Spotlight on: Kelly & Thom 'The Scene'
It has been a time since we brought y'all a "Junkbox Presents" so honestly, it's about bloody time now!
Please welcome Kelly & Thom from 'The Scene' a radio show & digital zine born from a desire to see a more vibrant, independent, local community; be it music, art, food, or anything else.
The Scene is a gathering place for passionate people from news & reviews to gigs & interviews.
Basically if you're into your alternative music then these are the folks to follow!
(and we're their official clothing sponsor ✌️)
If you could be fluent in any language what would it be?
Thom: Like Kelly said we are working on Spanish but I think learning a form of sign language would be super useful.
What is the vehicle of your dreams?
Thom: I am going to have to go one better go for a Ploeger AT5105 just look at it! It’s like something a kid would make with lego its simply crazy and would not look out of place in a Mad Max movie.
Do you have any unhealthy obsessions?
Kelly: WordArt memes or Trolli worms
Thom: Worrying that tomorrow the sky will fall on my head.
Best piece of advice you’ve been given?
Kelly: I live by the mantra to do "what I want, when I want, how I want." There was a particularly validating moment in my 20s when I was dealing with a challenging disagreement with colleagues. I wanted to stand my ground but had repeated experiences of upsetting others with my opinion. I hesitated to repeat it again. I relayed this story to an educator who simply said, "Who cares? Why not?"
Oh, right. We disagree. Disagreements are allowed. If they hate me for it, that's silly and not my problem. Many people are deeply uncomfortable with disagreement, but the fact of life is that two opinions can sit in opposition and still work together.
"Why not" is of a similar vein. I am not actively seeking to hurt anyone with the things I want to do. Are we afraid of the opinions of others? "Who cares. Why not".
On a lighter note, I also love the line “let your haters be your alligators” from The Great North. I say that way too much.
Thom: Kelly said this: “stop wishing and start doing”
What is your all-time favourite album?
Thom: I think this changes on a daily basis but one album I always come back to is I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning by Bright Eyes.
Kelly: How do you even? Usually I’ll say Rubber Soul from The Beatles. Just a stunning record. But then, my little 12 year-old ears being given a burned copy of the already 4-years-old Whatever And Ever Amen from Ben Folds Five (something we had no business listening to) was genuinely, deeply life-altering.
And our most apt question for these two muse's...
If you could curate a festival who would be the 3 main headliners?
Thom: This is a question I’ve pondered many times over the years. For the opening night, I’d choose Los Campesinos!—my all-time favorite band, who have had the biggest impact on my music listening over the years.
Next, to make my 15-year-old self happy, I’d bring in my favorite band from my teenage years, The Starting Line. I was obsessed with them growing up, and Say It Like You Mean It was the soundtrack to my teenage years. Its blend of emo-pop-punk hit hard back then—and still does.
Completing my headliners would be American Football. We were lucky enough to catch them closing The Axiom at last year’s 2000trees, and I was completely blown away. They’re even better live than on record, and honestly, I can’t think of a better way to close out a festival than with some good old American Football.
No festival is complete without a legends slot, and for that, I want to see the crowd dancing and enjoying themselves. Nothing beats a good old slice of Northern Soul, and for that, we should turn to the queen of the genre, Gloria Jones.
Kelly: Ben Folds, Shania Twain, Caspian…and Paramore because Thom already broke the rules and named 4.
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