Sexmess
By KC Slade
(SugarBuzz Monterey)
SugarBuzz Magazine
ISex [seks]
-noun
1. The sexual urge or instinct as it manifests itself in behavior.
Mess [mes]
–noun
1. an unpleasant or difficult situation: My affairs are in a mess.
2. a person whose life or affairs are in a state of confusion, esp. a person with a confused or disorganized moral or psychological outlook.
Today I'm talking to SexMess and we're getting wild, wild, wild! These Brit boys have been rockin' from across the pond in Brighton, London and are just starting to get merch (which is really awesome and I will be buying) up and running and spread the word about their unique sound. I've liked this band quite awhile because they sound slightly, wonderfully familiar. You hear small amounts of influence but never copycattin' a bit;..They've learned to artfully mix their favorite influences with their own crazy, gritty sound, delivering us a tornado of rock'n roll and punk. I had some questions for these rough 'n tumble rockers and 4/5 of the group sat down and gave me some pretty interesting answers and lots of fun
bad words; if those offend you lots; I apologize but I don't like to change what the band says, so cussing aside...Let's get it on with SexMess!
VOX: Louis
LEAD: JJ
RYTHYM: Mitch
BASS: Jesse
SKINS: Seann
KC: Let's get down and dirty right away and ask the obvious big question...what's the meaning behind your band's name, "SexMess"?
JESS : IT IS PROBABLY THE BEST BAND NAME THERE’S EVER BEEN. IT’S ABOUT OUR LOOK, OUR SOUND AND WHAT OURSELVES – IT’S NOTHING TO DO WITH CUM! IT’S ABOUT THE JUXTAPOSITION BETWEEN SEX AND MESS – SO OUR SOUND IS RAW, MESSY PUNK, BUT POLISHED AND SEXY. WE DRESS SORTA LIKE GYPSIES, BUT WE LOOK FUCKING HOT! WE LIVE FOR DEBAUCHERY AND HEDONISM, BUT OUR LIVES ARE CHAOTIC AND DARK, LIKE WE SAY:
“THIS ONE GOES OUT TO ALL THOSE WHO MADE A MESS OF THEIR LIVES, BUT LOOKED FUCKING GOOD DOING IT!”
KC: It's true, you guys always look great, sexy gypsies indeed! The sound is raw carnage, and the name definitely fits. Brilliant chaos. Moving on... As a group, what's the biggest obstacle or challenge you've overcome?
JJ : WELL ROB PASSING AWAY, IT WAS ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS I'VE HAD TO GO THROUGH, IT'S LIKE LOSIN' A BROTHER; BUT WE PULLED TOGETHER AND MADE IT THROUGH ..WE KNOW HE IS WATCHING OVER US.
KC: That was hard for the music community around your band as well. From the looks of your myspace, support came pouring in. You guys have really weatherd that storm with dignity and strength. You guys always look fantastic in your photos and have wonderful style, break down what a member of SexMess would wear to play a concert?
MITCH : FOR ME ITS GOTTA BE A SHIRT, WAISTCOAT, AND A SCARF WITH THE TIGHTEST BLACK JEANS POSSIBLE, SOME JACKED UP HAIR COURTESY OF SOME WAX AND SPRAY, GIMME A FEW RINGS AND A BANGLE OR 2 N IT'LL MAKE MY NIGHT
JJ : WHATEVER IM WEARING THAT DAY
SEANN : NOTHIN IF I COULD GET AWAY WITH IT
JESS : WHATEVER I FEEL LIKE ON THE DAY… BUT I’M THINKING OF BRINGING THE AXL LOOK BACK IN… JUST UNDERPANTS AND BOOTS!
KC: Oooh! skivvies and boots...you've gotta have some brass ones for that. Make sure you get pictures for your site if you ever rock that look.... So what's been the most exciting thing about the group?
MITCH: BEING IN A GANG, LIVING IN EACH OTHERS' POCKETS AND PLAYING TRASHY ROCK N' ROLL THAT WE ALL LOVE.
JJ: PRETTY MUCH WHAT MITCH SAID .. IT’S BEEN A RIDE!
JESS : OUR FUTURE TOGETHER IS MOST EXCITING FOR ME, I CAN'T FUCKING WAIT! I’M THINKING SCREAMING SCHOOLGIRLS IN JAPAN!
SEANN : JOININ'!!
What's been the biggest disappointment? How did you deal with it?
JJ : WELL, LET'S JUST SAY WE'VE LEARNED HOW TO DEAL WITH THE INDUSRTY..THERE ARE A LOT OF BULLSHITTERS OUT THERE.
JESS : YEAH, A LOT OF CUNTS; AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WANNA BRING YOU DOWN 'COS YOU’RE DIFFERENT OR JUST 'COS YOU’RE DOING WELL. BUT THE PEOPLE WHO SHOW US THEIR LOVE ALWAYS MAKE UP FOR IT!
KC: Aw good. You guys seem to have a very loyal fan base and plenty of love to go around. And it's always good to be able to know who's a wolf and who's a sheep. Let's talk influences.... Who's been your biggest inspiration?
JJ - GUNS N ROSES CIRCA '87! HA!
MITCH : FOR ME, UNDERGROUND BANDS SUCH AS GUNFIRE DANCE, THE THROBS AND THE SEA HAGS.
JESS : GUNS N' ROSES, ROLLING STONES, AEROSMITH, AVENGED SEVENFOLD
SEANN : SKID FUCKIN' ROW!
KC: That's a lot of influences! And quite a variety..I definitely hear the Guns N' Roses and Skid row in your material. I'll have to check out Gunfire Dance and The Sea Hags!
