ONE of East Lancashire's newest bands is attracting interest from the States despite having only played just one live show.

Last Friday night, new Indie outfit Mother John, opened their live account at Colne's Derby Arms, and are already in contact with one of The Strokes management team.

Singer Bruce Thomas revealed they'd been exchanging e-mails with the New York punksters accounts and business manager Victor Wlodiguer, after he sent a sample MP3 of the band's work.

Bruce said: "I've had enough disappointments in the game to know it may come to nothing but really think America could be the best chance for us, simply because of the state of the UK scene.

"The whole Pop Idol, Popstar thing here makes me sick. I see all the work that goes into bands who create their own music but all the record companies want these days is the easy the option. Whereas in the States they like things that are a bit different."

With a warm 60's almost hippy summertime feel to their music, the quartet of Bruce, guitarist Dan Thomas, bassist Dave Spurr and Kieron Melling on drums believe they have that fresh element.

The band have already recorded four tracks with Mark Jones at his MJM Studios in Oswaldtwistle.

Bruce said: "We wanted to work with Mark because he's got a brilliant set up there now. And we're going to go back into the studio to do four more songs to get a bit of a portfolio together."

Over the past decade Bruce has fronted top local bands, Beware the Green Monkey, The Mirrors and The Rubbish all of which enjoyed varied levels of success. Bruce said: "I've been lucky enough to have been in three great bands and I want to use those experiences to benefit this project. I'm really ambitious about the group but I won't be doing this band thing forever. Whatever happens, Mother John, will be my last band and if it makes it brilliant but it it doesn't then so be it."