So how has latest video gone down?
Pretty well, overall. We’re a bit late to the whole Youtube thing, but we tried to make a film that introduced us to the world. A bunch of guys having a good time and not taking ourselves too seriously. It’s a fun song. We’ve had about 600 views (as of June 10th 2020), but that is pretty small beer in the scheme of things. But – hey – it’s a start. We’ll grow.
Tell us something about the release no one knows?
‘When It Comes To You’ was recorded at University of York recording studio with Hairul Hasnan engineering. When Hairul heard Holly Taymar sing, he went ‘oh wow’. Holly Taymar-Bilton sings the backing vocal on the track. In total six musicians played on it. Miles, Tim (bass), Billy (drums), Alan (lead guitar), Simon Waggott (keyboards) and Holly Taymar-Bilton (backing vocals). Ah! I know! There’s a line in the song that refers to Fats Domino. I don’t think I’ve mentioned that anywhere else.
If you could work with any band on a new song, who would it be and why?
I could say The E Street Band, or Del Amitri, or Van Morrison’s backing band circa 1976, but really I am happy working with Tim and Billy and Alan. They’re fantastic. I think we have a lot of potential, there’s a lot of exploring for us to do yet. We have about 100 years of experience in music, between us. I’d like us to expand with a brass section, saxophone, accordion, keyboards, but that’s for later…
How have latest live gigs been received?
The ones we played in 2019, we just got better and better. It takes time to get used to each other. We had some time off at the start of 2020, and we were due to play our first gig of 2020 on Match 19th. I went away for a week to chill out, and we were due to play when I got back. But the virus lockdown happened and all our gigs were cancelled. I can’t see us playing much in 2020. It’s hugely frustrating, but I think we will get back to it when we can. We are focusing on recording, and videos for now. More people see a video, anyway, if you do decent job with promotion.
Can you tell us something about the meaning behind the track?
It’s a happy song about unrequited love. I was really into somebody but she was hopeless – unreliable and flighty, let’s say. I wrote the song out of frustration. ‘I’m into you but you’re just not that bothered.’ Most pop songs are written of a sense of frustration, or disappointment, or sadness, or regret, or anger. There are relatively few songs that are just ‘I’m happy’ – although ‘Say A Little Prayer’ and ‘Walking On Sunshine’ are two obvious exceptions. So many songs, though, contain some sort of angst. Jagger singing he can’t get no satisfaction. The Beatles – John Lennon asking for Help, or complaining about the girl in ‘Day Tripper’. Springsteen’s ‘Dancing In The Dark’ – the lyrics are about frustration. Del Amitri’s ‘Always The Last To Know’ – it sounds happy but the lyrics are really sad and dark. A lot of Amy Winehouse’s song are about disappointment or disillusion, in some way.
What shows do you have coming up?
Are you kidding? We have no shows coming up, thanks to the virus. Ask me again in November!
What venue are you most looking forward to playing?
I’ve been to the 02 in Leeds a couple of times. It’s not exactly pretty but it has an intimate, sweaty rock’n’ roll vibe about it. I’d like to play there. I’d love to play the Opera House in York. That’s a favourite venue of mine, really intimate and close to the audience. The Barbican in York – I’d love to do that. I’d like us to play all over the place… The place I REALLY want to play is Hammersmith Odeon. It’s now called Hammersmith Apollo. I went there in 1988 to see Magnum, one of my favourite bands as a teenager. So many great acts have played there, including some of my favourites – Bruce Springsteen, Queen, Thin Lizzy, Del Amitri, Bryan Adams, Dire Strairs, Johnny Cash, Elton John, Blondie, David Bowie. That would be my dream gig. A truly legendary venue.
What else can we expect from the band in 2020?
We’re recording some songs in June 2020 with Jonny Hooker at Young Thugs in York. Jonny’s great – really down to earth and gets on with it. I’d like us to get our next video out soon. Watch this space! Thanks for the interview, guys. Keep in touch.
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