20 Questions with… The Voluntary Butler Scheme

Momento is starting to build up nicely for The Voluntary Butler Scheme, or Rob Jones as he’s known to his mum. Gaining positive support from 6Music and Radio 2 from the likes of Marc Riley, John Kennedy, Rob Da Bank, Jon Hillcock, Steve Lamacq and Huw Stephens. No suprise either. This guy is real good, if pigeonholing is your thing you can stick him amongst the likes of Noah & The Whale, Laura Marling, Emmy The Great and Johnny Flynn. Quirky sun-kissed folk. We likey. Quite a lot in fact.

Currently promoting the new and really rather good EP Trading Things In, we caught up with Rob to pitch our ever popular quick fire conundrums…

1. Describe your sound in 3 words.
Vegetarian Jaffa Glam

2. What was the first record you ever bought? And where did you buy it?
‘Kiss From A Rose’ by Seal. I’d have been a nipper out with me Dad and I’d skanked him into buying me this. Proper made him go the counter too.

3. What’s the best cure for a hangover?
Some of them you just can’t cure. The really bad one you just have to hold out till the day after the day after the session. Let time be the cure. The lightweight ones’ll go after 2 cups of tea back to back when you wake up. No more than 20 mins apart.

4. What’s on your rider?
I’m not quite at the rider stage yet. I turned up to gig the other week and I had my own dressing room. In it was three bags of crisps! If I get to the stage where I get to pick my rider I’m gonna asked for some locally sourced shin pads every night.

5. How do you get ready for a live show?
It’s quite difficult when you play on your own. No bandmates to tickle you and that. I’ve learned that it’s not a good thing to play a gig in a bad mood. That’s what I have learned!

6. What’s your favourite song to play live?
If it’s a slow gig reaction wise, I enjoy booming out my song ‘Tabasco Sole’.

7. What’s your guilty pleasure?
If you’re a gigging musician you’re meant to hate Homous cause it’s always on the rider. But I blooming love it. I buy it for home!

8. Who would win in a fight, a stoat or a goat and why?
I don’t even know what a stoat is?? I know what Stout is. Could we just make the goat drink stout?? I’d pay for the stout.

9. Who’s your favourite new band at the moment? Tell us a bit about them.
I’m rubbish with new bands – I don’t know any. Someone gave me a copy of the first Maximo Park album the other day. The first time I put it on I listened to it 10-15 times back to back. It’s amazing! Are they new enough?

10. Who would play you in a film based upon your life?
Me! No one ever offers me acting roles…I ain’t giving this one away. Probably wouldn’t be a great film…prob just be me beating eggs then scrambling them.

11. Dead or alive, what 5 acts would you have play with you at a festival?
Cornershop, Louis Prima, The Bonzo Dog Band, Super Furry Animals & The Rubbettes. Am I headlining?? I hope so. They can all guest in my set. Get in touch with my manager.

12. If push comes to shove, what is your all-time favourite album?
No way!! Too hard. I really really like When I was born for the 7th Time by Cornershop. Also, A Touch of Schmillson in the Night by Harry Nillson. Great bed time album. No if you got a girl over…I mean if you wanna sleep!

13. What’s your most memorable on the road story?
I once wasted the triple word score on a score of 6 in a post gig game of Scrabble. Pissed everyone right off. Good times.

14. If your life flashed before your eyes, what would be the highlights?
It’d probably just be a montage of all the different omlettes I’ve made. Probably wouldn’t have many musical moments in it. I’m pretty new to this.

15. What’s the best piece of advice someone has ever given you and did you take notice?
Check your fly before you go onstage. I now do that before every gig.

16. If you had to leave a body part to science, what would it be?
Me head! Put that on someone a bit shorter and you’re on to a winner.

17. What’s the best book you’ve read and film you’ve seen in the last 6 months?
Dunno. Cloverfield’s definitely the worst film I’ve seen. The only book I can think that I’ve read was called ‘Slam’ (I think) by Nick Hornby. Twas quite good.

18. What three things could you not live without?
My drums – great stress relief. Water – I’m always desperate for a slash wherever I go and that’s the way I like it. Curb Your Enthusiasm dvds – I’m currently watching season 6.

19. Tell us a fact about yourself we probably don’t already know.
I used to play roller hockey!

20. And finally, we’d like you to make us a mix-tape. Pick five tracks with a theme of your choice.
The theme is fruit. They’re all fruity numbers in some way.
1. La Bamba – Richie Valens
2. Please Don’t Squeeza Da Banana – Louis Prima
3. Why Do Fools Fall In Love? – Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers
4. Tequila – The Champs
5. If You Wanna Be Happy – Jimmy Soul

Links
The Voluntary Butler Scheme [myspace]