Luton Music blog: Luton Music profile-Jonathan Mead

The Luton Music Blog talks Garage Rock, Gigging in London and Pink flamingos.

Hello in this rather lovely addition of the Luton music Profile we will be casting an eye over a band named Demontre , thanks in main to bassist Jonathan Mead who took some time out to have a little chat with me. Jonathan is a simple lad with relatively twee memories of the pink flamingos in Luton’s stellar Arndale shopping centre. However now with his new musical outfit Demontre he is carving up some rather tight Garage rock tunes, throw in some Sonics with a dash of Strange House Horror’s and your nearly there. But this band is actively disowning lovely Luton in favour of the glamour of Shoreditch and the East London hipster set.

Jonathan initially got into music as a mere favour for a friend who wanted a bass player. “It was a complete accident, my friend needed a bassist and just asked me I kinda stumbled into it then it got semi-serious and we started gigging. I’m glad it happened though.” He laughs adding “besides if it was all carefully planned I think it would have been a big disappointment.” But with his new project Demontre have made the break to London, surely Luton must have all you need to succeed in the music industry? Jonathan flatly disagrees.

“We just found out that going to see a band in Luton was just social thing and 95% of people were more interested in drinking than listening we wanted to go to London so people could just judge us on our music with a clean slate.” Admits Jonathan, who’s previous outfit The Culture consistently played venues in Luton to great success, however this wasn’t enough for the band being big fish in the small musical pond that is Luton, change had to come. Soon the lead singer of the Culture Sean Keegan left to pursue other musical interests and so Demontre was formed. “We lost our singer and leader if you will and thought it wouldn't be right to carry on without him. He couldn't be replaced so we opted not to half hearted carry on and instead start something fresh.”

That new direction done the band the world of good as now the band are leaning away from the indie direction of The Culture but rather to a edgier more raw sound that Garage rocks brings. Jonathan agrees it certainly helped him as an artist “It’s the furthest back in music I can relate to. Everyone covered everyone back in the 60's so when you hear a band like the Sonics covering a standard pop number of the day it just gives it a whole new dimension.”

I must admit that taking the long road and travelling to London to gig must take its toll on a band but the groups brave move seems to be paying dividends. With the band gathering a small and dedicated following around the pubs of London who are not just there for the booze, as a band they are tight and produce some great tunes twinge with that dark tone, my personal favourite is Unperson a marauding beast of a tune in which singer Daniel Ayres coo’s the telling line “we no longer exist we never did.”

So taking the road least travelled could and hopefully should be the best route to fame, fortune and crucially critical acclaim that this talented trio deserve. Besides the talent will out in Luton it’s just matter of time confides Jonathan “it only takes one band to break through and then a million and one bands from the same area will break through with them.” For Demontre the clock is ticking.

Jonathan Also recommended me some Garage Rock tunes he’s into at the moment well worth a look!

Dance For Burgess - I'm Wired.

An italian post-punk band who have an intense raw sound but with guitar effect soundscapes which could fill just about anywhere.

The Horrors - Scarlet Fields

An amazing song from an amazing second album. I've got a lot of time for this band they wear their infulences of their sleeves but i think thats great. It bothers me that so many people give them a hard time.