01Profile
A Koates Photo
Koates
Musicians — London
03Interview
Describe your style in three words?
Melodic Driving Pop-Rock
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
As a band, we went to see LCD Soundsystem at Alexandra Palace. Watching like ten people in one band do their thing was quite a spectacle. From the guy at the back with a glockenspiel, to the one designated backing dancer was sick.
If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
James: Fleetwood-Mac and Red Hot Chilli Peppers. The emotional high’s and lows of Fleetwood Mac tracks and the energy from RHCP is what we’re kind of going for. Hence why we’d make a superb addition to the line up. Let's make it happen.
Which Subcultures have influenced you?
Joe: The wave of indie revivalists around 2008-2012 definitely had an impact on my musical taste and my love for live music. I was in my coming-of-age period at the time, and regularly travelling to see bands like Bombay Bicycle Club, Foals, Friendly Fires etc. ultimately impacted my decision to move to London for music.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
James: Oasis - I’d give Jeremy Kyle a call, get him to come along to our meeting and try to sort out some of the issues between the lads. Hit record on the camera. Would go down as one of the greatest Jeremy Kyle episodes of all time. That would be up there with the ‘I’ll marry you if you prove you only cheated 18 times!’
Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
KOATES: We keep returning to the Sebright Arms, and the shows just get better and better. In fact, we’re hosting a residency there over the summer. The sound is great, and we’re always received well, so it’s definitely one of our favourites.
Your greatest hero or heroine in music?
Joe: Led Zeppelin - 'When The Levee Breaks'
I’m gonna have to sayJohn Bonham simply because he inspired me and so many others to pick up a pair of sticks and beat the shit out of a drum kit like he did.
Koates formed following a string of serendipitous events, when front-man James, in search of a new guitar, met bassist JoJo playing in a guitar shop on Denmark street. The pair hit it off, and James left with both a new guitar and the band's bassist. The London based indie trio released their second single ‘The Right Place’ in November 2018.
02Playlist
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
James: Lissie - 'When I’m Alone'
A song that defines the teenage you?
Joe: Bombay Bicycle Club - 'Evening / Morning'
This was the song, upon seeing the band live for the first time, really made me fall in love with them.
One record you would keep forever?
James: The Police - 'Every Breath You Take'
A song I grew up with. It’s a timeless track so wouldn’t have a problem hearing in another 50 years time!
JoJo: The B52's - 'Planet Claire'
The 1979 self-titled debut from the band was one of my first records in the collection as I stole it off my mum. Still probably one of my most played albums, every tune is a banger making it hard to pick just one. They just had it down, lyrics that cut right to the heart of the human condition, grate hair and bongos.
A song you wished you had written?
James: Fleetwood Mac - 'Landslide'
Such a beautiful song, would love to play it live (if it were my own).
JoJo: Harry Nelson - 'Coconut'
Ok so first things first, it's one chord! That's pretty crazy, considering it may be the best song ever written. Secondly, he must have made a few bob of it as I'm assuming it's in a Tarantino film? And thirdly it's educational! As before this song was penned how would the world know (and I cannot stress this enough) LIME + COCONUT = BELLY ACHE. And the worst thing is the only cure is more lime and coconut... It's a catch 22.
Best song to turn up loud?
Joe: Oasis - 'Live Forever'
If you don’t feel empowered when you hear this song you’re a liar.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
JoJo: Don Williams - 'Tulsa Time'
The DON, the man, the myth, the maverick. Nothing wrong with a touch of Americana as long as it's in manageable doses. And after all, don't we all just wanna kick back and set out watches back to Tulsa time.
(Side note; Does anyone wear watches any more? So maybe Tulsa time is more of a state of mind at this point? I like to think it is.)
The song to get you straight on the dance floor?
Joe: Armand Van Helden - 'You Don't Know Me'
Straight up dutty 90's dance floor banger. Doesn't get any better than this.
Best song to end an all-nighter?
JoJo: Stornaway - 'The Road You Didn't Take'
A good song to contemplate the big questions in life, such as "I'm pretty sure it was that road back there..." and "So that's why the uber took so long". But also a nice tune to reflect on decisions you have made earlier that evening and take your mind of the hangover that is fast approaching.
Any new bands you are into at the moment?
Joe: After our show at the Great Escape we went to see Sports Team at the venue at the end of the pier. They really know how to put on a rock n roll show! Big things are in store for that band.
