"I've always known the Fresh Prince words ever since I was a nipper. I just put them to a tune I was working on in a sound check for a laugh"
Will Jeffery has become a familiar face to us here at LeftLion. In real life he’s a nice down to earth normal bloke, but get him on stage and he sounds like a cross between Tom Waits and the gruff bloke from Gomez. His sets are rapidly becoming the stuff of legend with awestruck punters in the city. So we invited him back for a LeftLion gig and a bit of a chat…
Where did you start out in music?
I used to be in bands at school, but the first serious band was called The Lanes. We did a tour but nothing ever happened after that. I started writing my own songs and performing them at The Golden Fleece open mic nights. From that I just started getting gigs from people that saw me play.
What’s your favourite of your own tracks?
My favourite at the moment is Bucket and Spade. It’s a song that I wrote after looking at old photographs of myself and wondering what my ambitions were back then and whether I would have remembered those moments without the photo.
People love your Fresh Prince cover version. Were you a big fan of the show?
I’ve always known the words ever since I was a nipper. I just put them to a tune I was working on in a sound check for a laugh. It’s one of those shows that I used to watch all the time as a kid. It used to be on before Eerie Indiana on a Tuesday night when I was about ten. I’m not a massive fan now.
Geoffrey Dharma or Geoffrey from Rainbow?
It’s not really a hard choice. I’d have to go for Geoffrey from Rainbow. Even though there will always be the fear of him touching me.
If you could get anyone in to play with you, who would you choose?
Status Quo. We’d keep it simple but allow for improvisation. We’d all wear matching Levi denim suits and have loads of groupies with poodle perms. I’ve always been a big fan of theirs.
What can people expect from the show at the Orange Tree?
Me with Status Quo and matching Levis. No… just some new songs. I’m afraid the mighty Quo are busy.
What do you listen to on the stereo at home?
Mostly Radio 2 or Radio 5.
What are your favourite hangouts in Nottingham?
I like the Malt Cross, The Social and The Orange Tree. Just places where I can sit and relax with some decent music on and have good ‘owd chin wag.
Who are the best upcoming musical talents in Nottingham?
Simon Haiku, Ed Bannard, Team Hughes, Curtis Whitefinger and many others. There’s some mates of mine called Censored that are doing well for themselves. There’s a good little scene going on.
What was the last thing that made you laugh?
I’m quite a jolly fella’ so I laugh most of the time.
What was the last thing that made you cry?
A nightmare or something maybe. I don’t cry much. I hold it all in until it’s called for. Like a funeral or something. Or if I want some money off a stranger.
What’s coming up for you over the next year?
Plenty of gigs I hope. Some in other cities. A CD so I can sell it at gigs. Towards the end of the year I’m moving to Liverpool to go to university and better myself.
Anything else you want to say to LeftLion readers?
Come to gigs and make me feel special by adding me to your friends list on myspace.
Will Jeffery plays LeftLion Presents at the Orange Tree (in association with Farmyard) alongside Mint Ive and Mables Husbands on Sat 2 February 2007.
Will Jeffery on myspace
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