Features The Maccabees

Stumbling into a slightly drunk lead singer of The Maccabees was almost too good an opportunity to miss out on, so as Orlando scouted out a drink and a quick rest after their set, we mill about trying to collect our collective selves and think up quick questions to ask him.

Settling himself down on the back of a van behind the main stage as we cluster around we find out how their set had gone. ‘It was amazing - we didn’t manage to play all the new stuff we wanted to but the reaction from the crowd was one of the best we’ve seen!’ This, just to verify, is absolutely true; with a crowd stretching back for ages and, as ‘First Love’ starts up, a mass of hands waved in the air, joined together to make a love heart shape. The crowd lap up every second of the Maccabees set, showing their prowess as a live band. Songs like ‘Latchmere’ and ‘About Your Dress’ prove that you can make people dance as it is starting to rain, even though you’re squashed between ten other people who are much taller than you. On the flip side ‘Toothpaste Kisses’ and ‘Precious Time’ illustrate they can write tender songs too, prompting mass hand waving and the restrained yet evident urge to get out a lighter.

That sort of thing must be amazing to witness and to create? ‘I couldn’t get over it!’ Also embarking on a new album must be nerve-wracking; ‘It’s going slowly but really well actually, my favourite song we’ve written doesn’t have a name yet but its pretty good- a bit different from our previous stuff…’

Here we all pitch in quite a few suggestions for what to name their new song, ‘You choose,’ Orlando says with a dip of his head as Guy jumps in with ‘Name it ‘Guys Song’’. Despite this horrendous self promotion Orlando nods thoughtfully ‘Actually yeah, since it is a song about guys and girls too!’

We chat a bit about their next album which is set to be finished off very soon, ‘I do all the artwork - I took art at University, although mainly to say I had a degree in something. I ended up majoring in Illustration, that’s not very useful is it? Also you’ll have to excuse my being a little drunk - it’s my birthday today!’

At this mention of impending celebration there is nearly a standing ovation which quietens to a much cooler ‘Oh yeah? Happy Birthday’ from all assembled! At this a very important question is raised in the direction of Forrest ‘Would you be the Sid to my Nancy?’ quips Orlando, to which runs a myriad of other couples culminating in ‘the Tom Cruise to my Katie Holmes’. Surely the best chat up line ever?

Guy Purssell & Jade French