I know we all love Frames, but Self Preserved While the Bodies Float Up was such a great album that doesn't get mentioned much. Part Cardiac is one of the heaviest songs they ever recorded. There were some truly strange and surreal songs like Oscar Acceptance Speech and A Penny's Weight that sounded like nothing they'd ever done. It is probably the album I go back and listen to the most. Has some of my all-time favorite songs on it.
Dan & Mick you guys are truly great humans. You have helped so many people through sadness and depression with what you do. Sorry to be so overboard with emotions here but I really value you guys, you are real legends.
Oceansize is a band that I can pick up any of their records and still get chills as if I'm hearing it the first time. Criminally underrated to this day. I really wish they would have made it to tour the US at least once.
Well well, Oceansize are One of the MOST underrated band of all time. First 2 records are huge masterpieces of alternative rock music!!! Now, next on the plot must be Stuart from Mogwai!!! Come on guys do It!!!
@@BlackIndigenousPosse Frames and Self-Preserved are 2 of my all-timers. There wasn't a single disappointing release in their discography. Every album was so well produced and rewarding upon relisten.
as an avid fan of doom/stoner/alt metal, it's really interesting to hear Dan and Mick muse on the "redeeming" and peaceful feeling you get from hearing a massive riff and a huge wash of sound. My best friend and I did not get into that sort of music until later in life but when we did, we had a hard time putting into words exactly what was so instantly captivating about it. It was great to watch someone else go through the same realization that we had!
Really hoping all this subconscious Cardiacs dripfeeding leads to Kavus being invited on one day. Dan and Mick, a million thanks for what you continue to do for us.
you need to dig into his discography. If I had enough time to save some records in a fire they'd be the Oceansize, Vennart, and ESB stuff. Oh, and my Oceansize 7 inch where they covered The Cardiacs
Praise Iommi its finally happened. Mike is one of this country's great guitar players. I'm a massive fan of pretty much every project he has been involved with and I'm really happy that he's finally getting the recognition he rightfully deserves
I discovered Oceansize 4 months ago and became my most listened to band in 2023, their music is something special to me, they are criminally underrated but in my universe they play in the major league with Neurosis, Tool, Jesu, Mogwai, Ulver and those artists that have that unique honest approach to the way of communicating emotions with music. Since those days I submerged in every Mike´s project and I just love him so much, thanks for this video.
Being in the usa I LOVE these more uk focussed music/musician episodes. Yall hipped me to Biffy and now Oceansize. Incredible tones and interesting conversation, killer player. Thanks TPS! Top shelf as always
Great to see Mike on the show! I saw Oceansize play live three times over the span of a couple of years in the mid 2000s. Zurich, then Luzern, then Milan. It was between Everyone into Position and Frames. The sound was always loud and massive! I was able to shake Mike's and Mark's hand in Luzern but my English was pretty awful at the time so there wasn't much of a conversation. As a guitar player myself I remember trying to study their gear. They used Marshall amps in Zurich but then they switched to Laney during the Frames era. I remember seeing a Boss MD-2 on someone's pedalboard. And the Whammy of course! With the band I used to play in we were all massive Oceansize fans. So much so we had Chris Sheldon mix our own album and he didn't disappoint! Great times :)
Somehow I completely missed that this happened. HUGE Oceansize fan. Out of all the guests you've had, Mike is the one that speaks to me the most musically (I can't come close to how he writes or performs, but Oceansize/Vennart/British Theatre are among my fave releases of the last 20 years). Thanks for making this happen.
Finally!! This was epic guys, Mike is an absolute treasure 🙏. I didnt find Oceansize until they broke up but when I did it was a life-changing moment for me. Like all my favorite bands rolled into but still unique. For those who dont know of Mike and his bands definitely check them out. Here he is focussing on the heavier tones with Empire State Bastard but he has some absolutely stunningly beautiful music under his solo and British Theatre releases.
I've been waiting for this for ages. Not just because Mike is my hero, but because he's such an inspiration to me. He's also the loveliest guy...he loves his fans, will always, always interact with anyone, and is so so wonderfully insightful and helpful if you're a guitarist. If you play guitar, you're honestly doing yourself a disservice if you're not a fan of Mike Vennart.
My all time favourite musician. Met him on the steps of the Academy and bought him a beer at Big Hands. He writes what I want to write, his music, and especially Oceansize, is the music I want to make. Saw them 9 times live, would give anything to see them again.
