Drug Store Romeos, Interview

The state of the UK is unwell, a gap of young and old has appeared. Even in the local Morrisons that Drug Store Romeos’ guitarist Charlie Henderson works at part time “the cashiers hate old people, they’ve fucked us over”. It is true that there is a divide both in age and ideology surrounding the UK’s independence within the EU, but the trio from Fleet feel that may be stepping into Indie Rock as a genre too. 

Although in no ways disappointed with the scene and its growing newcomers such as Rat Boy, The Magic Gang and Spring King they all feel a bit let down. Jonny (their drummer) claims that the constantly touring bands don’t have anything to get into and they’re lacking any “story”. This is undeniably true, Spring King are almost straight edge, The Magic Gang aren’t anything to obsess over and “everyone hates Rat Boy”. It’s clear as day to Drug Store Romeos, they are the band that everyone has been waiting for. A mixture of good songs, image and just enough weird to make young Indie kids froth at their mouths.

Originally Jonny and Charlie were seriously into Punk, more specifically 80s Hardcore. The boys loved it so much that they tried to re-enact it well over thirty years later. With others, they recorded a “really bad” album and played a hoard of old school pubs and clubs full of “old bald men”. Although the band were gaining some success, the image of a life of playing to old men was not appealing. At this point a Facebook post was written, and Sarah Downie was pulled in for lead vocals and bass guitar.

It is still unclear as to what Drug Store Romeos are in terms of sound. Citing influences from Echochamp, Joy Division, Sunflower Bean and FIDLAR there seems to be no honest genre that the band want to fit into just yet. One name keeps popping up over and over again however, Foxygen. “Their songs are all conceptual, we wanna have those moments [of creativity]. Like moments when Sarah will sing French interludes”. Another key influence is Kate Bush, especially in Sarah’s delivery and lyricism. The band’s desire to shy away from labels and just make experimental Indie Rock is what Charlie thinks will find them their place in the industry; “a committed band, that are cool, and psychedelic”.

Sarah’s place as frontman has a few annoying moments, usually in the form of two words; Wolf Alice. Townie admits “I really love Wolf Alice, but I don’t want to sound like them at all. If you love someone too much you begin to reproduce them”. Early in the band’s demos, people have already started trying to make comparisons to the London four piece on account of their dreamy female vocal lead. On listening to their songs live in rehearsals, the comparisons end past the instruments they both use. Drug Store Romeos are far more hypnotic and Shoegaze.

The future seems clear for the young Fleet band. They have a few small shows, and a few support slots . The band are also recording two songs to try and gain some radio airplay and attention. Who knows what will happen when they find their feet in the industry.