Disarmingly down-to-earth and with an effortless cool most bands can only dream of, the Gang comprises José Ross (guitar/vox), Lucy Drynan (bass/vox) and Bret Bolton (drums). In this, the first ever interview with what’s destined to be one of the hottest properties around next year, we get the lowdown on their debut single (and future collectors’ item) Pangs Of Guilt/Neutrino, who they listen to, and where to get a top cheeseburger.

SXP: For the uninitiated, describe The Bridge Gang in 6 words.

José: Two whites and a black guy.

Lucy: Hard pop music with great lyrics.

Bret: (long pause) Simple loud pop, and fun too.

SXP: So, how did you guys meet?

Bret: I responded to an advert and fell in love.

José: Wow.

Lucy: What from the lonely hearts column or something? Who did you fall in love with?

José: My shoes.

SXP: Where did the name The Bridge Gang come from?

José: It’s just a name. Maybe it’s a confession, or a reference to something bad I saw. No I’m joking, it’s just a name.

SXP: Who are your musical influences?

José: I love good pop music, whether it’s heavy or soft or loud or quiet or new or old. And I particularly like stuff that sounds slightly desperate, or vengeful. You know what I mean?

Lucy: Yeah me too, but it’s got to have a bit of aggression. And I like it when the music and lyrics contradict each other.

Bret: Just good music. Drumming-wise two of my favourites are Bruce Brand (Billy Childish cohort) and Keith Moon.

SXP: What are the day jobs you'll have to give up next year?

Lucy: I work in a shop selling tiny plastic people to architects.

José: Dole scum. Who’s gonna give me or Bret a job? We’re useless.

Bret: No-one.

SXP: Sarah's Brother is a particular favourite. Tell us the story behind it.

Jose: Glad you like it, it’s just a little ditty where you get to decide what happened to Sarah’s Brother, maybe something serious or maybe nothing and everyone’s just panicking needlessly, you never really get to find out. Musically it’s a bit silly, kind of like a Kinks B-side but more simple, like a nursery rhyme.

Lucy: So what does happen to him?

José: Mind your own business.

SXP: So the fate of the poor little bugger, ‘navy blue jersey found by the lake’, remains a mystery. On the links page of your site you've got Women In Punk. It's a nostalgia trip for me as I saw Penetration, Slits, Adverts et al back in the 70s, but what does it mean to you?

José: We just think it’s a great website. I like the girl bands from that era better than some of the boy bands because the guys could be a bit too arch sometimes, too pantomime, you know what I mean? Like even today, girl bands seem more on it to me. Even in really mainstream stuff. I’d rather listen to Girls Aloud than Babyshambles any day of the fucking week. Seriously.

SXP: Can’t argue with that one. José, what's with sleeping in a chair - is it so you don't flatten your lovely hair?

Bret: Haha, that’s a good one.

José: It’s good for my back.

Lucy: José has loads of very strange habits. Sleeping in a chair is the tip of the iceberg.

José: Lucy’s got more strange habits than me. Everyone has.

SXP: Who do you rate on the current scene?

José: I dunno. I’ve really grown to hate a lot of the ‘scene’ bands who’s only trick is that trendy, jerky post punk stuff, pretending it’s still the early 80’s or whatever. There’s so many of them around right now and it’s become really stale. But no, there’s lots of good bands around. I just like bands with a bit of spark.

Lucy: I’m liking Good Shoes (first reviewed on SXP folks!), Schla La Las, Theoretical Girl amongst others. Just bands that stand out from the crowd a little bit.

Bret: Manic Cough, ‘cause they look like they’re having fun up there. Good Shoes ‘cause they’re young and exciting.

SXP: When you did first pick up an instrument?

Lucy: 2001 is when I started playing bass, but I used to play piano when I was younger. I always wanted to play bass though.

José: I started playing guitar two months before my 19th Birthday. About 5/6 years ago.

Bret: I started playing drums properly in 2000.

SXP: Have you been practising pool for an SXP/Bridge Gang rematch?

Lucy: No.

Bret: I don’t need to practise, it’s like riding a bike, plus we’ve got the generation gap in our favour.

José: Bret that’s so rude! I wish I had a pool table. You know? Just a nice big room with a pool table in it.

SXP: Bret, you’ve just ruined the SXP rep of being hip young dudes! You're gigging prolificly now - how are you enjoying it? The last few months must be knackering compared to the previous year.

Bret: We’re enjoying it immensely! Keep ‘em coming.

Lucy: Yeah I absolutely love playing live, the more we play the better for me. Bring it on.

José: Yeah I wish we were doing more. It’s more tiring sitting around waiting to do stuff than it is actually doing it.

SXP: The Bridge Gang was 1 year old in August. Did you celebrate?

Bret: Yeah I probably did, but I’m not sure I was aware of it.

Lucy: We played our 13th gig except we didn’t get to play because the promoter had no PA! I’m not saying any names.

José: Yeah it was at the Goldsmiths Tavern in New Cross, and it was fucking retarded! Next year if we’re still around we should do something good.

Lucy: Like what?

José: I dunno, we should do something cool for people who like us, like put on our own night or something.

SXP: So, what's your favourite book, film, album, dish, and tipple?

Lucy: Book - The Informers by Bret Easton Ellis; film - BeetleJuice, album - Surfer Rosa by Pixies, dish - Pavlova, tipple - Screwdriver or tea.

Bret: My favourite book is Night Train, the Sonny Liston story. Film would be Weird Science. 69 Love Songs by the Magnetic Fields for favourite record, the Cheeseburgers from Flamers on Chatsworth Road are great. And for drink, it’s gotta be Whiskey.

José: I haven’t got an all time favourite this or that really. But I tend to like quite trashy films. And I love pizza, and chocolate bars, and oranges. And I like Jack Daniels, but I rarely drink it at venues.

SXP: You've been in the recording studio and have a debut single lined up - tell us about it.

José: Yep, we’re doing a one off 7” for Brille Records, only 500 copies being pressed so act fast if you’re gonna buy one. It comes out in January.

Bret: It’s just a two minute pop song, no frills, easy as pie. And the sound engineer was really cool to work with.

Lucy: Yeah, the recording studio was great, they had a lot of old 50’s and 60’s equipment, we recorded live, it was great.

José: Yeah, we used these old RCA mics. And I put my guitar through an old MusicMaster bass amp, so it sounds really warm and full.

SXP: Are you starting to build up a little legion of fans?

Lucy: Yes, thanks to the internet, and we have a small amount of people that like dancing to our songs, which makes me very happy! If you’ve been to a certain number of our gigs an amazing transformation occurs and you become a Little Bridge.

José: Just having people clap is nice. I wish there was like 50 people singing along though, imagine that.

SXP: Bret, are you ever seen without a hat?

Bret: Yes! (see photographic proof)

Lucy: His hat’s his ‘blankey’.

SXP: How does a nice girl like you put up with a pair of reprobates like them?

Lucy: Who says I put up with them? They beat each other up all the time but I just stay out of it. When they’re on form they’re hilarious.

SXP: And finally, just why should people come to see The Bridge Gang?

Lucy: Because we’re addictive to watch.

José: Ha! Like a TV show?

Lucy: Yeah like Bergerac.

José: That show used to creep me out.