One of our finest local songwriters makes a welcome return, as Sam Smith (not that one. Silly) is back with his new band, The Parish Church Fire, following the breakup of Sam Smith and Company.
Sam returns with a 5-piece full band line up that's been five years in the making, and now the studio project is honed and ready to go. The Parish Church Fire made an impressive debut at Strummercamp Festival and the band soon followed it up with a sell-out show at The Eagle Inn. They seem to have the bit between their teeth; I had a chat with an inspired Sam...
What have you been up to lately?
"Just battening down the hatches really and getting everything ready for the gigs. Unlike Sam Smith and Company, there's an element of production value in this live show which has taken rehearsals up a serious notch. So things you'd never even think of rehearsing normally, like which mic will be on the piano and which mic will be centre stage, but also changeovers and stuff. That and the usual band related activities really.
"We've only released a single so far but we've actually recorded quite a bit of material this year. It's now about recording more and picking the right time to polish those tracks up and choosing the right release time once the gigs are done."
What currently inspires you?
"All kinds of everything, the people around me - friends and family - inspire me greatly. In musical terms, seeing other bands go from grassroots do well has been a revelation. There's been a real resurgence in punk rock recently too which has sprung me to life."
How does the new band differ from your previous work?
"The old band was a 'balls out rocking play it safe' kind of band. I decided I didn't want that anymore towards the end of Sam Smith and Company and started writing more intricate arrangements and started incorporating piano into pretty much everything. Two guitars, one bass, one drum is a tried and tested formula and it works, but it's one I'd done to death and I wanted to challenge myself. It's a shame it took me so long to get it off the ground but here we are in 2019!"
What are plans for the band?
"We will be recording with a view to putting out something more than just a single. What that ends up being depends on how happy we are with the recordings really. The key for me now is that keep this band and all of my other projects going. We need momentum after a few barren years..."
Catch a great band as they embark on a new, creative chapter on October 3rd at Rebellion.
Alternatively, get along to their headline show at Gullivers on 25th October with Bouquet of Dead Crows and Mark Corrin
For more details see www.seetickets.com/event/the-parish-church-fire
Words by Ian Leslie
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