Hailing from the South West and now celebrating a decade making music together, the award-winning Black Water County have deviated over time from the well-trodden path of alcohol-fueled teenage insolence to a vigilant state of introversion.

Gone is that insolence, replaced by an aspiration to glean affinity through stories of the downtroddenand the heartbroken. Ahead of the summer festivals and a UK tour, Black Water Country let Bad Tattoo know the 6 songs that make them tick and a Lucky 7th of their own…

1. ANTI-FLAG – The Press Corpse

Ollie: As a drummer, I’m naturally swayed by a song on the drum track. However, years ago when I heard this song I became obsessed, and this was because of the bass riff. Sometimes a walking bass suits, but every time I hear this song start, it’s almost as if the bass is piloting a runaway train that every other instrument is fighting to get on.

2. GREEN DAY – Jesus Of Suburbia

Brad: It will be no surprise to anyone that knows me but I have chosen a Green Day song, specifically a song from the album American Idiot. I owe so much to this album in general, it was the first album I ever purchased and the one that ignited my passion for both guitar and music in general. Jesus of Suburbia was one of the main tracks on the album that did that. The way multiple ideas were moulded into one track fascinated me and it’s something we have taken inspiration from on the new album. Green Day in general are huge influences on our writing.

3. THE ATARIS – In This Diary

Ollie: So Long Astoria was released by The Ataris in 2003, I had just turned 11. It’s one of very few albums that I absolutely love every single song on. The lyrics, “Being grown up isn’t half as fun as growing up, these are the best days of our lives,” has resonated with me throughout my whole life. Listening to this song, I go straight back to that 11 year-old playing Battle Of The Bands at school again. I saw Kris Roe from the band play in a local cafe in 2019 and he was so pro; the sound he got just from a guitar and his voice was so vast that he didn’t need a band behind him.

4. AMYL & THE SNIFFERS – Hertz

Shan: This was the first song I heard from these guys and when it hit me I immediately started involuntarily stomping. Amy’s intense ferocity with the band’s full pelt drive delivered a brand new form of punk rock to my ears and damn, it was refreshing. I’ll forever be in love with the sweetly real, heartfelt lyrics absolutely blasted without fear and mixed with a ball buster of a riff and solo to match, and forever be totally inspired by these Aussie reprobates. How they mix totally mundane experiences (‘I stopped by the fish and chips shop, they act like mates, it makes me cheer’) with deep abstract observations (‘I tell you, time is not linear, especially when we’re here in this car’) it feels like an honest insight into their minds, how can that not blow your mind? The onstage chemistry is fire and Amy is an absolute alien sent from outer space to patrol every inch of every stage. 10/10 mosh pit and mullet appreciation. I stick this song on in my headphones before gigs to channel some Amyl power.

5. STREETLIGHT MANIFESTO – Your Day Will Come

Tim: I’m a sucker for excellent lyricism, and Streetlight Manifesto always deliver in spades. Combined with dynamic ska-punk musicality, driving drums, roaring brass, and some of the punchiest hooks around, SM craft a powerful song whose message and sound stay with me long after the song has ended.

6. KNIGHTS OF BOSTONIA – State Radio

Brad: I love the way this song flows, it’s chaotic and simple all at the same time. It’s one of those songs that gives you chills when the chorus hits. Chadwick Stokes (State Radio, Dispatch, Chadwick Stokes and the Pintos) has always been a major influence to our song writing and I think this track in particular really shows this. Everything from the drums to the harmonies is layered so perfectly to really get your hairs standing on end and puts a huge smile on your face.

LUCKY 7: BLACK WATER COUNTY – The Only Life Worth Living

The Only Life Worth Living is about keeping an open mind, opening doors and moving forward. The song summarises our feelings coming out of a hard couple of years for both the band and the industry as a whole. To us, it means full ‘balls-to-the-wall’ energy because life is too short. As times have become tougher our writing has reflected some of these struggles and we’ve found ourselves focusing on what really matters to us. This track was initially conceptualised pre-covid but was refined over many video calls during lockdown, forcing us to think outside our normal writing process. Because of this, we think that it has grown into a track that longs to be shouted from the rooftops and, now that we’re back out on the road, we’re so thrilled to be performing again to our audience, knowing that they’re stoked to be back out in the wild too.

FESTIVAL DATES

JULY
 
Sat 15 BRIDPORT Jurassic Fields
Sun 16 POOLE Grooves On The Green
Sun 30 STOCKBURY Chickenstock
 
AUGUST
 
Fri 04 COMPTON MARTIN Outcider
Sat 05 DONCASTER Wroots Rocks
Sat 12 WINCHESTER Boomtown Fair
 
THE ONLY LIFE WORTH LIVING HEADLINE TOUR
 
NOVEMBER
 
Thu 09 NOTTINGHAM Rescue Rooms
Fri 10 LONDON Camden Assembly
Sat 11 BRISTOL Thekla
Sun 12 PLYMOUTH Junction
Thu 16 LEEDS Key Club
Fri 17 NEWCASTLE Anarchy Brew
Sat 18 GLASGOW Audio
 
Tickets available from: www.blackwatercounty.co.uk