Interview – Paul Monk [Making Monsters]

Making Monsters, Masons, 14 February 2013

Making Monsters will be tearing up Masons, Derry tonight for a Valentines Day Metal Massacre. I caught up with guitarist, Paul Monk before pre-gig preparations about fundraising for Hammerfest, challenges the band faces and why you should head down to Masons for tonight’s gig.

So the gig is basically a fund raiser for your Ferry to Hammerfest? How did you land a massive gig like that?

Yeah, I basically just sent our music anywhere and everywhere, and I got an email from Seven Webster, the festival booker, also Skindred‘s manager, saying he loved the stuff and wanted to offer us a 45mins set at Hammerfest in Wales!

So you’re basically being scouted by Skindred’s manager?

I don’t know, are we? Haha

So what’s the plan if you don’t get the money together at tonight’s gig? 

If we can’t raise enough money, sell wee Brian..nah, we should be okay, we will make it happen.

It’s great that you have so much confidence! You mentioned on the gig page that it’s not easy being a band? What do you think are the biggest difficulties for local bands?

In my opinion, there’s loads of challenges; being independent means we are under no guidance, no record label, self managed, so sometimes its hard to know what to do, and in what order, how to get shows, what shows you should play etc

It’s really hard financially too, any musician will tell you there’s very little money especially at the early stages, and anything you do make should be invested back into studio time, merchandise etc the reason we do it is because we love music, and love playing, despite it being tough.

I spoke to Zia Regime last week and they said that they wanted to see the Nerve Centre bring back regular gigs and that the venue shouldn’t charge a band to play there. What do you think about that?

I couldn’t agree more, bring back the old days, when gigs were so often in the Nerve Centre, I used to go every weekend sometimes without even knowing who was playing and hearing if it was on or not, and without fail there would always be one on. Anything made after the costs of the venue should be divided between the bands.

Do you think that if the nerve changed their current system it would have a positive impact on the local music scene?

Of course, the venue is sitting gathering dust, its a real shame.

So what do you have in store for tonight’s gig?

Riffs, Riffs and a bit of soft jazz, and more riffs. Free jager on the door for first 20 people, some great bands, a few new songs. We will actually be playing our new single “Instinct” which is being released with a music video tomorrow, and we have some lovely new merch too, should be a good sweaty gig.

Download Making Monster’s first E.P for free on bandcamp or stream below.