It Matters Radio – They’ve Come To Conquer
They’ve Come To Conquer: a review by Monica Brinkman and Kerry Hall of It Matters Radio.
Maria Savva Interviews…Joe Symes and the Loving Kind
Joe Symes and The Loving Kind’s debut album is a wonderfully eclectic mix of songs. I can hear elements of jazz in some of the songs. The first track is more rock ‘n’ roll influenced, and there are pop and indie-style tunes, too. Although a mix of sounds, the album doesn’t seem disjointed in any way. It’s a quite a mellow record and I enjoyed listening to it. Joe’s voice is perfect for this band’s very original music. My favourite song from the album, at the moment, is the bluesy “A World Out Your Window”.
Hailing from Liverpool there’s no doubt the band will be compared with The Beatles. One thing they definitely have in common is their experimental style. This is a band to watch.
I recently had a chat with Joe Symes (Lead Vocals/Guitar/Harmonica) and Colin White (Drums/Percussion/Backing Vocals).
How did the band get together? Tell us a bit about the band members.
Joe: I was playing acoustic gigs, open mic nights around Liverpool and the North West nearly 7 days a week, sometimes 3 open mic nights on one night. Colin asked me did I want him to play bongos on the gigs I was playing to which I said Yes as it would be great to have him on board; we go back a long way and have the same tastes in music, film, etc. Paul came to the band through a friend who told him we needed a guitarist, and Chris contacted us through an advertisement.
Which bands/musicians would you say have influenced you musically?
Colin: John Densmore from The Doors is the reason I play drums. I think my favourite drummer out now is Daru Jones who plays for Jack White. He’s a power house.
Joe: For me it’s The Beatles, but I listen to a very large range of music, some of which people may not call music? The Beatles were the very reason I wanted to get involved in writing songs and performing.
You released your double-sided single recently “Things Get Better”. Who wrote the songs and what inspired the lyrics?
Joe: I wrote the songs and the lyrics, but overall it’s a team effort. We all work fantastic as a band and get on really well, we work really hard to get things done 🙂
Your debut album was released in 2013. It’s quite diverse in style and has been compared to The Beatles’ White Album. Tell us about the songs on the album and what it was like to write and produce it.
Joe: We are really amazed about the feedback that our debut album has received around the World and in the UK, and on the whole about who has purchased the album including a good few of Hollywood’s finest actors/actresses. Even in the UK a lot of TV Celebs have purchased the album including football players from the premiership. The album was really great to record as we took our time over it and made sure we got everything right, even down to the artwork, everything.
Colin: I can’t wait to do the second album.
I read on your website that you played at Noel Gallagher and The High Flying Birds’ official after-show party. How did that come about and what was it like to play there?
Joe: We were contacted by his promoter asking us would we headline his aftershow party at the 02 Academy 1 in Liverpool to which we said Yes. On the back of that show we got to support Steve Craddock ( Ocean Color Scene/Paul Weller ) at the 02 Academy 2 two months later then support slots with Alt J, Block Party in London. The gigs were awesome and I’m very pleased that we asked to perform at them.
That’s awesome!
What have been some of the other highlights of your time as Joe Symes and the Loving Kind, so far?
Colin: I’m just really proud of the fact that we’re a recognised band worldwide.
Joe: Mine has been touring the UK, meeting very important people in the business and also meeting lots of new people and fans of the band. Their support means so much to us.
You’ve been touring as a band. Do you have any favourite venues that you play?
Joe: The Tabernacle in Wales which is run by Alan McGee (Creation Records Management/Oasis), The Magnet in Liverpool and The Zanzibar, Scala in London, so many venues I just love playing live.
Colin: Yeah, I enjoyed The Tabernacle. The Magnet’s a great venue to play in Liverpool. It has this cool retro vibe to it.
If you could play any venue in the world, which would you choose, and why?
Joe: Wembley Stadium for me 🙂 Madison Square Garden 🙂 So many to mention I’d be here forever.
Colin: Madison Square Garden’s on my list too. I’d also say Red Rocks Stadium.
I understand you’re working on a second album at the moment. How is that going and what can fans expect?
Joe: We have done demos of the new songs at LIPA in Liverpool. the album is complete for songs so we are still in talks about when we are going to release it. “Things Get Better” is the taste of what to expect next from the band, totally different from our debut album, a very heavy sound now as we don’t want to repeat what we did on our debut album.
Colin: Power and volume. Ha! Ha!
