Untrained Melodies

Who are Rate of the Day? This is what they say:

What happens when you combine a political force, a tender voice, a pagan nurse and an arctic struggle? Long had this question been asked and for years there was no answer .... until May 2006.

Rate of the Day try in some way to be idyllic. A band that may advocate complexity is overrated, yet try and construct a new type of music. Don’t get us wrong; this is glamorous indie rock and roll, but perhaps not in its contemporary format. No one is pretentious enough to believe we are creating a new genre of music, but we feel we are slipping into a British music field that maybe is yet to be explored.

There’s been a great deal of talk about emo music recently - what is it about? Booing the likes of My Chemical Romance off the stage seems to be a little ott, but I suppose the message is clear. Rate of the Day are clearly not the black parade, we do not wear eye shadow. We simply get out and sing what we feel - and what we feel is angst and pain, the fear of failure, and a collective understanding that lyrics and music reach people. That words can change perceptions and give comfort. That somebody else knows what it's like to go through heartache. If that’s the true message of emo, then maybe we do fall into this category.

As time continues the music gets stronger, the writing becomes clearer. This band maybe new, and much hard work awaits - but for the time being we suggest you just listen.

Rate of the Day are:

Simon Cronin (vocals)
Luke Fattorusso (bass/acoustic guitar/backing vocals)
Chris Mills (electric guitar)
Dan Meese (drums)

How would you describe your style of music?

Glamorous Indie Rock and Roll

What would you say are your musical influences?

Bob Dylan, the Beatles, Jeff Buckley, Brand New, Foo Fighters, Arcade Fire, Sigur Ros, Killers, Feeder, Bloc Party, Kings of Leon, Led Zeppelin, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Oasis, Muse, Idlewild, Biffy Clyro, Tom DeLonge, Coldplay, Rage Against the Machine, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, and Malvena

How did the band form?

CM: Simon, Luke and I met playing in a cover band. We were performing a few gigs locally raising money for charity, and having a pretty good time doing it. Luke spoke to me about forming an original band with some of the members, and when the cover band eventually ran its course it seemed like the natural progression. A few of us then branched off and formed Rate of the Day in early 2006.

SC:  We then lost our original drummer Stephen Pagano (a local legend across Bedford) due to work commitments and had to find a new drummer. Millsy took the rains and before we could blink Dan was rehearsing with us.

DM: Yeh, I met the lads through an internet web site. And just for the record, it was a music one not a dating website!!

Of all the songs you have written, what’s your current favourite and why?

LF: It’s a tough one, and it changes all the time. Lyrically I would say Waging War, but from a performance point of view I’d have to say I Say Nothing.  It's all about the chord structure and the rolling bass - gets me every time.

DM: My Favourite Track is Things to Come. I love the feel changes and the way the song flows through them.

SC: I’d agree, its Things to Come. I wrote the lyrics to this track which makes it quite important to me.

CM: It’s not on the demo, but favourite track of the moment is ‘Dead to the World’.  It has a real moody, mellow feel to it, quite different to the tracks on the demo.

What type of gig do you most like to play and why?

DM: We’ve played pubs, clubs and private venues. I don’t think we’re too fussed. It’s all about the audience; if they’re up for it then you know it’s going to be a good night.  We just get up and play - I think that’s pretty much all you can do.

What’s your most memorable gig and why?

CM: Back in September we played a Festival in Rovigo, Italy. It was really impressive being part of such a huge show, and we played on the same bill as some signed bands in Italy. It was a massive stage, and the atmosphere was electric. There was a lot of anticipation before we played, and luckily we stepped up to the plate. We played out of our skin, and the audience’s reception was like nothing we had experienced. Far and away the most memorable gig!

What’s your fan base like? What group of people would you say you appealed to most?

LF: I think that when you write music and songs you have to be honest and write them for yourself. It’s like painting a picture. If when you’re finished you can’t look at it then its no good. Songs are the same. When I sit and listen to a song there are certain things I listen out for, and these things are going to be prominent when I write music. 

SC: It’s difficult, ‘cos it’s dead hard to pigeon hole the music. Hopefully we appeal to you and anyone else reading this. We’re not trying to market ourselves to a particular group of people. We simply get out and play, and what we play comes from the heart. 

What’s the weirdest thing a fan has ever done / sent to you?

DM: As we were waiting for out train back to the Airport in Rovigo, some girls from the show came down to wave us off, stood in a line on the opposite platform and held up white handkerchiefs with a big sign saying ‘we love Rate of the Day’. It was really sweet and a nice way to end the trip.

Name one unusual fact about each of you.

SC: I carry a little Buddha with me to every single gig for luck

CM: I manage to break guitar strings it seems by just looking them!

LF: I have acute arithmophobia

DM: One of my favourite hobbies is bird spotting!! Can’t beat seeing a great tit any time of the day (no innuendo intended)

If you could record a collaboration with ANYONE - who would it be and why?

DM: For me it's gotta be one of the great jazz musicians. Miles Davis would sound great on one of our tracks!!

SC: I would love to record with Pearl Jam; more specifically Eddie Vedder. It would be amazing to get a track down with mine and Eddie’s vocals.

CM: Personally I would love to do a collaboration with Dave Grohl, I enjoy a lot of what he’s worked on. He’s someone I’d really like to meet.

LF: Whilst it would be easy for me to say Bob Dylan, I don’t think I’m quite ready for that! Having said that I reckon George Harrison would have been cracking to work with, he always seemed to get the best out of people. I always liked the idea of writing a tune for Shirley Manson though. I reckon there are a few tunes I’ve written that she would sound great on.

What’s the band’s ultimate ambition or what’s your dream?

CM:  It would be great to travel and see places we’ve never been to. I think that’s the real attraction of being in a band, all the experiences that come with it. Not just abroad, but seeing all the places the UK has to offer. Being on the road, doing what you love, having a craic with your best mates. It doesn’t get much better than that does it?!

Is there anything else you’d like to tell us?!

DM: It's not good bye, its just bye.

CM: Dan should not be allowed to speak to people, he’s a loose cannon ....