Jamie was interviewed by the fantastic Katie Tyler on BBC Radio on 23rd May to talk about THe Zoots and the up and coming Sounds of the 60s show and tour dates.
Below is part one of the interview
Katie Tyler
First though, any plans this Friday night to kick off the bank Holiday? Sounds of the sixties with the Zoots is a celebration of all things sixties. Of course, you’ve got tracks from the Beatles, the Stones, the Beach Boys, and their show is on tonight at the Chipping Norton Theatre. By the way, if that is too last minute for you, if you’re thinking Katie, whoa, steady on, they have got loads more local dates on the way that I’m gonna be running through soon for you. Now, since forming in 2009, the Zoots have performed in over 35 different countries at incredible venues like the Palladium, Old Trafford as well. Zoots front man, Jamie Goddard, had a chat with me earlier and told me all about the band.
Jamie
We started off as a sixties tribute group. We’ve since played all over the world and we’ve played probably about 2000 gigs by now. Although I started telling people it’s less than that ’cause it makes me sound old. Um, but yeah, we’ve dedicated ourselves to putting a sixties show together, and we play lots of songs from the Beatles and the Rolling Stones and the Kinks and the Who and we’ve put together like a video show in the background and we’ve got lots of Shadows-type moves and stuff like that.
We very much enjoy performing all kinds of music as well, and when we’re doing Garstonbury Festival, I guess we’ll just be doing a bit of a mix. But yeah, I’ve been lucky enough to be touring the world, but it’s great to be doing something very local.
Katie Tyler
Yeah. Yeah. Tonight, gosh, I feel like we’re on the cusp of breaking news ahead of your gig tonight, Jamie.
Jamie
Yes. Chipping Norton theatre. It’s an absolutely fantastic venue. It’s a really, a really, really nice area and there’s lots of nice restaurants and pubs to go to just beforehand, so we really love going there and it’s very intimate, so you’ll be able to see us very close. Really looking forward to being there in chipping Norton tonight.
Katie Tyler
And how did you get into music, and in particular, this decade of music? What was it that drew you to it?
Jamie
Well, my dad was a drummer in bands in the sixties and seventies, and my mom and dad got married in 1969 so they had a lot of sixties records lying around the house in a time where you could only listen to the records that you had in your house. So they had things like the Beatles and the Who and the Rolling Stones. So that’s how I got into it. So I’ve always played Sixties. Music has been a big, big part of my life, and now I’ve dedicated it to it.
Katie
Oh, that’s amazing. And do you know what, we’ve actually got something in common because my dad also played drums in bands in the sixties, so there you go. Really? Wow. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, for fun and things like that with them, with his brother as well, Alan and the Argonauts, I believe their band was called back in the Day. And is it true that you formed the band with your dad?
Jamie
Um, but yeah, good name. So I very much grown up with that music as well. Well, initially I did have a band with my dad and, and he started to help him with the bookings and stuff like that. But yeah, really close to my dad. And he’s been a big part of my, my music career really.
I first started playing his drums that he had in the loft, and that’s how I kind of got into it and, and he’s been a big influence of mine.
Katie Tyler
That’s amazing. When you are performing your sounds of the sixties show, is there a particular song that you perform that conjures up sort of fun and uh, nice memories for you?
Jamie
Well, it’s a really good point. There’s actually probably about 70 or 80 songs included in the whole show from the minute people walk in to the end, and it’s a bit of a challenge to try and get all of those songs because there’s so many great songs in the sixties. I find that the best thing about doing the concert is that when you speak to people afterwards they get so energized by the music and it brings back different memories for everybody for different reasons. That’s what I really love about it and I’ve got my own memories about different songs. It’s like Beach Boys. I love the the harmonies of the Beach Boys. That reminds me of my dad ’cause he used to sing in a car or sing to me when I was a kid. So yeah, all of the songs have a moment. Amazing memories.
Katie Tyler
I bet they share lovely stories with you as well.
Jamie
Yes. ’cause obviously I wasn’t there in the actual sixties and my dad helps me to kind of, to tell us what it was like in those times. But what we do with the show, we try and play the majority of the songs that are still relevant today. So if somebody brings their kids or their grandchildren to the show, I would guarantee that they would know 90% of the songs anyway. And my niece, she’s 14, she’s been to some of my show and she sort of knows all the music, which is brilliant, because the music has stood the test of time.
Katie
Lead singer, front man of the Zoots, Jamie Goddard there chatting to me about the band. They are performing tonight at the Chipping Norton Theatre. Um, more on that very soon, and also other gigs they’ve got on the way.
