Interviewing a band is never an easy thing, and I must admit I'm not brilliant with coming up with clever pretentious questions that are designed to catch out the poor unsuspecting musician. So when it came to having a few brief words with Bedford's own excellent three piece band The Junket I thought I would keep things simple. Grabbing the drummer Reu Bobcat as he searched for a light for his cigarette in the dark back corners of the Tunbridge Wells Forum was my way of introducing myself and convincing him to grab the rest of his comrades for a few brief words. Once fore mentioned members were assembled we all grudgingly marched out side into the pouring rain so I could conduct my less than prepared interview.
Rik Lynn plays his heart out!

The Junket have been together for the last three years and in that time have managed to notch up a mini album, a couple of singles and the excellent new album 'Lux Safari'. I asked Rik Flynn, guitarist and lead vocalist, how things got started.
"The Junket was formed due to the fact that we just really get on well with each other. We had all had been in other bands before so gigging was nothing new to us. The combination just felt right." Steve Rees, bass player and vocalist, enters the conversation at this point to explain further.
 "We like the tightness and the control we have with a three piece band line up. It's less hassle than a bigger band and it tends to create a better environment to write songs for."

Steve Rees on bass shows it's not all fun and games.
This led nicely to my next question of who was the main driving force when it came to writing songs for The Junket.
Steve Rees:"There is no one song writer, we all come up with songs. These are constructed by bits and pieces of riffs and lyrics or complete songs."
Rik Flynn: "I tend to have creative bursts. When one song comes together I usually have a whole group of them follow it."
Reu Bobcat: "We all have to like the songs that we write. There is no compromise when it comes to our material. It has to identify with us all."

The Junket rip it up!

On listening to The Junket their music slips with easy from alternative metal to close vocal harmonising of a more Indie persuasion. It has been said that they also sound a little like Placebo. I asked the band what they thought about this comparison.
 Rik Flynn: I don't know why people think that. Everyone always expects us to be massive Placebo fans. It is purely coincidental that we sound like them. I actually don't own a single Placebo album."
Steve Rees: "Don't get us wrong, we don't have anything against Placebo, in fact it's quite nice to be associated with such a respected band."
Reu Bobcat: We tend to be a lot more direct and poppy than they are."

That can't be good for your back!

So how does The Junket describe their music?
Rik Flynn: "We are quite heavy in a metal type of way, and have more of an influence from bands like Mercury Rev."
Steve Rees: "We work hard on switching the vocals between the two of us. The harmonies that we create give us a distinctive sound and helps to define us."

So what does the future hold for The Junket?
Steve Rees: "We still have a few more gigs to do on this tour then we are back into the studio to record our new album. We have some of the songs written already."
Rik Flynn: "The present album has just been released in Japan and seems to be doing really well. We are trying to organise a tour out there in the near future. So anything can happen."

It's at this point that a big drop of rain splats on my notebook and I am reminded that I should probably wrap things up. All that's left is for me to wish them well and for us all to scurry off back inside. The Junket is playing several more gigs around the UK in August so keep an eye out for them. They are also supporting the Damned at the Venue on the 18th August in Northampton. If you would like to see and hear more on The Junket you can see and hear extracts of one of their gigs in our music and video pages. You can also visit their website at www.TheJunket.co.uk.