Stereoboard Speaks To The Xcerts Ahead Of Their December London Barfly Show (Interview)
Tuesday, 04 January 2011
Written by Ben Bland
You used to seem such a cheerful band, what happened?
Thomas Heron (Drums): Were we? Lyrically we never were!
Murray Macleod (Vocals/Guitar): Yeah, lyrically on the first record that’s not really true.
There was always a hopeful message buried deep within the cynicism I felt but that seems to have disappeared of late.
MM: Yeah, a lot of stuff happened to me and it would’ve been a completely different record had those things not happened but they did and that’s what shaped the record. It’s kinda strange because we wrote those songs at such a specific time and now looking back its like “I feel ok now”.
So it’s not just that you feel more drawn to creating ‘darker’ music then?
MM: I think we do though...
TH: That’s what we listen to, that kind of stuff. It’s just more interesting isn’t it?
MM: I’ve always been drawn to music that’s kinda heavier...not musically but lyrically. We all love bands like Pedro and the Lion. “Control”, that record...a bleak, bleak record that’s so heavy but it’s not a metal record. I suppose that’s kinda how we wanted this record to be but it wasn’t until the songs were written and together that we realise quite how intense they were.
The record clearly has an influence from Brand New, one that has perhaps been overemphasised. What other bands influenced you in making 'Scatterbrain'?
MM: Yeah, we were influenced by them and other Mike Sapone bands I suppose but not so much. Things like Bon Iver, The Jesus Lizard. That roomy nineties sound...we all love that sound. We all thought it would suit the songs well and it turns out they did so that was nice!
Was it a bit of a shock to hear that Mike Sapone wanted to produce your record?
MM: Yeah, it was a shock. I remember getting the email through from him. Our manager told us that Mike thought Slackerpop would be a “huge hit” and we couldn’t believe it. It’s weird because he’s our friend now, first and foremost.
TH: It was something of a pipe dream I suppose. We were thinking how cool it would be to record with him and then we did. We haven’t really thought about it since but it was great for us, really great.
The record has got a positive reaction in areas of the mainstream music press and not even been mentioned by others. Is that a frustration or is it just good to be picked up by a few?
MM: RockSound have been great and although Kerrang have been a bit hesitant, they’ve been warming to us as well.
TH: It’s only NME that haven’t really touched us I suppose but I wouldn’t say that bothers me particularly! They like what they like for their reasons, which don’t always seem to be anything to do with music.
MM: It’s nice that someone from a magazine or whatever says our band is good but if we hadn’t been featured in these magazines we wouldn’t be that disappointed. We love the record. If we got really bad reviews it would be a problem I think but what we’ve had can only be positive and our lack of getting mentioned in some places hasn’t been a problem I don’t think. I suppose the thing about downloading is that people will just listen and make up their own minds nowadays.
TH: Online fanzines as well...
MM: Twitter as well...that’s more influential than most magazines nowadays!
I know a lot of bands say it’s not until their second record that they find the sound they want. Would you say this is true of The Xcerts?
MM: Yeah I think so. I was actually saying earlier today that this feels like our first record. The older songs feel like a different period of time...it was like a greatest hits from our first few years.
TH: This is our first ensemble piece and complete batch of songs that have been written together and sort of fit well together musically as well so I agree; it feels like our first album.
MM: It feels like we can kinda go anywhere now. We haven’t started writing anything yet but I feel we can go anywhere without people being totally shocked like some were with the jump from 'In the Cold Wind We Smile' to 'Scatterbrain'. So that’s really exciting for us.
Was it very frustrating for you guys to have to wait so long to release the first record and then being able to release the second one pretty quickly after the first?
MM: Not really, at the time it felt natural. Maybe we could’ve put the first record out sooner but everything’s felt right, timing wise. I think we’ve been quite good with our timing. Some bands wait far too long to release their first record. We were still really young when it was release. I was only 20ish.
TH: We’ve got plenty of time!
How has your ‘Wintour’ been going?
