BEY – Tell us about yourself. How did you get to be where you are Today?

JS&TLK – Me (Colin White – Drums/Backing Vocals/Percussion) and Joe (Joe Symes – Vocals/Guitar/Harmonica) have known each other for many years. When our two previous bands folded – and during a time when Joe had started doing solo acoustic gigs, I asked if he needed some drums playing in the studio, and some percussion live; the answer to both being yes. After a short time, we decided to expand what we were doing into a full band by adding Alan Welsh on bass, who Joe had worked with in the past. Two albums, two stand-alone singles, and an EP later, we’ve had major exposure all around the world, with people from all different countries loving our music. That was what we wanted from the beginning. To get ourselves out there to as many people as possible; and that’s still growing even as we speak.

BEY – Have you ever been fired?

JS&TLK – Or to use the English term “Sacked.” No, I don’t believe any of us have been fired/sacked.

BEY – What are your real passions?

JS&TLK – Making music, and playing music that appeals to a wide audience, and uplifts people. We want people to listen to our albums/singles/EP’s, also come to our gigs, and leave having enjoyed themselves, which – to our delight – they have so far. The last thing we would want is people to hear your music or come to our gigs and be miserable.

BEY – If you won the lottery, what would you do?

JS&TLK – Buy our own studio, perhaps. The nice thought about that is you could go there anytime you wanted for how long you wanted without being against the clock.

BEY – What do you do to help others be their best?

JS&TLK – Encourage them as much as you can. If they have flaws, allow them to realize that – but not in a nasty way – so they can learn from them, and head in the right direction, so their talents/abilities can grow.

BEY – How do you help yourself to be the best you can be?

JS&TLK – Avoid negative people. We all come across them in life; individuals who try to put you down mostly out of bitterness. The best thing to do is keep as far away from those people. Then your self-belief can truly blossom.

BEY – What do you like to do in your personal life?

JS&TLK – I (Joe) like gardening. I find it very therapeutic. Colin writes his stories, and Alan likes playing golf.

BEY – What do you hope to accomplish in the future?

JS&TLK – To keep on building our audience, and make more music. We’re currently working on our third album, which we’re very excited about. The term “The Difficult Third Album” gets used at this time in a bands career, but so far, the process has been very smooth. All the songs are written, and we have a very clear direction on where it’s going. That will be released in 2023, so stay tuned.

BEY – What is a book or two that you recommend?

JS&TLK – Steppenwolf by Hermann Hesse comes to mind. Being creative people, you sometimes feel like an outsider to the rest of the world; like you don’t fit in with things, and there are definitely elements of that in Hesse’s novel. A heavy read, but a good recommendation.

BEY – Please give us one or two shameless plugs?

JS&TLK – The brand-new video to the title track from our latest EP A Place to Call Our Own is now available to watch on our YouTube channel, and TikTok page. The links you will find at the end of this article. Also, the EP is available internationally in CD and download from our website. The link will also be below.

BEY – What are some of your favorites (books, websites, etc.)?

JS&TLK – Steppenwolf by Hermann Hesse, which we mentioned before. Anything by Edgar Allan Poe, Steve Diggle’s autobiography Harmony in my Head is an enjoyable read too. So many others to mention.

BEY – Why do you do what you do?

JS&TLK – We enjoy it. It’s who we are.

BEY – What are a few of your goals?

JS&TLK – I think we’re accomplishing them with each thing we do. Like we said before, continue to make music, and make our audience bigger and bigger. Doing a film soundtrack would be nice. We haven’t done that yet.

BEY – What do the words “best ever you” mean to you?

JS&TLK – Believing in yourself, so all your strongest qualities can all come fully to the surface, and not letting anyone prevent you from doing so.

More About Joe Symes and the Loving Kind

Joe Symes and the Loving Kind are a three-piece rock band from Liverpool, UK. Before lockdown, the band had finished a two-and-a-half-year tour across the UK and parts of Europe in promotion of the critically acclaimed second album Phase II: an album that gained airplay on radio stations all over the world, as well as reviews, magazine interviews, and endorsements by celebrities from the world of show business. Their latest EP “A Place to Call Our Own” – released in 2022 – has also received worldwide acclaim, and from the Summer available to purchase in HMV stores across the north west of England, with the band performing acoustically in said stores to enthusiastic crowds, who have given astounding responses. The first batch of CD’s even sold out halfway through the performances, with a second batch going on shelves immediately. In October, an animated promo video of the EP title track was released on their YouTube channel and TikTok with amazing feedback. The title track of the EP also recently reached number 8 in the national 365 Radio Top 30 charts, based in London climbing higher than such artists as Florence and the Machine, Liam Gallagher, Jack White, White Lies, and Ed Sheeran to name several, and remained in the top 20 for five weeks.

Connect: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hg3fvMWSV4o​

https://joesymesandthelovingkind.co.uk/

JOE SYMES AND THE LOVING KIND
A PLACE TO CALL OUR OWN
TRULY INDEPENDENT RECORDS

Joe Symes and the Loving Kind are a three-piece rock band out of Liverpool, UK. Over the past few years, they have been releasing music and touring relentlessly. Using the past few years as an opportunity to record, they released the four-song EP, A Place To Call Our Own, in March of 2022.

