Issue 87 / April 2018

SPOTLIGHT
CHUPA CABRA
The Deeside gutter punks signed to Trashmouth Records blend incisive
lyrics and shouty, unapologetic brashness.
“Music says
what you
can’t say”
There’s a lot to be said about the spirit of punk and whether it’s
dead or alive. If it’s the brash, insightful and critical strain that Poly
Styrene’s X-Ray Spex propelled that you’re seeking, then CHUPA
CABRA are likely to be right up your street. In the vein of punk,
music’s importance to the trio stems from its ability to provide a
space for them to express themselves that comes free from societal
norms and expectations, as guitarist and vocalist Hayden explains:
“I love performing because I spend the week working my shit job
at a certain French-themed chain restaurant, but at the end of the
week I can lose my shit on stage saying whatever I want without a
shirt on, because doing so is considered normal in that context.”
Music also represents one of the best ways of communicating
things that are difficult to put into words, and bassist Nathan
perceptively points this out: “It says what you can’t say. Like when
Morrissey says ‘Everyday is like Sunday’, we’ve all felt that, that’s
bang on. But I’d probably have expressed that like ‘Oh, you know,
Wednesdays are shite, but like sometimes so are Saturdays,’ and
no one would understand. Music says it for you.” Aside from lyrics
that know life well in a post-industrial town, they sound nothing
like Morrissey – you’re more likely to hear the influence of the
short-lived Scottish sleaze rockers The Amazing Snakeheads and
punk innovator Richard Hell in the Trashmouth Records signees’
short-but-sweet tracks.
The Deeside-based trio’s lyrics, especially on Cow and
Assembly Line, tackle rampant, conveyor belt consumer capitalism
and the lack of a fulfilling-jobs-for-all, post-industrial promised
land. Cow is particularly hard-hitting – take it from their drummer
Tayt who professes “I’ve never been so upset after playing a song
[live] every single time.” Explaining a bit more about those two
tracks in particular, Hayden says, “Assembly Line is about the
appropriation of subcultures and post-industrial decline. That’s
something I express a lot; Cow is about a similar sentiment,
probably because I’ve seen the town I live in decay over the time
I’ve spent there.”
Despite their generally heavy subject matter, humour is
definitely not lost on Chupa Cabra. As for influences on their
songwriting, Nathan cites “Johan Cruyff, Shakespeare. Just people
that are the business, out there on their own. People you just
look at and think, ‘I wonder what they smell like, I bet they smell
great. I wanna smell like them.’” Jokes aside, they’re more than
happy to champion other acts who are flying the flag for in-yourface
garage punk too. “We are good friends with a band called
Prowles. They are really great, really nice lads, great tunes. Really
nice van too. I’d recommend them. Also got a lot of love for Wild
Fruit Art Collective, cool Liverpool ruffians.”
The band take a short trip to Wrexham for Focus Wales in
May, which is fast becoming one of the UK’s most renowned
showcase festivals, bringing in a host of talent from Wales and
the wider UK, as well as international showcases. The town is
fostering some exciting prospects in art and music too, as Nathan
is quick to point out, “there’s a venue in Wrexham called Undegun.
It used to be a JJB Sports and now it’s just this really mint place for
gigs, art installations and all that. I’d go.” We would too.
chupacabrachupacabra.bandcamp.com
Chupa Cabra play Focus Wales on 12th May as one of three
artists presented by Bido Lito! at the festival.
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