Paul Goodwin

Interview with Cambridgebands.com

Published on Fri 27 Oct 2006

Paul was interviewed by Joel from www.cambridgebands.com shortly after the release of Phosphorus Burn.

You are a very creative man - do you have a specific place where you writesongs (ie on your bike , playing squash - drunk)?
It takes me a long time to write songs and it tends to be wherever I happen not to be thinking about something else. (Other people's) gigs are good for that. I've got this book I write images and ideas I like in, when they come to me, and wait until I've got enough to make something coherent out of. Each one takes about 6 months these days. My record is 3 1/2 years. That said, I came up with most of the words to "So Finally a Love Song" walking down East Road one morning, and "Edinburgh" popped into my head while I was playing tennis really badly.

People say some of your songs are miserable - do you feel miserable when you sing them?
I think sad is a better word than miserable. Mostly I'm trying to describe a situation rather than complaining about it. Maybe that doesn't always come across. I've always liked sad songs best though.

I don't often feel miserable when I'm playing - I'm either happy if the gig's going well, or embarrassed if it isn't.

I remember the first time I saw you perform you had an acoustic slung very low over your shoulder (ala Chris Noveselic of Nirvana) I was particularly taken aback by how well you finger picked in such an awkward position. How did you learn guitar & what inspired you to?
I taught myself the guitar, electric first, from (ahem) a Bryan Adams songbook, then a Bon Jovi songbook, then a Skid Row songbook. I'm sure I do it all wrong. I'd been playing the piano for ages before, but keyboards in bands were a bit of a no no when I was at school. Not that anyone let me join their band anyway in the end. The fingerpicking stuff came from listening to a lot of Steve Earle records.I wore it so low originally because that's how Slash wore his. I don't find it awkward though - I've got quite long arms.

Did you like Nirvana – was Kurt Cobain a twat or a legend?

I didn't like them much at the time - not enough guitar solos or soppy ballads. I can still take them or leave them to be honest, but they were really important. Kurt Cobain's a legend now, whether he was a twat or not.

If you could wipe an artist or band from history who would it be and why?
Hmmm. I reckon Embrace are probably the band who've had the most success with the least merit. They were pretty dire to start with and got worse. And I met this bloke once that I really didn't like who liked them. Also, for this week only I kind of wish Kasabian would go away, because Radio 6 have been playing them constantly and their single isn't very good. 

You've been gigging on the local scene for sometime now - who's your local hero?
I'm sure everyone says this, but I reckon The Broken Family Band are one of the best bands around, local or otherwise. Boo Hewerdine's also been quite an influence over the years and Rob Jackson's guitar playing is very special. Jo and Roy who run The Loft are pretty heroic too.

I've heard some pretty nasty horror story's of singers looking for band mates who meet up with complete strangers hoping they will be the Dave to their Chas, but after 5 minutes of the persons company they realise sitting in their kitchen, drinking their tea is an utter fool.Have you ever been stalked by or had to mercifully avoid a potential band mate after such a meeting, (if so why)?
Only Dan from Logan (not really). Playing solo has meant that I've never been that desperate to find anyone else. When I have asked people to join in it's because I know that I like them and they're really good.

Sadly your other project Logan have split up, some tracks on Phosphorus Burn feature a full band - is there a Paul Goodwin band in the pipeline?
I've obviously not been promoting the band enough! We've been doing a gig every 6 months or so for a couple of years, mostly at The Portland. Mike (the drummer) has moved away and Jody's really busy with The Shivers, so I don't know how many more of them there'll be. The last one was probably the most fun gig I've ever done though. I'd love to do more, but it's difficult finding dates when everyone's free, and even more difficult finding places that'll let us play.

What is a Phosphorus Burn?
A burn you get from touching phosphorus. I heard somewhere that they
never heal, but I looked it up, and they do. Just really slowly.
Is Michael Jackson innocent?Well, they found him innocent, who am I to argue?

What's the Worst gig you've ever done, why?
Probably when we played a band gig at The Spitz last year. I'd been really looking forward to it because it felt like a step up, and I've seen lots of people play there, but the audience that night couldn't have cared less about us. We played ok, but it was really disheartening.

Any particular gig or place you would really like to play over the next year?
I'd be happy playing in front of a full room somewhere! I dunno - I'd love to do a proper set at the Folk Festival or support a touring act at The Junction but I don't think either is especially likely.

Lastly a fan question - My wife wants to know: Who was the song Edinburgh about?
Haha. Nobody she knows... I still get Christmas cards though.