Phenomenally entertaining show and what monstrous tones emanating from that rig!! Cuing up some Empire State Bastard as we speak - big thanks for cranking those beautiful amps and pummelling Mike and his music into my consciousness.
I can’t say how happy am I for this episode. Discovered Oceansize when their first album came out - I was just blown away and have been obsessed with that band’s music (and Mike’s solo stuff) ever since. I think I’d only been playing guitar for about a year so they were an early and massive inspiration. Those beautiful musical moments Dan mentions early on in this conversation (perhaps best heard in Saturday Morning Breakfast Show) made such an impression on me. Was lucky enough to see them live a bunch of times - including one support slot for Smashing Pumpkins at the 02 (Twas fucking ace). GREAT episode. Thank you!
i've re-watched this episode several times at this point...big fan of Mike and all his projects, and this was absolutely killer. thank you to Mike and TPS for this one - just awesome.
This is classic TPS for me. I never heard of Mike, its not really my sort of music, but I absolutely loved his playing, sounds and this episode! Thanks guys - awesome stuff!
What a surprise to see Mike here! It's also nice to see Mick and Dan bringing a guest to the show with this kind of guitar playing, which is I what I like the most to hear (post hardcore, modern metal and also a little bit of stoner/doom). To see their faces while Mike played was priceless, very nice to see them having contact with this kind of music.
This was so great! Oceansize have been my favorite band since I saw the video for Catalyst on TV in 2003 and blew me away. I cant't put into words how much their music means to me. And I just now realise my teenage RU-vid account name is still testament to that...
Mike Vennart! You still owe me a drink from an Oceansize show in Edinburgh in about 2007 where I pointed out your guitar wasn’t plugged in when you couldn’t figure out it wasn’t working! You did hang around chatting to my mate and me for about an hour outside afterwards though, so we can call it even! Great gig btw, I was gutted when Oceansize called it quits.
Mike Vennart, an old Orange, Matamp, Fuzz and a discussion about Doomy Shoegazy Stoner British music history... Is this the perfect pedal show episode!?!?
As my bandmate who plays this type of instrument would say: that's a "correct"-handed guitar. I liked how the first quote Mike played was the riff from Lord Of This World; M.O.R. is one of my favorite albums. And, I like how polite TPS is - as a musician who has toured, I've heard it all, but as a music teacher who sometimes plays examples from YT for students who are kids, I appreciate the notice at the beginning.
If you’re here and you’re a fan of Mike from his Oceansize days be sure to check out his solo stuff as Vennart. Honestly some of my favorite albums of all time.
This is the one I've been waiting for forever -- thanks, Team TPS. I had the absurd privilege to interview Oceansize when they stopped off at the Wedgewood Rooms in Portsmouth on (I think) the Everyone Into Position release tour. I was a rubbish interviewer, I'm sure, and I realised years afterward that Mike trolled some of my cliche questions with responses he'd taken verbatim from This Is Spinal Tap... but he also engaged with some of the better ones with great intelligence and energy, which was a magic thing for someone who was utterly obsessed with Oceansize, and saw him (and the rest of the band) as something close to gods. The point of this anecdote is not to self-aggrandize, but rather to qualify the following observation: Mike seems so happy in this video, so genuinely enthused about life and his work, where for so long there was an angry, frustrated edge to him. It's a wonderful thing to see, and I wish him all the very best. (The Biffy show in Copenhagen last year was utter magic, by the way. But then, they always are!)
Mike has been a big part of what I’ve listened to for almost 20 years and that pedal show has been a constant source of info and enjoyment every week for years. This is heaven for me. Absolutely fantastic show as always. Three total gentlemen…….when the doomsaw combines with the Matamp is one of the best sounds I’ve heard on the show…….another one that springs to mind was mick using the SG Junior slamming the AC30. Never change lads.
The Doomsaw. The Matamp. The Orange. The rats. The muff. The Daughters pedal. This man is incredible. Possibly the loudest TPS episode (and also the first person to deliver with a chainsaw tone on the show) kudos
Thank you TPS for featuring MV for this episode. Of all the interviews you’ve done recently, this one has been the most eye opening one for me. Through this episode I have discovered 3 new fantastic sources of music, and I can’t wait to hear more from MV! Oceansize, Biffy Clyro, and Vennart himself are all amazing bands to listen to! MV is a monster of a player!!! Plus he’s an awesome singer too!
Great episode. Mike is amazing and seems like the absolute nicest, coolest guy. I wanted to give a shout to Naomi Macleod, who is ESB’s touring bassist and is a frequent guest host on the Guitar Nerds podcast.
