Joe Symes and the Loving Kind – John Cronin Music Blog

Joe Symes and the Loving Kind – John Cronin Music Blog

These guys are nothing but interesting, he had the honor to play at the after-party for Noel Gallagher‘s tour. He didn’t only play for Noel once, but twice. “I think that was our favorite gig, and the fact that we were asked to do it twice was a big compliment” said drummer Colin White during my interview with him and Joe last week. 

Before finding his mark with this band, Joe and Colin tried their luck with a previous bands that did not turn out to be as successful. “You gotta go through other bands to get to where you want to be” states Colin, which seems to be a common theme for artists that I’ve met that play in all kinds of genres. “We are making an album in Peter Gabriel’s studio” says Joe, and come on how many bands get to do that?
Their tour they say are going well, the show they played before the interview was at a sold-out theater. They have opened for the Christians, and the fans cheered them on for an encore. They’re going to stay local with the rest of tour, and they will be playing their first outdoor gig soon. When asked to compare themselves to other bands, they both simply said “you can’t”.
They said that they have all different type of music like rock, pop, a little country, and a mix of alternative in all of their songs. Colin says “there are songs that sound like rock, and others that sound like dixieland music”.
It was a great pleasure to have the chance to talk to these musicians, and hopefully I will meet them backstage someday in Boston!

The Low Down: Joe Symes & The Loving Kind – Acoustic Variations EP Review

Acoustic Variations EP

After the release of their debut album, Liverpool band Joe Symes & The Loving Kind toured all over the UK performing their material from their self-titled album. They have played some major support slots including Steve Cradock (Ocean Colour Scene/Paul Weller), The Blockheads, Dodgy, XTC, Bloc Party and Alt-J, headlining Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds Aftershow Party. In addition to this they have played the Festival circuit, and have come to the attention of Creation Management’s Alan McGee. Their album was well received in America, with magazine and airplay all over the world.

 ‘SCOUSEDELLIA’ – ALAN MCGEE, CREATION

The release of their last double A side single ‘Things Get Better/I’m Gonna Find Out Someday’, showcased how they have progressed with increasingly energetic live performances and a heavier sound; but still kept their distinctive feel found on the first album. ‘Things Get Better’ attracted attention at home and abroad, BBC Introducing, being played at Anfield (Liverpool Football Club) on match days, and major international airplay.

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 Alive show, and Radio City Talk (105.9 FM). Last summer they performed at festivals around the U.K alongside bands such as Dave McCabe (The Zutons), Space, The Icicle Works, and The Christians, and have commenced work on their long awaited second album which will be released towards the end of 2017; recently working on the album at Peter Gabriel’s Solid State Logic Studios in Oxfordshire.

They recently released their Acoustic Variations EP. Here’s my review of the latest release from Joe Symes & The Loving Kind.

Review

I’m Gonna Find Out Someday – features a gentle acoustic start which picks up the pace before the melodic vocals come in. It has a stripped back sound which is easy on the ear and lovely. It has lyrics such as ‘down in my soul my heart is yearning’, quite a reflective song.

Fine Line – has a fast tempo, husky vocals, cheery strumming of guitars and is a catchy song. It’s a very upbeat tune and I like the percussion, it helps to make it sound very cheerful. It’s very Britpop with good harmonies and a sing a long infectious chorus. I like the ‘live’ sound.

You’re Not Coming Back Tomorrow – the live in the studio sound makes this tune sound quite atmospheric. The song features a sweeping but gentle melody with sway along gentler and softer vocals. It’s a slower paced song but still catchy and infectious nonetheless.

No Turning Back – again has a gentle stripped back start, this song moves along at a slower pace. It’s a melancholy song about love lost and the pain of missing that person with lyrics such as ‘my future is in the past’ and ‘there’s no way forward and there’s no turning back’. It’s an understated and gentle song, easy listening.

This is a really good EP from this talented band from Liverpool. It’s very likeable and easy to listen to. Understated and very well done.

They have some gigs coming up as part of a Spring Mini Tour over the next few months which you can get more details of from their website. Here’s the link to the new EP: Acoustic Variations EP

 

Pop Culture Pipe Bomb Presents: Fresh Music Friday’s Featured Band Joe Symes and the Loving Kind

We have a treat real treat for your ears with this week’s FMF feature, and I am of course talking about, Joe Symes and the Loving Kind!

