In an interview with the Live4ever last winter, ex Seahorses and Yards frontman/songwriter Chris Helme discussed getting ready to release his new single, writing material for his new album and looking forward to hitting the road again.
While the new album is still to be released, his UK tour is now well underway, and Live4ever was in attendance for one of these dates, at a converted church in Scunthorpe.
After a night of classic tunes such as ‘Blinded by the Sun‘ ‘Love is the Law‘ and his more recent release, ‘Pleased‘, together with the beautifully crafted Yards favourite ‘Fire Flies‘, whose emotional tone echoed and resonated within the church’s tall ceiling, which contributed to a true performance in every sense, we sat down with Chris to talk through his thoughts on the tour so far, and the delays which have affected his new album.
Really enjoyed the gig tonight Chris. The Seahorses songs sounded as great as ever, as do your newer tunes like ‘Pleased’. Is this tour for the new album then, and what’s the reaction been like to the newer material?
(Laughs) The album’s not out yet, September’s when it’s due, but I have been
road-testing the new tunes and playing the older stuff along side it, and the reaction has been really good, considering most folk are usually shitfaced by the time i get on. I just have to gauge the crowd to see what mood they’re in and give them what they want and hopefully what they’ll like.
…and what did you think to tonight’s show here at The Light, a renovated church and now bar/venue?
Churches are great performance spaces, they’re designed for people who
insist on mouthing off about a load of old bollocks, so it only seems natural to convert them into venues for vain musicians like myself with God complexes and overblown egos. Only kidding, but they are fun to be in and play in. Not so sure about the Devil with the Union Jack flag in his hand above the bar, though. That’s just fucked up. I much preferred the miserable chap nailed on a cross wearing an adult nappy. Odd how that seems more appropriate…
I notice this UK tour started in July and actually winds up in December, which sees you taking in the smaller towns, this tour will take you all the way up to Christmas then?
Well, I just keep playing and writing and recording, so it’s been pretty constant for about three years. I love it though and I start going a bit stir crazy if I’m not out and about playing. It’s a bit lonely, but I find folk are nicer to you when you are on your own, maybe it’s a pity thing. Or maybe full bands can be a bit intimidating and cocoonish.
Your hooking up with ex Bluetone frontman Mark Morrison on this tour aren’t you, do you think you two will play a few numbers together?
I reckon so. It’d be rude not to. Mark’s into similar music so we could do some Everly Brothers or something. That’s going to be a lot of fun, that part of the tour. First proper gig I ever went to was Supergrass and The Bluetones at The Duchess of York in the early 90s. He’s a great bloke too; a very very funny man.
When Live4ever talked to you last winter you were getting ready to put the single out and looking to playing abroad with your then new line up, how did it all go?
It all went really good, but I ended up going to the Dales for a week to record the album with the band and I’ve being fannying around with them and the album ever since. I’m too fucking precious sometimes, and I really love the vibe of the whole thing so I should just release the damn thing. Playing abroad was fun, especially Italy. Last time I played Italy was with Oasis – how time flies when your having fun.
I got the feeling tonight you still really enjoy getting up there and playing, your live show is a really great night out and not just for the tunes but the banter as well, would you agree?
You’re right, I do love it. It’s funny doing the Seahorses stuff. I always knew there were some songs hidden under all those backing vocals and guitars, so stripping them back is quite liberating and I guess that comes across to the audience. They sing The Yards stuff and the solo stuff too, which is always rewarding and also means people are paying attention and moving on.
As far as banter is concerned, that whole fear disguised as enigma complex defence mechanism bullshit is way too draining. It’s supposed to be fun being up there and it beats having a proper job, so I just pretend I’m in my living room with my mates and the atmosphere suddenly relaxes. I guess people would think i was up my own arse if i didn’t have a bit of natter to them. And they’d be right.
(Carl Stanley)
For all the latest Chris Helm news, visit his Myspace and Facebook pages.
UK Tour Schedule:
9th July – The Lime Cafe, St Pauls Church Worthing
15th July – City Screen Basement Bar, York
29th July – The Light, Scunthorpe
12 Aug – Bar Solo, Camden
18 Aug – Cafe Continental, Gourock
19 Aug – Dirty Martini’s, Kilmarnock
20 Aug – Riverside, Newcastle
27 Aug- Mychoones Fest, Matlock (2pm)
27 Aug – The Galtres Festival, Craike, York (Full band 7:30pm)
28th – The Galtres Festival, Craike, York (acoustic set)
02 Sep – The Clarendon, Hartlepool
03 Sept – The Market, Worsop
09 Sept – The Junction Inn, Oldham
10 Sept – Tapped Up, Brooklands Tap, Sale
16 Sept – Whitehaven Civic, Whitehaven
17 Sept – The Duchess York, Supporting Karima Francis
24 Sept @ The Attic – Bathgate
1 Oct @ 7even Bar – Sunderland
07 Oct – Club Uniquity, Sommerleyton
09 Oct – Harrogate Theatre with Roddy Woomble of Idlewilde
14 Oct – 02 Academy 3 Birmingham
15 Oct – Indy Jaxx, Hemel Hempstead
4 Nov – KU Bar, Stockton
05 Nov – Old Brown Jug, Newcastle Under Lyme
10 Nov – Stereo, York with Mark Morriss
11 Nov – Strauns Bar, Rothsay with Mark Morriss
12 Nov – Backstairs, Wick with Mark Morriss
13 Nov – Dukes Corner, Dundee with Mark Morriss
26 Nov – Fenzi, Wrexham with Mark Morriss
03 Dec – The Well, Leeds
09 Dec – The Bull, Colchester
