James and The Cold Gun: Band To Watch in 2023
- Casey Bowers
- Jun 30, 2023
- 7 min read
Updated: Dec 2, 2025
James and The Cold Gun gifted us last year with False Start, the 5-song EP of maximum adrenaline guitar-centered rock n roll. On July 21, the Welsh outfit are set to release their self-titled debut album on Stone Gossard's Loosegroove label. In between buzzed-about shows and big ticket summer festival sets, James Jospeh (James 1 of 2 in the group) answers some random questions.
Interview by Casey Bowers
Casey: I think it’s safe to say, James and The Cold Gun is already, or is going to become a lot of rock n roll fans’ new favorite band. Is that exciting for you? Do you feel that buzz or hype and get pumped up by it? or are you trying to stay away from it and just concentrate on playing awesome shows? What artist or band in your life when they were brand new was that for you and had that
profound impact/when you first heard them gave you the chills or excited you to no end?
James: Thanks, Mate! I’d love that to be the case, however I think with this band I’m trying to just be my own favourite band first and not get too caught up in chasing validation from others.
Casey: Very cool. Understood. Was there a band in your life though that excited you to no end or gave you chills when you first heard them?
James: I’d have to go with discovering early Manic Street Preachers about 5 years ago. They're from Wales, too and I had no idea how cool they were.
I still like them now but they’re very much known for being an anthemic, chill indie/Britpop sort of band these days whereas back in the late 80’s/early 90’s they were the most exciting band in
the world. They had the look, the songs, the attitude and the politics to boot. I’d fully recommend
people check out Generation Terrorists-era Manics.
Casey: Speaking of that, can I just say thank you for being a cool rock n roll band? I apologize, as I'm going to rant and gush for a second here.
There are those of us who know rock n roll is cool, but there are trends in pop culture where it's up and down or off people’s radar. So, when you make something sound and look and feel this awesome, people tend to gravitate towards it. Seriously, from the massive icy glacier rock
guitar/bass and drums sound and massive songs themselves to the singing and everyone’s
style, everything about James and The Cold Gun exudes this effortless sense of rock n roll cool - So, thank you. And also, anything or anyone you wanna attribute or thank for that perception?
Bonus points for making cool music videos, too.
James: Thank you for thinking we’re cool, but I don’t think we ever try to be cool.
We’re all actually real weirdos, however I do think our favourite rock bands are the ones that feel larger than life/have characters within the band, whether that’s created with how someone performs or dresses etc, so I think that is something we like to emulate.
As a fan of rock bands myself, I like to get excited about seeing these larger than life characters performing and I think it’s fun to express yourself in different ways like how you dress/look.
I’m quite hands on with the visual aspects of the band and I have to give credit to the amazing
team we have helping out with that stuff! Harry Steel (@hauntedmattress) who does all our
videos is insanely talented and our touring photographer (@lukeshadrickphoto) is one of the
best around.
Casey: There’s a fetishization of new bands that will always exist but it seems like it’s way less driven by music snobbery and just people finding cool bands they think others might dig too.
What’s your favorite new band/artist right now?
James: There’s a kinda new band called Spiritual Cramp that I love! They’re kinda like The Hives meets The Clash meets Talking Heads. They’re just really solid punk rock that you wanna dance to. I also absolutely love a band called Slomosa who do the whole desert/stoner rock thing but I
feel like they make it way more ‘songy’ than a lot of their peers. I’m forever finding myself
singing some of their melodies that have been lodged in my head.
Casey: One of your Spotify playlists, Listen Loud, features a number of new/new-ish (or lesser known) bands I love, too. Australia’s Stiff Richards, Canada’s Wine Lips, and White Reaper right here in the US. Are these bands you just love too, friends, tour mates, etc.?
James: Just bands we love, yeah! There’s so much good stuff out right now!
It feels like there are a bunch of bands trying to bring some excitement back within rock
music, so that’s great! We’ve been listening to the new Tigercub album a bunch since it came
out. We’re label mates with them, so we’re hoping we can play some shows together sometime!
Casey: Instead of having you regurgitate the same band formation story, can you tell me about a
memory or a moment during the band’s formation when you thought this could really be
something or this could be it?
James: Well, the band started as a side-project whilst I was playing in another band that was my full-time thing. I’d kinda lost the love for that other band and this project rekindled my love for playing music, when me and James B started jamming for fun, it felt like we were 15 again.
I remember thinking “Wouldn’t it be great if we could do a band like this as a full-time thing?”
