MILKYS MUSIC MATTERS FOCUS ON UPCOMING BEDFORD GIGS CUD are a four-piece who formed in Leeds back in 1987, famously recording a Peel session which then became their first official release. A handful of Top 40 hits and 5 studio albums followed before the band temporarily broke up in 1995. Since reforming in 2012 they’ve won over audiences new and old with classics such as ‘Rich and Strange’, ‘Robinson Crusoe’ and ‘Magic’, they will surprisingly pay their first visit to Esquires (28th October). Echobelly were at the forefront of the UK indie scene in the 90’s and are fondly remembered as art of the lauded Britpop scene, they return to play Esquires for a 4th time on the 17th. Beds Life threw some questions at CUD’s bassist William Potter and Echobelly’s guitarist Glenn Johansson.
Its been a while since you gigged, what with the enforced lay-off, have you written any new songs ? WP: We have, though getting together to rehearse and record them is another matter… We hope to drop a few new tunes into a set of classics on this tour. Saying that, all of the songs we’ll be playing won’t have been heard live for 20 months, so they should all sound fresh. GJ: We have written some new stuff during lockdown, we’ve also been back in the studio for a re-make of a song from Anarchy and Alchemy called ‘Firefly’ with piano, violin, acoustic guitar and electronics. Did you have to bin off a covid concept album that spewed forth from your imprisoned subconscious? WP: All of our albums have the theme of the imprisoned subconscious. GJ: Ha… no, trying hard to avoid the subject, what you focus on gets stronger! I tried to learn Spanish (gave up after smashing my mouse on day 8), discovered i quite liked Red Wine – honestly had never drunk it before. Learn any new skills in lockdown ? WP: Ticking off messier objects. GJ: That’s funny coz we discovered that we really like red wine, way too much! Also started learning Indian guitar, very exciting. Did the band meet on zoom during lockdown ? That got old soon didn’t it ? WP: I’m the only member of the band not based in Leeds. The b*st*rds kept video-calling me from pubs when they were able to get together in person, without me. I am owed many ciders. GJ: Well we managed to avoid that! We kept in touch the old fashion way, the blower.
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