Today in Soundbites Tom Meighan states the obvious regarding England’s short snooker-playing holiday to South Africa, there’s groundhog day for Richard Ashcroft, Elbow’s Guy Garvey talks about being away from his day job, we also look at Arcade Fire’s return to the UK, and The View discuss having their hands tied by their record label.
Kasabian’s Tom Meighan has spoken for the nation after claiming the England football team got what was coming to them at the 2010 World Cup. England stumbled into the Last 16 of the tournament before suffering a heavy defeat to Germany, and Meighan told The Sun they “deserved what they got,” and added: “I’ve been watching the World Cup and like everyone else, I’m miserable. If I played football like I did music then we’d be world champions every day of the week.”
Elbow’s Guy Garvey, who has been working with his fellow Mancunians I Am Kloot, has said he has found the experience far more satisfying than his day-to-day life with Elbow. “It’s a lot more satisfying,” he told NME. “John gives a lot of himself lyrically and I do to a degree, not as much as John I don’t think. You don’t have that personal anxiety when it’s someone else’s songs. It’s enormously statisfying. It’s like being in a really cool club.”
Arcade Fire made their UK comeback in London last night, as they gear up for the release of their third album ‘The Suburbs’. The Canadian group mixed new material with firm favourites from their back catalogue, and didn’t miss an opportunity to have a dig at England’s World Cup campaign. “I hear England have a really good chance,” joked frontman Win Butler, before responding to a chorus of boos by saying: “We’re just practising banter for Reading and Leeds!” If they’re not careful the banter could over-shadow the new material…Check out a fan video of ‘Rebellion (Lies)’
Richard Ashcroft has insisted he will not return for another reunion with The Verve, following the band’s latest comeback for a tour and album in 2007-8. He told Shortlist: “I can’t see any reason why, after headlining Glastonbury, headlining Coachella, headlining in Japan and making an album that’s better than 99 per cent of other bands’ albums, The Verve would get back together.”
Scottish band The View have had the release date of their new album delayed, after reports initially suggested the LP could be out this year. Bassist Kieren Webster told the Daily Record the band would like the record out as soon as possible, but revealed their label are insisting on holding back until next year. “We are definitely recording fast enough. We are recording one track a day. It is in their court to bring it out. It’s the wait that annoys me,” he said. “You just want to get the music out but the record company want to hold on to it until next year, so that’s fair enough. And we have been promised a tour at the end of the year.”