Providing an insight into what makes musicians tick, in their own words.

In this fourth edition we get some insight from the band Joe Symes and the Loving Kind.

The band consists of Joe Symes (vocals, guitar, harmonica), Andy Cleary (bass guitar, backing vocals), Colin White (drums, percussion, backing vocals).

They have headlined the main stage of the 02 Academy 1, Liverpool twice at the request of Noel Gallagher for his after-show party with the High Flying Birds.

Having recently finished an 11 month tour of the UK in 2017, they are now confirming dates for 2018, and the release of their eagerly anticipated second album.

WHERE DO YOU FIND CONTINUOUS INSPIRATION?

From music, TV, history and everyday events.

We think it’s very important to get across what songs are all about. A lot of people can relate to your songs in that way, share the same experiences.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO ACHIEVE?

To be very happy and live well, not to have to worry about anything.

WHAT ARE YOUR STRUGGLES?

There are no struggles. We enjoy what we do very much. If at any time we thought being part of a band was a struggle, then I don’t thing we would enjoy what we do.

HAVE YOU ACHIEVED WHAT YOU WANT?

Yes, up to now. Very happy with the band and our progress so far.

Things are going very well for us at the moment, and long may it continue.

HOW DID YOU ACHIEVE YOUR SUCCESS?

From constant hard work, travelling, recording, and performing live shows, radio sessions, interviews and TV.

If you’re part of a band you need to put the work into what you are doing and believe in what you’re doing.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE?

You can find us at our official band website www.joesymesandthelovingkind.co.uk

We are also on Facebook in the UK and the U.S, Twitter, Fit4talent, Reverbnation, Youtube, and Gigmit.

Our eagerly anticipated second album will be released in 2018, and will be available from our website. Contact is for bookings, interviews at joesymesandthelovingkind@outlook.com

JOE SYMES & THE LOVING KIND
HOW ARE YOU ALL ?.

JOE….YEAH WE ARE ALL GOOD THANK YOU

COLIN….FINE, THANKS.

ANDY….SOUND, TA.

SO BAND MEMBER NAMES –

JOE….JOE SYMES / VOCALS, HARMONICA & ELECTRIC GUITAR.

ANDY….ANDY CLEARY, BASS/BACKING VOCALS

COLIN….COLIN WHITE, DRUMS/PERCUSSION/BACKING VOCALS

WHAT’S YOUR ONE FAVOURITE ARTIST YOU WOULD DO SOME COLLABORATION WORK
WITH?

COLIN….HA! URM, MOST OF THEM ARE NO LONGER HERE SADLY…..BUT PERHAPS PAUL MCCARTNEY, JACK WHITE.

ANDY….HARD TO SAY, REALLY. PROBABLY GUNS N’ ROSES; BIT OF BAD ASS ROCK AND ROLL. HA!

JOE….AT PRESENT PAUL MCCARTNEY, BUT ALL THE OTHER ARTISTS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO SOME SORT
OF COLLABORATION WORK WITH HAVE PASSED AWAY.

ONE QUESTION FROM MYSELF IS WHAT’S IT BEEN LIKE GETTING A LOT OF ATTENTION FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND YOUR MUSIC TO BE PLAYED IN DIFFERENT COUNTRY’S LIKES OF USA ?.

ANDY….IT GIVES YOU CONFIDENCE KNOWING YOU’RE MAKING ALL THE RIGHT NOISES, AND PEOPLE GET WHAT YOU’RE DOING.

COLIN….I LOVE THE FACT WE’RE GLOBAL, ESPECIALLY IN THE U.S AND CANADA. WE’VE GAINED A LOT OF FANS/FRIENDS OVER THERE.

JOE….I’M REALLY PLEASED WITH IT, THE USA IS A REALLY HARD PLACE TO CRACK AND THE FACT THAT WE HAVE NOT SET FOOT
OVER THERE YET IS REALLY POSITIVE AND THE FEEDBACK HAS BEEN AWESOME. THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER COUNTRIES AROUND
THE WORLD THAT ARE ALSO PLAYING THE BAND’S SONGS ON THERE SHOW’S AND REQUESTING INTERVIEWS WITH THE BAND.

FROM DOING SOME RESEARCH ON YOUR BAND ONE VERY INTERESTING TOPIC WE HAVE TO COVER IS YOUR BAND GETTING NOTICED BY SOME OF TOP MUSIC INDUSTRY PERSONNEL’S IN THE MUSIC SCENE ESPECIALLY NO OF THE LEAST ALAN MCGEE WHO IS KNOWN FOR HIS PART OF OASIS – WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?.

JOE….GREAT, ALAN IS A REALLY GREAT BLOKE WHO SUPPORTS BAND’S AND ALSO LOVES WHAT WE ARE DOING. HE HAS BOOKED US FOR MANY SHOWS IN AND AROUND THE UK. WE NEED MORE PEOPLE LIKE HIM IN THE MUSIC BUSINESS / INDUSTRY TODAY.

ANDY….IT FEELS GREAT.

