Interview: Creeper’s Will Gould talks Southampton, Festivals and more!

Will Gould
Photo by Ellie Mitchell

Creeper are getting bigger and bigger and this year in particular the band have built quite an impressive and loyal fan base. So when I saw front man Will Gould at another gig at Southampton’s The Joiners last Friday I couldn’t help asking him a few more questions being such a big fan of his work. Will was seeing his friends Future Love, Press To Meco as well as Faux who was releasing their EP. As many would probably know already, Will grew up in Portsmouth and now lives in Southampton so if you go to a gig at The Joiners, there’s normally a good chance you will be able to chat with him. Creeper have already hit new heights this year having toured with Neck Deep and Andy Black to name a few, not to mention some major festival appearances such as 2000 Trees. And that’s not even half of it with the band recently touring in America and announced for Butserfest (10th September) and Bestival (8th – 11th September) next month as well being support acts for Pierce the Veil in October, November and December. Creeper will also be at Reading & Leeds this weekend (26th-28th August). Will talked about who he was seeing on the night and looked ahead to Bestival.

‘I’m seeing a few friends, I’m seeing Future Love, Press To Meco and Faux you know, the line up is stacked tonight.

‘I’ve never been to Bestival.

‘But I use to date a girl that went to Bestival every year and every year she use to go to me and say ‘It’s fucking sick, there’s so many awesome productions and there and there’s lots of stuff to explore.’

‘So I’m looking forward to that and I’m looking forward to watching a bunch of bands.

‘I think festivals are really really cool to find new bands that you have never heard of before as well.

‘I just run around and check some tents out so yeah I’m super stoked!’

When talking about a comparison to My Chemical Romance and when they played at 2000 Trees, Will continued to say.

‘Yeah we get a lot of that, it’s really humbling but we just take each day as it comes.

‘It was really weird as the guys from the band was their all weekend but I was busy doing stuff so I sort of came in, done the show and then I kind of just hung out a little bit.

‘I love that festival though – it’s fucking great!

‘Lots of good bands were there, Puppy played – I love Puppy, obviously Moose Blood and Milk Teeth so all friends.

When talking about Butserfest that takes place on the same weekend as Bestival, Will continued to talk about his home town and said:

‘Butserfest is a festival closest to my home town as I’m originally from Portsmouth and my family is from there so they will be coming.

‘I didn’t know much about it really other than there no drinking there, no drugs or smoking.

‘So I wonder how our lot will cope really as that’s our favourite things.

‘What I like about Butserfest though it takes a chance on a lot of local bands so I’m hoping I’m going to step in to some bands as we’re away most of the time so we never get chance to see bands.

Creeper start their tour alongside Pierce The Veil and Letlive from November as they will embark on a number of shows throughout to December in Europe and the UK. Will commented on this tour and said: ‘Yeah I’m stoked I think we’re going to bus share with Letlive and I’m really really excited for that.

‘I always to went to watch gigs at Brixton Academy as a kid so to play that stage will mean the world to me.’

Will couldn’t quite comment on any album progress however he explained because the band has been so busy it’s been difficult. When talking about the Southampton crowd and whether he or the band gets a lot of attention, Will finished by saying: ‘It happens at The Joiners a lot because we’re from here but most of the time people say ‘hey’ then they leave you alone but I don’t mind at all it’s nice.

‘Everyone in Southampton is pretty cool and chill, I live here so people see me around all the time.

‘I’ve been going to this venue since I was 14 and I use to sneak out of my mums house and come to gigs here.’