Jess and The Bandits – 20 Questions

Jess and The Bandits – 20 Questions

Jess and The Bandits are a new country band which is 1/5 Texan and 4/5 British. Having just released their debut album ‘Here We Go Again’ and with live dates in the UK, we thought we would ask the band to take part in our tailored 20 Questions series. Here are their responses:

Jessica Clemmons (Vocals)

• Tell me about ‘Wanted Man’ please

I love this song. I was sitting in a room with Jeff Cohen (Sugarland, The Band Perry) and James T Slater (Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw, Martina McBride) in Nashville. I had a few ideas of songs I wanted to write and one of them was about a woman being aggressive and going after the man she wanted. It strangely took on a old west theme and before we knew it we had this fun, sassy, and sexy song! It’s one of my favorites to perform!

• You are performing on the UK festival circuit at festivals such as Cornbury Festival and Ramblin Man Fair. Without giving too much away, what can a festival crowd expect?

We will definitely throw in a cover or two of our favorites and it’s all about bringing a party! We love to rock out on strange and hope that when people leave they think, “wow… That was awesome! Where do we get their music??”.

• What apparel suits you?
       A great pair of cowboy boots. That’s a must have for this Texas girl!

• The radio is playing…what song would you cross the room to turn UP and what song would you cross the room to turn OFF?
       Haha that’s a great question. I would always turn up Lady Antebellum’s ‘Long Stretch of Love’. To turn off, it would have to be, ‘Honky Tonk Badonkadonk’ by Trace AdkinsBonus Question: What is your favourite track on your new album ‘Here We Go Again’ and why?That is such a hard question. It’s like being asked to choose your favorite child. It’s impossible. I do have one that is special to my heart and that would be ‘What If’. It’s probably one of the most personal songs I’ve ever written.
  
  Dave Troke (Bass)

• Do you have a favoured stage bass? What strings do you use?

My 1963 fender precision bass. DR sunbeam strings.

• Name a great recording including in the title 1/ Red 2/ White 3/ Blue (artist / title / source album for each please ) and explain why chosen.

• Suggest an ‘expanded edition’ album release where the additional cuts impress you…and why?

• Two tickets suddenly arrive for a live performance, they are for someone you have always wanted to see…which act or artist? And which numbers will be hoping to hear?

Ricci Riccardi (Drums)

• Three tips for a novice drummer please:

Practice everything slowly and get it right before playing faster/learn to sing and play another instrument/ do your homework for every gig and for your drumming and musicianship in general.

• Suggest a song that reminds you of your childhood – and why might this be?

•       Name an actor or actress who made a listenable song recording – and what’s the appeal?

The Blues Brothers (Dan Ackroyd and John Belushi) Awesome songs and great film. Not sure if they sung on the soundtrack.

• Can you dance? Do you dance? How do your family rate your dancing? 

• Which makes of harmonica do you favour and why?

Hohner Special 20. Sweeter tone and a little easier to bend notes. Second choice, Hohner Marine Band cause I’ve got a favourite of mine in E blues.

•  Willie Nelson or Willie Dixon? (Say something about both)

Hard to say, both amazing, but gonna go with Willie Dixon just cause I love the whole Chess Records thing. Alot of my first gigs were spent playing ‘Little Red Rooster’ and Hoochie Coochie Man’.

• Which artist did you go to see perform with low expectations but ended up impressed? Where and when was this?

• Is there a book or novel that you would like to create songs or the score for? Why is this?

‘Wanted Man’. It’s an awesome play. Although I think I’ve said ‘Love Like That’ before, so maybe I should say all of them 

Steven Reid Williams (Piano/guitar)

• Where in the world in your opinion is live music best received? What venues appeal?

• Name a TV series where the theme music was better than the actual shows and do you know who created or recorded it?

The theme tune Minder. The song was a hit but the TV show wasn’t that great. 

• Two or three songs with great actual endings (not fades) by The Who or The Beatles? Or both acts!

Baba O’Riley – The Who 

• Has a radio DJ anywhere (and any era) ever impressed you and if so why?