Such is the laid-back, easy-going approach that Mansfield’s Violent Soho take to what they do outside of playing live, it’s odd to really ever approach an interview with them in any kind of formal setting. This is particularly the case with James Tidswell, the band’s lead guitarist. He’s happy to just shoot the shit – which, admittedly, has been a problem in the past; leading the entire nation to believe for about 15 minutes that Violent Soho were breaking up after the Groovin’ the Moo festival back in May. Still, Tidswell is characteristically conversational – if anyone misinterprets that, it’s their own problem.

Take, for instance, his explanation of how their headlining appearance at The Last Frost, this weekend’s mini-festival at the University of Wollongong’s Innovation Campus, came to be. “We were asked about six weeks ago,” he says. “I’m pretty sure it was announced maybe three days after we got hit up. The way it was, pretty much, was that we got hit up and it had to be a yay or nay that very day.” Tidswell laughs: “I dunno if I should say that, but that’s seriously what happened! We thought about it, and we were like ‘Y’know, why not?’ I mean, the whole reason we were taking a break to begin with was just because there was nothing there. We weren’t stressed either way, but we thought this would be a bit of fun.”

As if further incentive was needed, it also might be the last time Soho will be playing at least until the end of the year. With touring in support of 2016’s WACO LP well and truly done, the band are slowly but surely looking ahead to what may be for album number five. “Things are good, man,” says Tidswell. “[Bassist, Luke] Henery’s setting up a new rehearsal space for us – well, he’s helping to clean it up, at least. We’ll get together and get into it from there. We’ve got a couple of songs that we’re starting to work on now, so we’ll see what happens there. See how we go, I reckon.”

“It’s funny… as soon as we take the pressure off ourselves, that’s when everything starts happening. I mean, we should have learned that a few years ago when we were about to give up and just released Hungry Ghost. We didn’t think anything would come of it – our plan was honestly just to put the album out and then chill for a bit. Suddenly, bang – it’s all happening and we’re on the road for two years.”

Indeed, the last time Tidswell spoke to this very publication was in the midst of the band riding high in support of Hungry Ghost. This was at a time when the band selling out three Manning Bars was a big deal – keeping in mind their last headliner in Sydney took out the Hordern Pavilion; a venue five times the size. At the time, Tidswell was telling a story that has long since become legend in the Violent Soho story: Upon returning from America defeated, the guitarist literally applied for a job at McDonald’s to make ends meet. “You have no idea how many times I’ve been asked if that story is true,” he laughs.

“No-one believes it. I’ll never forget it – especially looking back on it now and seeing how my life has played out since. I don’t really overthink it, but it’s still surreal to me that Soho itself is the main income for everyone in the band. It’s a weird feeling to feel safe, for lack of a better word, when it comes to doing band stuff. It’s probably the first time we’ve ever felt that.

“Not only do we literally get to do it on account of the support from the public, that’s the reason this band still exists. It’s weird to be in a job where success depends entirely on that. Thanks to that support, we’ve been able to buy food, buy houses, buy a mattress…” Tidswell, again, laughs. “I said mattress because that was the first new thing I bought when we started getting more royalties from the band. I sold out instantly!”

This leads the conversation to the fact that Violent Soho have never received any major sponsorships – not even for instruments. “We get free shoes from Converse – that’s about it,” says Tidswell. “We might also get a case of beer from Stone & Wood here and there. We try and be careful about all that type of stuff – but honestly, if the right thing came along, we couldn’t care less. Hell, for the next album we want to have a burger at McDonald’s. Up here in Queensland, they’ve got the Broncos burger. When the Broncos win by 19 points, you get a free burger! We want to have it so when you buy our album, you can go into a Macca’s and get yourself a free Violent Soho burger.”

Tidswell, momentarily, reconsiders. “I dunno how Henery would feel about this – he’s vegan.” Fair enough – how about individual burgers for each member? A vegan McHenery, a McTidswell etc. “Good one!” says Tidswell. “Mine would be a recreation of the Michael Jordan burger McDonald’s had in the 90s. Two bits of beef, cheese, bacon and tomato on a cheeseburger bun. Like a little McFeast kinda thing. That would kill!”

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