01Profile
A The Green Door Store Photo
The Green Door Store
Independent Venue — Brighton
03Interview
Name?
Toni Coe and Will Benson
Describe your style in three words?
Toni: 90s greebo meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Less slashed jeans, baggy zip-ups, more well-structured monochrome.
Will: I’ve been told I look like a cool, 90’s dad. So let’s go with that.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Toni: Blood Moon Tour - Converge X Chelsea Wolfe.
It's musically a show I will never forget. More recently I was blown away by Black Futures when they played at Green Door for The Great Escape.
Will: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Victoria Park, 2017.
Probably not the most fun I’ve had at a show, but definitely the most visceral, captivating and impressive performance I’ve witnessed.
Which subcultures have influenced you?
Toni: Hardcore Punk and Dark Subculture are huge parts of my identity, emotionally and physically. Whether it's the way I dress or the communities I am a part of, both are at my core.
Will: I don’t really stick to one, but I draw influence from the subcultures that surrounded Punk/'80sPost Punk '90s Brit-pop/Grunge, '60s/ Rock etc.
If you could book a line-up of any two bands in history to play the club?
Toni: A co-headline with Punch and Gouge Away. I would pay serious money to go to that show in an intimate space.
Will: Wu-Tang Clan (All original Lineup) and Fugazi.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Toni: Billie Holiday. How can someone's misery sound so soulful and personally nostalgic!? Her music has been life-changing for me.
Will: David Bowie - I think I could learn a lot from him. Probably the closest I’d ever get to meeting an alien.
Of all the venues, aside from your own, which is your favourite?
Toni: The best venues are the ones that have the best people running them. Big fan of the team at The Dome/Boston Music Rooms in Tufnell Park. I also love The Joiners in Southampton. They both do an amazing job putting on diverse, inclusive and fairly priced shows. I think Tooting Social club is such a beautiful space that is hugely underrated and underused.
Will: I prefer intimate gigs as a whole, but one of my favourite venues is Manchester Ritz. It has a sprung dance floor so if you get a particularly rowdy gig, it feels like the whole room is moving and the atmosphere is great. A great example of this was seeing King Gizzard & The Lizzard Wizard there, one of the best and most energetic and chaotic live performances I’ve ever seen.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Toni: Lana Del Ray. She has really brought out the glam in gloom.
Will: Ty Segall is the first that pops to mind purely because he never stops working and creating consistently brilliant music and evolving his style.
Toni Coe and Will Benson manage Brighton independent venue, The Green Door Store, which since opening in 2011 has earned a reputation as one of the best small venues in the South East for catching local bands as well as seeing visiting national and international talent. Read more about the venue in our Subculture Uncovered feature here.
02Playlist
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
Toni: 'Gangstas Paradise'
Will: 'In the End' - Linkin Park
I used to play it on repeat with my friends to try and learn the rapping parts. Linkin Park really sat well with me as a kid as I really liked the rap artists around at the time such as Eminem as well as a lot of the heavy bands like Slipknot, SOAD etc., and it was the first time I’d heard Hip Hop and Guitar music together.
A song that defines the teenage you?
Toni: TLC - 'Waterfalls'
Will: The whole of the first Arctic Monkeys album.
One record you would keep forever?
Toni: Haim - 'Something To Tell You'
It reminds me of Eternal, and the harmonies are wicked.
Will: Warpaint - 'Warpaint'
There’s so much going on, on that record I don’t think I’d ever get bored. It’s a masterpiece.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
Toni: "I'm not waving, I'm drowning" - 'Inuit' by Foxing.
Inspired by British poet Stevie Smith.
Will: “...the way the beach gets kissed by the sea” - 'Love Reign Over Me' by The Who.
Part of my moving to Brighton was inspired by Quadrophenia. I think about that lyric every time I’m on the beach.
A song you wished you had written?
Toni: Joni Mitchell - 'Woodstock'
It's perfect
Will: Sorry - 'Wished'
One of the most unique bands I’ve heard out there at the moment. It’s really lo-fi production but the way the song is put together is really interesting.
Best song to turn up loud?
Toni: Crows - 'Pray'
No song reflects the brooding swag of Crow's live performance quite like this song.
Will: Black Sabbath - 'Into The Void'.
The best riff of all time. Especially when turned up loud.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
Toni: Janelle Monae - 'Make Me Feel'
It's SO goddamn catchy.
Will: Robbie Williams - 'Angels'
Probably the best pop song of all time.
Best song to end an all-nighter on?
Toni: 'No Diggity' by Blackstreet.
Will: Oasis - 'Don’t look back in anger'.
Nothing like a drunken sing along to some lad-rock.
Any new bands you are listening to right now?
Toni: Soooooo many!! Working for a small indie venue I'm always researching new bands, going to small shows and falling in love with the next underdog to grace our ears before the industry properly get involved. This playlist best reflects bands I'm listening to and programming. Goat Girl's newest record is excellent. Super Moody. As are Madonnatron who played at GDS for our 7th Birthday and were exceptional. I'm also listening to lot of bands from the Leeds hardcore scene: Cheap Surgery, Hex, Rapture!! and new Brighton Favourites CLT DRP.
Will: I love the new post-punk movement at the moment, bands like Hotel Lux and Drahla, IDLES etc are really bringing guitar music to an interesting level again.