AS WELL AS BEING NOTICED BY ALAN MCGEE
YOU HAVE ALSO SUPPORTED SOME OF THE BIGGEST ARTISTS IN MUSIC SCENE WHAT WAS THIS LIKE?.

JOE….AGAIN IT’S BEEN FANTASTIC TO BE ASKED TO PLAY THESE SHOWS AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO MANY MORE.

COLIN….IT’S ALWAYS GREAT TO SHARE STAGES WITH SUCH GREAT ARTISTS. WE WORK HARD, AND FEEL IT’S WELL DESERVED.

ANDY….IT’S ALWAYS FUN DOING SUPPORT SLOTS. IT’S OPPORTUNITY TO GET INTO NEW FANS’ EARS, AND IT GIVES US A CHANCE TO SHOW EVERYONE WHAT WE’VE GOT TO OFFER.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE NEW UP COMING IN THE MUSIC SCENE ?.

ANDY….BELIEVE IN YOURSELF. HAVE FUN ON STAGE, DON’T BE SHY, WORK HARD, BUT DON’T TAKE YOURSELF TOO SERIOUSLY.

COLIN….BE TRUE TO WHO YOU ARE, AND NEVER LET ANYONE TRY AND SHAPE YOU INTO WHAT YOU’RE NOT.

JOE….NEVER GIVE UP, ALWAYS BELIEVE IN WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

WHAT ARE YOUR INSPIRATIONS BEHIND YOUR SONG WRITING  & SONG LYRICS ?

JOE….ALL THE SONGS ARE WRITTEN IN THE FIRST PERSON, FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCES TO EVERYDAY EVENTS.
ALSO I THINK THE MUSIC THAT WE ALL LISTEN TO HELPS WITH THE MAKE UP OF THE SOUND OF THE BAND.

ANDY….AS A BASS PLAYER I PLAY WHAT I FEEL IS NATURAL FOR THE SONG, SO I’D SAY I’M INSPIRED BY THE SONG ITSELF. WEIRD, EH? HA! HA!

COLIN….WELL, AS A DRUMMER, I PLAY TO SERVE THE SONG…ALWAYS.

WHAT WILL WE SEE FROM JOE SYMES & THE LOVING KIND 2018 ?

ANDY….NEW ALBUM AND PLENTY OF GIGS.

COLIN….YEAH, THE NEW ALBUM, WHICH IS SOUNDING AWESOME ALREADY. YOU’RE GOING TO LOVE IT.

JOE….THE ALBUM COMING OUT FOR ME WHICH I’M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO.

ARE YOU RECORDING ANY NEW MATERIAL ?

ANDY….JUST FINISHED THE ALBUM.

JOE….WE ARE WRITING ALL THE TIME, SO THERE WILL BE A LOT MORE MATERIEL THIS YEAR, ALREADY THINKING ABOUT THE THIRD ALBUM.

ARE YOU DOING EPS OR ALBUMS?

JOE….I’M THINKING A STAND ALONE EP AFTER THE SECOND ALBUM RELEASE, FOUR BRAND NEW SONGS THAT WON’T BE ON THE SECOND ALBUM AS WE DON’T LIKE TO CON PEOPLE AND MAKE THEM BUY SONGS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN RELEASED.

COLIN….YEAH, WE LIKE TO PLAN AHEAD, AND ALWAYS THINK OF WHAT WE’LL DO NEXT. SOME NICE TREATS IN STORE.

ANDY….ALBUM AND E.P LATER IN THE YEAR.

ANY FESTIVALS PLANNED 2018?

COLIN….YES, INDEED. THE FIRST ARE GETTING CONFIRMED AS WE SPEAK.

JOE….THE FIRST FESTIVAL WE ARE PLAYING IS THE ‘YOUR CITY FESTIVAL’ IN STOKE IN ASSOCIATION WITH BBC INTRODUCING
IN APRIL.

ANDY….COUPLE CONFIRMED, MORE IN THE PIPELINE.

WHAT’S BEST ADVICE YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN AND WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE NEW UP COMING THROUGH MUSIC INDUSTRY?

ANDY….DON’T TAKE YOURSELF TOO SERIOUSLY.

JOE….STICK TO WHAT YOU ARE DOING, IF YOU CAN TAKE ADVICE AND YOU SEE THAT IT WILL PROJECT WHAT YOUR DOING TO A BIGGER
AUDIENCE / MARKET THEN GO FOR IT. ALSO NEVER SELL YOUR SOUL AND GET VERY GOOD LEGAL ADVISE.

SO ARE YOU PLAYING LIVE 2018
ANY GIGS PLANNED?

JOE….YES WE ARE GOING TO BE ANNOUNCING DATES VERY SOON.

ANDY….DOES A BEAR S#*T IN THE WOODS? HA! HA!

COLIN….THE FIRST GIGS OF THE YEAR WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN THE COMING DAYS AND WEEKS.

WHAT’S PLANS FOR THE FUTURE ?

ANDY…..WHO KNOWS WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS. ALL I KNOW IS I’M STILL GONNA BE PLAYING I LOVE IT ALL MY HEART.

JOE….TO LIVE VERY COMFORTABLY AND TO HAVE A GREAT TIME.