Casey: And now it is, and you've toured full-time all over the UK (so far) Any US tour plans yet?
James: We’re really lucky to be on Stone Gossard (Pearl Jam)’s label Loosegroove, so we already have a bit of a US team. They want to bring us over, so we’re just waiting for the right opportunity. It’s our dream right now!
Casey: As one of those US-based guys, I'm with you. I'll cross my fingers.
Re: Touring...Do you have a tour rider yet or have a weird or odd necessity for the road?
James: Gotta have good coffee. I’ve walked miles for a cup of fancy coffee on tour before.
I’m trying to be less of a coffee snob, but I just really enjoy having a little treat and sometimes a bit of quiet time when I’m on tour.
Casey: How about right before a show? Any pre-performance rituals?
James: Right before the show I’ve started insisting that we play a song or two unplugged if we have the room backstage. It really helps me get in the zone ready to smash the show!
Casey: You're from Wales and in terms of music, Wales has given the world Tom Jones and Bonnie Tyler, Badfinger, Super Furry Animals, Stereophonics and The Joy Formidable.
Do you think of James and The Cold Gun as a Welsh band first or is it just one piece of the band’s DNA?
James: We’re super proud to be from Wales, I’ve always liked the way Welsh artists/bands have a bit of an underdog spirit. It’s like we’ve got something more to prove than some of the bands that seem to come out of London, for example. We don’t take any of this for granted and we love the idea of ‘doing it for Wales’.
Casey: Is there a particular Welshband/artist that is a part of your band’s DNA?
James: Again, definitely Manic Street Preachers!
Casey: What was your musical upbringing like? Did you have a musical family? Played in bands for a long time?
James: I don’t actually have much of a musical family. My Nan sang a little bit when she was younger but that’s it I think!
I’ve had a guitar since I was about 11 but only got half decent at it recently. (Laughs)
I never had the attention span to sit and properly learn, so I’ve just picked up bits and pieces very slowly over the years. I’ve wanted to play rock music ever since seeing School of Rock and also hearing the first The Darkness record when I was little!
Whenever I’m on a bit of a downer about trying to pursue music as a career, I often think about
15 year old me and how stoked he would be on all the things I’ve done so far.
I find that’s a really good way to be more grateful and less critical about things.
Casey: That's beautiful. I love that...Alright, shifting for a second, I know it’s kinda lame and redundant to talk about the band name - so let’s get it outta the way - Kate Bush song and two members name James, right?
James: Nailed it!
Casey: Yes! So, with that said and the semi-recent Kate Bush resurgence thanks to Stranger Things, I’ve got two connected questions:
1) What’s a Kate Bush song that new listeners/fans shouldn’t sleep on?
2) What J&TCG song would be your pick to fight Vecna?
James: ‘Under Ice’ is a cool song. It’s claustrophobic and haunting, so maybe that one (if you
like your music to be haunting haha).
As for fighting Vecna, it’s probably gotta be 'Plug Me In.' That song goes off live and I think it’d wake us up nicely.
Casey: Are you guys to that point where you’re getting your music in TV/film?
James: We actually had ‘Chewing Glass’ feature in an episode of The Rookie which was pretty mad!
Casey: Sometimes, if a director (or star actor) really digs a band and has a taste for it, they give the band a cameo. Any acting aspirations or would you want to do a cameo in a film or show or would you pass on something like that?
James: I’d love to play a band in a film! Maybe we could be like a goblin version of ourselves in some fantasy film or like a Viking version of ourselves would be cool. I’ve actually always fancied
being an actor in general. I’d like to give it a go at some point.
Casey: The debut album, or LP is coming out soon. This one is being released in 2023 and there’s a lot of superstition or belief (good and bad) surrounding the number 23. Do you get into numerology with the music or have you thought about it in those terms? Wales, by its very nature, is thought to be more magical or mystical than most places in the world, so I think it bodes well for the band.
James: We’ll take all the good luck we can get!
Casey: Anyway, we’ve heard the amazing EP, False Start, the singles Something to Say, My Silhouette, and Chewing Glass (which are all confirmed to be on the upcoming album, right?) and if those 3 are any indication of the sheer level of sonic joy we’re going to experience from the upcoming album, I’m sure its going to kick ass and I can’t wait to hear it.
James: Thank you very much! There’s a fourth and final single out now, it’s called ‘Bittersweet’. We really appreciate anyone who wants to check us out! Really enjoyed answering these questions and hopefully we can meet in person one day! Thanks, Casey!
Casey: Absolutely! Thanks for your time, James.
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