Milky’s Music Matters

MILKYS MUSIC MATTERS 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 fi rst offi cial 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 fi rst 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 ‘Firefl y’ 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.

Restrictions have lifted (hopefully), let’s get gigging!!!

Esquires

Wed 1st Sept The Lounge Society Thur 2nd Sept The Goa Express Sat 4th Sept Mark Morriss Wed 8th Sept Outer Stella Overdrive Fri 10th Sept Skinnyman Sat 11th Sept Lady Bird Sun 12th Sept The Smyths Fri 17th Sept Spear of Destiny Sat 18th Sept The Futureheads Sat 25th Sept The Meteors Wed 29th Sept Yard Act Thur 30th Sept October Drift Fri 1st Oct Willie J Healey Sat 2nd Oct Shonen Knife Fri 7th Oct The Hawkmen Sat 8th Oct Red Rum Club Wed 13th Oct Jaya the Cat Thur 14th Oct` Hawklords ft Nik Turner Fri 15th Oct Coach Party Sat 16th Oct Dub Pistols Sun 17th Oct Echobelly Fri 22 Oct Neville Staple Band Sat 23rd Oct Hands off Gretel Wed 27th Oct CUD Thur 28th Oct TV Priest + Genn Sat 20th Oct Ferocious Dog

Bedford Park concerts

Thur 9th Sept Ocean Colour Scene + Dodgy Fri 10th Sept Olly Murs Sat 11th Sept Cafe Mambo Ibiza Sun 12th Sept Proms in the Park

+ many more Check listings at bedfordesquires.com for details or facebook.com/bedfordesquires Tickets available from Esquires, Slide Record Shop and online – seetickets.com

Did you do any streaming performances ?

WP: You don’t want to see the inside of our houses or the band in jogging pants. GJ: Yes, we did a couple of them, one really early on during lockdown and another one for a South American radio later on. It was actually quite fun to do.

Has your set changed signifi cantly from what you had planned to play 18 months ago to where it is now ?

WP: We’ll have to pick a different anniversary to celebrate now. What year is it? GJ: Ours has changed a bit due to the re-release of ‘Gravity Pulls’ and ‘People Are Expensive’ so we’re excited to be including a few songs from those albums.

When do/did you start rehearsing ? Did you just click into gear ?

WP: What made you think we rehearse?! GJ: We actually started a couple of weeks ago, defi nitely a bit rusty not quite match fi t but we’re getting there.

Have you been tweaking any classic tracks for the live arena ?

WP: We play all the CUD classics in a K-Pop style now with a guest rapper called Cheesy D. GJ: Yes, Great Things and Car Fiction are a little different to the recordings. We have rehearsed a few old favourites that we haven’t played in ages.

Have you been busy designing loads of new merch for the tour ? Masks may be a bit late now ?

WP: Due to lack of Tory contacts, our CUD-branded PPE failed to reach the market. Hoping to repurpose our masks as codpieces. GJ: We’ve got some new merch in our Townsend Online Store.

I went to Standon Calling festival, a lot of bands were on stage for the fi rst time in 18 months saying how emotional they felt. Will you be asking for hankies on the rider ?

WP: We always ask for hankies on the rider because of spillage backstage. GJ: Nah, more room for the alcohol ha ha.

Found a new artist in lockdown who you love and can share with us ?

WP: I recommend the last band I saw before lockdown – Japanese all-female punk outfit Otoboke Beaver. GJ: A Danish artist called Myrkyr, a beautiful mix of Scandinavian folk music and Death Metal.

If a film studio put a movie together of your band, what genre would it fall into... drama, comedy, horror ?

WP: Rom-com. GJ: Drama – of the death, drugs and rock’n’roll variety.

Say you had to cover one of each other’s songs, what would you pick ?

WP: King of the Kerb. Would like to hear Carl attempt those high notes. Even better, a duet with Sonya. GJ: Robinson Crusoe.

COMING UP, COMING UP

Bands who will go onto bigger things (don’t miss your chance to see them before they play much bigger venues) – The Lounge Society, The Goa Express, Yard Act, Coach Party, TV Priest, Wille J Healey, Lady Bird, Outer Stella Overdrive. Big names – The Futureheads, Echobelly, CUD, Mark Morriss ) The Bluetones), Spear of Destiny, The Meteors Party vibes – Dub Pistols, Jaya the Cat Ska – Neville Staple Band (Specials)

Keep music live, Milky.

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