Words With: InMe

Essex rock trio InMe have already ridden the ups and downs of a rock rollercoaster equivalent to the Big Dipper. After achieving critical and commercial success with their 2003 debut album, ‘Overgrown Eden’, the band were dropped by their record label and left to fend for themselves. Now, the threesome have been making big waves with their new album ‘White Butterfly’ and their extensive sell-out tour of the UK. Having seen many pictures of brooding young men standing sullenly up against distressed looking walls, Gigwise is pleasantly surprised to find that InMe are relaxed, friendly and very likeable. With a sound-check busily going on, we catch up with lead singer and guitarist Dave McPherson, bassist Joe Morgan and drummer Simon Taylor in the back of their dingy tour bus.   “We can call it the InMe Witch Project” laughs Simon as the Gigwise hand-held camera is wielded at the unsuspecting band. Right then. With new dates having been added the excited band chat about the tour. “This is our first big tour after taking a bit of time off after our last record. We are sold out every single night and playing to packed out crowds, we can’t really ask for much more,” grins Joe. Simon describes the selection of sweaty venues they are playing as “really intimate, you can see the whites of their eyes.” Lovely.   With the work ethic of a bunch of dam-building beavers, Dave talks about their touring plans: “We’ve just found out we’re doing the Day of Rock and then the day after that we’re going to Japan for six days to do Summer Sonic…the plan is just to play live as much as possible till next June.” Whereas Dave and Joe are quick to answer “wicked” to the question of how they found Download this year, while Simon ‘Smartarse’ Taylor can’t resist giving me travel advice: “Up the M1!”   Life on the InMe tour van seems to be all good for the boys, apart from complaints about the nondescript decor of certain hotel chains. Gigwise gently taps on the InMe skeleton wardrobe but nothing is coming out, “We are actually one of those bands that get on annoyingly well, we’re kind of like old farts really,” laughs Joe. Still trying to get some interesting gossip out of the boys, Gigwise asks if there are any bands they think are totally overrated. Dave considers this question then answers with: “Ooo that ‘InMe’, what’s going on with that singer’s stupid hat?!” Dave is wearing headgear that would look more appropriate containing John McCririck’s wild hair. “Yeah he looks like a deer hunter or something,” laughs Joe. The band refuse to take this opportunity to start a press war, “If we don’t like it, we don’t really give a shit,” says Joe.   In answer to the age-old question of whether they would prefer to play a fantastic live gig or have sex Joe and Simon are very quick to answer, “both” smiles Simon as Joe suggests “sex on stage” as being the natural compromise, “with everyone watching” finishes Simon. At this point Dave does attempt to steer the conversation down a more sensible path: “In all fairness you don’t really need the fantastic sex life…” but he is interrupted by Joe who isn’t so keen on the either or of the question: “I’d do what I do when I go for a carvery, have half and half! Can I have a little bit of sex and can I play half a rocking gig?!”   So who would the band like to play with on their ultimate festival bill? Dave answers: “We’d love to play with the Foo Fighters, Muse and”, he pauses and then gets very excited, “Bon Jovi, let’s put that out there right now!” As Dave continues beaming with joy Joe jumps in: “Yeah, I think they’ve gotta support someone, sometime so they might as well support us.” At this point Dave looks disorientated: “Oh, are we talking about bands who we would like to support us? I’m very confused. I just ate a load of seafood, it gets me very confused.”