What is the bands names?
Up Shot
What are your names?
Joe Kelly, James Hamblett & Alexander White
How did you come up with the bands name?
When my previous band Welcome Back Delta came to an end I was thinking about starting another band. And although it was sad that the previous one came to an end, the ‘Up Shot’ was that I got to make this new one and pursue some different creative directions!
What is your genre of music?
Rock would be the broad genre, but we jump around alot taking inspiration wherever it takes us. Grunge Rock, Blues Rock, Punk Rock, Desert Rock, all of those genres you can find on our album I think.
Give us a little bio about you.
Up Shot are a Gloucestershire based 3 piece band, described as Desert Rock with Grunge, Blues and Punk influences. A 3 piece of drums, bass, guitars and vocals. Featuring Members of Welcome Back Delta, Inkubus Sukubus, & the Verity White Band.Having supported bands like Massive, Rollin Sixes, Pulverise, What A Funk, Heavy on the ride & Penny Rich in 2024, their Album ‘Corvid’ was recorded at Arpeggio Creative.
What made you go into music?
I (Joe) have been a singer from a very young age, I was always huming a tune and listening to something. But when my family moved to America (I was 7 years old) I heard a radio station in Maryland called 98Rock, this was in the late 80’s early 90’s in the grunge/post grunge era, so they would play back to back Alice in Chains, Metallica, Stone Temple Pilots, Pearl Jam, Iron Maiden and more. I fell in love with that music and still listen to it all today, along with a much more diverse mix of songs and artists. I loved to sing, but realised that if I wanted to write I needed to learn an instrument, so I started watching music videos to see where the guitarists placed their fingers, pausing to try and work it out. As I got older I took a few lessons, got a few books and never stopped learning.
Who are your influences?
Stone Temple Pilots, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains would all be big influences, but honestly the list is endless. I take influence and inspiration from so many bands, some are huge acts and some are friends!
Are you a signed act?
We aren’t currently signed.
You released earlier your new Album tell us more about the creative process behnd it.
What was the writing and recording process like?
Writing ‘Corvid’ has happened over a long time, about half the tracks were before I even got in a room with Alexander and James. But once we started making music together the rest came very naturally. There is alot of love and history in these tracks. The lyrics cover alot of my personal feelings and memories. It sometimes feels like letting people read my diary. Corvid was such a great album to record, and we took a long time over it starting before the pandemic and lockdowns. We were about halfway through when we suddnley couldn’t be in the studio together. Once we could get together again we knew we had to get used to playing again, practice and gigs were what we needed. Once we got back in the studio we realised how different it all was. So some of the album was recorded at a different time to others, a drum track here, a guitar track there. Everytime we got in the studio (Arpeggio Creative) it was such a good feeling, a really relaxed and accepting atmosphere.
Describe each track in two words.
1. Coat of Arms – Aggresive, Warning
2. Caution, Politics! – Thoughtful, Detailed
3. Floorboards – Hidden, Guilt
4. Jill – Werewolves, Aristocracy
5. Legs on Fire – Swagger, Grit
6. Lion’s Eyes – Bluesy, Grow!
7. Mary’s Murder – Swampy, Story
8. Winter Cell – Grungy, Glass
9. Torque Wrench – Timing, Norse
10. The Long Walk – ADHD, Neurodiverse
11. Blackbeard – Mental Health!
2025 is here, tell what to expect from new music and how soon can we hear it.
Most of this year will be touring our album ‘Corvid’ but we arealdy have a few new songs we are practicing and will be playing them at some of our shows throughout the year to get them ready to record.
Do you have any live shows coming up? Let us know where we can get tickets if so.
Our album launch gig is coming up at Bottle Of Sauce in Cheltenham, but as we book in more shows you’ll see them on our social media.
Where do you see yourself now in 5 Years?
I would love to be playing some of the UK’s festivals like Giants of Rock, Breaking Bands, Wychwood, 2000 Trees and many more.
Some gigs in Europe would be amazing too!!
What quote or saying do you always stick by?
“What’s the worst that could happen?”
When you are at a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
As a band, instrument, amp, cables, spare strings, plectrums.
But as a member of the audience, Ear Protection, Hydration, Phone, Wallet, and a comfortable pair of shoes!
Do you have social media accounts so your fans can follow you?
Of course!
www.UpShotBandUK.com
https://www.instagram.com/upshotbanduk/
