My Nation Underground

Ten City Nation
Genre: Rock / Rock / Rock From: Bury St Edmunds Rock City / Lewisham, United Kingdom

Brash, noisy, spiky rockers Ten City Nation took time out from ripping the UK apart to give the Devil an insight into what they'd do if they were in charge of the world, a little education on the significance of the number ten and their favourite bands on the scene this year. They also asked me to tell you that their new 7" 'Silent Disco/Flashing Lights' is available here and their new album 'At The Still Point' will be out in August but this isn't the Jonathan Ross show so there'll be not such blatant promotion on this blog!

The Devil - Where did you get your name and what other names did you consider before deciding it had to be Ten City Nation?

Ten City Nation - In ancient East Anglian civilisations, the number 10 took on a particular significance and was considered imbued with magical powers. That's why people from East Anglia have been bred to have such large hands. Taking this to its' logical conclusion, we figured that the ideal number of cities for any nation to have would be 10, and so we're making it our mission to whittle away the unnecessary cities of the United Kingdom, which shouldn't prove too difficult. Would anyone really miss Leeds, or Peterborough? I don't think so (if anyone form Leeds or Peterborough is reading . So Ten City Nation was the obvious choice. Well, that or Sexy Kids.

The Devil - What makes Ten City Nation stand out from the millions of other bands in the world? What makes you unique?

Ten City Nation - You'd have to ask our mothers that question (if you give me their email addresses and I will - The Devil).

The Devil - What was the first record the Ten City Nation band members ever owned?

Ten City Nation -

Neil: Beck, 'Loser'.
Mike: Probably 'The Stone Roses' by The Stone Roses.
Seymour: First record my Dad bought me was 'Baggy Trousers' by Madness. First record I bought for myself was 'Living Doll' by Cliff Richard and The Young Ones. First CD I bought was 'Bite' by Ned's Atomic Dustbin.

The Devil - What's the strangest place you've ever played and would you go back there?

Ten City Nation - Haverhill was, and is, strange. We played a Village Fete by mistake a couple of years ago. They told us Rick Wakeman had said yes and we thought, if it's good enough for Rick, it's good enough for us. Then we got there and they'd lied to us about Rick Wakeman - always the mark of a cad. We played anyway, and they blew up our bass amp by way of thanks.

The Devil - Other than Ten City Nation who are the most exciting bands on the scene at the moment?

Ten City Nation - We always enjoy playing with Kunk, Popular Workshop and Untitled Musical Project. And we'd very much like to play with William one of these days. There's plenty of exciting bands about, but we're quite isolated in the countryside. We usually end up listening to Syd Barrett, stripping down to our undies and wrestling. Beats crack cocaine hands down.

The Devil - If you weren't in Ten City Nation what would you be doing?

Ten City Nation - Selling merch for Ten City Nation.

The Devil - What annoys you most about the current state of the world and if you were in charge what would you change?

Ten City Nation - We're mostly annoyed by everything and everyone. I'm not sure that we'd change any of it, but that doesn't stop us from moaning. The BNP are alarming, and we'd quite like to see them fed to the pigs by psychotic East End gangsters with comedy gangster names.

The Devil - What are the band doing to beat the credit crunch? Any tips on saving money for the Devil's readers?

Ten City Nation - Our advice would be to drink as much as possible as often as possible, so things won't matter so much. And don't be in a band.

The Devil - If you were interviewing yourself what would be your killer question and how would you answer it?

Ten City Nation - We'd be more likely to smash courgettes over each other's heads than ask each other any sensible questions. Or indulge in some kind of early morning pagan runner-bean planting ritual. It happens more often than you'd think.

The Devil - Anything else you'd like to say the the Devil's readers?

Ten City Nation - We're from Suffolk.

Go Try

MP3 - Ten City Nation - Flashing Lights
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is published with the permission of Ten City Nation so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Visit

Ten City Nation - Myspace // Website

Go View

Ten City Nation
She Chokes On Cigarettes