You know how it goes, a friend of a friend of mine toured with The Zuton’s once.
During their UK tour to promote ‘Tired of Hanging Around’, his band was invited to play support to the increasingly adored five piece. Legend has it that in Extel at a venue called The Cavern, after sucking dry their own rider, the eager supporters stumbled upon the Liverpullian’s rider and notice that among other more expected ingredients was stemmed ginger.
“Ever heard a mad Scouser say, “Give us back our stemmed ginger!”? My friend asked, reciting the demand with a retarded twang.
Liverpool’s different to London that’s for sure
No, but I had now, and thought briefly that it was this root that gave The Zutons their explosive live zest.
This yarn came to me the day after CLASH met Sean Payne, the infectiously smiley drummer from Liverpool’s most marvelled ska-boppers, a gent crowned with semi-wet, light brown jheri curls and speaks in a friendly northern tongue. Already having made a celebrated mark on the summer festival season, playing Glastonbury, T in the Park and Oxygen, The Zuton’s might be showing signs of fatigue. Though not a chipper Payne, and not the band either as they bathe in the aftermath of announcing a twenty two date jaunt across the UK starting in November which will have them surf the country in a tour bus in support of their June release ‘You Can Do Anything’.
Indeed, morale must be at an all time high at Camp Zuton, with greater attention lashed at them over the popularity of a jazzed-up ‘Valerie’ courtesy of Mark Ronson and Amy Winehouse (a subject I’m not too bothered to pry into), but then when asked at how happy the band were with their recent record, I’m met with a beaten puppy dog face. The drummer shakes his head,
“We thought we liked it when we were doing the mixes and we had an idea of what we thought should be their and what shouldn’t be there and so when we finished it we really liked it. But we weren’t that confident we didn’t think everyone was going to love it.”
Shame, as ‘You Can Do Anything’ is a fun, hooked filled long player which produced ‘Always Right Behind You’ a pop sensation, bubbling with jackpot winning good vibes and that Zouton-esque, sultry sax courtesy of the fittest brass bandit in town (who happens to also be Payne’s fiancé) Abi Harding. Payne quite often undercuts the band popularity, a trait one might attribute to the humility bred into a Scouser. Indeed, the Liverpudlians might not be the biggest band in the UK, but have sold enough records to warrant a little more esteem. The drummer explains the Northern way,
“Liverpool’s different to London that’s for sure. Everyone makes a joke out of everything really. It’s one of those places where people have a good sense of humour and people talk to you, where in London- people don’t talk to you, unless they’re old. And lonely.”
With such avid affection towards their town, it’s not surprising that the alt-rockers have chosen Liverpool to stage the tour finale, saving their last song for the home crowd and booking the highly prestigious Echo Arena, a twenty thousand plus seater that aims to transport The Zuton’s to the next level in their career. Though it’s a highly ambitious billing, it also seems fitting considering their three records have sold stunningly. So are they expecting big crowds?
“Yeh! Shit loads!” Payne says in jest with a husky chuckle erupting from his mouth before continuing,
“Hopefully the people will fill the holes. I don’t think we are playing anywhere to big for us but you never know,” the drummer modesty returning.
“Liverpool, it’s a big show. It’s kind of pushing it out a bit more to see if we can do it and hopefully people will come and have a good time. It’s such a big gig, it’s the biggest gig we’ve ever done, and you just don’t think you can pull it off!”
So what do they enjoy most about the home crowd?
They’re unrelenting in a way
“They’re unrelenting in a way. If you’re no good, they’ll let you know. But if you are good, they’ll REALLY let you know. If you’re not on form, people will get onto it pretty quick.”
And so with enough time between the end of festival season that will see The Zutons wrap up with Belsonic Festival, V-Festival and Jersey Live, CLASH asks what preparation the band undertake to ensure the punters get their twenty quid worth of POW! which The Zuton’s notoriously deliver each and every time.
“We just rehearse a little bit. Our band is a little bit all over the place we’re not all that focused or together until certain moments and then we just go and do it. It’s just trying to get it so you think it’s going to keep our minds interested playing it live.”
So what is the number one thing to pack for a tour?
“Undies!”
Fair enough!
And finally, what does the jolly drummer miss the most?
“The Kitchen. Getting up and having a cup of coffee in the kitchen or cooking a meal at night, that’s generally one of the only things you can’t do when you are away. You got someone cooking for you or you eat out. I really like seafood pasta but I don’t think I’d make it properly. I don’t have a signature thing but I think I’m quite a good cook. You have to get right into it and build your things up, all your spices and all that. You build it all up and then it all goes off when you go on tour so you have to start again. It’s expensive and a pain in the ass.”
Ah, so this explains the ginger.
The Zutons release new single “What’s Your Problem?” on September 8th.
