It's almost time for The Great Escape, and artists from all over are packing their bags and getting ready to journey to Brighton.
Neon Waltz have to travel further than most. Hell, the band have to travel far to get to most shows: based in Caithness (the UK's most northerly mainland county, fact fans) the group have become used to huge journeys in their tour van.
To cut through the hours, Neon Waltz like to take some music with them. Set to play the Clash x Great Escape party this Thursday (May 14th), frontman Jordan Shearer gives Clash a taste of what propels their van down the road.
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Michael Head and the Strands – 'Something Like You'
Our good friend from Liverpool 'Big John' turned us on to the album 'The Magical World of The Strands', and that song stands out in a near flawless album. Big John was our van driver on our first ever tour in May 2014 and this song brings back a lot of good memories, so it gets a regular play in the van.
It is one of the most beautiful and well-crafted songs I've ever heard. We even fired an acoustic cover of it on YouTube, and played it live in Manchester and Liverpool with Bill Ryder-Jones joining us on guitar.
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The Byrds – 'You're Still On My Mind'
The one song that whenever we put it on in the van, everyone screams the chorus. “I know what I'll find: AN EMPTY BOTTLE, A BROKEN HEART, AND YOU'RE STILL ON MY MIND!”. Brilliantly country. Simple, and paints a great picture of a pisshead who's been betrayed by his girl.
The Byrds really crossed over from psychedelia to country with the album 'Sweetheart Of The Rodeo'. I'm probably the least appreciative member of the band of country music but even I like this album. 'You Ain't Goin' Nowhere' is another classic
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Captain Beefheart – 'Dropout Boogie'
Another artist that was played a lot on our first tour last May by our mate Big John. 'Dropout Boogie' is surely the maddest and most brilliant tune on 'Safe As Milk'. For some reason the line that always sticks out and is always sung by us in the van is “What about after that?! What about after that?!” – which is followed by one of the most ridiculously brilliant changes in a song I've probably ever heard.
Still sounds fresh and contemporary to this day. One of those mad genius guys that you hear a lot about.
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The Walkmen – 'Seven Years Of Holidays (For Stretch)'
We are all massively into The Walkmen, and regard them a grossly under-rated band compared to some of their New York contemporaries. I picked this song because it seems to be autobiographical of them being on tour and a bit fed up: “7 years of holidays, cafes, bars and sunny days / I've lived in a suitcase for too long.”
Hamilton Leithauser's is definitely one of my favourite vocalists. I feel their lyrics are sung with the emotion that the line deserves. The line “I've travelled so far… I'm done!” is a good example of this.
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Mac DeMarco – 'Ode to Viceroy'
We first heard of Mac DeMarco soon after his second album '2' was released. Since hearing the first chord in 'Ode To Viceroy' slip into the tune Ive been hooked. It's so woozy and for its duration I get completely lost in amongst the song.
A love song to your regular choice of cigarette after a brief fling with another brand that turned out to not be as beautiful as the packet at home: genius. Our drummer Darren and I discovered Mac just when we started making music as Neon Waltz so there is definitely a hint of nostalgia whenever I hear this.
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Timber Timbre – 'Grand Canyon'
Nick Power from The Coral told me to get on Timber Timbre at one of our gigs in Liverpool last year. Since listening to the album 'Hot Dreams' I've been hooked. There's a few from the album that could go in here but this is such a special song. The chords and melody are so simple but so effective.
Timbre Timbre are to music what David Lynch is to film in my eyes, they both paint an incredible picture that is unmistakably dark. I gather this song is about being on a plane and hoping that it crashes… “Before the grand canyon swallows us as we move south. I pray the Grand Canyon take our plane inside its mouth.”
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The Band – 'King Harvest (Has Surely Come)'
The best band ever? Definitely up there. We've all been obsessed with The Band since watching The Last Waltz many moons ago. Like most of the songs we've picked this one tells a very clear story.
Sung in the first person by the legend that is Richard Manuel, the song documents a misfortunate poverty stricken farmer who is struggling to make ends meat. “Hey rainmaker can you hear the call?” is a brilliant line, and sung with the balls it requires from Manuel. A masterpiece of a song.
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Catch Neon Waltz live at the Clash x Great Escape party in Brighton's The Arch venue on May 14th.
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