Indie boy band The Hair hail from the far away land of Leeds, a city noted for it’s tendency to churn out musicians at a surprising rate. Fellow Leodensians (that’s what they call folk from Leeds) include The Pigeon Detectives, Corinne Bailey Rae, Scary Spice, and of course The Kaiser Chiefs. In fact, The Hair are due to support The Kaisers on their upcoming UK tour, so it looks like they’re headed for success. Comprising Sam (vocals/guitar), brothers Neil (keys, samples and vocals) and Lee (bass and vocals), and Vijay (drums), The Hair have a repetoire of rocking anthemic indie records with a touch of energetic electro, and they’re sure to get crowds bouncing. Having been together for a couple of years, and in their current line up for the last six months (Vijay used to be in a band with some of The Kaiser Chiefs), the band have a load of dates all around the country over the next month or so. They make their way to the South West with a gig at The Hub in Exeter on 25 October.
The band’s name was influenced Sam’s secret desire to be liked for being “clumsily pretentious” – he explained, “A couple of years back I thought The Hair was a cool name because it was plural and singular at the same time…the fact of the matter is that we’re called The Hair because I used to be a snotty little prick… Which is unfortunate.” Misfortune aside, the band’s varied influences are clearly audible in their songs, which range from the cowbell-punctuated ‘Half Cut’ to the synthy sounds of ‘Million Lies’. Sam told us, “I am mesmorised by songwriters like Ryan Adams and Bright Eyes, though they sound nothing like the band…and I find myself wondering what goes through the heads of Bloc Party and The Cure when they write music. The others are into hip hop and blues rather than guitar bands like me, but it all fits together somehow.”
We asked Sam a few random questions, just for the fun of it…
At your gig in Exeter you’re going to:
Refer to myself in the third person all the time. Like when Elton John said, "The UK still has a lot of love for Elton John!" on Richard and Judy. At the end of the gig, if the response is positive from the audience, I shall say; "I see Exeter has a lot of love for Sam Robson," completely disregarding other members in the band. It will be the beginning of the end… but it was meant to happen on the south coast!
Who’s the most famous person you’ve ever met?
I met Michael York at a family wedding – he was on the bride’s side. He’s a famous actor from Logan's Run and Austin Powers. He danced next to my gran.
First record you bought?
It was either a 7" of Oasis, ‘Some Might Say’ or Seahorses, ‘Blinded By The Sun’... either way it was pretty 90's britpop… Ah… no, actually the first album I got was a Bobby Brown one when I was about seven or something. It didn't have ‘My Prerogative’ on it so I cried and never played it.
Last record you bought?
I downloaded ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun’ by Cyndi Lauper recently. I love camp pop.
Most embarrassing moment on stage…?
Don't really think these exist, as long as whatever happens is entertaining for someone, that's what you're up there to do… so even if an audience member got onstage, pulled my pants down and pushed me into a cactus, I reckon as long as someone enjoyed it then I would have to accept that it's a necessary part of the show and I shouldn't be embarrassed.
www.myspace.com/thehair
Catch The Hair on Sat 25th October at The Hub in Exeter.
Doors 9pm, tickets £4adv
01392 424628
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