MM: It’s been good minus two shows. Last night in Coventry...awful promotion, nobody was there, no posters up or anything. Oxford as well wasn’t great.
TH: Just annoying when promotion for gigs is pretty much non-existent.
MM: I mean we booked the tour pretty late but yet places like Chatham were packed, places you might not expect a good crowd at. Tonight’s meant to be really busy as well. I mean, just do what you can to promote gigs you know. If you do some work and nobody turns up its fine but when no work has been done it’s a bit of a pisstake really.
You’ve supported a lot of bands in the last couple of years. Which ones have stood out as making you most nervous? Has there been a band who you’ve thought “Why are we supporting this band?”
TH: I don’t think we’ve ever been truly, truly worried about being hated. Most of the bands we’ve played with have got similar sorts of elements. We don’t sound like Funeral for a Friend, for example, but there are clearly kids who like rock who are gonna like our band and like FFAF. I think Alice In Chains was a bit weird but cause we came straight from Sonisphere it was ok I think.
MM: If you show signs of nervousness then the crowd will feed on it.
TH: You don’t want to go too far the other way though either.
MM: Sometimes you brick it before you go on but then when you go on stage you have to go into a different zone and just play. If we thought about it too much then we’d never play!
Are there any bands you’re particularly enjoying playing live at the moment?
MM: 'Carnival Time'. We delayed playing it for a bit because it didn’t sound right in practice.
TH: We’ve nailed it now though. We just needed a bit of practice.
MM: 'Gum'. 'Distant Memory' I enjoy a lot as well actually.
Do you look forward / not look forward to playing certain places?
MM: I like playing London actually. I don’t think we used to. It’s always billed as the industry show
That’s why I’m here!
MM (laughs): Yeah! As soon as people started coming because they liked the band though it’s been great.
TH: The hometowns are obviously always good as well.
MM: Cardiff’s always good as well actually. Glasgow’s amazing.
TH: Edinburgh, Dundee, loads of Scottish places.
MM: It’s weird because I always enjoy going to towns in the Midlands even if we can’t draw crowds. I quite like going to Nottingham, say, because it’s quite a nice place you know...we’re going to some new places like Bedford on the RockSound tour next year.
There seems to be a new wave of British rock bands coming through. Do you feel part of a ‘scene’ there?
MM: I personally don’t. The rock scene is kinda a bit of a “Kerrang cover stars” club. Not that I’m trying to have a go at any of those bands or anything. We just always feel a bit like outsiders to be honest. A lot of UK rock acts do the whole sort of big arena rock sounds and we don’t really have that and neither do the other bands on the RockSound tour so that’s really cool I suppose that they wants acts like us and them on their tour.
You have a lot of ‘stripped down’ songs. Have you ever considered doing an acoustic record or an acoustic show or two?
MM: Shows definitely but I don’t think we’ll do a Bombay Bicycle Club...although that record is amazing. Have you heard it?
Yeah...
MM: Did you like it?
It was quite good.
MM: It’s better than just quite good! Maybe one day we’ll do that but we’re not as brave as them...going completely different on our second record!
Finally, what are your long term aims for The Xcerts? Do you have any?
MM: Yeah, I do. I just want to be successful, not necessarily mainstream success but just success in being able to do this. Like Bon Iver or someone. He’s not on the radio or in magazines much but he can sell out pretty big venues.
So you want to be on a Kanye West album, that’s what you’re trying to say...
MM (laughs): Yeah basically our aims is to actually be on the next Eminem record. To be able to play bigger venues.
TH: To let us support ourselves and keep this up as long as possible basically because it’s great!
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
We don't run any advertising! Our editorial content is solely funded by lovely people like yourself using Stereoboard's listings when buying tickets for live events. To keep supporting us, next time you're looking for concert, festival, sport or theatre tickets, please search for "Stereoboard". It costs you nothing, you may find a better price than the usual outlets, and save yourself from waiting in an endless queue on Friday mornings as we list ALL available sellers!
I know a lot of bands say it’s not until their second record that they find the sound they want. Would you say this is true of The Xcerts?
