE’s with the band difficult? Danny: We’ll find out Thursday. Ash: Yeah it wasn’t hard like... at the time. CF: Do you think your age effects how seriously people take you? Ash: Yeah, I thinks it’s like, older people, like older bands think we’re just a bunch of 16 year old lads mucking about. Ben: But in some ways that’s good, because then when they see us, they’re like, shocked. . CF: From September, because you’re all going to different places, will it make it harder or easier than this year? Danny: Bit of both really. Ben: It’ll be good because we’re not going to be seeing each other as much so it’s, I don’t know how to word it. It’s better than seeing each other until we get sick of each other though. Danny: I know what you mean. Ash: Really the only hard part is getting busses to practice, normally we’re all on one bus. CF: Pretty Girls and Wandering Eyes is out on itunes and you have merchandise for sale, how’s all that going? Danny: We’ll find out the stats mid September. Ben: But merch has been going alright at gigs and stuff. CF: Anything you don’t like about being in a band? *queue several points at each other and smirks* Danny: Nah, if you don’t like part of being in a band, don’t be in one. CF: What’s the best gig you’ve been to? Danny: Justice at Leeds. Ben: Oh, that was mine! Danny: The atmosphere in there, because the tent was packed it was just immense. CF: What are we listening to at the moment? Danny: Alvarez Kings Ben: Predictable Danny: It’s what I’m listening to though. CF: What’s the worst gig you’ve been to? Ben: Little Man Tate at the academy Danny: They sold out academy one and academy two but only opened doors to academy one so it was so cramped. Ben: Fratellis at Leadmill weren’t right good though were they? Danny: They didn’t really speak to the crowd and get them pumped. Rory: Don’t think I’ve ever been to a bad gig. The Ratells come back gig is September 12th at The Plug in Sheffield. www.myspace.com/theratells Photos: Ian Parker Words: Meg Stickland |
