Joe Symes and the Loving Kind have been around for a minute now. They’ve long ago established themselves, their style, and their sound in the annals of indie, and, with the release of their latest album, ‘Portmanteau’, they are opening a new chapter to everything that is Joe Symes and the Loving Kind.

‘Portmanteau’ is a collection of songs that takes you on a journey. A series of virtual road trips that span emotional depth and the quirks of all aspects of life, both shallow and deep. This is one of those albums that you can hit play on track one and just let it run until the end. It will define your day. It will shape your moment. It will give you ten unique hooks that escalate and integrate you into a new fanbase.

You will find a favorite song within the realms of ‘Portmanteau’, and maybe even a few. And, those few will change from listen to listen for reason to reason. This is that kind of album.

And, in this interview, we talk with Joe and Colin about all things ‘Portmanteau’ as well as where things are going in this storied career.

Check out our other features with Joe Symes and the Loving Kind HERE.

About Joe Symes and the Loving Kind

Joe Symes and the Loving Kind are a three-piece Rock band from Liverpool, UK.

The band’s current (third) album, Portmanteau, recently hit number 15 in the UK Gold chart. This has been preceded by the video It’s All Too Late – a track taken from the album – which has already had international airplay, and reached number 2 in the Banks Radio Australia Valley FM 85.9 Chart, and number 4 in the Chart of Gold UK, and a second video for a track entitled Please Please followed. This also reached number 2 in the Banks Radio Australia Valley FM Chart, and number 3 in the Chart of Gold UK Chart. The album, like the previous EP is now available in HMV stores across the North West. These were also promoted with in-store shows.

As well as playing major festivals such as Tramlines, the Wychwood festival, headlining slots, exclusive radio sessions around the world with live performances included, the band’s music has and continues to be played at Liverpool Football Club’s home games during half-time, and have been included in the official LFC Spotify Playlist.

The band has also recently played the Preston Weekender supporting Embrace, and is currently working on their fourth album.

LINKS:
https://linktr.ee/joesymesandthelovingkind
https://joesymesandthelovingkind.co.uk
https://twitter.com/JoeSymesandTLK
https://www.facebook.com/joesymesandthelovingkindUK
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCza-xfDuCsWphAK782F4AiQ
https://www.instagram.com/joesymesandthelovingkind
https://www.reverbnation.com/1joesymes
https://soundcloud.com/joesymesandthelovingkind

Every Monday we will be bringing you interviews with UK or Ireland artists for Independent Music Monday. Recently we caught up with Liverpool band Joe Symes and the Loving Kind to find out more…

Who is in the band, how did you meet, where are you from and how did you come up with the name?
We’re Joe Symes and the Loving Kind from Liverpool, UK. The band consists of Joe Symes (vocals/guitar/harmonica), Colin White (drums/percussion/backing vocals), and Alan Welsh (bass guitar). Me (Colin), and Joe have know each other for a long time, and after he started doing solo acoustic shows – after both of our previous bands split – I offered to play drums in the studio, and some percussion live. After a short time, we decided to expand into a full band, and we asked Alan if he wanted to come on board, which he did. Joe and Alan had worked together in the past, so the three of us gelled together very easily. The “Loving Kind” was taken from a line in the R.E.M song Get Up, and when you say the whole name, it just flows. Simple and classic.

Who were your musical influences when you were growing up and who are your influences now?
Our influences are so wide we’d be here forever listing them, but the main ones are bands such as The Beatles, The Doors, Echo and the Bunnymen, The Kinks, The Smiths, Buzzcocks, Burt Bacharach, XTC, The Who, Motown, Stax, even classic film composers like John Barry, Lalo Schifrin, Ennio Morricone, and Bernard Herrmann.

How would you describe your sound?
Someone once said to us we sounded like 9 people on stage, considering there’s only three of us, but when it comes down to it, we play up-tempo, catchy Rock/Pop songs, with the added bonus that we can colour them in with all kinds of different instruments when needed. If you listen to our albums, you’ll see exactly what we mean.

