Interview With: Danny Thompson (The Well Dressed Hobos)

Last week we were talking with guitarist, singer and songwriter, Danny Thompson (The Well Dressed Hobos)

-What is your musical background? Do you have a musical family or did you just fall into songwriting all on your own?

My parents made me and my two sisters take piano lessons when we were kids. From there I started playing drums when my older sister Jess formed a band at school and needed a drummer so I got a starter drum kit for Christmas and started learning to play. When I was about 16 two of my friends had just bought electric guitars and drums and were talking about forming a band so I bought a cheap second hand bass and started jamming with them, we were really shit. I continued to play bass in a few metal bands then an acoustic chill out band. After that when I got a bit older I started writing songs on the acoustic guitar and trying to sing.

-What are your inspirations when it comes to songwriting ? Any favorite books or mentors you'd like to talk about?

I mainly just write about what's going on around me at the time or people who inspire me, for instance my song "carry on" is written about certain people who I found inspiring from a group of activists who went around destroying fracking equipment to another group I was speaking to who used to break into houses that the banks repossessed and set them up for families to squat in, and just people who are living the alternative life style that song is kind of a tribute to them.

-Do you ever experience writer's block? If you do, what do you do to get over it?

Yes I do I am experiencing it right now, I normally take a break from what I'm working on and try do something else and hope to be inspired to finish it later, there are some songs that are way harder to finish than others some I've been working on for two years and still gotten no further on with but written multiple songs since that just flowed easier.

-What's coming up for The Well Dressed Hobos? What are you working on now and where do you feel your music is headed?

Well at the minute I'm still trying to get the hobos up and running properly its hard work I've had so many members come and go through the band already from living in different parts of the country, Its hard to keep people motivated and coming to practice especially when people have jobs and busy lives etc or just aren't arsed. But at the minute we are focusing on getting ready for "Vantastival 2015" in May which we were lucky enough to get a slot at so hopefully lots of practice for that, I will also continue recording my album with my friend and producer Dave Peyton who produced all my tracks in River Lodge recording studio in Rhode, County Offaly and try get that out it's been dragging on way to long.

-What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?

I think its great, most of the music I listen to these days is online on Grooveshark or Youtube or Soundcloud. Its just handy, I would give my music away free to anyone who would like to listen to it. It would be nice to make some money to tho.

-Thank you for this conversation Danny. Is there any piece of musical advice you would like to give to our readers before we finish?

Just keep trying and working on it even if its just a little bit everyday, like if you're walking to work and some lyrics come into your head write them down on your phone and come back to them later, I asked a friend from Athlone Eddie Keenan of "The Driftwood Manor" how he writes such good songs before and he told me its because he's constantly observing taking notes, so I guess just the same advice he gave me.

Also you're normally your own biggest critic. Its also a good idea to write and record songs yourself and bring them to a band and say hey this is what we are playing, play it whatever way you want in your own style but this is the kind of vibe I want for the band, That's what I do.

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