Get to know: raincheck

This is part four of our series covering the groups participating in Music Fund’s Battle of the Bands. You can find our interview with the previous band, Fidel Castrated, here.

Brought together from across the pond and the country, Raincheck are an indie rock group which blends ethereal auras with memorable, driving riffs. We spoke to Ben, one of Raincheck’s guitarists. Check out the interview below:

How did you all meet, and how did you decide to start playing together?

Ben: Narayan (drummer) and I (guitar) lived opposite each other in halls last year. We jammed together in the music centre a bit, but it’s quite hard to play ‘Last Nite’ by The Strokes with only two instruments, so we decided we should probably rope some others in. Narayan met Caroline (bass) at a bonfire at some point (classic St Andrews) and met Paul (guitar) in their philosophy lectures. I went to school with Emily (vox), so I thought of her when we needed a singer. 

What’s your most memorable performance so far?

Ben: We’ve had some fun gigs. The first one we ever played was in 601 as part of a Music Fund event. That was great. The crowd was exclusively made up of friends we forced to come. We played at The Vic the other week after Oktoberfest. It was quite surreal playing to a crowd of inebriated Germans. 

What are your thoughts on the music scene here in St Andrews overall?

Ben: I think the St Andrews music scene has great potential. There are so many good bands out there at the minute. You’d be hard pressed to pick a winner for BotB this Saturday, which is testament to the quality of the scene. I feel there is a slight lack of opportunity for bands in St Andrews, however. Beyond balls, Sounds of Sandy’s and the odd pub gig, it’s very hard to get your name out there. I hope this event signals the start of a revolution of the band scene. 

Do you have any pre-performance rituals and if so, can you tell us more about them?

Ben: My personal pre-performance ritual is 3 to 4 pints of lager, preferably Tennent’s. I’m willing to settle for Carling in a worst-case scenario. I wouldn’t want to comment on the others’ pre-gig rituals, but Narayan often breaks out one of his interpretative dances just before a gig. He says it helps him to “get in the zone”. Sometimes we join in as well. We all did the Haka before our Sounds of Sandy’s set the other week.  

What are your hopes and plans for the future for Raincheck?

Ben: In the short term, release some music. We have a single out at the moment (stream ‘Fly Away’ on Spotify) and hope to have a 4/5-track E.P. out before the end of the semester. I’m doing a year abroad in Germany next year, so a Berghain headline show is very much on the cards. 

Finally, what part of Battle of The Bands are you most looking forward to?

Ben: Brine!’s cover of ‘Maria También’. Might treat myself to a ‘Danger Pablo’ as well.

Check out Raincheck, alongside eight other bands at the Battle of the Bands, this Saturday at Main Bar.