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The
Zutons have just released their first album and it comes bearing
the intriguing title of “Who Killed the Zutons?” While
this question is doubtless of great concern to friends and family
of the band and perhaps even the local constabulary, it isn’t
really top of my priorities.
I’ve been waiting in a ghost town of a café for half
an hour or so for an interview that has already been rescheduled
once today. ‘Where the hell are The Zutons?’, ‘Why
aren’t The Zutons sitting talking to me’ ‘Do The
Zutons really exist?’ These are the questions that concern
me the most.
The
answer to the latter is, thankfully, yes. The Zutons do exist
and they are they latest hot young group to emerge from the culture
ridden streets of Liverpool. Lead singer Dave Mcabe has just arrived
at my table fresh (or rather not so fresh) from a game of football
with the band.
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The
Zutons are:
Abi Harding, Saxophone 20
David McCabe, Lead Vocalist 22
Boyan Chowdhury, Lead Guitar 23
Sean Payne, Drums 23
Russell Pritchard, Bass 23 |
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Weblinks
The
Brickyard
The Zutons
Review:
Who Killed The Zutons
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They
are not alone though, with The Stands, The Coral and The Bandits
all recently thrust into the public eye, there appears to be something
of a scouser-scene developing – “I definitely feel like
we’re part of something,” says Mcabe “but my only
problem with it is a lot is made out of it because it’s easy
to do. It only becomes ‘a scene’ when people say it is.”
What though of the legendary musical history of the city? (apparently
four young whipper-snappers called The Beatles turned a couple of
heads in the 60’s). “Really I don’t feel it. You
can be from anywhere…you either write good songs or you don’t,
you’ve either got a good band or you haven’t.” Anybody
who has heard recent singles like ‘Pressure Point’ or
‘You Will, You Won’t’ will probably agree that Mcabe
and co. fall safely on the right side of this line.
If you don’t know the band then be ready for an aural assault
of pop, skiffle, ska, funk and…wait for it…voodoo rock.
Two important questions need to be asked here, firstly how do they
feel about being so diversely labelled? and secondly, what on earth
is voodoo rock?
“I think it’s great, it means people can’t pigeon-hole
us. When you buy the album you don’t hear 12 songs that sound
the same…I like Talking Heads, Sly and the Family Stone, we
all like James Brown and some of the band are into Devo but whatever
it is you The Zutons are playing it.”
And as for voodoo rock? “that’s like early Dr.John stuff…a
really swampy sound with loads of tambourines.” Tambourines?
My hopes of a rant about black magic and dolls with pins in their
eyes are crushed in a trice. “Sorry man, I’m not very
quotey today,” Dave confesses. He needn’t worry though
as I have another question up my sleeve. ‘Who are you’re
favourite other artists who begin with ‘Z’?’ I ask.
“I definitely feel part of a brotherhood of ‘Z’…but
let’s say Frank Zappa,” is it a good feeling to be part
of this scared brotherhood? “it’s the best…if there
was a Z Tour it would be Frank Zappa headlining, ZZ Top and us,”
Not very quotey? I beg to differ.
And thus it ends, Dave the Zuton has been fun, chatty and he even
drew me a lovely picture for my efforts. Couple this with the powerful
live show delivered later at the Brickyard and their impressive
new album and the question should really be not about who killed
The Zutons but who is going to stop them?
Read
Rory's review of The Zutons @ The Brickhouse »
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