Within this exciting new ‘Spotlight’ section we shall endeavour to highlight local, upcoming bands which have caught our attention, not solely for talent but also their ability to attract and maintain the attentions of a student crowd. In getting to know and publicise these bands we hope to not only promote the groups themselves but the music scene across the city.
Our first band, Excessive Overdrive; a four-piece Rock and Metal band is formed of University students working together to create epic sound. In speaking to them during a ‘Jam Night’ at The Stoke Arms (held biweekly) we learnt about the bands history and influences as well as their opinion on Exeter’s music scene.
For a group which seems to have been continually taken part and rebuilt, owing to overburdened and exchange students, the remaining original members seem ardently keen to continue writing, performing and composing new music. Their original core consists of Alex Cottrell (Guitarist) and Woody Johnson (Drummer who chanced upon finding their remaining members, Yomito Kato (Vocalist) and Alex Burnett (Bassist). The band seem to have instantly bonded through mutual effusions on the world of music.
When conversing with the group about their influences we received a slightly varied response. Although altogether characterising themselves as a “Hard Rock” band with a slightly Metallic edge, there seemed to be a mix of influences. Across the board there was an overwhelming admiration for each member of Led Zeppelin from each of their instrumental protégées. Vocally, Kato describes his influence as Queen’s illustrious Freddie Mercury, after stating this Kato seems to try and humbly backtrack after naming such a vocal icon but to his aid Cottrell emphatically attested to his bandmates abilities, claiming that during jam sessions he hd “never seen anyone sing the Queen stuff that well” which in itself is a highly exciting premise for the bands upcoming shows.
The A-List comparisons don’t stop there however, likening their instrument playing to the likes of David Gilmore (Pink Floyd), Toni Ayomi (Black Sabbath), Brian May (Queen) and more. Whilst there appears to be an overwhelming amount of Classic Rock fanaticism Burnett jumps in to claim himself as a product of Prog Rock, naming influences such as King Crimson and Frank Zappa. Almost antithetically the absent interviewee, Excessive Overdrive’s drummer, was described by Cottrell as a huge Metal fan, conceding that Johnson’s influence lies within the not too distant a land of the likes of Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains and Black Sabbath. Cottrell earnestly contests though that Johnson ha been given some Classic Rock education, claiming that “he (Johnson) basically realised […] that the random Metal stuff he’s into would not exist without the Rock stuff that I’m telling him to get into.” He then proudly states how Johnson is now “obsessed” with leaning all of John Bonham’s (Led Zeppelin) drum patterns and that he in fact was having a lot of fun with it. This fusion of genre across the members has lent the band a unique sonorous quality, in turn allowing for a wider aural appeal for fans of both Classic Rock and Grunge.
When applied to about the state of the current Exeter music scene Cottrell reposed “I’d say the music scene here in Exeter is really good. Like there’s lots of different music events going on, especially with Campus Bands as well. For example, last year we basically realised that there were 20 bands all of different genres.” The group then recalled how the groups on the night seemed to start light-hearted with delicate acoustic sets which throughout the night eventually devolved into sludgy Metal mayhem. Excessive Overdrive’s found themselves middling on this scale, which is telling of their genre as well as their ability to appeal to all. The band had, for me, one of the most memorable sets of the night, articulating their magnum opus Zeppelin’s Whole Lotta Love into Aerosmith’s Walk This Way sending excitable groovy chills across the room. This notion was further confounded by their final track of the night Ramble on by, of course, Led Zeppelin. This performance solidified their ranging ability to spring from mellow melodic verses into crashing, electric crescendos. The band truly provides a. Rollercoaster of dynamics, volumes and tempos.
When further pressed about their opinions on the Exeter music scene by my, perhaps rather pessimistic, views. On he subject, Burnett stated that:
B: “I guess just student interests have sort of shifted. There’s less desire and less money around to be spent on that sort of thing. Exefest is held eery year, but it didn’t have an amazing turn out.”
E:”Do you think that’s to do with an era-shift or the type of people currently being attracted to Exeter University?”
B: “It’s a mix of both, I don’t think people are disinterested […] but people have just moved on and are into different stuff, a whole modernisation of it needs to sort of happen. But you’re not going to get big bands (coming to Exeter),but maybe new bands that will later become important.”
This hope for a revival of the Exeter music scene stands them in great stead for their upcoming performance at The Old Firehouse on Sunday 1st November, the first live gig they will be playing as a completed line-up.They are offering the audience a mix of both classic covers as well as (hopefully!) a few originals, this band is truly worth you evening if you even the slightest into live music, the range they portray is astronomical and the promise they show is unbounded.