03Interview
Name?
Toni Coe and Will Benson
Describe your style in three words?
Toni: 90s greebo meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Less slashed jeans, baggy zip-ups, more well-structured monochrome.
Will: I’ve been told I look like a cool, 90’s dad. So let’s go with that.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Toni: Blood Moon Tour - Converge X Chelsea Wolfe.
It's musically a show I will never forget. More recently I was blown away by Black Futures when they played at Green Door for The Great Escape.
Will: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Victoria Park, 2017.
Probably not the most fun I’ve had at a show, but definitely the most visceral, captivating and impressive performance I’ve witnessed.
Which subcultures have influenced you?
Toni: Hardcore Punk and Dark Subculture are huge parts of my identity, emotionally and physically. Whether it's the way I dress or the communities I am a part of, both are at my core.
Will: I don’t really stick to one, but I draw influence from the subcultures that surrounded Punk/'80sPost Punk '90s Brit-pop/Grunge, '60s/ Rock etc.
If you could book a line-up of any two bands in history to play the club?
Toni: A co-headline with Punch and Gouge Away. I would pay serious money to go to that show in an intimate space.
Will: Wu-Tang Clan (All original Lineup) and Fugazi.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Toni: Billie Holiday. How can someone's misery sound so soulful and personally nostalgic!? Her music has been life-changing for me.
Will: David Bowie - I think I could learn a lot from him. Probably the closest I’d ever get to meeting an alien.
Of all the venues, aside from your own, which is your favourite?
Toni: The best venues are the ones that have the best people running them. Big fan of the team at The Dome/Boston Music Rooms in Tufnell Park. I also love The Joiners in Southampton. They both do an amazing job putting on diverse, inclusive and fairly priced shows. I think Tooting Social club is such a beautiful space that is hugely underrated and underused.
Will: I prefer intimate gigs as a whole, but one of my favourite venues is Manchester Ritz. It has a sprung dance floor so if you get a particularly rowdy gig, it feels like the whole room is moving and the atmosphere is great. A great example of this was seeing King Gizzard & The Lizzard Wizard there, one of the best and most energetic and chaotic live performances I’ve ever seen.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Toni: Lana Del Ray. She has really brought out the glam in gloom.
Will: Ty Segall is the first that pops to mind purely because he never stops working and creating consistently brilliant music and evolving his style.
Toni Coe and Will Benson manage Brighton independent venue, The Green Door Store, which since opening in 2011 has earned a reputation as one of the best small venues in the South East for catching local bands as well as seeing visiting national and international talent. Read more about the venue in our Subculture Uncovered feature here.
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
Toni: 'Gangstas Paradise'
Will: 'In the End' - Linkin Park
I used to play it on repeat with my friends to try and learn the rapping parts. Linkin Park really sat well with me as a kid as I really liked the rap artists around at the time such as Eminem as well as a lot of the heavy bands like Slipknot, SOAD etc., and it was the first time I’d heard Hip Hop and Guitar music together.
A song that defines the teenage you?
Toni: TLC - 'Waterfalls'
Will: The whole of the first Arctic Monkeys album.
One record you would keep forever?
Toni: Haim - 'Something To Tell You'
It reminds me of Eternal, and the harmonies are wicked.
Will: Warpaint - 'Warpaint'
There’s so much going on, on that record I don’t think I’d ever get bored. It’s a masterpiece.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
Toni: "I'm not waving, I'm drowning" - 'Inuit' by Foxing.
Inspired by British poet Stevie Smith.
Will: “...the way the beach gets kissed by the sea” - 'Love Reign Over Me' by The Who.
Part of my moving to Brighton was inspired by Quadrophenia. I think about that lyric every time I’m on the beach.
A song you wished you had written?
Toni: Joni Mitchell - 'Woodstock'
It's perfect
Will: Sorry - 'Wished'
One of the most unique bands I’ve heard out there at the moment. It’s really lo-fi production but the way the song is put together is really interesting.
Best song to turn up loud?
Toni: Crows - 'Pray'
No song reflects the brooding swag of Crow's live performance quite like this song.
Will: Black Sabbath - 'Into The Void'.
The best riff of all time. Especially when turned up loud.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
Toni: Janelle Monae - 'Make Me Feel'
It's SO goddamn catchy.
Will: Robbie Williams - 'Angels'
Probably the best pop song of all time.
Best song to end an all-nighter on?
Toni: 'No Diggity' by Blackstreet.
Will: Oasis - 'Don’t look back in anger'.
Nothing like a drunken sing along to some lad-rock.
Any new bands you are listening to right now?
Toni: Soooooo many!! Working for a small indie venue I'm always researching new bands, going to small shows and falling in love with the next underdog to grace our ears before the industry properly get involved. This playlist best reflects bands I'm listening to and programming. Goat Girl's newest record is excellent. Super Moody. As are Madonnatron who played at GDS for our 7th Birthday and were exceptional. I'm also listening to lot of bands from the Leeds hardcore scene: Cheap Surgery, Hex, Rapture!! and new Brighton Favourites CLT DRP.
Will: I love the new post-punk movement at the moment, bands like Hotel Lux and Drahla, IDLES etc are really bringing guitar music to an interesting level again.