Joe Symes and the Loving Kind are British three-piece rock band based in Liverpool. The band released their first self-titled debut album in 2013. They then released their double A-side single ‘Things Get Better/I’m Gonna Find Out Some Someday‘. What a brilliant single it is, and I am not the only one that thinks that, with the single getting air time on BBC Introducing and is played at Anfield (Liverpool F.C) on match days. The Boys released a new album ‘Acoustic Variations‘ Ep on the 20th of January 2017, which I will review in the coming days.

Joe Symes and the Loving Kind were asked to play Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds Aftershow Party for a second time at the 02 Academy Liverpool. The band has been playing the UK festival circuit and performed alongside bands such as The Zutons, Space and The Farm just to name a few. The boys were also part of the Hillsborough Truth and Justice Delivered Concert at the Royal Court, London.

The boys are currently hard at work on their long-awaited second album which they are working on at Peter Gabriel’s Solid State Logic Studios in Oxfordshire, which I am told it would be due to drop in late 2017. The first few seconds of listening to ‘Things Get Better’ I was instantly hooked. Their sound reminds me of the classic Australian pub rock I grew up listening too. It’s bold with a massive dose of feel-good and is endlessly playable. The boys are exceptional, and joe’s vocals are perfect. Joe Symes and the Loving Kind’s sound is flawless, and they make it sound so effortless. There is no doubt the guys are exceptionally talented, I love theses guys, and I am looking forward to the release of their second studio album, I have a feeling it’s going to blow us away. The guys were kind enough to take time out of their busy schedule to do our FMF Q&A which you can check out below.

Fresh Music Friday’s Q & A

PCPB: How did Joe Symes and the Loving Kind come together?

 

Joe and the Loving Kind: Joe….We came about after being in various bands in Liverpool that didn’t work out. I had been playing acoustic gigs myself in and around the north-west, and Colin asked if I wanted help in playing the gigs with himself playing bongo’s to which I agreed. Andy joined the band when we needed a bass player and found us on an advert we placed online, and he we are now.

 

Colin….Yeah, feels like so long ago that all that happened, which, it wasn’t really. The band’s done so much in such a short time.
Andy….I met the lads via a website.

 

PCPB: If you could only use three words to describe your sound what three would you use?

 

Andy….Funky rocky loud
Colin….Heavy Rock Pop
Joe.…Loud, Honest & Real.

 

PCPB: You guys have been busy touring the UK and have supported some awesome bands, so what would you say has been your most memorable moment to date?

 

 

Colin….Very difficult to answer really. Kinda spoiled for choice. So many great ones have been, and so many great things are coming up.
Joe….I’ve enjoyed all of the big gigs we have been playing, they were all awesome for me.
Andy….Too many to pick one.

 

PCPB: You have recently released your double A-side single Things Get Better/ I’m Gonna Find Out Someday (brilliant by the way) and about to start working on your second album, what can we expect from this album? Will it be a similar tone to the double A side single?

 

Joe….Things Get Better / I’m Gonna Find Out Someday was out last double A-sided single. It had great reviews from around the world & UK it was also a three week BBC Introducing & BBC 6 Music feature also. Our last release January 20th, 2017 we thought we would do an ‘Acoustic Variations’ Ep to show we can do something that we would not normally do. That Ep also has great reviews from around the world & Uk. The new album will be a very different from our debut album. The songs will be heavier and very catchy, a similar tone to the last double A-sided single.

 

Colin….Oh, yes………and more.

 

Andy….VOLUME!!!!!!!

 

Joe Symes and the Loving Kind are a class act, and I can’t wait to review their latest offering ‘Acoustic Variations’ Ep in the coming days! The guys deserve a spot on your playlist, once you listen to them, you will wonder how you lived without them on your playlist! Check them out. You will find all the links at the bottom of the page.

IndieBlogFest – INTERVIEW: JOE SYMES AND THE LOVING KIND

I spoke to Liverpudlian trio Joe Symes and the Loving Kind, about their favourite gigs and their new album.

Can you introduce yourselves and tell us how you all met?

[Joe]: I’m Joe, Singer/songwriter/harmonica player of the band. Myself & Colin have been friends for many years now and we played in a few different bands in the city, Andy joined the band through an advertisement when we needed a bass player.
[Colin]: I’m Colin the drummer/percussionist and backing vocalist. As Joe said, we’ve know each other for years through previous things we done. We met Andy through an add we put up.
[Andy]: I’m Andy, and I’m the bass player. I met the lads by chance. I found myself between bands, so was looking to get playing quick and found an ad looking  for a bass player urgently. I thought, “That’s a bit of me,” and the rest is history.

