For our first ever Festive Feature on Mad Mackerel, we asked twelve of our favourite bands and artists of 2011 to answer twelve questions and we will publish them over the next twelve days taking us up to Christmas Eve.

Every so often a song comes out of nowhere and hits you right between the ears. It is those moments that make having a blog a delight – the chance to hear something new, exciting and share it with lots of (hopefully likeminded) folk.

And so it was with Last Summer by Seattle’s The Royal Sea. From the first adrenalin filled rush of the drums and the plaintive vocal about cheap wine and whiskey we were hooked. It comes from a self-titled eight track EP of surf inspired garage and 60s influenced summertime pop, and is without doubt one of our favourite discoveries of the year.

1) Three iconic clashes. Who would you vote for in each of these (you can say why too if you wish)?

a) The Velvet Underground or The Doors?

The Velvet Underground hands down

b) Bob Dylan or Neil Young?

Bobby D!

c) The Sex Pistols or the Clash?

The Sex Pistols 

2) What has been your personal highlight of 2011?

The highlight has been releasing the EP and writing all the songs for the upcoming full length! Because our music is our only focus and it seemed like it would never happen!

3) What was your low point of the year?

There wasn’t one!!

4) You can give one single album from 2011 to just one person for Christmas. What would you buy and who for?

Cape Dory by Tennis – We would give it to all the people out there exploring the world on the ocean

5) Give us between two and five songs from 2011 that you’d recommend as the best of the year.

Tennis “Take me Somewhere” 

Diamond Rings “ Its Not My Party”

Dum Dum Girls “Just a Creep”

Girls “Alex”

Girls “Magic”

6) Do you have a favourite Christmas Carol?

Let it Snow – because it never snows on Christmas in Seattle and I have always wanted that.

7) Imagine you are snowed in and stuck in an isolated house in the woods for Christmas with no way out. Wolves and bears are prowling outside. You need to recommend the following:

A classic song to impress an ultra cool, know-it-all, teenager

Lou Reed “Perfect Day”

A song to terrify Grandma

Girls “Big Bad Mean Motherfucker”

A traditional song to help send Grandad to sleep

The Saints Go Marching In 

A song for someone just waking from a five-year coma

“Facelove” by Ps I Love You 

A book to frighten the children

Any Goosebumps Book

An unforgettable film to watch

Buffalo 66 

8) What is top of your Christmas list this year? Why?

A record deal because it’s hard to fit in practice and recording and touring with a 9 to 5! 

9) What is the worst Christmas present you’ve ever given and/or ever received?

I never give or receive bad presents!

10) Will you be making a New Year Resolution? If so can you share it and will you keep it? What is the stupidest New Year resolution you’ve ever made?

Quit smoking cigarettes. 

11) Imagine you’re headlining a Christmas Concert at your favourite venue. You can share the stage with three other artists or bands (past or present) for the final encore of the night. Who would they be and what would you play?

The Beatles, The Kinks and Girls.

We would be too nervous to play.

12) Can you write us a Christmas themed limerick?

Look For “ A Very Royal Christmas” by The Royal Sea coming November 2012

Buy the album for $5 from their Bandcamp page here.

Listen to L.A.

a

Listen to Birthday Cake.

a

Download The Royal Sea – This Summer mp3 (from The Royal Sea)

Tomorrow: Dennis Hopper Choppers

Previously: Lovely Eggs (here), Twilight Hotel (here), Grass House (here), Hurray For The Riff Raff (here), Lonesome Wyatt & The Holy Spooks (here), Ohioan (here), Wooden Wand (here), Tom Williams & The Boat (here), Henry’s Funeral Shoe (here), The Roadside Graves (here).