Little Shop of Shoppers 4: Loose Talk Costs Lives

Greetings Sports Fans,


This week, we caught up with Leeds-based guitar heroes 'Loose Talk Costs Lives' to talk embarrassing outfits, crooner crushes and the bother of an ill-fitting mack....

Q: Hello folks! First of all, a wee introduction for those who may not know 'Loose Talk Costs Lives' from Adam; The Recommender said that you're 'as hard to snare as grasping bubbles' - how would you describe yourselves to, say, your Mum?


Ollie: We've been called post-Pina Colada pop before...'


James: 'Post-Mojito pop?'


Liam: 'I guess you'd essentially call us pop, just not like Cyndi Lauper. Probably indie - there are too many adjectives out there!'

Q: We were hypnotised by the video for your single 'Some Nice Flowers' [see below] - it reminds me a little bit of what I imagine 'Lilt: the Musical' would look like [totally tropical] How did it come to be?


James: 'A lack of sleep and a lot of Premiere Pro. We wanted to make a video using chopped-up people dancing. Well, not literally chopped-up - you get the gist.'

Q: Upon first listen, I guess songs like 'Wreck Ashore' have an air of 'Total Life Forever' to them. Are you prone to comparisons?


Liam: 'We get the usual - Foals, Vampire Weekend etc.'


Ollie: 'We once heard after a gig one guy complain that we could have at least played some Vampire Weekend songs - you've just got to roll with it!'


Q: You're playing 'Live at Leeds' again this year with the likes of other hometown bands like Just Handshakes, (We're British) How far does Leeds permeate your songs?


Liam: 'It kind of goes without saying that we owe a lot to Leeds - it's where we're from as band. Something like playing at the Brudenell is the best thing ever.'

James: 'Liam and I are from down South and Ollie's from Chester - Leeds is a bit of a melting pot, everyone brings something to the table.'


Ollie: 'I bring a bit of Hollyoaks...'


Q: Evidently, you're all snappy dressers in very different ways. What's your style in a nutshell?

Liam: 'We kind of have pairs of styles. James and I are channeling Seinfeld. Ollie and Greg [the elusive fourth member of the band and therefore, the coolest due to his enigmatic status. Mystery's a winner!] you're more....


Ollie: 'Poor. Basically, i'm wearing the same things that i've had for the past 5 years.'


James: 'Seinfeld and Poverty. There we go.'


Q: So moving away from the dapper threads you're wearing now, what's the worst thing you've ever worn?


Ollie: 'I had a pair of Adidas Poppers once upon a time...' [reassuringly, they were a safer red and blue pair instead of highlighter orange or slime green number, both heartburn-inducing to think back on.]


James: 'I wore a Von Dutch hat this century. That's pretty bad. Liam what about you?'


Liam: 'I wore a pretty ill-fitting Mack for our Brudenell shoot...'


James: 'An ill-fitting Mack. That's your WORST outfit?!'


Liam: 'Ok, how about buddy holly glasses? They're pretty bad.'


James: 'Actually, I used to wear them to. Even though i had big, prescription glasses, i'd still wear fake ones. I've never thought about that before...' [at this point, James falls into an existential crisis...]


Q: We at The VW are a big fans of basing our looks on cartoons. Who would be your animated dopplegangers?


Ollie: 'These guys would say that i'm Speedy Gonzalez. Not because of speed, but because I can grow a pretty mean moustache' [no matter what shape or size, Ollie can apparently grow them to order]

Liam: 'I'd have to be either Rocko [from Rocko's Modern Life] or Harold from Hey Arnold' [the mono-toothed, Jewish bruiser with a good heart.]

James: 'I don't know who i'd be...'


Liam: 'How about Robin. But not a modern Robin. A 60s Robin.'


James: 'Ok, a 60s Robin or maybe George, from Sharkey and George.'


Q: And finally, you've won the chance to take out any celebrity songstress on a date. Who's it going to be?


Ollie: 'Hayley Williams from Paramore.'


Liam: 'Rihanna [James concurs] I'd sit on her thighs.'


Upon the thighs of Rihanna seems a good place to end. Playing the Unconference, Live at Leeds, Evolution Festival [alongside the likes of The Kills!] and a solo show at The Faversham on May 14th, there's ample opportunity to catch these lot doing what they do best, singing heart-felt lyrics and playing Syphilitic riffs that will have you hitting the 'replay' button more than you thought possible. Away from comparison, Loose Talk's songs are the sounds of four fellas having the time of their lives. What's more enjoyable than that?

If you're down with the audio delights of Loose Talk Costs Lives, Vintage Wardrobe will be stocking a range of band t-shirts, perfect for wearing your support on your sleeves [and chest, stomach etc]

That's all for now folks,

VW out! x

Ollie: '