COLIN….KEEP DOING WHAT WE DO BEST. WE’D GET BORED OTHERWISE.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELVES 12 MONTHS TIME !.

JOE….I’VE NO IDEA ? JUST TAKE EACH DAY AS IT COMES.

ANDY….ON STAGE FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT.

COLIN….HA! HA! WE LIVE FOR THE MOMENT…..BUT CONTINUING DOING WHAT WE DO BEST REACHING EVEN BIGGER GOALS.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE INTERVIEW AND WE SHALL SEE YOU AT YOUR GIGS THIS YEAR ?.

JOE….THE PLEASURE WAS ALL OURS.

COLIN….NO, THANK YOU FOR TALKING TO US.

ANDY….THANKS FOR LISTENING, MATE. ‘AVE A GOODEN.

I love songs that bring out the melancholic and nostalgic sense in me. Music is a way to escape the harshness of the real world. It is also a piece of art that makes you feel in a certain way depending on your frame of mind. Joe Symes & The loving Kind just released their newest single called You’re No Friends of Mine, which is also timely considering that we have experienced losing people in our lives due to religious or political reasons. It is kind soundtrack of regret to those days when we thought relationships would never end but that is life. You have to move on. And you take that piece of your pain and turn it into art so that others may glean at the wisdom of your experience.

Here’s a little bit about the band:

Joe Symes and the Loving Kind are an original three-piece band from Liverpool UK.

They got major support slots from The Blockheads, Dodgy, XTC, Block Party, Alt-J and Starsailor, while their debut album received major raves in the United States. They have an original sound and their music goes down smoothly. The single was recorded At LIPA, Alex Gidman Producing, Mastered at Peter Gabriel’s Solid State Logic Studios April 2017.

To follow were Joe Symes and the Loving Kind, a three-piece band from Liverpool who brought a brilliant layer of scouse charm, upbeat tunes with attitude and a notable instrumental flair – an almost garage-like grittiness to their sound. This is a group that is going places, as having released their debut album, they’ve since played Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds Aftershow Party, featured at a number of festivals and have a second album due late 2017/early 2018.

For a three-piece, this is a group which delivers surprising depth with their drive – and their live instrumentation is particularly effective. The animated and diverse drumming was particularly notable: using a range of textured sticks and techniques to create a swift, semi- psychedelic rhythm. At times the intensity of the beat was at risk of rolling over the vocals, which seemed fairly low in the mix, but thanks to the band’s creative flair, complete with mouth organ (played by Joe Symes himself) and a kazoo-like instrument dropped in by the drummer, their set came together in a high-energy musical mash. This is music with positivity but far from empty, packing a power through confident, captivating bass and the buzz of Syme’s slick guitar playing, which as aforementioned, gives them a garage edge.

This Week’s Featured Band is

Joe Symes and the Loving Kind!

Since The release of their début album, Joe Symes and the Loving Kind have embarked on a non-stop journey across the UK, performing in cities and towns from London to Glasgow.

Taking their self-titled début album in an assault around the country has seen them pick up some major support slots including The Blockheads, Dodgy, XTC, Block Party, Alt-J and Starsailor, as well as hitting the festival circuit.

With the release of the double, A side single ‘Things Get Better/I’m Gonna Find Out Someday,’ the band showcased how they have evolved a heavier sound, but still keeping their distinctive feel found on the first album.

In 2016 the band were asked to play Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds Aftershow Party once again at the 02 Academy Liverpool, as well as featuring on LFC TV (Liverpool Football Club’s official TV station) Bay TV’s Arts Aliveshow, and Radio City Talk (105.9 FM).

Later in the summer they performed at Festivals around the U.K alongside bands such as Dave McCabe (The Zutons), Space, The Farm, The Icicle Works, and The Christians, and being part of the Hillsborough Truth and Justice Delivered Concert at the Royal Court, Liverpool.

This year the boys have been travelling again supporting The Christians to a sell-out crowd at the Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury. Headlining the lovely Theatr Brycheiniog in Brecon, Wales, along with supporting Republica on the main stage of the Liverpool Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon.

Joe and the boys have also commenced work on their long awaited second album being recorded at Peter Gabriel’s Solid State Logic Studios in Oxfordshire, and also at the Motor Museum, Liverpool.

Their second album is due to land in late 2017/early 2018 and has been preceded by the ‘Acoustic Variations E.P,’ released in January 2017, along with the limited edition one-sided single. ‘You’re No Friends Of Mine,’ which landed in May 2017.

Now Joe Symes and the Loving Kind are back with their ‘Acoustic Variations E.P Volume Two‘ released earlier this month. Let me just say, each track warrants its place on the E.P, the songs are richly textured and coupled with Joe’s flawless vocals, the boys have raised the bar with ‘Acoustic Variations E.P Volume Two.’ I can’t wait to see what they do with their second album.

Head over to Joe Symes and the Loving Kind’s website to purchase your copy of their latest E.P. Also check out their Facebook and Twitter page and don’t forget to tell them Pop Culture Pipe Bomb sent you! Be sure to catch this brilliant band on the dates below!