It’s that time of year where we set out to interview as many of the Sophie, New Blood, and Jager bands as we can in the lead-up to one of the most anticipated festivals of the year, Bloodstock. Answering our questions here are Tooms who play the Jagermeister stage on the Sunday.
Simple things first – where are you guys from?
Our band was formed in Limerick City, Ireland, although we now practice in Tooms HQ, which is in a top secret location outside of Balinasloe.
How long have you been playing together as a band?
We have been a jamming together (under the moniker of gAiA_) since about 2013 very very casually on and off in those years. Once we changed our musical direction and name, we stared taking it a little more serious. So Tooms as it is now, has only really be a band since about late 2017, we got signed to Cursed Monk Records about then, and that made us really work at writing better songs.
Where does the name of the band come from?
Season 1 Episodes 3 and 21 of The X-Files. Eugene Victor Tooms. He is the creepy embodiment of what we sound like.
Describe your music. What makes you unique?
Slippery metal: its sludgey, it’s chuggy, it’s got strange time signatures, breakdowns, freak out parts, sometimes quiet bits. It feels alive, constantly heaving, morphing and shlippin’ around as the song(s) progress.
What’s your live show like? Why are people going to watch you instead of another band?
All balls baby! They are gonna come for riffs, they are gonna stay for the raw, unconformable, creepy energy. It’s hard to look away. Can be like watching a train wreck in slow motion. It might even make you sick, question your life choices, fill you with existential dread, make you wonder “how much longer does this planet have, is this all a simulation, did I turn the oven off, am I even real?” Then again, I could be lying. Could actually be super boring.
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Have you been to Bloodstock before? What did you think?
None of us have been. But we have buds in many bands who have played, and heaps of friends who have been. It’s been nothing but high praise and positive reports all round. We are very exited to go, not just to play but to experience the festival in all its metal glory.
When/how did you find out you’d been selected to play at Bloodstock?
Couple months ago playing the Dublin M2M final.
What sort of setlist can we expect?
Mostly Bon Jovi covers.
Which other band do you most hope you’re not clashing with so you can see them play?
Eyehategod and Lamb of God, for sure.
What are you working on at the moment?
Our interpersonal skills.
What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen or done at a live show?
Seen? Dillinger Escape Plan. Watched the guitarist climb to the upper balcony (of what I recall to be a gig in an old library in Glasgow) guitar in hand, steal someones pint of cider, neck it, and proceed to dive into the crowd from the balcony’s edge, while playing his guitar, mid dive. Those fuckers have energy. Wildest thing we have done? Probably that show we played in a valley in Tipperary. Lets just say we had a few too many jelly beans. Best not get into details.
What drink do you throw back to get yourself fired up before going on stage?
Beamish, whiskey, coffee or good old water (sparkling if it’s going).
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