Dripp It Up And Start Again: A Chat With Loco B

Local musician Brendan Portues (or Loco B, depending who you ask) is no stranger to starting out in pastures new. A veteran on the North East music scene, Brendan has spent the last decade and a half playing countless shows with many, many bands (most notably Espionage of the Loc). A musical purist who loves the art, Brendan is once again starting out with a new musical outfit, Dripp.

Spending the last few years and few bands rocking the drum kit, Loco is back n front of the mic, and, as always, has a lot to say.

Howdy Loco B. How’s tricks?

Tricks are good thanks for asking. Keeping busy in the music world which is always great.

I’m assuming that isn’t your real name, how did you come to be known as Loco B?

You assume correctly . The b stands for Brendan as that's my actual name . Loco as you know means crazy in Spanish cos I'm a crazy off the wall bastard. A silly name that I named myself in my early rapping days (absolute kretins and early solo works). The name has stuck and although I feel it's a bit goofy I think fuck it . It's my name 4 life dog

People familiar with you will most likely know you for your time in Espionage of the Loc, you’ve been on the North East music scene for over a decade now in many different bands, and now you’re in this new outfit, Dripp. Tell us a bit about that, how did you guys get together?

Yeah I've had the absolute pleasure of working with a lot of great people and very talented musicians . A shit ton of bands and it's been rad . My new band dripp are lads I've met in Middlesbrough . We started out as 5ft walls at zeros playing my punk pop esq songs. It was great but we only did one gig then disbanded for some reason .... All working mad shifts n that. Then we decided to give it another go around the festive period but starting the music from scratch and not my pre written pre recorded stuff. It works much better as I'm not feeling like a mad dictator anymore and the doom pop flows through all of our veins like the salmon of Capistrano.

You fronted Espionage of the Loc for many years, but in recent times you’ve been behind the drum kit. You’re back in front of the mic again in Dripp, do you prefer being a frontman or laying down a drum beat? Is there more pressure/creative freedom being the frontman?

Loco B drumming for North East band Crease

I do love being behind the kit and I can't wait to get crease back up n running again when the other creaseians return from their travels. But holding a mic n jumping aboot I love very much. Getting some cool vocal fx n a bit of synth on the go in dripp so that's fun . What do I enjoy most? I'd say they're equal . I know I drum better than I sing though . In a live scenario anyway . And my Drummings questionable at best

Dripp are still brand spanking new but already have a few festival dates this summer, are the group keen to get out there and start performing/releasing music?

Yeah we got a good slot at holmesfest and are trying to secure more local festivals . We're all keen as hell to get up and Rock out hard. Hoping to begin in May with our first gig and were booked at the studio may also so will have an ep ready for release once I've mixed it. So probably June....2021 Just kidding. I'll be working hard and fast to get it released this summer . I just hope we can get as many gigs as possible with this new outfit as I'm buzzing Aff it

Thanks for your time, any last words?

You're most welcome. My last words are , keep it real, cheers!

Dripp - 2018

Keep up with the new adventures of Dripp on their Facebook page

Watch the promotional video for their new track "No Antidote" here