Interview: Clown Smash Everything

by Adam Aiken

Norwich post-hardcore outfit Clown Smash Everything will be topping the bill at their first show in nearly two years next week.

CSE will be at the Waterfront Studio on Thursday, October 14, to round off a line-up that includes Settlements, Glitchers and Vast Slug. It comes as they prepare to release new single Animal Feeder Too.

“Playing our first post-lockdown gig at the Waterfront Studio is going to be bonkers,” said frontman and guitarist Gav Thomas.

“It’s difficult to put into words how much we’re looking forward to this without sounding a bit unhinged.

“We played our debut gig there, and we’ve shared that stage with bands like Electric Eel Shock and The Dirty Nil since. It’s kind of our spiritual home.”

CSE, who are completed by guitarist Jay Freeman, Chris Peters on bass and drummer Zak Whittaker, released debut album The Bombs Are Getting Closer in 2017.

“Gav and I have known each other for more than 20 years, we started writing music together about nine years ago, and the debut album was released to coincide with our first gig four years ago,” said Freeman.

But the first lockdown brought things to a grinding halt for the band, who are now looking forward to starting work on a second album.

“I really don’t want to minimise the effect this thing had on everything and everyone,” said Freeman. “It’s fair to say that, in terms of us as people, we were very lucky. None of us lost loved ones, none of us lost jobs, we’re all still homed and healthy.

“But, as a band, it was very difficult. We’re a collaborative beast and, while the remote writing/recording thing worked really well for some bands, it just didn’t gel for us.

“All the stuff we’ve written was done with two or more people in a room, shouting and drinking and absolutely not respecting each other’s personal space. It’s great to have that back.”

CSE did manage an In The Meantime session, which is available on Facebook. But by the time they hit the stage at the Waterfront Studio, they won’t have played live for 676 days.

“Yes – we have been counting them,” said Freeman.

Click here for tickets.