Liverpool Sound City: The Wytches: ‘I Love Liverpool, I Really Do’

‘I love Liverpool, I really do,’ claims The Wytches’ frontman Kristian Bell, when the trio arrive in the city. It was a long, hard trip for the trio though, who were presented with a much longer journey than originally planned…

‘We’ve just been in the van all fucking day!’ drummer Gianni Honey explains in a dingy local pub. ‘Since about 10am, and we got here at about 9pm…’ ‘It should be a four hour journey,’ interjects bassist Dan Rumsey, ‘but it took a couple more…’

‘I had to go collect some cymbals from South Croydon,’ adds Honey, ‘so we had to go through central London and then back up. We didn’t stop! It was pretty hardcore.’

Needless to say, the journey was worth it and their set became a highlight of the opening day, with their brand of surf-doom ensnaring a packed out room late last night. But how do the band themselves enjoy these sorts of festivals? ‘I do like them,’ ponders Honey, ‘but I wish we had a bit more time to soundcheck and stuff like that! But then again, I think everyone thinks like that, but they are quite good.’

Currently in the middle of a rather lengthy tour that’s already seen them support Blood Red Shoes in Europe, as well as Pulled Apart By Horses in the UK, the band are now gearing up to the long-awaited release of their debut album, as recorded as the legendary Toe Rag Studios.

‘I just wanted it to sound scrappy,’ offers Bell, on the band’s aim for their first record. ‘It’s all the first songs and I didn’t wanna try and polish up the first songs of our band. They’re not massively evolved, or big hits or anything like that, so I wanted it complement the songs. Scrappy recording for scrappy songs. I just didn’t want it to sound clean or polished.’

The Wytches also play this year’s Live At Leeds tomorrow (3rd May) at The Mine at 8.45pm.