Local Bands

I Concur formed in late 2006 and performed at their first gig in January 2007. They're signed to local label Brew Records and are determined to mine their own seam of indie-rock (groans - pun ed.).

Having gigged extensively around Yorkshire they are now ready to unleash their debut single on the listening public and the quartet (Tim Hann - voc/gtr; James Brunger - drums/b. voc; Chris Woolford - gtr; Toby Page - bass) have chosen to write "Build Around Me" about the legendary farm situated in the middle of the M62. We asked the boys about the single and their plans for the future:

"It just seemed like a good, quirky thing to write about. We didn't want to write about traditional subjects and the myth surrounding the farm and the construction of the M62 was too good to pass up."

"Everyone always assumes that the owner at the time just told the Department of Transport to take a running jump and that they'd have to build around the farm buildings. I think people like this version as it fits the ornery nature of the stereotypical Yorkshireman. Unfortunately the truth is a little more prosaic - the carriageways were split because of the unstable nature of the land, forcing the Eastbound carriageway to be built much lower than the Westbound."

"To this day, I think people prefer the myth to the truth but the story is typical of what we like to write about. Another of our songs is about these two Mexican guys who are the only two people left in the country who speak a certain obscure, regional language that is about to be extinct. Unfortunately they've fallen out and any attempts to preserve the language may die with their friendship."

The band cite their influences as The National, Low, Wilco, Mogwai as well as that quintessentially English indie aesthetic as embodied by labels like 4AD and Creation. Asked what their music is like and they refer to Bob Dylan's famous aphorism: "about three minutes"!

They see themselves as harking back to the original spirit of indie alongside other local bands like Pattern Theory, Her Name Is Calla and Forward Russia although building a local buzz into something bigger isn't necessarily top of their 'to do' list:

"Success means different things to different people. We're aware that our sound and subject matter doesn't mark us out as the next big thing, but then again we're more than happy carrying on as we are. Our current ambition is play the ATP festival - which fits our sensibilities"

"There's so many bands about to compete with as well. Someone estimated that there are a thousand bands in the Leeds area alone! New media has played its part - it's so easy to create access to your music now. Mind you, despite the leg-up digital media gives you, we still love to play with all our analog equipment!"

"Build Around Me" c/w "Lucky Jack is released by Brew Records on 7" single and iTunes download on Monday 10 March 2008. The band play a launch gig for the record on Saturday 8 March 2008 at the Brudenell Social Club, Queens Rd, Hyde Park in Leeds alongside Her Name Is Calla, Wintermute and The Pattern Theory.