'V To V': A Year With The Young Knives

United Kingdom | | 18 August 2006

They say a week's a long time in show business. A year must seem like an eternity for The Young Knives, especially after you're trail-blazing back to back tours and recording their debut album - all dressed head to toe in tweed. The band hit the big time a year ago after winning the Road To V competition and haven't looked back since. So we asked them to. Peering back through the rimmed spectacles of time, drummer Oliver recounts 10 monumental moments in the The Young Knives' year... 

Opening V Festival... 

I always remember the stage being massive, unlike anything we’d played on before. House and Henry seemed so far away. I think we were incredibly nervous too but with the festival being our first proper introduction to backstage free alcohol we soon maneged to 'dutch courage' ourselves on stage. Afterwards, I think we got a bit carried away with all the free booze. It’s a learning curve I guess.

Recording the album...
Overall I think we have very fond memories of recording the album, mainly because of our producer Andy Gill. Initially, when we had just met him, we found it difficult getting our point across because he really enjoyed the creative side of producing. But after going out for lunchtime pints a few times we got to know him and how he works. It’s been a couple a months since we saw him last and we miss him.

Band bust-ups...
We don't really get into actual fisticuffs, but after a month long tour in the closed confines of our trusty van we've usually wound each other up sufficiently. It’s only natural I guess. So we usually have a sleep or a read or a bit of book and stay out of each other's way for a few hours. We're best buddies deep down and have known each other since we were 15, so we’re always the best of chums again pretty quickly.

Being famous...

I think we get recognised more and more at the moment. I guess this is down to our slightly strange looks. There was a night last week down me and House’s local where people were coming up to us all night and asking us if we were in The Young Knives. It's strange because a simple ‘yes’ usually suffices and they walk away happy.

Best gig...
It's a difficult one because there have been so many. One that comes to mind recently was the Electric Gardens Festival in Kent. The response from the crowd was amazing and the sun was shining. Like I say, it is a difficult one though. We try and play our ‘best gig’ all the time and with our album tour coming up in October we look forward to playing even more goodies.

Touring...
It’s great to have people to move equipment around for us and change drum heads and guitar strings (our minions as we call them) but before that happened the ‘load-out’ was always a bit of a ball ache. It’s always the last thing you want when you’re exhausted from playing a sweaty gig and there’s a load of kids in the venue waiting to speak to you. Hanging around in airports for flights is another favourite.

Destination of choice...

It would have to be Norway. We played a couple of festivals out there. Before one of them the promoter took us out on one of the fjords in this really old little fishing boat. Our sound guy Martin caught a mackeral and we got chance to chill out for once.

Lessons learnt...
You can’t get drunk on free booze every night.

Best band...
Cold War kids are a great band who we managed to catch at SXSW in Austin. They have this sort of rhythmic spiritual sound, mixed with rock, which gets you sort of mesmerised after a while. They’re from the states and I’m sure they’re going to be massive.

Returning to V...
We’re really double excited about playing V this year. I think we’re over our fear of big stages and have realised that just because it’s free, you’re not obliged to drink it. Our album tour will kick off in October and we will rocking out in cities all round the country, and travelling around in our big old Knivesmobile bus - a first for us. Come see us!

See The Young Knives in the Virgin Union Tent at Chelmsford on Saturday and Staffs on Sunday. The debut album 'Voices Of Animals And Men' is out Monday, 21 August.