Little Mammoths are a London-based Rock’n’Roll Bar Band formed in 2014, that continue charging down the vein of The Hold Steady, Drive-by Truckers and Wilco. Their 2016 debut ‘Phantom Dreams’ prompted Texan legend Ray Wylie Hubbard to declare: “If your ears dig gnawing on the gritty sounds from a young, dirty, cool rock band, I just found Little Mammoths who satisfy the craving…” The quartet’s constant gigging and tireless work ethic often results in straight sets in excess of 4 hours, and the band are releasing their eagerly anticipated second album ‘Cargo for The Road’ this summer, with extensive touring around Europe, and a full UK festival run, including Glastonbury.Can you tell us about yourself? Where you’re from and what you’ve been up to over the past few years?
Over the past few years we’ve been constantly touring, gigging all over the U.K. but always returning to the West Coast of Ireland and The Highlands of Scotland, where we can play all night and it’s perfectly suited for us developing as a band. It’s been great for us road-testing material, honing our set and drawing on inspiration for songs that have gone into this second record, “Cargo for the Road.”
How would you describe your music?
Bar-band Rock’n’Roll.
Can you tell us a little bit about your influences?
We’re a blend of 60’ and 70’s British Rock’n’Roll like the Faces, Free and The Stones, coupled with the more recent Americana scene of the U.S. such as Wilco, The Drive-by Truckers and James McMurtry. We also love our songwriters like Neil Young, Dylan and Tom Waits, while very much couching it in a band-setting that serves the song like Creedence, The Band and Crazy Horse do.
What are you currently promoting?
We’re just beginning to promote our Second Record, “Cargo for the Road.”
Have you got a particular song you’ve done that you’re particularly proud of, one that might define you?
We’ve got a song called “Get me Back to Austin” on the new record, which is a shameless, aspirational rocker that goes down really well live and has just enough grit and groove to it, while telling the tale of London band wanting to meet all their heroes out on tour in the States.
What are you currently listening to?
The latest Drive-by Truckers Album “American Band” is incredible and a really fearless record, whilst Hayes Carll’s “Lovers and Leavers” is pure distilled class.
And your favourite album of all time, the one you couldn’t do without?
Without a shadow of a doubt The Tragically Hip “Road Apples.”
What are your hopes for your future career?
Headline Glastonbury, get endorsed by Guinness and regularly tour the world.
If money were no object what would be your dream project?
Being Neil Young’s Crazy Horse for a Tour.
We’ve always had this idea for our “Lost Legends” album where we dig up our unsung musical heroes and coerce them to play a track with us on our record. Jerry Scheff, Elvis’s bassplayer who played on LA. Woman for example, Billy Cross off Dylan’s live at Budokan, etc… There’s a long list
What’s the best thing about being a musician?
Other than playing music with your best mates on your favourite instruments, probably getting lock-ins and a free bar in the finest pubs on the planet post show…
And the worst?
Ryanair’s Guitar Policy
Finally, have you anything you’d like to say to the readers of Americana UK?
Hello you lovely people, thank you for supporting Americana UK and hopefully see you at one of our shows.”
