It’s been a little while since we made a post, and it’s been a long while since we made a Brighton Rocks post. And it’s actually been more than two months since I sat down with Ideal Living‘s Billy Marsh at the Fortune of War to kick start things again, but what with one thing and another here we are now timing things to coincide with Ideal Living’s two new singles Roam and OFD.

Back in April there was no imminent Ideal Living single that we were aware of, but the band had been working hard, touring with Flip Top Head earlier in the year, and at Homegrown festival. They had been due to play at the Great Escape, but were one of the first to pull out because of Barclay’s sponsorship and their links to arms companies supplying Israel. Never ones to waste an opportunity, they ended up playing around half a dozen unofficial gigs over the weekend. Outside of the band, Billy has been busy running Dead Dog, promoting gigs all over town as well as putting out the Hutch EP and the Maximilian album.

What I was struck by at the time was Billy’s passion for the local music scene – the aspiration not just for Ideal Living to do well, but all the other bands around too – and for his desire to do something about it too rather than just wanting things to go well, one eye on opportunities now, the other on the future

Onto the singles, both of which have featured in their recent live sets, if you’ve been lucky enough to catch them. OFD is a reflection on the breakdown of friendships, and has a hint of Tom Waits about it, until the rage erupts two thirds of the way through. Roam talks urbanisation and changing landscapes, and is what they’ve closed their sets with the last couple of times I’ve seen them – the acapella close still sends shivers down my spine

What’s the best thing about Brighton?
To many things but the sea is a pretty good part

Who are your favourite local bands?
Even harder but I guess The New Eves, Flip Top Head, Attic o mattic, Van Zon, Maximilian, Hutch, but yeah, so many

What’s the best venue?
My favourite is Green Door Store but have lovely memories in so many places

What’s the best rehearsal space / studio?
Brighton Electric is good

What’s the best club?
No idea like the I Hate Clubbing nights a lot

What’s the best record shop?
To many to choose form I reckon they’re all good

Where’s the best places to eat?
I really like fire and charcoal

What’s the best pub?
So many good ones but Hand in Hand is nice, I like playing Toads in there

Who’s your favourite Brighton celebrity?
Bertie beer

When was the last time you had any Brighton Rock?
When I was l like 8 years old. I don’t like the stuff but the book is good

OFD and Roam are out today, and the band headline the Hope and Ruin on 4th July