I was sitting in a small room in the Louisiana, Bristol with Clean Cut Kid, set to support Fickle Friends. Only a small band at the time, the band were aiming to bring their scouse charm to forefront the music scene. After catching their set, I was adamant I had found a goldmine after listening to Mike Halls distinctive voice combined with their feel good, electronic and riffy sound. Now, 9 months later we are sitting in a similar room with Saul (bass), but this time, at the 02 academy in Bristol, with the band set to support the Courteeners after a whirlwind year full of festivals, headline tours, numerous TV appearances and endless single releases.
Evidently, the band have been through an overwhelming and rapid year, with their musical success moving faster than the speed of light, the band have seriously foregrounded themselves as an established band all in less than a year ÔÇ£ItÔÇÖs been such a fast year, itÔÇÖs really taken off. WeÔÇÖve done 23 festivals and four or five tours, I canÔÇÖt believe the luck reallyÔÇØ. With such a hectic year, Glastonbury was inevitably the highpoint for Clean Cut Kid ÔÇ£Everybody would say Glastonbury. WeÔÇÖve all loved every element of the recording and stuff but coming out and seeing the tent. ItÔÇÖs like, everyoneÔÇÖs been waiting ten years to play it, and the whole tent was fullÔÇØ. The band played on the Williams Green Stage, ÔÇ£The 1975 played there last year and so did Blossoms, it is one know to be the big step up”. Suggesting, that the band are only going to get bigger and go further from here.
However, another highlight must have been their highly successful headline tour, with the band building up their following date by date ÔÇ£You can tell how the gigs make such a difference, people would be saying oh it is the third time we are seeing you on this tour. They are following us around the UK and per gig, by the end of the tour it is just madÔÇØ. Here at Quench, we were lucky enough to catch Clean Cut Kid on their headline tour at the Louisiana, Bristol on the 24th of October. On this tour, there appeared to be a more acoustic twist, with Mike often bringing it down with a slightly mellower take on their music ÔÇ£We wanted to show what the album is going to like. It is just a big mix of loads of different stylesÔÇØ. With an essence of a debut album looming, Saul mentions ÔÇ£ItÔÇÖs gonna be early next year, weÔÇÖre just finishing it off at the end of this year.ÔÇØ However, with Mike Halls being a song writing enthusiast, Saul mentions that the scope for songs which could be seen as album worthy is never-ending ÔÇ£I donÔÇÖt even know if all the singles will be on the album. Mike has got around 200 songs. WeÔÇÖve recorded about 20 songs so there will definitely have to be a deluxe album.ÔÇØ
One thing that is intriguing about Clean Cut Kid, is their enthusiasm for what they are doing. This shines through for their appreciation for the people that they meet and entwine with when touring. Whilst interviewing Saul, the rest of the band were signing a set list personally addressed to two Bristolian fans who were waiting outside in the cold. Previously meeting them on another tour, the band would later go and visit them especially to show their appreciation for their dedicated fans; a rarity for a high in demand band. From fans to journalists and more, you can see the band show a genuine interest for the people that support them, an aspect which gives the band a particular character. For me, I found this as Saul remembered my hometown from our previous interview, nine months before, commenting on the reception and venue at CoventryÔÇÖs Kasbah gig ÔÇ£The whole place was amazing, and it was hugeÔÇØ. Their enthusiasm and gratefulness is evident and they never fail to convey this as a band.
As the interview proceeds, drummer Ross joins us as we talk about what it has been like finishing the year with a UK tour with the Courteeners. As Ross laughs ÔÇ£ItÔÇÖs like woah, lads on tourÔÇØ. With Courteeners differentiating from the bands Clean Cut Kid have previously been on tour with, the crowds presence must have come as quite a shock to the band, with a jump from a fun, young and receptive audience to a more older, mod-like, football hooligan crowd, it makes you question, will this type of crowd respond to the bands innovative music positively? However, Saul highlights the mix of the gig goers ÔÇ£We played here a year ago with Circa Waves and the first three rows of Courteeners actually look like the Circa Waves fans and as it goes back it goes more into football fansÔÇØ. However, being on tour with such a legendary band with such a significant and particular type of crowd have given Clean Cut Kid some enlightening experiences ÔÇ£In London everyone was on shoulders, knowing had their top on and pint glasses were going everywhere. We were watching in the VIP bit scared for our livesÔÇØ. Of course, hanging out in the VIP area, safety wasnÔÇÖt the only thing to find, as Saul talks about how they got to chat to the family of Courteeners ÔÇ£It was cool as we met the bands brothers and family and they had told us about how they had given The Stone Roses a tape before they had started out so when they supported The Stone Roses this year at The Etihad, he was crying.ÔÇØ However, this particular tour must have offered a significant step up for the band, reaching out to a wider and specific audience they may not have reached. ÔÇ£It has helped. After the London gig the Twitter went up by 300ÔÇØ. Not only that, but it has given Clean Cut Kid their first opportunity to appear on arena stage with the tour heading to the like of the Echo Arena in Liverpool and GlasgowÔÇÖs Hydro Arena ÔÇ£IÔÇÖm excited me, the more people youÔÇÖve got, the vibe is times 13,000ÔÇØ.
Of course, being in Bristol, with the band having a significant fan base there, we had to ask what the band love so much about returning to Bristol ÔÇ£ItÔÇÖs definitely one of my favourite places to play because there is a big fan base. In Bristol people come for the live music. In London it is like half the people are there to go see live music and half are to go clubbing. But in Bristol, everybody just wants to go see the music.ÔÇØ As Ross chips in ÔÇ£We love the Louisiana and playing thereÔÇØ.
Now finished with their tour with Courteeners, we must question, where will we be able to get our doses of Clean Cut Kid? Fear not boys and girls as Saul teasedÔǪ ÔÇ£We are realising a single before we release the album, nobody would have ever heard it before as we have never played it on tour and it is very much a secret and is very upbeat and funÔÇØ. But to keep us occupied in the meantime, here is ÔÇÿ’Make Believe’┬áwhich came out on Vinyl Friday!