English teacher discusses struggles with self-reliance and preference for Fender offsets
English Teacher, an indie band from the UK, is familiar with the challenges that come with gear while playing live shows consistently. According to Lewis Whiting, the guitarist, and Nicholas Eden, the bassist, the failure rate of equipment increases significantly when performing every night. Despite the difficulties, they share their love for Fender offsets, stating that they enjoy them “for the same reason any alternative band does.”
This quartet, consisting of Lewis Whiting, Lily Fontaine, Nicholas Eden, and Douglas Frost, gained recognition for their unique blend of music and punk-rock theatrics even before their Mercury Prize nomination in 2024. Their album, “This Could Be Texas,” catapulted them to new heights, earning them the prestigious UK award. A recent performance at NYC’s Mercury Lounge showcased Lily Fontaine’s intense vocals, backed by the solid instrumental arrangements of English Teacher, including tracks like “I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying,” “Albert Road,” and “The World’s Biggest Paving Slab.”
One of the challenges the band faces is maintaining the recorded feel of their songs when performing them live while incorporating theatricality into their shows. Lewis Whiting explains that he focuses on locking in guitar parts and weaving between piano melodies when necessary. Nicholas Eden mentions that for a song like “Broken Biscuits” to work effectively, it must resemble the recorded version while adding variations to engage the audience during live performances. He further explains that the band usually approaches songs from two perspectives: making them more engaging if they sound too ordinary or forming them into recognizable songs if they are too abstract.
When things go wrong during a live performance, such as a malfunctioning bass amp, Nicholas Eden relies on improvisation. He recalls an incident during a tour in Oregon where his bass amp stopped working for three minutes, prompting the band to do a rough cover of MJ Lendermann’s “She’s Leaving You.” Despite these challenges, the band remains flexible on stage, ensuring that they can adapt to any unforeseen circumstances without compromising the overall performance.
In instances where technical issues arise and parts need to be covered, Nicholas Eden mentions that he can pick up other members’ parts quickly. This quick thinking allows them to continue the show seamlessly despite setbacks, ensuring that the audience enjoys a high-quality performance. This ability to seamlessly transition between roles and cover for one another is a trick that goes unnoticed by the audience but is crucial for the band’s cohesion during live shows.
Through their dedication to their craft and ability to adapt to challenges, English Teacher continues to deliver captivating performances that showcase their musical talent and creativity. With their love for Fender offsets and commitment to translating studio recordings into dynamic live shows, the band remains a prominent figure in the indie music scene.