Of all the emotions that you expect from a song writing duo, perhaps oddly the last thing you expect when being able to interview them is the injection of humour to come across in every answer, one underscored with patience, resolution, resolve and wonderfully created songs. The humour is perhaps more prevalent in those that have spent their whole lives together, the family value they share, the wicked sense of fun they have when together.
It is with a deep sense of pleasure that the Herron Brothers, Paul and Steven, use this effectively and without cruelty, but then the pair’s music reflects this, a gorgeous sense of timing plays out across the songs, a series of moments in which the listener bows their head in a ritual of thanks and then smiles uncontrollably at the fortune they have had in which to find the music.
Time constraints and personal issues on my part were such that I was unable to physically chat to Paul and Steven ahead of their night at 81 Renshaw Street as part of their acoustic tour this July. Thankfully they agreed to be interviewed electronically, and whilst it was with heavy heart on my part, what comes across more is the sense of the natural voice to which both men lend themselves to the situation.
How did you find the process of recording songs for the new album?
Paul: “Totally different to anything we’ve done before. We had zero budget for this one, as we’re totally broke, so we manufactured our own from blankets and a poly-tunnel, painted our flat wall green for making videos, and borrowed pro equipment from friends in the business.”
Steven: “Because we did it in our flat, it was really relaxed, unfortunately our home-made vocal booth didn’t have air con, so it was also very, very hot.”
You are coming back to Liverpool in July; you must be looking forward to it?
Paul: “We love Liverpool and have been coming to play here in different guises for years. It was the setting for my first ever ‘adult’ holiday when I was younger (we came to the Beatles convention for a week) and we just love the vibe, the river, the venues, the attitude and the accent. The accent is ALMOST as cool as the Northumbrian one!”
Steven: “Always, always, always, Liverpool has always been good to us, deffo (sic) one of my favourite cities.”
The intimate setting of 81 Renshaw Street is one that captures the acoustic heart, is it one that you are conscious of when choosing venues to perform in?
Paul: “Yes, we need a room that is the right size and that is specifically for that show, so when we do quiet parts, you can’t hear old Jim yapping away at the bar about what the local team’s latest line-up issues are!”
Steven: “We like having people’s full attention, and we like talking shit between songs, 81 Renshaw is perfect for those very egotistical things.”
There have always been musical siblings that have combined and driven each other on, is your relationship built on that same, almost tempestuous energy?
Paul: “I think it’s based on a simple understanding of the fact that we both want exactly the same things out of our career, so with that constantly in mind, we can support each other/criticise each other, whatever really, but always with the same goal in mind.”
Steven: “I totally disagree.”
The next ones, as an E.P. name, has a cyclic ring to it, a continuation, was that very much in your mind after the critical success you deservedly received in The Last ones?
Paul: “One hundred percent it is carrying on from the last album. If the last album was a car going on holiday, this E.P. is the caravan on the back of it!”
Steven: “It makes coming up with a name for the next album very problematic.”
You have supported the likes of Toploader and The Blue Tones, that must have been an intense experience?
Paul: “We supported them as our full band and it was brilliant, but financially we couldn’t make a full band work for everyone. We are desperate to get back to a full band show because we know exactly what we want that band to sound and play like and we think it could be the best band people have heard in a long time. But finances and our reach as a musical entity will have to grow for us to get back to that point.”
Steven: “Toploader were very lovely people, very easy to get on with, and as a massive Bluetones and Chas & Dave fan, I got to see The Bluetones covering Aint no pleasing you in soundcheck. It was mega.”
Your support on the night is the excellent Paul Dunbar, how did you meet or come to hear of him?
Paul: “We played with him in the round last time we played at 81 Renshaw, he’s a crackin’ lad with a huge voice and great songs.”
Steven: “Friend of a friend, who is now hopefully our friend.”
Who got you into performing acoustically?
Paul: “Paul Simon.”
Steven: “Back in the day, I used to watch Crowded House and R.E.M.’s MTV unplugged performances all the time, I still do. REM doing Fall On Me is one of the greatest things ever.”
What has been the highlight so far?
Paul: “Give me a few weeks and I’ll get back to you, I have a problem with thinking backwards, I can only focus on the future. I genuinely draw a blank with that question.”
Steven: “When Paul remembered the lyrics to the new songs, it’s so rare!”
The tour is double the length of last years, how do you see that evolving in the future?
Paul: “As we’re doing twice as many shows, we can look back on the ones that we’ve done (as we did with the last tour) and see which venues worked for us and go back to them, and we’ll know also which places/people/events to stay well clear of!”
Steven: “In 12 years we’ll be doing it all year round, we’ll also be very tired.”
The Herron Brothers will be performing at 81 Renshaw Street, Liverpool on Thursday 18th July. Tickets are priced at £5. Support will be Liverpool’s Paul Dunbar.