Pencil In on Preston's music scene

The band feel they're lucky to be based in Preston

Taking in such wide stretching influences as Radiohead and Tori Amos, Pencil In are a four piece alternative rock band hailing from Preston.

Pencil In was born out of college jams between singer Bill Orrick and lead guitarist Tony Arnott.

The guys started off as The Wrong Band, became the Bill Orrick Band and settled as the current Pencil In line-up when bassist Len Soloshchenko joined in 2008

Lead singer Bill tells us about gigging round the North West.

So, Pencil In - what's the name all about? "The name started off as a joke really. When the band first started out, it was just me and our previous bassist, we had a gig booked but we didn't have a name, so I put Pencil In up on our MySpace.

"It kind of works I think. It's not too suggestive of what we 'should' sound like. Every other name we thought of sounded emo or metal or whatever."

Mad Ferret

You've been through a few changes, how did you get to the current line-up? "It started with jams at college between me and the effect-pedal-fixated lead guitarist that is Tony Arnott after we were introduced by a mutual friend.

"Teaming up with bass player Neil Sharrock and numerous short term drummers we formed The Wrong Band around 2003 but disbanded after artistic differences."

WHO'S WHO Bill Orrick (guitar/vocals) Tony Arnott (guitar/vocals) David Perkins (drums) Len Soloshchenko (bass)

Bill and Neil rejoined forces to create The Bill Orrick Band late in 2004 and after one gig were joined by permanent drummer Dave 'Perki' Perkins.

Following Perki's arrival, the four piece became the initial core of what would become Pencil In. The band began gigging the developing Preston scene in 2008 but late on in the year Neil decided to leave the band to pursue other interests.

In October 2008, experienced bassist Len Soloshchenko walked in to beef up the band's sound following a background in Newcastle-based nine man funk collective 'The Criminal Underclass'. Despite working briefly as a modern flamenco guitarist, he decided to commit full time to the Pencil In cause.

What's been the best moment so far? "Playing at The Roadhouse in Manchester.

"Just a really great gig, one of those where we all come off the stage at the end dripping with sweat and panting, knowing that we've played really well and the crowd were well into it."

Constantly changing

What song do you all like playing together? "Our favourite at the moment is 'Back and to the Left'. I wrote it after reading up on JFK's assassination amongst other things.

Time is precious as an unsigned act Bill Orrick

"Tony came up with the verse riff and then he was very surprised with the vocals I wrote around it, and then we decided to turn it into an epic! It gets a great reaction from crowds and so we always save it til last. It's just one of those songs that keeps you guessing all the way through, constantly changing... we like good changes in songs."

The band feel they're lucky to be based in Preston: "The scene is pretty ace, there's a lot of good music. Our favourite place to play by far is The Mad Ferret, they have these ace festivals where they lay out turf in the pub and have barbecues."

Your plans for the future? "We are going into the studio this month to record three of our tracks, 'As if by Chance', 'Back and to the Left' and the third one... we aren't sure yet... it's a surprise!

"We'll be sending 'As if by Chance' out as a radio promo, and doing a video for 'Back and to the Left'. Then we're on the road! Touring through October and November across the UK."

So what are you going to do with your first million? "Sweet! To be able to make a living off music would be the ultimate for me, then I could concentrate more on writing and not have to do all the legwork and stuff coupled with a day job, that an unsigned act has to do... Time is precious as an unsigned act."