Last year you played Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds Aftershow Party, how did that feel ?

[Colin]: Always great to play a venue like the 02. We suit those venues right down to the ground.
[Joe]: Yeah it was awesome to headline the main stage of the 02 Academy 1 again in Liverpool and to be asked play at his aftershow party for a second time.
[Andy]: Yeah, it was good to be involved in it.

Where do you get inspiration for your songs?

[Joe]: The songs come from experience and everyday events for me, sometimes even talking to someone
can trigger off an influence for a song, all kinds of idea’s just come from nowhere.
[Andy]: I couldn’t say really. I play a part that feels right for the song, so I would say me. Ha! Ha!
[Colin]: I always say you are what you eat.

How would you describe your music?

[Andy]: I’d say it was an eclectic mix of styles with a backbone of rock and roll.
[Colin]: Heavy Pop……..well that’s what we’re doing at the moment.
[Joe]: Very honest, we can be very diverse when we need to be, sometimes you would not think we are the same band cause our song writing style changes.

Your new album is coming out later this year, what can we expect from it?

[Joe]: A total departure from our self titled debut album, our first album was an introduction of what we can do
as a band and the range of songs we can present as a band. Our new album will be an out & out rocker. catchy pop songs, melodies & heavy guitar riffs.
[Colin]: As I said, Heavy Pop.
[Andy]: VOLUME!

Who are your musical influences?

[Colin]: My drumming influences are people like John Densmore, Ringo, Art Blakey, Daru Jones, Keith Moon, Mitch Mitchell, Gene Krupa, Phil Collins, Carla Azar, to name a few.
[Andy]: I grew up listening to Guns N Roses, and Pink Floyd to name a few, so I’d say that Duff McKagan and Roger Waters. I know, opposite ends of the scale. A bit like myself. Ha! Ha!
[Joe]: Mine are The Beatles first & foremost, i have loads of band’s i could list from the likes of The Velvet Underground to The Who to Motown through to Burt Bacharach, Sex Pistols, The Jam to name a few.

Where can people find your music?

[Joe]: You can find us at our official website which is www.joesymesandthelovingkind.co.uk where you can find up to date information on up & coming gigs, new releases & up & coming releases, merchandise.
[Colin]: We are also on Facebook, Reverbnation, Youtube.
[Andy]: Twitter, Fit4talent, Gigmit.

You’ve supported some pretty great bands and scored some great events, but what was the greatest gig you’ve ever played?

[Joe]: I’ve enjoyed all the gigs we have played up to now, i’m looking forward to playing many more.
[Colin]: Oooh, that’s a tough one. So many to name.
[Andy]: Phew! There’s been so many. I think Glastonbury or the Whisky A Go Go are in joint top though.
Catch the guys on tour:
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Read Between The Lines: Acoustic Variations E.P

Read Between The Lines: Acoustic Variations E.P

Joe Symes and the Loving Kind, “Acoustic Variations.” This Liverpool-based trio never disappoints. Joe is always spot on and the Liverpool influences flow solidly through his music. He is supported by bandmates Colin White on drums and Andy Cleary on bass. These lads sound just as good acoustic as electric.

“I’m Gonna Find Out Someday” – Influences of 1970s The Beatles shine through in this track. It’s soft and gentle, sweet but not cloying.

“Fine Line” – This song was made to be acoustic. It’s bouncy, sprightly and fun. Joe has a pitch-perfect voice for it too. The kazoo solo is a whimsical touch, keeping the tune from getting too serious.

“You’re Not Coming Back Tomorrow” – A gentle waltz of a song, it glides through the ears softly. This track is steeped in the Liverpool sound.

“No Turning Back” – A lovely little nostalgic tune featuring guitar, keys and bongos. It has a nice retro feel, kind of a late 60s vibe.

You can hear a sampler of the acoustic EP on the website http://joesymesandthelovingkind.co.uk.

You can also find Joe Symes and The Loving Kind on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/joesymesandthelovingkindUK/ and on Twitter at @JoeSymesandTLK. The self-titled album is available at https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/joe-symes-and-the-loving-kind/id676228102.

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