Goldhawks at The Flower Pot

Goldhawks at The Flower Pot

11 November, 2009
by: Gemma Thomson

Though they have only been going for a matter of months, alt-rock outfit Goldhawks have already had quite a time of it. They have recently returned from a brace of shows at CMJ in New York and have just finished a sold-out residency at London's Ginglik, where they performed alongside the likes of The Maccabees, Maximo Park and Blood Red Shoes. Doing things a little back to front, the west London newcomers are putting the high life on hold and are now going back to their roots and preparing to embark on a string of UK gigs.

The tour will be promoting their debut single, 'Running Away', which will be released on Vertigo on 7 December. The single is taken from their album, due out in March, which was recorded in Wales with Gil Norton, who has previously worked with Pixies, Echo & The Bunnymen and Foo Fighters. I caught up with the boys in a pub in Camden for a quick chat over a pint before their Flower Pot gig.

As an emerging new band, how would you describe yourselves to someone who's never heard your music before?

Bobby: It's quite epic. I'd describe it as epic, grand rock 'n' roll.

Nick: It's got a bit of an old vibe. It's modern, but there are hints of early Bruce Springsteen and that sort of thing, so yeah, it’s quite epic.

I read that you've been compared to Bruce Springsteen, along with U2 and Echo & The Bunnymen. Would you say that’s a fair comparison then?

Bobby: That sounds about right, definitely a fair comparison.

Are they bands that inspire you? Do you aspire to sound like them or has it just happened that way?

Bobby: Yeah, we all kind of grew up listening to that sort of music in the car and at home. Tom Petty's also a big influence.

Graham: I think we get compared to those bands because they're well known for their passionate live performances, like when Bruce Springsteen performs there's steam coming off his head. I think that's where the comparison stems from.

Would you say your music is similar to Bobby's previous solo work?

Bobby: It started out with more of a Ryan Adams vibe to it. I think the songs are a lot more aggressive and definitely bigger now. I played an acoustic guitar as Bobby Cook, so it makes things sound softer. Now I’m on an electric guitar so things naturally sound harder.

Nick: It's moved away from folk and more towards rock.


Photo Credit: Gemma Thomson

Breaking into the music industry can be pretty tough. What would you say it is about your band that will make you stand out from the crowd?

Bobby: I think we're not ashamed of the stadium rock sound. Everyone's playing down their music and making things sound a bit dirtier. I think we’re just not ashamed of being grand and making statements in our music.

Graham: It's good songwriting for a start, which always helps. I don’t know any other band around at the moment with really good songwriting.

Nick: I think it’s quite accessible as well. We want to reach as many people as possible.

What are your live performances like? Is there anything you think will make you particularly memorable?

Bobby: I think the live show is always the best way to see us. We have a passion playing live because we've been playing for such a long time so it's where the heart is. I think it’s always a bit more exciting seeing a band rock out than just listening to the songs. 

You're named after the street Bobby and Jack grew up on. Did you choose the name just because it sounded cool or does it go deeper than that?

Bobby: You know what? It was just because it sounded cool. That really was it! We’re not like 'yeah, west London!' A lot of people from the area think that. The name sounded interesting compared to a lot of band names that are out there now, and there is meaning behind it. There's nothing worse than bands being called random names. As a band, there's a lot of history for us there; we had our first gigs on Goldhawk Road and we rehearsed there, so it's something we can all relate to.

Can you tell me an interesting fact about Goldhawk Road?

Graham: You can get really good material from the fabric shops down the road.

Bobby: There’s a great classic studio on Goldhawk Road called The Town House where Bowie, Elton John and Oasis have recorded. It's quite a big, historic studio. There's something more interesting than that though, I'm sure.

Nick: There's a really great falafel place.


Photo Credit: Gemma Thomson

You recently played in New York. What kind of reception did you get there?

Bobby: It was great.

Graham: We played alongside some really good bands, like Temper Trap and Golden Silvers. Great stage, great venue and the crowd were really open – we got a really good response.

Nick: It was the first gig we've done abroad so it was really exciting.

Did you get to speak to any of the crowd afterwards?

Nick: Yeah, we got some really good feedback.

Graham: They were proper jock types, it was great. 

Which bands are you listening to at the moment?

Bobby: I quite like Wild Beasts. I think they're quite interesting.

Graham: Temper Trap and Dinosaur Pile-Up are cool.

Tonight's the first of a long stint of UK gigs. What’s your secret to staying energised when on tour?

Graham: Er, drinking lots. It really helps.

What are you drinking now? (I glance suspiciously at what appears to be a large glass of water among the pints of beer)

Graham: This is actually a pint of vodka.

I see. So, what can we expect from tonight’s performance?

Bobby: Sweat, energy and throbbing veins in my neck.

Sounds delightful. Looking forward to it.

Check out Goldhawks next gig at the London Barfly on 2 December.
Check out more live music in London
Check out more things to do in London

Gemma Thomson