Page 15 - Black Velvet Rock Magazine - Issue 100

BV100 pg12-15 Those Damn Crows_BV100 pg15 12/03/2019 22:04 Page 4

BlackVelvetMagazine.Com - 15

We’re mates first and musicians second and ince ‘Murder And The Motive’ was re- “Just to give everything live, that’s what
I think that is making a massive difference to Sreleased last year Shane says things we are about at the minute”, he says. “When
where we are now and where we want to go.” have been amazing. “I think since the re-re- we did the album, sonically, it was really
Having told us about how the members lease more people are taking notice of what good. Big production and stuff, probably
of the band have changed we ask Shane we are doing, when we put on a show now bigger than it should have been if we are
about the changes in his home town which it’s not just half full, it’s full. People want to being honest, a bit more glossy, there was
are a big vocal point in the song, and in par- come and see us live which is a testament to more sheen to it; it’s a great-sounding
ticular his comment about music venues the band and what we do live and also radio album. But if you come and see us live it’s a
closing down, we question Shane about how play has been brilliant. We are getting bigger bit more in-your-face, a bit more raw, way
these changes have influenced and im- slots at some pretty decent festivals, every- more energetic, even the speeds of the
pacted the music scene in his local area. thing is just bigger and better really and long songs are slightly quicker, it’s just a massive
“When we were kids we would go to may it continue.” adrenaline rush. So it’s all about playing live
every kind of jam night there was”, he tells As Shane has already mentioned, all of for us. It may not sound like the record but I
Black Velvet. “Every Tuesday and Thursday the topics detailed throughout ‘Murder And don’t think anyone should go to a live show
it was, straight after school we would nip The Motive’ are real to them. The heartfelt and expect it to be just like the record be-
these local places and play. There were ‘Behind These Walls’ boasts thought-pro- cause what would be the point? You are sup-
loads of them around then and there still are, voking lyrics such as ‘I’m taking back con- posed to feel something. You are supposed
but nowhere near as many, and many of the trol of me again, I’m tired of living my life to sing along and get involved and feel the
places left you have to be a certain standard behind these walls’ and the very to-the-point adrenaline pumping; that’s what it’s all
to get up and do stuff, but back in the day ‘it’s time to live again’. Shane tells Black Vel- about, so hopefully when you come and see
anyone could do it. It was just a different vet, “This one is very poignant. The thing is, us live that is what sets us apart and hope-
vibe when we were kids. The music scene when you are the age I am and you’ve got fully that comes across.”
was thriving and that was because the pubs three kids, a wife and you trying to make it And this is perhaps the best advice we
and clubs were open but there aren’t as all fit and make it all work, being a musician, can offer, if you haven’t already, check Those
many these days and it’s a real shame be- being in a band and being away from home, Damn Crows out, ideally live and in the flesh
cause that’s how we grew up. We were play- it’s very tough to make everybody happy and because believe us, if ‘Murder And The Mo-
ing songs with older people, so we were sometimes you have to sacrifice things in tive’ is anything to go by they are perfectly
learning while we were enjoying playing. order to be you. And it can be harsh some- positioned to fly high and in the ‘Blink Of An
“I was walking around my local town the times and you don’t want to hurt anyone, but Eye’ they could be among the UK’s next
other day looking at how many shops are to be you, it’s very important. If I wasn’t a break-out rock stars, proving once and for
now boarded up and it’s a real shame and musician I wouldn’t be me, but it can be re- all that ‘Rock ‘N’ Roll Ain’t Dead’.
these big venues where you would go and ally tough on everybody sometimes. Not
have a drink when you were 18, 19, they’re everyone gets sometimes just how much it Visit www.thosedamncrows.com for
just not there anymore. Apart from this one takes out of your family life. It’s tough.” more info.
place which is a real music venue, I think
there is only one pub left where you get the n ‘The Fighter’ Shane sings ‘You ain’t Words by Michael Coventry
odd classic rock band turn up on a Saturday Iseen nothing like me before’. So what Photos By JulenPhoto
but that’s about it in Bridgend now.” makes Those Damn Crows so special and
why should people go and see them?
THOSE DAMN CROWS