Rockstars CLARENCE ODDBODY'S have been around for a while, releasing a handful of content so far in. The band's frontman and guitarist Paul Claxton chats of the band's time and music below.
1. Please tell us about the history of your band and its members.
Hi, Well we formed on the 4th of July 2017 under the archway of the district line near Hammersmith. I’m originally from Liverpool and our old bassist was from New York, Tom, our Drummer was the only Londoner.
From 2017-2021 we released 5 EP’s and have been gigging all round London ever since. I think we were the last band to play in London on the 17th of March 2020 when the country went into Lockdown.
We played our last gig at The Victoria in Dalston on 17/03/20. So, over lockdown I had a really strong creative flow and amassed a huge number of songs to get going again.
Unfortunately as a result of Covid, Cliff, our old bass player and his family had to relocate to Switzerland.
So in stepped Jasper Osborn Bass player & Keyboard player. Jasper already knew the songs as he mastered all 5 EP’s for the band. And both him and Tom have been in and out bands together since being teenagers.
The very first rehearsal with Jasper we became a different type of musical beast we kind of went up a notch. The Drums & Bass were so locked in really tight but at the same time really grooving.
It’s almost telepathic with Tom and Jasper In all my long years I have never experienced a rhythm section as tight as these two lads.
I have had to raise my game as well….
So the current lineup is:
Paul Claxton: Vocals & Guitars
Jasper Osborn: Bass & Keys
Tom Chittock: Drums :BV’s
2. What’s the origin of the band’s name?
The name comes from the 1946 film - It’s a Wonderful Life. Clarence Oddbody is the name of the angel who saves George Bailey (James Stewart’s character) and then grants him his wish of him never having been born.
It’s one of my favorite films of all time, everyone always goes on about it being a nice Christmas film but, I really feel at times it has a very dark undertone.
3. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?
We are based in Deptford, South East London.
I suppose after lockdown bands are just out gigging as much as possible I admire anyone still at it after lockdown because a lot of bands folded over the pandemic because their creative output was removed and financially it hit everyone very hard.
I’m pleased to say the London music scene is starting to thrive again there’s a real buzz around getting out to see live performance which is great for all of us.
As for acts?
At the moment we have been putting on our own gigs doing two 45 mins sets one acoustic, one electric and getting a few singer/songwriters to support us and there has been some belters to keep us on our toes like:
Born again virgin
Charlie Havoc
&
Stefan Raphael
We Highly recommend these 3.
4. How would you describe your style?
60’s/70’s Rock with hints of Blues, Motown, 70’s Funk and Americana acoustic. We are quite loud for a 3 piece and very tight.
5. What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works?
5 Eps and two singles. Our past 5 EP’s have been good old fashioned Rock with a few mellow acoustic numbers. We are quite proud we have released new music every year.
But over the past year with the two singles we have been branching out with different instruments we have been obsessed with Electric Wurlitzer, Hammond Organ, Piano and Dobro’s.
Especially with our last single : Asleep at the wheel. It has an Americana vibe meets Abbey Road circa 1969.
6. Do you have any new music in the works?
Yeah our Debut album. “Who Loves You? And Who Do You Love?" in November last year we recorded our album , recording 10 tunes in one day (Like The Beatles)at Buffalo Studios in Limehouse East London, it’s an amazing studio.
We already had 4 tunes in the bag which we recorded in the late summer to add to the album. We added some keys and bits and bobs in January and we finished mixing them last month. We have just sent them off for mastering and after that we are just working out our packaging then we are ready to go.
And our second single from the album will be out on the 15th Of April:
Just One More Thing- 70’s Funk Rock tune.
7. How about playing shows and touring, have anything planned out?
We have just had our 1st single launch on the 17th of March at The Bread & Roses in Clapham which was amazing.
Next gig will be at The Biddle Bros in Clapton on 15th of April(Free Gig)
Which is also our second single launch.
Weds 20th of April : Skehans in Nunhead(Free Gig)
Acoustic show at The Gladstone Arms on the 10th of May.(Free Gig)
But, the next big one will be our Headline show at The Strongroom in Shoreditch on 7th of July also that night will be our Album Launch.
We are all really looking forward to that one.
8. What plans do you have for the future as a band?
Well the album and getting it out to the world and seeing who bites. We are so proud of the album it’s our own little White Album there are Blues, Funk , Heavy Rock, slow acoustic numbers, Americana and shades of Motown. Hopefully we are planning a small tour of the UK in September to promote the album as well.
9. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?
Bandcamp seems to be the popular one at the moment for artists which is great. They were the only music platform that helped working musicians throughout the lockdown.
https://clarenceoddbody.bandcamp.com
But we are also on on the music platforms: Spotify, Apple, YouTube….
Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/artist/7gm38fRVVrrUISfObpUDX9?si=IGjQ4Fp3TFOhilL4veTq8A
10. What is it you’d like a listener to remember the most when hearing your music for the first time?
At the end of day it’s all about the songs…..
If you come away humming one of our tunes we have done a good job.
Also when a listener says you sound a wee bit like so and so…..
I love that especially when it’s one of your heroes.
So many musicians get really uppity about that….I think it’s amazing.
It’s always funny when people ask me about the lyrics saying that it hit a nerve with them, always makes my day, because I don’t really set about writing a story they are just really sketches that I put together because I write everyday, mostly on the tube listening to peoples conversations.
Thanks for having us.
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