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Class Of 2008: Blah Blah Blah

'He remained onstage for the rest of the set, dancing and improvising backing vocals for us; still with his scrotum hanging out.'

It's 2008: and no, we're not sure where the last twelve months went either. What we are fairly certain about, however, is that it popped up more than a couple of ace bands for us to get all excited about.

We've taken the best of the bunch that got DIY Towers buzzing and quizzed them about both themselves and what they might get up to in the next 12 months. Not universally sure fire bets for unit shifting superstardom, we're expecting good things from them all.

Someone ring the bell, then. The Class of 2008 is in.

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Just-about-London-based trio Blah Blah Blah are easily one of the so-called London scene's best live bands. They've already supported Kate Nash on tour, as well as played alongside Jack Penate, The Wombats and Babyshambles.

They're notorious for giving out free CDs, so you're bound to have heard their bouncing basslines and witty lyrics by now, and if not, single 'Death To The Indie Disco' is due to be released sometime in early 2008.

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Who are you, and what do you do?
My name is Jay. I do general stuff. However specifically within the cause of this band I write I play guitar I sing and I answer questions like this amongst other related things.

Lazily, compare yourselves to at least three well-ish-known bands in a semi-comical way.
Diana Ross and The Supremes, there were three of them and there are three of us. Furthermore one of us has similar coloured skin to all three of them. Metallica because their music featured vocals, guitar, drums and bass. So do we. Not many other bands have done that. Lynyrd Skynyrd because one day we will all be dead too.

What's the best thing about being in a band so far?
Learning how some people feel very close to the music itself despite us not having been forced on them by media publications. Things like being asked to play at 60th birthday parties aswell as 15th birthday parties have shown us this. Having had people voluntarily go on to elaborate in conversation about how a certain song is dear to them have also shown this. Being asked to play at a fan's wake, a fan's wedding and the experiences brought about by doing so. It's nice to be included in events that are of real sentimental importance to people. Though it sounds a little wanky if not very - that's exactly why we're doing this, to give fun and consolation. These things are the best part, all augmented by the fact that there's no hero-worship clouding these people's judgement. We're not famous stars who they're told are really good; they just seem to get drawn in by a free cd they or one of their friends get given, or happen to be in a pub where we are playing one night.

...and what's the worst?
Successfully justifying this occupation to myself.

Why do you think 2008 is going to be a great year for Blah Blah Blah?
2008 will be a great year for Blah Blah Blah because we always make the most of every week. In 2006 we played over 330 gigs, this work ethic continued through 2007 amongst other things like writing, recording and touring with bigger acts, getting out of London and even the UK. 2008 sees this work ethic magnified in its approach. However, whether you're wondering if it'll be a great year in terms of us recieving some small fame - I don't know. However we've been warned that it may end up a by-product of a few things we've got planned.

Are you making any new years' resolutions?
Nobody's perfect so why not address your rubbishness as and when you realize it? New years resolutions come and go as soon as... well, the new year does.

If people were to listen to just one of your songs, which one would you hope it was and why?
That's a hard question to answer. Maybe one you've now inspired me to write - it would have to spark enough intrigue within a wide scope of people to make them delve further into listening to more of our stuff, each song being about a different thing.

Where do you hope to be in twelve months' time?
Scunthorpe.

What's the worst piece of advice anyone's ever given you?
"If you don't like the referee, call him a wanker".

If Blah Blah Blah were to have a motto, what would it be?
"If you don't like the referee, call him wanker".

What would be your reaction if someone were to cover one of your songs on X Factor?
I wonder how much publishing money I'd recieve off that?

Do you have an album in the pipeline?
Yes.

Who'd be your dream producer to work with?
God.

Remixes are, it would seem, 'all the rage'. Who would you just love to remix one of your tracks?
An autistic person who happened to find our music extremely irritating. I'd like to see how he/she changed it to make himself/herself actually like it.

What does it take to be a fan of Blah Blah Blah?
A respiratory system.

What's the weirdest thing anyone's done at one of your gigs?
An excited fan climbing up onto the stage and exposing his scrotum. He remained onstage for the rest of the set, dancing and improvising backing vocals for us; still with his scrotum hanging out.

Tell us something random yet interesting about you.
I have a small collection of bee artifacts.

You're part of the DIY Class of 2008 - what was your favourite subject at school?
I'd say English but in hindsight, maybe even General Studies or R.E. Except for the R.E lesson when we could see Mrs Ensor's nipples projecting through her jumper.