25th October 2016 - Interview with Patrick James for M.O.D. (Music-On-Demand)
New songs, state of the music industry and a hometown headline gig at
Walkabout, Broad St. Birmingham on Saturday 29th October.
Having been genuinely blown away by previously released Seventh Syndicate songs and videos, I made my first port of call in a rare half-day's trip to our second city, to put the feelers out and secure an in person interview with the band. Due to immense short notice (my fault not theirs), only one band member was able to answer my call and accompany me in my one hour waiting window as I courted my connecting train at New Street Station from the sanctuary of reknowned ale house The Wellington. As Gav Moran entered our arranged meeting spot with pint-point punctuality, he made a spritely bee line for the bar, as I was editing a recent interview with fellow four stringer Steve Harris of Iron Maiden, in which the metal pioneer was scathing towards the taboo modern day practice which sees famous bands offer support slots on a "pay to play" basis for would be stars of tomorrow. It seemed as relevant a topic to get to the ball rolling as any, so I opened the batting by asking Gav if the "pay to play" with your idols for exposure is an option Seventh Syndicate would ever consider partaking in?
"We will never charge bands to support us, I abhor the principal on principal", says Seventh Syndicate's spiritual leader (and bassist) Gav Moran. His reputation as a straight talking opinionated educator had preceded him, and he is delivering from the off. With the music industry sinking to new lows, Moran displays more stainless steel than the sinking Sheffield sink industry, and refuses to pull the plug on morality in musicianship. In fact, when the ship goes down, clearly he's gonna be ready! "Yes, it is true that we pull in the big crowds", begins Gav. "I think it's because we are such innovators", he expands. "That thing that Bieber has been doing lately, you know the thing where he tells the crowd to stop screaming or he won't play, or whatever he does up there...anyway.... I was the first to do that", says Moran smugly. "We were playing a show in Manchester and the crowd kept screaming 'learn to play properly or fuck off, you southern pussy cunt'. At first, I thought they were just being Northern", Moran professed. "Having never watched Coronation Street, my only frame of reference for people like that was Wayne Rooney and one of the twins from Oasis - you know the one with the eyebrow who rubbed a Brit Award on his arse that time, like he was the star attraction at Dudley Zoo" Well I thought I'm not having these northern numbskulls disrespect me like I am some Green Party liberal sort trying to talk sense to a poor town on Question Time. I mean I don't mind a bit of banter" Moran decries charismatically, "banter's the primary thing I like about playing music, well after playing music that is. So I ignored their ill-educated screams at first, but eventually enough was too much and I took action. If a single reveller screams 'learn to play properly or fuck off, you southern pussy cunt' at me again, I said, I am responding accordingly!".... I eye Moran up and down. He clearly has the physique and air of a man who can handle himself in a skirmish better than most men of his Mensa level intellect, but this seemed a bold and blusterous move even for him. "What happened next?" I enquire, pensively preparing to expect the unexpected. "They screamed 'learn to play properly or fuck off, you southern pussy cunt' again!" he says in a somewhat conclusive tone. "Then what did you do?" I dared to ask, hoping I could sustain his response. "I fucked off", Moran blabbed. I was presented with a binary choice of two different options, and I didn't have the necessary time required to learn to play properly so I fucked off."
Seventh Syndicate headline a night of live music at Walkabout in Broad Street, Birmingham on Saturday 29th October. Proceeds go to Birmingham Homeless charity Operation Drawstring.
Supporting acts on the night include Scott Revelle and Telsen. * local band The Blueprints were also previously advertised but, regrettably, are now unable to play due to a late payment of their Seventh Syndicate "pay to play" support slot invoice. Follow The Blueprints here for future gig announcements - https://www.facebook.com/TheOfficialBlueprintsBand
Seventh Syndicate have just recorded a host of new material, which they will be sharing with the World in the coming months. I will make the return trip to Birmingham to chat with them about this further in due course.... I have a feeling it will be well worth the ride!
Patrick James, for the M.O.D. - Music On Demand
Walkabout Gig Event - https://www.facebook.com/events/1755915308008816/