Issue 151

Vibration White Finger

29th January 2007

"When you form a band you set yourself certain goals," says Matt Rimmer, lead vocalist of Cardiff rockers, Vibration White Finger. "Of course this is the first one. But as soon as the ink's dry on the deal you move the goalposts. And I think that's exactly as it should be. So I'm happy, but looking forward to pushing on to more and more stuff."

You may not have heard of them just yet, but with an EP out in early March, plus a hotly anticipated debut album during the summer, you'll soon learn why this band has quietly been initiating the revolution with furious live shows in Cardiff and London. Recorded live at The Point in Cardiff last summer, the band took the daring approach of recording their debut effort in front of a live audience. Rimmer is confident that in doing so, they will reap the rewards.

"I hope that people appreciate where we're coming from with it. We recorded it live because that's where we're best. So we just thought f*ck it. See how big our balls are and do it over the course of a night. Stick an audience in front of us and see if we either shit ourselves, or rise to the occasion. I think people'll appreciate the energy behind it."

Don't be fooled, however, into thinking that VWF have snuck up completely without warning. VWF have already amassed a dedicated fanbase, and headlining Club NME at London's Koko is bound to get them noticed on a wider scale. Having said that, the band are already earning critical acclaim.

"To be honest, there hasn't been much bad press. We were doing our own PR until the label got involved, and everyone seemed impressed with how hands-on we've always been. Occasionally you get some nobhead who says 'they sound like so-and-so' when you've never heard of them, but that's always going to happen. Folks like to pigeonhole stuff, but we don't fit too easily into the boxes that people are being shoved in at the moment. One woman wrote a review of us at 'In the City' that we couldn't have dreamed up! All of the bands that we love, all of the things that we love about rock 'n' roll - well, she just threw them all in there."

"It's fucking great when someone really gets what you're doing," Rimmer enthuses. "Makes those late-night motorway journeys home a bit more bearable."

If you're not sure what to expect from VWF, then trying to define what they're about can be tricky as they are that inimitable that words probably need to be invented purely for the purpose. But Rimmer says that you can expect something great from the album.

"A load of good times - loud, strong and rough around the edges," he describes. "It stands up, it really does. I refuse to hide behind the fact that it was recorded live - we nailed it, and if you like the Rolling Stones, Saturday nights, Primal Scream, and you enjoy staying up late, then hopefully it's for you. There's a few little surprises in there as well, I hope."

There's no doubt that 2007 will be a massive year for VWF, but that won't deter them from continuing to get out on the road. "I'd hate to tempt fate, but it's looking good so far. We've just taken on a new booking agent and are talking with all sorts of folks about getting out and about. It's what we do best, and what we want to get on with," argues Rimmer, and he's not lying. "Of course you want to sell records, you've got to live. But there's no better way to travel than taking your show on the road, so we're hoping to play to as many folks as possible. In the short term, headlining Club NME at Koko is going to be a great night. We did it just before Christmas and it was bedlam, so we're back down for that one on 2 March. The only chore is not getting leathered before we go on at 1am... never easy in Camden!"

If one thing must be learned in 2007, it's that VWF are truly awesome.

Pete Hayman