Just before their return to Greece for a mini-tour, the Rumjacks open up to Summer Rain about their music, the relationship they have developed with the greek audience, Brexit, Scotland's independence and everyday fights we all have
On the other side of the world, over the last decade, a band has come out and year by year it seems that they're writing their own history. The Rumjacks, with celtic blood, are the... most recent "members" in a unique category, the one of the bands that have defined the celtic punk sound and we are lucky that they like Greece a lot.
On 2, 3 and 4 of November the band is returning to Greece for a mini-tour that passes by Athens, Thessaloniki and Patra and of course they wouldn't get away from us. We "met", unfortunately only through our keyboards, with the band's frontman mr. Frankie McLauglin, who opened up in matters that are not so easy for an artist to speak about: About his views on the Brexit and Scotland's inipendence, how tiring and hard is a musician's work, their everyday fight. Of course we also talked about their music, which they are looking forward to share again with the greek audience.
Although you visited Greece for the first time not long ago (in Los Almiros 2016) you have developed a very close relationship with the greek audience. What do you think on how this relationship was created?
We are very open and friendly guys who love to spend time with good people, and the Greeks are good people, very welcoming and passionate by nature, so I think we were always destined to be great friends.
Which of your greek shows would you consider as the most special till now?
They have all been so great, but for me personally, our last show in Athens was really special. It was a super good club, the perfect size for a great live show but not too big so you cant see everybody's face in the crowd, I remember I was feeling very exhausted and low at that time, but the warmth and excitement of that show really put me back on top again... it lifted me up.
Your new album is coming out while you celebrate your year 10 as a band. Would you say that this album is a mirror and an outcome of the past decade?
Very much so, yes... It takes all the little elements of the previous three albums and pushes them forward with a sharper edge. For us it marks the end of a decade but more importantly, the beginning of a new one.
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Is there one moment in the studio in all those years that you would single out as your favorite?
Perhaps making the third album Sleepin' Rough. It was completely different to the usual recording environment for us, like being on a working holiday with your mates. I played a lot of different instruments on that album, and it marked the first time i really started to get more involved in the production, so I enjoyed that a lot. I think we all did.
Is there one -or two- of your songs that would you use as a 'soundtrack' for the 10 years of the Rumjacks?
Ok, the first choice HAS to be An Irish Pub Song, its the song that first opened the world to us. Maybe My Time Again also.
Your shows in Greece are part of a pretty big European anniversary tour. Where have you encountered the wildest crowd in your journeys all over Europe?
Greece and Spain are definitely up there, and the crowd in Sofia, Bulgaria was pretty wild too... though always in the best possible way.
It sure has been a long trip. Were there times you thought that this job is tiring?
Oh, every day... Its very hard work touring like this, and I am always quick to reveal that side of it to people too. Its absolutely fantastic to walk on stage every night and go to that 'other world' along with your fans, but I think its important for people to know that it's not all that they see in pictures or videos. Musicians work long and hard hours just like anyone else, and have to be away from their loved ones for enormous periods of time in order to pay the bills. We like to call it the music industry or music business but we don't like to consider people in it as workers, or as having a real job, perhaps that needs to be addressed. A greater awareness of the pressures on mental health in this game is really very important, perhaps we would lose a few less talented people each year for a start.
One of your main subjects [in your music] is fighting for what you think is right. Would you consider yourselves as everyday fighters?
We are all everyday fighters, thats life. Whether the fight is physical, mental or spiritual, that's the nature of the Universe, we owe our very existence to the push & pull of two opposing forces. I like to think that with time though, we can turn from warriors to statesmen, fighting smarter instead of harder.
You don't fear to open up about your opinions, like your thoughts on the Brexit and Scotland's independence matters. What motivates you to speak up and act for these matters?
I'm not usually one for speaking out too publicly about such things, unless I am asked to offer my thoughts. If it's important enough a topic I'll usually make some reference to it in my lyrics,
that's my chosen field, but I don't like being told what to think, so I dont tell others what to think. It's more important to share information or experience and let people decide for themselves. It's surely much more empowering that way, making your own informed decisions in life.
As Greeks we don't quite understand the Brexit matter, but we as well were close to a Grexit (who the fuck comes up with those names after all?) and still there's no end to the tunnel. Do you think that the Rumjacks music speaks to and helps the greek audience to keep on struggling?
Hah! Grexit!... is that really a thing?... amazing. If our music does help people in these matters in any way, then I'm honoured and glad. I like to think that our songs work on a more personal level, encouraging people to take pride in themselves and stand fearlessly on their own two feet each day. Only when we do this can we begin to tackle anything bigger, its important to start with yourself.
See also:
Lambros Loco Papaefthimiou
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Thank you, and may the force be with you.