Formula Indie Sessions : Interview with Balaban and the Bald I…
Balaban and the Bald Illeagles are;
Roscoe Balaban (RB)
Onion (O)
Ken Sutera Jr (KSJ)
Sid River (SR)
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
(WARNING: some of us will take this more seriously than others)
RB: Mine would be being in the car with my dad and him always having CDs on, the track I remember most was Change feat Luther Vandross- Searching which is still one of the best tunes of all time if you ask me!
SR: Trying to mimic Alvin Stardust’s gloved hand in the mirror while gyrating to ‘Coo ca choo’. I still have not perfected it.
KSJ: playing the egg dicer in the kitchen and jumping over the sofa listening to Boney M. on the stereo
O: Listening to Timmy mallet singing about polka dot bikini
How did your passion for creating music begin?
SR: With the purchase of ‘Axe Attack’ metal compilation album in 1980 and then the subsequent acquisition of an acoustic guitar from my uncle to try and copy Angus Young.
KSJ: from being stuck in the playground on breaks at Stourbridge College with no mates but a Walkman
RB: Probably from the first time we had cable TV at home and I started watching MTV2!
O: I was a church kid, so listening to Jesus bangers on Sundays
What’s the story behind your current music project?
RB: The band as an entity had broken up in 2022. However, in 2024, this formation came together as a band called Remaindermen, it was only after a few rehearsals and an open mic performance that the guys encouraged me to revive Balaban. As soon as I knew they were on board, it’s been full speed ahead really.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music
before?
O: Greebo or Alt-Rock
SR: An unforgiving wall of sound with twiddly bits
RB: It depends who I am describing us to.. If they are a simpleton (who probably like pop music) I will usually say we are somewhere between Foo Fighters and Muse.. If they actually know music, I would mention bands like Sonic Youth, Neds Atomic Dustbin, Magazine, Wire and Therapy? Raw, honest and unadulterated.
What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
RB: Over the years, I learnt not to take it too seriously and to just enjoy it whilst its happening. It’s also taught me to embrace imperfection and to not get too particular about the finer details.
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
O: I’m no frills really, just my Ibanez bass guitar and my TC Electronic bass amp, pedals are a luxury, though I do have A Big Muff..
KSJ: I love my Fender tele and I don’t go anywhere without my Fender twin amp
RB: My trusty Laney amp has been a fixture for quite some time and I currently play an Italia Rimini 7, which is a gorgeous guitar with a brilliant sound
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
KSJ: I’m into Berlin Psycho Nurses right now
SR: This minute – ‘Idioms’ by Sam Draisey & the Revolt.
O: Sweetpool for me; their first album Triple Earth Star features bangers like Man in the Castle which you should definitely check it out
RB: Too many to name right now, really liking fellow black country bands Shotgun Marmalade, Mistrusted, Frieda Star, Lydons, Flying Ant Day, Humdrum Express as well many Birmingham bands like Sweetpool, The Line Managers and Crooked Hooks to name a few. Also loving The Empty Page from Manchester and The Beautiful Darkness as well; Not to mention various solo acts like Timothy Parkes, Katherine Abbott, Dave Boddison, Steve Ison, Elinor Peregrin.. I could go on!
How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
RB: Well life and experience are topsy turvy, though a lot of the songs I write are shaped by my observations of the world we’re living in. “The Post-Truth age has arrived and taken its grip” and we are hurtling towards the end of artistic expression and allowing AI to step in and eventually replace us all. The new album is essentially asking the question over and over “Are we being lied to?” and I think the answer is unanimously YES YES YES.
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
RB: I hope the songs light a fire inside people; a fire that strives to “keep it real” in a world of pastiche.
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
RB: Music has taught me to embrace my individuality and has brought me together with other artists and creatives and it’s the only life I’m interested in
O: It’s taught me that things could always be worse… I could be Corey Feldman or even Keir Starmer..
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
SR: Any festival with a big crowd would do for me
KSJ: Bearded Theory or Rebellion would be phenomenal
O: Bearded Theory, but if I had to pick a place I’d want to play it would be Villa Park
RB: Honestly, any outdoor festival for me, just for the atmosphere and being amongst fellow music lovers
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
SR: Mick McManus. To write a song for my dead Nan. She was a big wrestling fan.
O: This is a tough one, this will keep changing the more I think so I’ll go with the travelling wilburys, to be around such legendary company I may end up being better than the world’s okay-ist bassist
KSJ: Rupert bear…
RB: Not so much a collaboration, but if money wasn’t an issue and we could go and record anywhere in the world, I would want to go to California and cut something with Mr Brett Gurewitz. If I wanted a collab, I’d want Greg Graffin of Bad Religion to come sing on one of our songs.
Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website, Spotify, IG, links)
RB: Most the usual places, however we do like Bandcamp as a rule. Our early stuff is on Spotify (the old band line-up) however we will not be releasing our new material on there, as I feel Spotify has slowly but surely cornered the music industry and bled it dry. It’s really not worth it as the royalties are so minimal, it’s insulting to all bands and I think ALL bands EVERYWHERE should boycott it right now.
Here’s our linktree with all the social links on
https://linktr.ee/balabanandthebaldilleagles
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical
journey?
RB: It’s a very simple dream really; we are releasing the new album Post-Truth Apocalypse Blues in September and just to be able to play shows outside of our hometown and have a crowd turn up to see us. On top of that, a good support slot with an “established” band would be great as well.
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?
RB: I hope they can see that we a raw, honest and actually write songs with lyrics that people can get their teeth into. If they come see us live they will discover that we fucking rock frankly 😀
Youtube Video
