Page 19 - Black Velvet Issue 95

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says, “I don’t see the point in writing really neg-
ative stuff. It’s good to use music as an outlet
and to help you deal with some issues and stuff
and hope that it helps other people deal with
some issues. The message in all of our songs
is pretty much a positive message. I think that’s
one of Gus’s ammos, and I think that’s why a lot
of people attach themselves to a lot of his
lyrics.”
With a lot of touring and hard work, the
band have earned the devotion of their fans.
“We do work hard as a band,” says Si. “Up until
the start of this year, we’ve been on the road
continuously for the past ten years, really.
We’ve sacrificed and dedicated our lives to
music. Luckily, we’ve toured the world and tried
to go to new places. We’re one of those bands
that it comes natural to us and we think it’s right
to play the shows and meet as many people as
possible, to interact with the fans as much as
we can. So I feel that we do earn their devotion.
We work hard and we try and do as much as
we can for the fans, so hopefully they appreci-
ate that.”
“We’re all pretty humble people,” says
John. “It definitely feels weird. We don’t feel any We thought that would be a good opportunity to pushing themselves. Their work ethic is really in-
different from any of the people in the audience. give the fans a bit of what they want.” spiring. I’m going to adapt that and apply it to our
I especially feel like that when we’re out there “The great thing about it is that it really takes own situation and hopefully that will progress us
doing meet and greets. I’m never going to get the edge off the live show. It’s really nice to go forward’. Yeah, definitely peers and people
rid of my humbleness. It sounds arrogant saying out there and mingle with people and know the around us, supporting us. It all contributes to
that, but…” people that are in the room before you actually that feeling.”
“I don’t think we can be any other way,” adds step out on stage. It makes you feel way more On the subject of inspiration – we’re curious
Si. comfortable on stage, I find anyway. So, it’s ac- to know what has been inspiring the songs
“You’re just a person in a band writing tually a win-win for everyone,” adds John. they’ve written so far for the next album. John
music. It’s unfortunate there’s a barrier in the says, “For me, sitting alone in my house, not
way between you and the crowd. I just feel like n ‘Careful What You Wish For’, Gustav touring. I hate not touring. I hate not being in-
I’m one of those people anyway. We’re just look- Isings, ‘You inspire me to get higher’. Who volved in music. We’ve had a little down period
ing in the other direction.” has inspired Simon and John to go higher and now and everyone’s doing full-time jobs again. I
Si tells us about some of their most devoted reach for their dreams? John thinks it’s their don’t wanna do that. All I’ve ever wanted to be
fans – one of whom had brought him one of the peers. “There’s a really strong scene that we is someone in a band. It keeps me hungry, so…
first vinyl pressings of Michael Jackson’s grew up with here. All our friends’ bands around a lot of the songs, a lot of them are kind of angry
‘Thriller’ album to the Birmingham meet and us; we’ve all grown at the same time. Some con- and bitter about feeling like that. But they also
greet. tinue to grow more than others and it makes you have that feeling of hunger and motivation. I
“We are very lucky in that we have quite a hungry for it. A little bit of healthy competition think that’s probably going to be a theme on the
few devoted fans that have been there from the from your peers is always good, I think.” new record.”
beginning. I don’t know where their money “It is easy to compare, but you do, don’t We’re excited to hear the new record – and
comes from, but when we do a tour they come you?” adds Si. “You always kind of compare we hope that it’s an album that gets the band
to every single show. If we are doing acoustic your progress and the rate that you’re progress- back out doing what they love: being on the road
stuff, they’ll come to these. You can tell when ing with the people that you respect. Sometimes continuously. They definitely deserve it.
they come and see you, they want to talk to you it’s not a good thing to compare, because every-
and find out how you’ve been and everything one’s on their own journey. But when you’re Visit www.weareyoungguns.com for more
else. It’s amazing how someone can be that in- comparing yourselves to the people that inspire info.
terested in someone… because I guess I was you, or that you respect, they’re the ones that Words By Shari Black Velvet
never expecting that. It’s very flattering and it al- push you. It’s how you use that as a motivation. Photos By Fraser Taylor
ways blows my mind every time. After a while, It’s okay to kind of compare a little bit. `They’re
you do see the same people coming back to
the shows. So now we’ve got a good core of
loyal fans that come to a lot of our shows. We
had a fan coming from Brazil and one from
Japan yesterday, which was nuts.”
he High Wycombe band chose to do
Tacoustic matinee performances before
their main shows in September to make the
most out of the tour, which was only six dates.
“I feel like we’ve been away,” says John.
Their previous tour was in March. “We really
just wanted to make the most out of it. And
we’ve always really liked doing acoustic per-
formances, but we’ve never really arranged a
full tour to do it or a venue to do it at, so we
thought, while we’re on the road, why not do
two shows in one day?”
“And they tend to go down pretty well, don’t
they?” says Si. “Every time we’ve done
acoustic sessions in the past they always go
down well with the fan base. They’re always
telling us that they want us to do more of these,
so we thought, like John said, it’s a six-day
thing; we wanted to do as much as possible.
YOUNG GUNS