Manchester trio Big Problem bring a unique sound to the UKHC scene. Sitting somewhere between punk, post-punk and post-hardcore, they’ve played on all kinds of bills over the past year or so, and far from just with bands limited to those already very broad lanes at that.
They’ve kept the tracks coming too, first with their debut EP Morbid Pace last March, then the single “Damager” later that year, and most recently with the angular, catchy and gloriously vibrant Grudge EP which is out now via Counterculture Records, a label co-run by Mike Davies of Liverpool’s Fallaway and Step Beyond.
Bassist/vocalist Phil and guitarist Jake got in touch to chat about the new record and their growth and experiences as a band so far.
Your sound seems to straddle quite a few different styles and genres. How would you describe it?
(Phil Bowman, bass/lead vocals): I’d say we’re mostly a post-hardcore band but with a few extra influences cherry picked from here and there. We’re all fans of a broad range of music so I feel like you can hear influences of indie, country/americana, post-punk, even a bit of shoegaze.
What was the process like for putting Grudge together?
(Jake Hardie, guitar/vocals): Very straight forward. We are extremely lucky to have John (Hinde, drums) and his production skills, and a lot of talented people around us who have helped us to create Grudge exactly how we wanted. We tracked it at our practice room at the same time as our single “Damager” we put out last year.
John did all the recording, mixing/production work then Grant Berry did the masters. Dan Shearer killed it with the cover art, and Daniel Ronson has smashed it on all the merch designs. We were asked by Mike Davies (who also does guest vocals on the song “Drill Sergeant”) about putting it out on Counterculture Records. We are big fans of the label, so really the whole process couldn’t have worked out any better.
What are the tracks about?
(Phil): The tracks are broadly about people and characters I’ve met and experiences I’ve had positive, negative or otherwise.
I don’t like to write anything too personal. A lot of the lyrics are quite tongue in cheek. I always find it more natural getting my point across in that way.
How do you feel you have grown and developed as a band since the release of Morbid Pace last year?
(Phil): I feel like we’ve moved in a natural direction. Our vibe has solidified and I feel like the songs are only improving the more we write and record together. Putting out the single "Damager” felt like the right next step after Morbid Pace which bridged the gap into Grudge.
We’re writing again for our next release at the moment - keeping things in line with our sound at the moment but with a motive to keep pushing things forward.
You’ve played with a lot of really cool and diverse bands over the past 18 months or so: Restraining Order, MS Paint, Cauldron, Scowl, Mercury, etc. What do you think you have learned from those experiences?
(Jake): It’s amazing to be able to play with so many sick bands, and we are very thankful to have been asked to play them. As we have a varied sound, getting to play mixed bills with hardcore bands and beyond is something we really appreciate. Very thankful for the opportunities and hope we’ll get the opportunity to play with them all again soon.
Do you think there are any advantages/challenges that come with being just a three-piece?
(Phil): The logistics of a three piece are a huge advantage - especially because we’re all the kind of people that need to know the plan. One challenge is that if any of us were to leave - we would have to stop being a band.
Any thoughts on the current state of UKHC?
(Jake): It seems to be busier than ever at the moment. shows are always well attended and the calibre of bands is unreal. We are very fortunate to have MCHC and The Wrong Side (Manchester), Counterculture Records (Liverpool), Boom (Leeds), Busy Bodies (Sheffield) putting on sick shows all the time so close to us.
There seems to be a lot more diversity in sound than ever at the moment and there are always new shows being announced all the time.
Do you have any big or specific ambitions for the band going forward?
(Jake): I’m a big believer in willing things into happening. We’re very blessed and thankful with everything we’ve managed to achieve so far. We have a load of new material that’s nearly finished so the plan is to start recording soon.
The new tracks are a natural progression and we can’t wait to put them out and play them live. Hopefully just keep doing what we’re doing and hope it resonates with anyone who listens!
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Grudge is available now via Counterculture Records.
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