Interview: White Star Liners reveal rollercoaster ride to supporting heroes Grandaddy at Manchester's HMV Ritz
There’s not many people who are given the chance to meet their idols, nevermind record, support and tour with them – but for Brighton-based band White Star Liners that’s exactly what happened.
The foursome of Jim Duncan, James Harvey, Simon Parker and Dan Sinclair kicked off their musical careers having been heavy influenced by the likes of Blur, Oasis and Grandaddy – and after a long and bumpy road to get to the stage, they were invited to play Manchester’s HMV Ritz with their heroes Grandaddy.
After several cries of shocked amazement, and a bucket full of the I-cannot-believe-its, the melodic quartet of White Star Liners even welcomed Jason Lytle to perform on album highlight ‘Practicing Goodbyes’.
And with a debut record – The Years That Slid – due out in two months’ time and the release of their inaugural music video and single ‘Tent vs Blizzard’ the Brighton boys are mounting their way up the musical ladder.
And it’s all in another day’s work for the band as Jim revealed to MM: “We have been working on a tight budget/time-frame so lots of people have been kind enough to have given up their time and skills to help us.
“White Star Liners is a team effort and we are really very lucky to have people that believe in what we are doing!
“The reaction to the video has been really positive, loads of nice comments and emails. We wanted it to have a bit of a B Movie feel and I think we got it.”
The video sees the band tearing through darkened woodland as their well crafted rifts and boisterous lyrics ignite the sounds of English pop-rock tremendously.
There’s enough flair for an appealing insight into their mechanisms as a band, and enough kept reserved to explore in their debut album.
But playing in one of Manchester’s most prolific venues in seven days’ time will propel the boys into the unknown – the unknown that they can’t wait to venture into.
“Manchester has produced so many great bands over the years so to be in one of Britain’s most musically dynamic cities and supporting the group, who have probably influenced us pound for pound more than any other, is just absolutely amazing,” Jim added.
“It’s totally mind-blowing and very surreal!”
Their journey into the world of song writing and touring has been wildly fast-paced, Jim claimed: “To have Jason Lytle sing our new record, ask us to open up for Grandaddy and to get our first video out all in the space of three weeks has been the sort of chain of events we would have made up a few years ago in ‘best-case scenario’ chats in the pub.”
It’s a pleasure to see a hardworking, dedicated to the cause and archetypal British band poking their heads above the commercial chart-toppers currently on offer in the industry, and for one of the world’s most iconic music cities to host White Star Liners is something to be proud of.
To cheer on White Star Liners supporting Grandaddy at the Ritz next Wednesday, you can find tickets and further information here.
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