The Download Interviews: Amplifier

VF: What do you make of Download so far?
Sel Balmir: We're just really excited to play here; we grew up with the Monsters of Rock festivals.

VF: Do you still get the whole festival experience now that you're playing?
SB: We came yesterday and had a mill about, we saw Biffy over the Stooges which was tough but you've got to support your mates haven't you?

VF: Have any bands really stood out?
SB: Ikara Colt were fucking hardcore, there are a lot of bands here that are stylistically quite similar so when you see something different it just really stands out. They've got that 'x' thing, yeah Ikara Colt have the X factor!

VF: How did you think your performance went today?
SB: Up to this point we've only been doing support slots, so we've never really been in a position where it's our fans watching us. When we started out the venues used to be packed for the rock disco after we finished. So when we played our warm up and we had our own fans there was amazing, to have people who you don't know singing the songs is the best.

VF: What is the worst gig you've ever done?
SB: This time when we hadn't played for ages, and it was at the Bull and Gate in London - the guy who was going to be our agent had been persuaded to come down - and it was just the worst kind of gig when you try so hard but nothing seems to go right.

VF: Which other festivals are you doing this summer?
SB: Reading and Leeds and two in Germany, Hurricane and Southside Festival.

VF: One of the things that stood out most about your live performance was the energy...
SB: Yeah well when you're on tour you're basically waiting 12 hours to do something, and unloading the van can become entertaining! All that pent up boredom has to come out somewhere!

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