Words by Chris Jones
Dublin’s Fight Like Apes have had a hell of a year. Their Choice Music Prize-nominated album Fight Like Apes And The Mystery Of The Golden Medallion was released in September 2008 (January 2009 in the UK) and the band have spent the last 12 months travelling all over the place in support of it. They’ve toured with The Prodigy and The Ting Tings, played a host of festivals and been met with rave reviews in the UK as well as Ireland.
They’re about to round off the year with a six-date tour of their homeland, kicking off in Waterford on Friday. Not only that, they’re also giving away an 11-track live album from their website on the 17th. Bass ape Tom (above, far left) gives us 2009 through the Apes’ eyes.
So, how has 2009 been for you?
The most important thing that has happened this year is this, I hope you don’t mind me giving you a link…
This is my favourite place.
What was your favourite gig of the year?
Giveamanakick played one of their final gigs in Whelans, Dublin. The atmosphere was amazing. Pity a great band are going away for good.
And the worst?
[Tom refuses to name the place, the swine] It was awful. There was no food in the town and we ran out of diesel, and it started raining, and the roof of our van was slightly concave and it filled up with water and sure didn’t the whole thing pour in on poor Pockets [keyboards]. There wasn’t any electricity that night either so we couldn’t dry his clothes, and the key broke off in the lock on the back of the van so we couldn’t get him anything dry to wear; so he just sat in the cold while we rubbed some warmth into his legs and hoped for the best. Shit gig. Shit buzz.
Which is the best festival you played at?
Really liked Jersey Live! (that would be the Channel Isles rather than New Jersey) and the Secret Garden Party near Cambridge. Oxegen should have been better, but we had to jet off straight after our set to get to T In The Park, so no time to relax or enjoy the experience at all.
And the worst?
Actually, this relates to the story above [about Jersey]. It was the same gig. They actually had a serious problem with the law there too. There was some sort of local anomaly that allowed youngsters to drive ride-on lawn mowers everywhere, not only through fields. They were also allowed to cross main roads, from one gate to another. There was a serious field full of tents continually threatened by a gang of young mower drivers. We were broken down not far away but sure what are you gonna do?
Which was your favourite country of all the ones you visited?
My favourite is definitely Switzerland. I’ve never been there when it’s raining. It’s full of chocolate and mountains. Serious, I think there’s a lake too.
And your least favourite?
Brussels was a little underwhelming. [That's a city - pedantic Ed.]
What was the funniest moment of your year?
When I heard this joke: Two goldfish in a tank, one says to the other: “Ever driven one of these bad boys before?” Ahahahaha!
And was there an incident you’d rather forget about?
No
Did you pick up any injuries along the way?
Head wound, Amsterdam.
Who was the best support band you played with, and why?
Underground Railroad, ‘cos they’re good. They’re French, but they don’t really like French people, so that’s okay by us.
What was it like touring with such a huge – and different – band as The Prodigy?
Serious laff. They’re very good live. We were only with them for five shows. I believe they were a warm up for the later arena tour they did!
Did you find their audiences receptive?
Yes, for the most part. Some threw pints. If you catch one, you get a million points.
Which gig on the upcoming Irish tour are you looking forward to the most?
Belfast? 
I see that your Dublin gig on the 18th is going to be in a wrestling ring – what gave you that idea?
Pockets is an enormous fan. See the ‘Do You Karate?’ video on YouTube. The idea came before that video though; it sounded like a laff.
You’re giving away a free live album from your website. What’s the thinking behind that? Which gig is it? Is there any particularly choice onstage banter to enjoy?
Yes, we’ll be giving away a live album on December 17. Sounds like only one copy. It’s not. There will be lots available, I believe it’s download only! The thinking…. I don’t know, it’s something for the fans at the end of the year. It’s from a gig in The Netherlands from earlier in the year! I’d need to go back and research the banter to see if any of it is choice. That was a lot of questions in one question. [Sorry]
When you look back on 2009, what will be the defining moment?
That bad gig we had.
And what do you have in store for 2010?
To hopefully have an even worse gig than that, so the rest of the year will look amazing in comparison. Pockets is learning tuba, Adrian [drums] is getting a new cymbal, and MayKay [vocals] will be as beautiful as always. I myself want to go on a waterslide. It’s been YEARS.
FIGHT LIKE APES TOUR IRELAND FROM DECEMBER 11, PLAYING WATERFORD, BELFAST, DUBLIN (TWICE), CORK AND FINALLY GALWAY ON NEW YEAR’S EVE. DATES AND DETAILS ON THE GIG GUIDE.
Posted on: December 8, 2009
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