What is your latest release called and what was the influence behind it?
Our latest album (third) is called Portmanteau. The meaning behind the title comes from an old Victorian travelling case, which contained many compartments, and draws, which can relate to the amount of different styles and influences in the songs which appear. The influences are quite a lot of what we’ve just mentioned before.

What’s your local music scene like?
Liverpool has had a very rich musical history for over half a century, so there’s always bands springing up on a regular basis, which will continue for a long time to come.

What do you have planned for the next 12 months?
We’ve started work on the fourth album already, so that’s our aim to get it out in 2026.

Is there anyone you’d love to collaborate with?
I think a lot of the ones we would like to are no longer with us sadly.

Any funny stories surrounding your live performances?
I think we’re lucky in the fact that most of our live shows have gone very smoothly.

Do you have any upcoming live dates and performances?
Cavern Pub, Liverpool 29th May, Cavern Club, Liverpool 30th May (both for International Pop Overthrow Festival 2025).

What is the one thing that you want readers to know about you?
I think we take pride in the fact that we see ourselves as a real band who play real music. Nothing fake or contrived, real and pure.

Have you heard the latest single from Joe Symes and the Loving Kind?

I think there is a parallel universe where Joe Symes and the Loving Kind go mainstream and are more popular than Oasis. I don’t see why the new single “Please Please” would not capture any discerning ear—the song’s beauty to the arrangement and the folksy vocals of lead singer Joe Symes. The band has also taken the laid-back route, capitalizing more on the nuance and the lyrics. I cannot help but compare the beautiful guitar style to Smith’s Johnny Marr.
You can add this song to your daily drive to get a ray of sunlight your way. Watch out for their new album as well. I am sure it is going to be exciting for fans of Joe Symes and The Loving Kind. I will write about the album soon, as soon as I get my ears on it. In the meantime, stay true to appreciating beautiful music. I will post links to their music below this blog.

Jammerzine has an exclusive interview with Colin White, drummer for the iconic British band known as Joe Symes and the Loving Kind about their latest album titled ‘Portmanteau’, dropping today (September 27th).

‘Portmanteau’ is that continuing evolution of sound and serenity from a band that has now not only found their sound, they’re evolutionizing and revolutionizing it with an original fervor that most bands lack and more artists yearn for.

Beautifully crafted and lovingly recorded, ‘Portmanteau’ is a sonic ride down a scenic highway without a care in the world. Think about what music should be and let Joe, Colin, and Alan sow you what it can be.

And, in today’s interview, we talk with Colin about that, ‘Portmanteau’, and more.

Check out our other features with Joe Symes and the Loving Kind HERE.

Interview: Joe Symes and Colin White of Joe Symes & the Loving Kind – Recorded September 15, 2024

Joe Symes and the Loving Kind band is a trio from Liverpool, UK, consisting of Joe Symes (vocals/guitar/harmonica), Colin White (drums/percussion/backing vocals), and Alan Welsh (bass guitar). Rock At Night became acquainted with their music in 2023 when the band released their single “It’s All Too Late.” You can read our review HERE.

The band has been busy performing at major UK festivals such as Tramlines, Wychwood festival, headline slots, and exclusive radio sessions around the world. The band  even performed at Liverpool Football Club home games during half time. The title track of the EP recently reached number 8 in the London-based 365 Radio Top 30 charts, climbing higher than such artists as Florence and the Machine, Liam Gallagher, Jack White, White Lies, and Ed Sheeran–and remained in the top 20 for five weeks.

The band is currently finishing their third album, Portmanteau, which is scheduled for release on September 27. A single from the album, “Please Please,” was released on August 30, 2024, and wow, we love the acoustic-driven sweet Beatlesque melody. 

Rock At Night says of the band’s music: “It sounds classic but made today”

In this interview, Joe Symes and Colin White of the Liverpool band Joe Symes and the Loving Kind discuss the psych rock-tinged “It’s All Too Late,” their love of the Beatles and the album ‘Revolver,’ using a mellotron in the studio, their love of art and old Hitchcock films, the new album Portmanteau, and more!