Everything looks Yankee Doodle Dandy for The Chevin
Ashleigh Burns • Published 3 Oct 2012 09:30
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THEY haven't even released their debut album in the UK yet, but The Chevin have already been making waves across the pond.
Leading up to the US release of their much awaited first album Borders, the Yorkshire quartet have been taking American audiences by storm.
A spot on the Late Show Wth David Letterman on CBS saw the band perform to their biggest audience to date - appearing on the same edition as First Lady Michelle Obama.
The experience was credited as the highlight of their musical career so far with frontman Coyle Girelli saying, "Not bad for four lads from Otley, hey?"
After performing their single 'Champion' on the late-night talk show, the band appears to have won over another fan in the form of Letterman who exclaimed, "Wow, that was wonderful."
Speaking to the Advertiser Coyle said, "Letterman was surreal and amazing. The booker heard us and just booked us on the show. It was secret service, helicopters, police lines, huge black limo's. It was all pretty crazy. And to play in the Ed Sullivan theatre, where they shoot the show, was special. Letterman's reaction to us was nice as well. I only gave him a fiver for that one... We didn't get a chance to meet her [Michelle Obama] as she was whisked straight off after her interview. Still waiting for an invite to The White House..."
Named after a hill in their hometown of Otley, The Chevin were formed in 2010.
Band members - Coyle Girelli on lead vocals and guitars, Mat Steel on guitars and keyboards, Jon Langford with bass guitar and Mal Taylor at the drums - have known each other for years after growing up in the same town.
Previously they have been seen supporting Franz Ferdinand, White Lies and The Airborne Toxic Event, as well as at a show stopping SXSW 2012 performance.
Since forming The Chevin has focused their energies on perfecting their sound in rehearsal rather than embarking upon regular touring.
The musical process can be different every time, Girelli explained, "It depends. I usually write the song on guitar or piano, then demo it. Sometimes the whole thing gets done pretty quickly. Sometimes we rework it in rehearsal and try it out live. The version of 'Drive' on the album is version 17.5 I think!"
Inspiration comes primarily from love, but the exact moment of inspiration is as yet unknown to the band, with their sound described as being "soaring, melodic and large".
The UK Borderland release, on So Recordings, sees The Chevin continue their progress to become one of Britain's brightest new bands.
Coyle said, "It's released on October 15th. We recorded it in the desert outside El Paso in Texas. The desert and the landscape had a pretty big impact on the sound I think. I think it got bigger, it got sandier. There's not much out there but sand, sky and scorpions. No distractions. Just the studio and the sky.
"I think it'll surprise people. It goes to places you wouldn't expect... takes you up then down, intimate then wide. Light then dark. It's a pretty ambitious debut record, sonically I guess. We put a lot in. It means a lot to us personally, on many levels."
In 2013, fans can expect touring, more music, more videos and more of everything.
Quickfire
Favourite song of the moment: Xylos - Summerlong
Most embarrassing moment: Getting confused for Mumford and Sons at a pub in Galway while on tour with Franz Ferdinand and getting our entire meal and drinks for free. We didn't realise at the time that's who they thought we were and so took the free food and drink only to realise later they weren't meant for us… oops!
Biggest vice: Naughty naughty - not telling…
Pet peeve: Laziness
Best quality: Singing
Worst quality: Impatience
Tea or coffee: Black coffee - on a drip all day!
Pubs or clubs: Pubs
Karaoke number: Born To Run - Bruce Sprinsteen
Favourite superhero: Batman (not the one in tights from the 60's and 70's)
This article appeared in Alloa & Hillfoots Advertiser 03 Oct 12
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