Have you written any songs you're tired of hearing?
JJ : I WOUNDN'T SAY I'M TIRED OF ANY; WHEN WE SHOT THE "DON'T COME EASY" VIDEO THAT GOT A BIT TIRING, BUT IT HAPPENS, LISTENING TO IT FOR 8 HOURS OVER AND OVER. IT WAS WORTH IT THOUGH!!
JESS : OH GOD YEAH
KC: I'm sure that was tedious. Eight hours! I'm sure you've got the song nailed down to a T now! Let's get serious for a minute; which song has the most meaning, the most substance to it?
JESS : DEFINITELY “GIMME THE KEYS”!
SEANN : THE ONLY ONE I'VE PLAYED ON..CAUSE IT'S AWESOME
KC: What was the first song you wrote?
JJ: "DON'T COME EASY" AS A BAND, BUT THERE'VE BEEN OTHERS THAT HAVEN'T MADE IT TO THE SURFACE.
JESS : YEAH, A COUPLE OF PRETTY SWEET TUNES! THE ROUGH RECORDINGS WILL PROBABLY (DEFINITELY) SELL AT AUCTIONS IN A FEW YEARS
KC: I bet they will. I know I'd love to hear some of your earleir work and so would your fans; you should think releasing a song or two in the future! Describe how your first show went?
MITCH : BROKEN STRINGS AND SWEAT, IT WAS GREAT; I THOUGHT WE KILLED IT, THE CROWD WAS JIVIN' !!
JESS : (I) CAN’T REALLY REMEMBER, (I) THINK IT WAS PRETTY SWEET!
SEANN - I DRANK MORE THAN I SHOULD HAVE.
KC: Sounds like everyone was a little tipsy that night, but you pulled it off! Tell us about your best show ever..?
MITCH : WE AINT PLAYED IT YET
JJ : WHAT MITCH SAID, WE AIN'T SOLD OUT WEMBLY STADIUM YET
KC: How has the lineup change influenced your sound?
JJ - YEAH WE'VE GROWN A LOT WITH WHAT HAS HAPPENED AND OUR SOUND HAS GOT BIGGER AND MORE MEATY.
KC: Meaty! I like how you put that!
MITCH : I FEEL THAT WITH ME N' SEANN ADDED TO THE BAND THE DYNAMICS HAVE CHANGED; MORE FLAVOUR FOR YOUR EARS
SEANN : THEY ADDED ME..I'M FUCKING AWESOME.
KC: Run into any crazy groupies yet?
JESS – SOME GIRL POINTED AT ME IN THE STREET IN LONDON AND SHOUTED “SEXMESS! SEXMESS!”. EVERYONE LOOKED AT ME LIKE I WAS SOME SEX OFFENDER… BUT NAH, NOT REALLY… WE’VE ONLY PLAYED ONE GIG, GIVE US A BREAK!!
KC: Aw I'm sorry Jess, in due time!!
SEANN : TRAGICALLY NOT YET...SOON I HOPE
KC : Something tells me you will. I'll have to check back in a few months on that one. Besides playing in a band; what else are you guys about? what else do you do? Any causes you support or rally against?
MITCH : I'M A KEEN ARTIST AND POET; I'VE ALWAYS GOT A PAD IN MY BACK POCKET TO WRITE OR DRAW IN
JJ : DRINKIN'
JESS : VEGETARIAN, ATHEIST, GOT A PSYCHOLOGY DEGREE FROM UCL… LOVE DRINKIN' 'N THINKIN'!
SEANN : I RALLY AGAINST VEGETARIANISM
KC: Sounds like you guys keep busy; I commend you Mitch, for keeping a notebook handy; you never know what you're going to see or what's going to inspire you or know when creativity is going to burst out. Like now! I've just told you I'm the magical music fairy (and you believe me) and I can give you one music related wish..you ask for...?
JESS : TAKE US BACK IN TIME TO 1970, BEFORE ANYONE’S HEARD OF THE BANDS WHO INFLUENCED US, AND UNLEASH US ON THE WORLD! WE’D BE HAILED AS LEGENDS!!
KC: Hell, if I could do that, I'd already be back there.
SEANN : I WANT MY COCK THE SAME SIZE AS TOMMY LEE'S
KC: Way to be ambitious! I guess if I was the music fairy I'd have to grant that because crotches are very essential in rock 'n roll; we wouldn't have the Sticky Fingers cover or Too Fast For Love cover without rockin' crotches. What's been your favorite group you've played with?
JJ : SEXMESS
MICTH : IN A BAND . . . SEXMESS, PLAYED WITH . . . NONE
SEANN : I'VE SUPPORTED A RESONABLE AMOUNT OF WHAT YOU WOULD CALL FAMOUS BANDS BUT I DIDN'T LIKE ANY OF THEM TO DATE REALLLY.
KC: I'll check back like I said and I bet you'll have a rockin' list of bands you've played shows with. In closing, tell us, what's in store for SexMess's future?
JJ: WE'VE GOT A LOT OF COOL SHIT GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES.
MITCH : HOPEFULLY A LOT OF TOURING!
KC: I hope so too; you'll have to invade the US one day!! We're waitin' for ya!
JESS : CRAZY GROUPIES
KC: I don't doubt there will be a shortage.
SEANN : A METOERIC RISE TO FAME AND THEN A QUICK DEATH
KC: Seann, that was a perfect end to a great interview. Thanks guys for your time and schoolin' me on the subject of all things SEXMESS!
We'll be checking back with them in awhile to see where they are and what's new! I see this band going places.