In conversation with TONY CLAYTON-LEA. Ham Sandwich play the Olympia, Dublin tonight
What’s on your rider? Mostly beer, some vodka and, of course, the all important Buckfast, drink of kings.
What would be on your fantasy rider?One thousand French Fancies. Just for me.
What's your pre-gig ritual/ routine?Getting myself ready earlier then I have to so I can just totally relax. And then spending the time worrying whether I am really ready or not.
What's the best gig you've been to?The Cure at Oxygen a few years ago was pretty special. I managed to get right up front, and I think I cried for pretty much the whole set.
What are your favourite and least favourite venues?I'd say Whelan's and the Olympia are my favourites. Least fave is probably the old venues such as Issac Butts and Voodoo. I always remember gigs there being awful. Maybe it was because we were awful. I dunno. Ha, ha.
Who is the most famous person to have shown up at one of your gigs?Probably Mark Lamar and Steve Lamacq in the Dublin Castle pub in London. And I also met Maura Tierney from ER at the Barretstown gig last year. That was pretty awesome.
Most embarrassing on-stage moment?Probably forgetting a lyric to a song at a gig in Copperface Jacks. It is the one thing that freaks me out most in the world! Cringe.
What's your crowd-pleasing number?Click Click Boom.
What's the most you've ever paid for a gig ticket?I have no idea. But I sure as hell wouldn't pay over maybe €60 to go see a gig. Some prices are ridiculous.
Any useful stage tips?If you drink vodka and a fizzy mixer, try not to drink too much while on stage or you get the dreaded feeling of needing to burp in the middle of singing!
What's the worst thing ever thrown at you?Podge has had stuff thrown at him but never me. I did get hit in the face with one of our huge balloons.
If you could be in any other band, which one?Yeah Yeah Yeahs. How predictable of me.
What's your best tour story?We've broken down a lot, ran out of petrol, but probably the best story that's suitable is Ollie, our drummer, driving us through the flood waters to get to a gig in the Róisín Dubh in Galway. That was epic.