Sounds great! I’ll be looking forward to it!
Any tour/gig plans for the rest of 2015?
Colin: Yeah, we’re gonna be mainly in Liverpool for next few months. It’ll give more people here the opportunity to see us instead of travelling.
Joe: Yeah, we are gonna be playing gigs as usual and still promoting the new single which has been greatly received. It was a three week feature on BBC Introducing and was played a few times at Liverpool Football Club’s home games at half time prior to it’s release to over 45,000. Big thanks to George Sephton for the promo.
That’s wonderful promotion!
What are your favourite songs to play live?
Colin: I still love playing “Fallen Down”. It takes on a different vibe live. A new one called “Summer’s Almost Coming” is on the list too, and “Fools Talking” and “Calling Out To You”.
Joe: For me at the moment it’s new songs such as “Long Black Funeral Cars”, “Calling Out To You”, and “Fools Talking”; we have so many songs to choose from.
If you could tour with any other band who would you choose?
Joe: Paul McCartney
Colin: Paul McCartney, The Black Keys, Jack White, The Dead Weather to name a few.
Any other news for your fans?
Joe: You can catch all our up & coming gigs at our website at www.joesymes.co.uk and our band Facebook page . Thank you for all your continued support it means a lot to us.
Thanks, Joe and Colin! Wishing you continued success!
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You can get the band’s debut album on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/joe-symes-and-the-loving-kind/id676228102
While you’re there, pick up the new single, “Things Get Better”: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/things-get-better-single/id1025664052
Stream their music for free on Spotify
The Indiependent Track Review – Things Get Better
‘Things Get Better’ by Joe Symes & the Loving Kind – a four piece hailing from the vibrant musical city of Liverpool – is a high quality sonic construction which you’re going to have in your head for days at a time.
A kaleidoscopic melody – which wouldn’t be out of place on Noel Gallagher’s latest release, Chasing Yesterday, and certainly bears parallels to Liverpudlian icons, The Beatles – is paired with frontman Joe Symes’ drawn out vocals “how am I gonna sleeeep tonight? / I know I don’t treaaat you right”, a trope which is also utilised by the ex-Oasis frontman. The backing vocals – provided by drummer, Colin White – give the track an extra level of substance, whilst the musical interludes – although short but sweet – exemplify the talent of Paul Hetherington (guitar) and Chris Giblin (bass). White’s beat allows the track to maintain its sense of pace and urgency throughout.
The band previously performed at Noel Gallagher and the High Flying Birds’ after show party, and it’s safe to say Joe Symes & the Loving Kind are certainly going to be high flyers themselves very soon, especially if they can carry on releasing music as good as this.
You can keep on top of the band’s projects via their website
Words by Beth Kirkbride
JAMMERZINE EXCLUSIVE: MEET JOE SYMES AND THE LOVING KIND
As I was talking to Joe and Colin from Joe Symes the Loving Kind I began to realize that their style of songwriting and their tastes in music seemlessly transferring itself into their songs can only be explained one way. This is a lesson in songwriting. Usually when you interview a band you get the feeling that you know who the talented one or ones are but in this band it is so easily divided in so many ways. This band would not be the same if one member were replaced or removed. Joe Symes and the Loving Kind are a well oiled machine and that machine is revving up for something big. Listen to the interview for proof of that and also take a listen to their new track “Things Get Better” and you will see that, with this band, they will.
Read More: http://jammerzine.com/jammerzine-exclusive-meet-joe-symes-and-the-loving-kind/
Jammerzine: FIRST LISTEN: JOE SYMES AND THE LOVING KIND – THINGS GET BETTER
About Joe Symes & the Loving Kind and “Things Get Better”:
Since the release of their debut album in 2013, the band have embarked on a non-stop journey all over the UK, performing in cities and towns from London to Glasgow. Taking their self-titled debut on an assault around the country has seen them pick up some major support slots including The Blockheads, Dodgy, XTC, Bloc Party and Alt-J, as well as hitting the Festival circuit, and coming to the attention of Creation Management’s Alan McGee. The album has also been greatly received in America, and had magazine and airplay all over the world.
With the release of their new single, Things Get Better, the band showcase how they have evolved, formed from more increasingly energetic live performances, with a heavier sound, but still keeping their distinctive feel found on the first album. Things Get Better has already begun to attract attention at home and abroad, being featured on BBC Introducing, being played at Anfield (Liverpool FC) on match days, as well as already having some International airplay.