Currently on tour with Lawson before they head off with US Singer/Songwriter, Tyler Hilton, Up and Coming band Paighton have had the chance to showcase their music across some major venues…
We caught up with the band before they took to the stage in the Olympia Theatre, Dublin.
So, you’re currently on tour with Lawson- coming to the end of it now. How has it been?
Joe: It’s been great so far! We’ve played some huge venues and we’ve been to so many places. It’s the first big tour this band has done so it’s been a great experience so far- it’s been awesome.
Has there been one city over the others that have reacted more to your set?
Joe: All of them have been great. I think Liverpool. We were in the second half of the arena so that was nice, and the people there just had a huge reaction to us. London was awesome too. All of them have been really good, there hasn’t been one bad show.
Looking forward to Dublin tonight?
Joe: Yeah, we heard it’s crazy! A good crazy, not bad crazy!
Have you learned any Irish slang while you’ve been here?!
Joe: Not slang, but we’ve been trying to do the accent! We’re awful at Irish accents.
Any funny stories you can tell us from tour?!
Joe: Oh, we’ve got so many- don’t get me started! We’ve got an encyclopedia!
Andy: Here’s one- Pete has this thing where he has really vivid dreams and he gets up in his dreams. And he had chocolate beside his bed, and he just started putting it into his eye, like proper pushing it into his eye. And he was screaming while he was doing it.
Pete: It happens all the time as well, it’s not just the Mars bar time.
Andy: I think it was a Kit Kat this time…
Pete: No, it was a Mars Bar!
Joe: They taste good…
Pete: Too bad my eye can’t taste things!
Joe: He does it all the time, it’s not just Mars Bars. What other stories have we got? That was just a scary Travel Lodge one. We’ve had a lot of questions in interviews about our Idols, and Dave’s idol is Dolly Parton, and he has very strange dreams about her. We’ve been out a few times as well which has been fun!
Pete: Yeah, our van is just a tip now. That’s why you’re in the dressing room- you don’t want to see our van! You’re one of the lucky ones. It’s basically just falling apart, so thank god we’re near the end of the tour!
Your début Music Video for ‘Drive’ is doing quite well. How has that been for you?
Joe: Yeah, it’s cool. We were looking forward to putting that song out for a while ’cause I think that song was like a turning point for us in terms of direction and what we wanted to be so we knew when we recorded that song that we wanted to push it and that’s what we wanted to head towards as a band. We did a lot of prep for that and we really enjoyed shooting the video.
Andy: I think it sums up in about 4 minutes exactly what we want to be as a band.
Your début EP brought a lot of opportunities for you guys. You’re set to support Tyler Hilton very soon?
Andy: Yeah, I think the first three songs on the EP were putting out bait for people! Like, Joe explained it as the starter. The next EP is the main course!
Joe: It’s like we were the fishermen on the boat and we were throwing out a reel to all the fish in the water, and the fish were the people who were hearing our EP, and what was on the end of the line was the EP. Yeah, I guess it was just testing the water really.
Andy: Make sure the right fish were coming in…
Joe: Yeah, and it gave us an idea on which way to head for the swarm.
Pete: I guess the second EP is like a net- we’re gonna catch more fish with it.
Andy: And the tour is like a big water with loads of fish in it. The next tour is gonna be done on a boat…
Being in a band, there’s obviously a lot of different things involved, and a lot of attention from fans. Does it ever get overwhelming for you guys?
Andy: It was quite crazy- on the first date of the tour, we went out and there were hundreds and hundreds of fans screaming, and we thought it must be for someone else. On this kind of tour the fans are awesome- they just go crazy!
Joe: Yeah, we really appreciate anyone who takes the time to check us out. ‘Cause we understand that a lot of people , especially on this tour, won’t know who we are and won’t know our songs, so for someone to stick around for 20 minutes and really get into it- we feel really lucky when that happens. So, anyone who waits behind after a show to say hi is really cool.
Well, for those people who don’t know your music, how would you describe it?
Andy: It’s what nostalgia sounds like.
What has been the highlight of your career to date? Would the Lawson tour be up there?
Andy: Oh yeah, I think it would be at the top at the moment. It’s such an amazing experience to be able to play to so many people who are up for listening. We want as many people as possible to take an interest in what we’re doing now, ’cause it means a lot to us and we want it to mean a lot to the people listening as well.
So, once this tour is finished-you’ve got Dublin and Belfast left- what’s next for you guys?
Joe: Well, we’ve got a couple of tours coming up. The day after the Lawson tour finishes, we head out with Tyler Hilton for a couple of weeks. And then when that tour finishes, we go on a short stint with a band called Cover Drive. So we’re touring pretty much until the end of this year and we’ve got a couple of one off dates we’re gonna announce soon- they’re supports as well. And then we’ve got a little headline tour which will take us right up to Christmas, as well as an end of year Christmas show in London. January and February will be spent working on the next EP in the studio. Then March we’re looking to get on another big tour like this.
Andy: Just aiming to really really boost our fanbase and make a name for ourselves.
Great! Well, thank you very much for that interview, and best of luck tonight!
Andy: Thank you very much for having us!
Joe: Cheers- we really appreciate it.
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