03Interview
Describe your style in three words?
Melodic Driving Pop-Rock
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
As a band, we went to see LCD Soundsystem at Alexandra Palace. Watching like ten people in one band do their thing was quite a spectacle. From the guy at the back with a glockenspiel, to the one designated backing dancer was sick.
If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
James: Fleetwood-Mac and Red Hot Chilli Peppers. The emotional high’s and lows of Fleetwood Mac tracks and the energy from RHCP is what we’re kind of going for. Hence why we’d make a superb addition to the line up. Let's make it happen.
Which Subcultures have influenced you?
Joe: The wave of indie revivalists around 2008-2012 definitely had an impact on my musical taste and my love for live music. I was in my coming-of-age period at the time, and regularly travelling to see bands like Bombay Bicycle Club, Foals, Friendly Fires etc. ultimately impacted my decision to move to London for music.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
James: Oasis - I’d give Jeremy Kyle a call, get him to come along to our meeting and try to sort out some of the issues between the lads. Hit record on the camera. Would go down as one of the greatest Jeremy Kyle episodes of all time. That would be up there with the ‘I’ll marry you if you prove you only cheated 18 times!’
Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
KOATES: We keep returning to the Sebright Arms, and the shows just get better and better. In fact, we’re hosting a residency there over the summer. The sound is great, and we’re always received well, so it’s definitely one of our favourites.
Your greatest hero or heroine in music?
Joe: Led Zeppelin - 'When The Levee Breaks'
I’m gonna have to sayJohn Bonham simply because he inspired me and so many others to pick up a pair of sticks and beat the shit out of a drum kit like he did.
Koates formed following a string of serendipitous events, when front-man James, in search of a new guitar, met bassist JoJo playing in a guitar shop on Denmark street. The pair hit it off, and James left with both a new guitar and the band's bassist. The London based indie trio released their second single ‘The Right Place’ in November 2018.
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
James: Lissie - 'When I’m Alone'
A song that defines the teenage you?
Joe: Bombay Bicycle Club - 'Evening / Morning'
This was the song, upon seeing the band live for the first time, really made me fall in love with them.
One record you would keep forever?
James: The Police - 'Every Breath You Take'
A song I grew up with. It’s a timeless track so wouldn’t have a problem hearing in another 50 years time!
JoJo: The B52's - 'Planet Claire'
The 1979 self-titled debut from the band was one of my first records in the collection as I stole it off my mum. Still probably one of my most played albums, every tune is a banger making it hard to pick just one. They just had it down, lyrics that cut right to the heart of the human condition, grate hair and bongos.
A song you wished you had written?
James: Fleetwood Mac - 'Landslide'
Such a beautiful song, would love to play it live (if it were my own).
JoJo: Harry Nelson - 'Coconut'
Ok so first things first, it's one chord! That's pretty crazy, considering it may be the best song ever written. Secondly, he must have made a few bob of it as I'm assuming it's in a Tarantino film? And thirdly it's educational! As before this song was penned how would the world know (and I cannot stress this enough) LIME + COCONUT = BELLY ACHE. And the worst thing is the only cure is more lime and coconut... It's a catch 22.
Best song to turn up loud?
Joe: Oasis - 'Live Forever'
If you don’t feel empowered when you hear this song you’re a liar.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
JoJo: Don Williams - 'Tulsa Time'
The DON, the man, the myth, the maverick. Nothing wrong with a touch of Americana as long as it's in manageable doses. And after all, don't we all just wanna kick back and set out watches back to Tulsa time.
(Side note; Does anyone wear watches any more? So maybe Tulsa time is more of a state of mind at this point? I like to think it is.)
The song to get you straight on the dance floor?
Joe: Armand Van Helden - 'You Don't Know Me'
Straight up dutty 90's dance floor banger. Doesn't get any better than this.
Best song to end an all-nighter?
JoJo: Stornaway - 'The Road You Didn't Take'
A good song to contemplate the big questions in life, such as "I'm pretty sure it was that road back there..." and "So that's why the uber took so long". But also a nice tune to reflect on decisions you have made earlier that evening and take your mind of the hangover that is fast approaching.
Any new bands you are into at the moment?
Joe: After our show at the Great Escape we went to see Sports Team at the venue at the end of the pier. They really know how to put on a rock n roll show! Big things are in store for that band.