Stereoboard Speak To Kids In Glass Houses Guitarist Iain Mahanty At London's HMV Forum (Interview)
Wednesday, 26 October 2011
Written by Matthew Williamson
Stereoboard caught up with Kids In Glass Houses guitarist Iain Mahanty prior to their show at London HMV Forum on 4th October. You can check out our review of the show HERE, however, in the meantime, here's what Iain had to say about the tour so far, new album 'In Gold Blood', playing live and what's next for Kids In Glass Houses.
Hello!
Hi!
Today’s the 3rd date of your UK tour, how’s everything going so far?
Yeah, it’s going wicked. Reaction to the new stuff’s been incredible, we couldn’t have asked for more. Yeah, it’s been fun. It feels like we haven’t played any shows in forever, so feels good to be back out there.
You’ve got some of the crème de la crème of the British scene supporting you in Save Your Breath, Fracesqa and Blitz Kids. Was it deliberate to have an all British bill?
Yeah, I mean, we were chatting about it, chatting about US bands and all this, this and that and we were just, “do you know what, the British scene’s really good at the moment, it’s thriving. Why not do everything we can to help support that, and keep it healthy?” So yeah, it was deliberate to get an all British bill. We know all the boys in all the bands, we just knew it’d be fun.
You yourselves have supported Stereophonics, Lostprophets, Funeral For A Friend. Do you think those support slots have helped you?
Yeah, definitely. We were fortunate enough to have all those bands take us out, and it does help a lot, not only to you playing to more people but, I guess, getting the experience of playing venues that you wouldn’t necessarily do.
If you could have picked one overseas band to support which band would it have been?
Oof. That’s a tough question. I’m not sure, really. I think all my suggestions were British. [laughs] I know there was a lot of chat about We The Kings, I think. Umm, but yeah, like I said, all my suggestions were British. I like to keep it, y’know, at home.
We read a tweet about UV paint.
Yes
What’s the thinking behind the UV paint? Is it all just a gimmick?
Nah, it’s not a gimmick as such. I guess it’s just something that ties in Aled’s concept, in the whole post-apocalyptic nightclub scene that happens in the ‘Animals’ video. It’s just something that came into his mind. He took inspiration from a lot of films that were based in the future, and that was one of the things that was common to all of them. It’s not a gimmick, I mean, next time we probably won’t bother with it, do you know what I mean? It’s just something we thought we could do that was a little bit different. Make it fun for people to come to shows, and put some UV paint on and dance around.
So the album, In Gold Blood, it managed to break into the Top 40 and peaked at number 1 in the Rock Charts.
Yeah, it did! It got to number 1 in the midweek rock chart which was pretty intense, you never expect stuff like that to happen when you start a band. So, yeah, it was awesome.
Even though all the albums have got to around 27/28 the singles haven’t done so well, is that something that you’re concerned about?
Nah, I think it’s just the nature of the music industry at the moment. I mean, the album’s been out while the singles have been on sale, so I guess, like, everyone that would’ve bought the singles already has it with the album anyway. I think if you want a single to do well you bring it out before the record, or something, I dunno! Yeah, I guess, like, back in the day when I was buying CDs and stuff, singles, you went out and you bought them and you had b-sides, but now it’s just one track on iTunes for 50p, or whatever. I guess it just doesn’t seem that appealing to people any more.
The album had great reviews, particularly in Rock Sound, This Is Fake DIY, Big Cheese, how important are critic reviews to the band?
Umm, I dunno. It’s quite hard to say ‘cause you never really take them to heart whether they’re good reviews or bad reviews, I mean, I guess it’s just nice to read someone’s opinion of it. If it’s good, it’s wicked ‘cause they’re telling people it’s good, if it’s bad it’s bad, whatever. It is just one person’s opinion. It is always nice to get good reviews, but it doesn’t always go like that.
Aled came in for some stick over the lyrics of the album, if you could go back, would you re-write them?
No
No?
Nah. We’re not that way inclined. We’re not one to take on board criticism and change what we do. We do what we do ‘cause we love it, it’s the only reason for it.
In Gold Blood seems like a move away from the first two albums to more straightforward rock. Was that an intentional move, or did that just come about whilst writing the songs?
I think it just came naturally. We tried doing it on Dirt but it got lost in translation. The recording was a bit too processed, and everything came out a bit clean, and nice. It’s a natural progression, for us, and the record only really sounds like what we sound live, whereas the previous records don’t. I think if we’d done the other albums the way we did this one it’d be a different perception of those two albums. So, yeah, I guess it just sounds like us live, really.
Lead single, Gold Blood, crashed the servers of the site. Were you surprised by the demand for it?
Yeah, we were surprised. You never expect to get a reaction like that when you put your little song up on the internet, but it was flattering. To have Zane Lowe exclusively play it was massive for us, and helped us out a lot. Just a shame that not everyone who went on the site managed to get it!
We’ve got a few quickfire questions now. Who would win in a fight, Kids in Glass Houses or Lostprophets?
‘Prophets. Stu’s massive!
If Kids in Glass Houses were a sandwich, which sandwich would you be?
Ooh. Have you had those Paneer Subways? Yeah, that’s what I’d be anyway. What would we be? We’d probably be a BLT, or something.
What’s the most embarrassing thing to ever happen on tour?
I don’t know, really. It’s probably whenever you fall over onstage, which each one of us has done except Phil [Kid’s Drummer]
Is there an artist you’d like to work with?
Prince.
Any particular reason?
He’s a massive influence on me, his music’s phenomenal but I know he’d never work with us because… It just wouldn’t happen. He’d hate us.
Who do you think are the best UK underground band?
Save Your Breath.
Is that gonna piss of Francesqa and Blitz Kids?
[laughs] Well, it’s hard to tell, there are so many good bands, but they’re my mates, so I’m sticking with them.
Your album of the year so far?
Probably the Bon Iver record, it’s fucking phenomenal. Recently got the new Fucked Up record, David Comes to Life, which is also class.
What’s your favourite festival to play?
To play? T in the Park. I love it, it’s just fucking amazing up there. It’s such a diverse bill, it’s incredible, but then that’s not to say I don’t enjoy the other ones. Putting me on the spot here, I don’t like it!
And your favourite city to play?
Favourite city… Cardiff’s always wicked. Hometown shows are always fucking incredible, but I guess either Glasgow or Manchester. Glasgow and Manchester are awesome. I do enjoy London but there’s always added pressure in London that always seems to tarnish the shows a little.
What’s your favourite song to play live?
I’m really enjoying ‘The Florist’ on this tour ‘cause we’ve got a couple of horn players out with us, who are our mates. Yeah, it’s just class! We’ve never done it, we’ve never toured with a horn section. It’s just wicked, and sounds amazing.
Finally, where next for Kids In Glass Houses?
We’ve got a few things planned, but I’ll get my bollocks cut off if I tell you, but we are going to be around! We’re gonna do some more touring in the UK, gonna do some in Europe, bit in Australia, and Japan, and whatnot. Yeah, just do another video, another single, try and keep things going really! Yeah, enjoy this record ‘cause we all love it, and people seem to be into it!
Thank you very much!
Thanks!
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