We Go Fast And Slow #3 Part 2: GIVE OVER

 

 

Already known for energetic gigs and no fucking about, Steve from GIVE OVER kindly answered some questions to serve as a little intro for these Leeds PV/Sludge/Raging ‘ardcore beasts….
Q: Ok so you’ve all been in and are in a tonne of bands so lets get that out of the way first eh?
A:
Dan Clarke – Drums
Former - Sloth Hammer, Wizards Beard, Dismal

Freddie Newton – Guitar
Former: Mortuary Spawn, Obnoxious Concoction, Dreadful Monkey Machine, Legal Food, Cobblestoning, Divine Cargo
Current – Pleb

Rich Speakman – Guitar
Former - Joe Peaci, Confine, Mountains Crave, Sloth Hammer.
Current The Afternoon Gentleman, Gets Worse, Acceptance.

Jade Serafin – Bass
Former - Dreadful Monkey Machine, Theo Globber
Current - Tfuz

Steve Myles
Former - Cattle, Groak, Khuda, Hoof Glove, Grub Nap, Clenstch, Squabble.
Current - Thank, Pleb

 

Q - FAFO became a phrase adopted by the far right and so you became Give Over, did you get any bizarre messages from some dodgy types thinking you might be down with them?

A - Steve - “Aye it were the proud boy’s who started printing ballies with it on, got loadsa messages about it the day after we’d sent the second 7” out to get cut. We never really heard owt from anyone ont shite side about it luckily. The stiff right arm lot seem to love using the term but it never managed to splash back on us that hard. I’m glad we changed the name though, deffo don’t want associating with those whoppers annnd I reckon Give Over is a better name anyways. Proper lucky we managed to catch it before the second EP got sorted”

 Q - Steve takes the time to talk between songs, this was something that was very usual decades ago but in recent years less so, was it a conscious decision or just something that happened?

A - “It deffo feels like stuff needs saying with the pure shite state of everything at the mo. Sometimes it feels like corners of the scene have forgotten how important our political roots are. Maybe I’m just bleating on to a buncha folks that already know that fascism is cack and that we need to support the folks around us but if there’s ever the chance of someone maybe getting their lights switched on by me chatting for a minute then I’ll always do it. It’s a low cost for an important thing.”

 

Q - Its fair to say i think that you have attention to the riff as well as frantic moments are there limitations that you would place on that or do you see the band as able to move whichever way feels right?

A - “haha we were supposed to be a d-beat band when it started off but it didn’t take long for a buncha blasts/sludge/violence stuff to wedge its sen in there. Radge music’s a proper wide thing init so it’s hard to stay focussed on one style”

 

               YES!!!!                      

 

Q - The fafo tape and then the 7" are such bangers do you prefer a shorter format for recordings ir woukd a full 12" be likely in the future?

A - “We’ve ended up going down the EP route so far cos the songs are fair short and there’s a buncha riffs squished into each one of them. By the time we get to the 15 minute mark we’ve already covered a fair stretch of ground. I reckon we’ll probably aim for a 12” at some point but can’t see it going past 30 minutes. Don’t reckon any of us have got the attention span for that.”

 

Q - For this issue I've asked quite a few questions about where songs start us it always music then words, the other way round ir a mixture? Also having so many multi instrumentalists and a pair of siblings in the band can it get intense or is it the same position vibes that you gave shen you play a gig together?

A- “Up to this point most stuff’s been written in the room with us all about or a shell will get put mangled together with a couple of us and then we’ll finalise the structure together. Sometimes folks will come up with a riff idea or a lump of structure at home and bring it to the table. Writings normally fair calm to be honest, we don’t often disagree and it’s kinda helpful that we’ve all done a bunch of different projects over the years. Freddy and Jade aren’t related btw haha can see why you’d think that though. Lyrics wise I work backwards, I’ll spend a bunch of time figuring out blocks of vocal pattern and gradually the words will find their way in there. Think cos I’m a drummer first then the rhythm of the vocals feels like the most impactful bit. Been proper enjoying getting some of this stuff of my chest lyrically too.”

 

Q- Leeds has for decades been a real hotbed when it comes ti diy bands, it seems like that recognition goes beyond folks from other iarts of the UK and is internationally cited as a specific scene, is this something you and mates from Leeds in bands are  conscious of???

A - “It’s always felt like the scene in Leeds is fair strong, when I were a nipper there were bands like Narcosis, Reth and Tangaroa kicking about who all did loads then later on tons of grindy stuff like TAG who gave way to Famine/Lugubrious Children etc, a buncha good hardcore i.e Closure/D-Rail and then loadsa more noise rock/post metal stuff like Blacklisters and Humanfly etc. Plenty of experimental /noise too. It was difficult trying to carve a spot for yourself back then so when we were a bit older we tried to make the scene as inclusive as we could. It fluctuates back and forth though. Seems almost as soon as everything gloms together into a big pot it splits back up into smaller scenes again. Spose it’s probably like that anywhere though.”

Quick fire round:
Dropdead or seein red?
A:Dropdead

Extortion or Friendship?
A:Oooft tough but probs Friendship

Corrupted or Corrupted?
A:Lolol

Born Against or Dystopia?
A:Again tough but Dystopia for me

Endless swarm or Endjess Blockade?
A:I did all the swarm album artwork so it’d be a bad move to upset my boys haha

 

Q:What song haven't you written yet but yoh feel you need to....

i) topic

There’s a bunch to be said about all the stuff that’s been unfolding these last few months, reckon allot of folks feel the same way. I’ve also got a bunch to say about misdirection, rage baiting and targeted empathy burnout that I wanna try and get into some lyrics at somepoint.

 

Q: ii) description musically
A: There’s deffo loads of stuff we’d like to muck about with but we also don’t wanna stray too far from the fair eclectic pool of influences we’re already dipping into.

 

Q: Any last things to say and also any plans for what happens next?

A:We’re on the way to having a new record ready to get down at somepoint soonish. Least two thirds of the way through anyways, maybe a bit longer if we end in going for a full length. Few shows booked in and all, would be class to get out the country later in the year but we’ll have to see how stuff goes jobs and fam allowing.

Thanks Matt, class of ya to chat with us!

Give em a blast:
Done In | GIVE OVER