Finally! I still remember asking for this on the Simon Neil video. Oceansize was and is one of my main musical influences, they had a huge impact on my musical taste. The recent Vennart output is brilliant as well. Thank you for this
Love to hear this type of tone on TPS. I love your normal tones but you guys get some amazing recorded heavy sounds too. I listened to this episode through my Presonus Eris 5" monitors with the 8" sub and it was GLORIOUS. The doom and drone tones are just mesmerizing. I sat here smiling and enjoying your reactions. I'm more of a death metal fan but I'll be checking into his back catalog for sure. Would love to hear what he does with your gifted pedals if it's ever possible 🍻
Had the privilege to see Biffy Clyro live in South Africa around 2013 and can say the tone and playing that night from Mike Vennart and Simon Neil brought tears to my eyes. One of the best nights of my life!!! Thank you Mike, Thank you Biffy Clyro, Thank you TPS❤
Hahahaha, Dan: "There's a pleasantness to it that's....weird." Made my day. I've had The Rattler on full tilt for the last two hours pausing this and jamming then jumping back into this. Great session guys.
Also love the C-Standard gold top, i've been playing on my SG in C-standard with the same string guages, so when that came out I was like oh this is home! (Although I'm normally a lot more bluesy, just can't let myself get to B-Standard like Ariel Posen)
What an absolute treat. Quite unbelievable to be sat here watching this very special show - terrific interview guys - featuring a musician that has been so influential personally over the years. Bit to say, thank mercy for the word limit! I definitely played in one of those shitty little bands Oceansize heavily influenced, haha. Ah, just so grateful for their music and have been moved deeply over many repeat listenings across their discography. Briefest of shoutouts to what could be of their most overlooked tunes, ‘Remember Where You Are’ from Effloresce. Such clever songwriting, possibly the most ‘simple’ and chiseled of structure across their catalogue, yet the writing devices, hooks and vocal harmony both rock & tug at the heart strings. Not to linger there, albums like Frames will keep glued & deciphering for months on end, and Self Preserved in awe of how precise yet organic their playing can be. They performed brilliantly at the Beach Road Hotel, and also @ Selina’s in Coogee supporting COG when they toured Australia back in .. gosh.. was it 2009/10? Crying shame they weren’t larger venues, and subsequent tours. They opened with ‘One Day All This Could be Yours’ ~ crikey, what a vibe. I recall emphatically shaking Mike’s hand post gig, terribly shy, yet the warmth of that fellow comes across in this interview / episode. Wishing Mike every success & will assuredly deep dive his ever growing catalogue & latest ventures. Thank you Dan & Mick, thank you Mike. Toot, toot, toot!!!
So good to see the Fredric effects Green Russian on Mike's board. Boutique pedals at bargain prices! Wasn't aware of Mike Vennart before but certainly will be after this great edition of TPS. Thanks all!
The most important Rock song writer of this century. period. I am gonna tell the world about Oceansize till the day I die. He is way better than any other prog rock royalty out there including Wilson, petrucci etc etc. Honestly, I know we all have bills to be paid but it hurts to see him as a side guitarist for another band. Its about time this man got the recognition he so well deserves. Oceansize will always be the epitome of Prog Rock for me since the last 25 years. Thank you for what you do Mike!!! And thanks for the endless inspiration.
I was 8 yrs old when I had the Black Sabbath "Paranoid" album. It's part of my DNA. Tony Iommi is my hero. The true lord of fuzz. I never realized that Oceansize were only tuned down a whole step - D Standard. They sounded so HUGE.
This was amazing to watch, what a dude. Glad I caught them at Download and someone finally mentioned the Ibanez roadstar ii, my current gigging guitar which I should probably put away and look after but it's too damn good!
Love this! Mike is an underrated guitarist in mainstream circles. I loved Oceansize, saw them live a few times and they were always spectacular. Not your average band! Their track Catalyst is massive - I had it as an alarm tone for quite some time!!
I didn't know of Mike before this video. Blown away, favourite episode so far blablabla...(mick voice) fully convinced that i need a wet dry setup now. Damn you
What an awesome human being! Great work D&M, I could watch this all day. Maybe next time keep the cameras rolling and release it in parts if it’s too long? Dropped tunings, cranked amps and fuzz of doom! What’s not to like?!!
![Mike Vennart Visits TPS! [Oceansize, Biffy Clyro, ESB & Massive Fuzz Tones]](/img/logo.svg){kind=logo}