The leadoff title track, “A Place To Call Our Own”, is a sweet slice of power pop, complete with jangly guitars, punchy bass, and wistful harmonies. Tight playing, solid song writing and creative production warrant repeated spins for this track. The remaining songs on the EP benefit from the same production qualities, with “It’s All Make Believe” being an obvious standout track. The production is full, and there are a couple of surprises here, such as a nice turn in the bridge and the short instrumental which follows. This tune really rocks.

Aural tags abound here, but one can hear traces of The Byrds and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, as well as that other band from Liverpool.

Joe Symes and the Loving Kind are a true rock band, and the elements of guitar, bass and drums are key to this outfit. On a short, four-song release, that instrumentation lends itself to a sort of repetitive sameness from track to track. The band is working on a full album release for 2023, and it will be interesting to hear how they expand their sound on a long play recording. While we wait for that release, this EP is worth checking out.

Joe Symes and the Loving Kind have released their new video for the song titled ‘A Place To Call Our Own’. Animated by Jonathan Dolan, we get a perfectly matched blend of originality and stylized branding with this video. Creating a snarky visualizer for an already catchy song, ‘A Place To Call Our Own’ becomes a heartwarming catch of a hook-laden track that encapsulates the viewer and gives them something to carry with them for the rest of the day.

It took me a while to write about my decent observation/reaction about this new EP but I will soldier on. I am talking about the A Place to Call Our Own by Liverpool’s Joe Symes and the Loving Kind. So the music was just sitting there waiting for its time to be heard. And the surprise was all worth it. Remember, I wrote something about them a few years ago. I was struck by their sense of melody, harmony and that unique vibe that they can call their own. Is the title a nod to their native place? Perhaps it is. Or maybe it is up to the listeners to create their own story based on the imagery of each song.

The subjects deal about everyday life, relationships, nostalgia, and how life moves on in the midst of chaos and resolution. I notice a hint of Teenage Fan Club and Travis there but perhaps this is normal ion a band that is known to record memorable melodic songs. Their musical career spans a few years and they have grown better with each release. Even Joe’s singing has attained that depth of expression which is sweet, ironic and also sad at times. But if there is one word that defines this release it’s FUN. Yes! With somewhere around half an hour, you have songs that make you get off your feet, smile and supercharge your day. The energy and optimism is all over the second track Follow You. I love how the drums roll with such insistent glee.

Other songs are worth your ears if you are a big fan of Oasis, The Beatles and even The Smiths. There is that spoonful of Johnny Marr in It’s All Make Believe. There is no dull moment in A place To Call Our Own. When you find yourself struggling on a bad day, I suggest you pop this up and see how the mood changes. Music is there to uplift us when we are down. This is something that Joey Symes and the Loving Kind always deliver!

Joe Symes & The Loving Kind

A Place To Call Our Own

Truly Independent Records

CD | DL available now here

Three piece rock band from Liverpool, Joe Symes & The Loving Kind are making waves on the scene at the moment with their own brand of Scouseadelia. This new EP shows that they mean the business after their second album Phase II got the attention of the likes of Alan McGee, Janice Long and a certain Noel Gallagher. Wayne AF Carey lets guest writer Karl Hildebrandt take over to explain…

“Ladies and gentlefolk, I’d like to introduce you to Joe Symes And The Loving Kind. I received the advance copy of this a bit back. It’s been on repeat. Literally on repeat. Something inherently Scouse about the four tracks on this EP. Yet, global. Global in the sense that you can hear the melody from a mile off and the band are tight as cramp. Like a fresh pair of socks or that feeling you get when you turn your pillow over in the middle of the night; a gorgeous lilting cacophony of straight forward balls out Scouseadelica. All four tracks scream with melody and that nagging feeling you are familiar with it; from somewhere. Somewhere that draws you in to the tune. And it does.

I’ve known of the band for a few years and always enjoyed their stuff. Yet this EP lifts them up to another level. Title track screams it’s influences in a whisper. Follow You does what it
says on the tin. All Make Believe has that feeling you’ve heard it before; yet fresher than a Covid positive test without the symptoms and closing track Say You’re Gonna Be Mine just stamps Liverpool all over itself. Music, to me, is all about those little tickles of influence.
Those shadowy corners that create melody that are in corners of your brain and manifest themselves when they all fall in to place as a song. This EP highlights a band on a trajectory of grooves and words that we all know and adore, yet they are daisy fresh and I for one am looking forward to what ever else they are currently creating. Find out more about the band here and buy the EP. Catch them whilst you can. Proper. x

Tour dates available on their Website and Facebook below.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

Foreword by Wayne Carey, Reviews Editor for Louder Than War. His author profile is here

Wayne Carey

I’m a music nut from North Manchester residing in Northwich. If it’s good I’m on it. Most genres covered but mainly alternative post punk indie with a love for all things psych. A big supporter of the grass roots scene and tiny venues.