From being chased by gangs through Easterhouse…to leading Wembley Arena in a mass sing-a-long, it’s been an epic journey for Scottish band Hip Parade’s front man Rob Shah.
The band rose to fame after starring on Channel 4 show Orange Unsigned Act last year, where they lost out to fellow Scot Tommy Reilly, but an encounter with Stereophonics’ Adam Zindani in January this year led to an invitation to support the Welsh rockers on their recent UK tour which ended in March.
“We began working with Adam in January as he produced our singles ‘Katie Goes Dancing’ and ‘Catastrophe’,” Rob told ITM?. “It was a bizarre experience as Stereophonics were always one of those bands that we used to listen to and would go out and buy their singles from Woolworths. So to be sitting there with one of them listening to our stuff was amazing. We were influenced by them, so to then be asked to support them was just unbelievable.”
Securing the support slot was a dream come true for the lads, and Rob was nervous about meeting front man Kelly Jones for the first time. He said: “I couldn’t speak to Kelly at first – I was so overwhelmed. I was trying to stay cool but I kept embarrassing myself at the start of the tour. But the band are really normal friendly guys and I was really impressed with that.
“With it being our first experience of touring with a massive act like that we thought we would have been a bit detached from them and we wouldn’t see them that much, but they kept us really involved. We came off stage at Wembley on the final night of the tour and they were singing Dynamite to us which was amazing.
“Dave, who is a guitar junkie, loves his effects pedals and we found out Adam has a special pedal with ‘beer’ labelled on it. Each time he presses it someone brings him a beer on stage, so once we knew about that it has become our future aspiration – that’s when you know you have made it!
“Lots of crazy stuff happened on tour – it was mad. Needless to say, there was a lot of boozing and some fisticuffs now and again but it was superb and we loved every minute and the last night of the tour was bedlam.
“The Stereophonics know how to party – they are hard to keep up with. During a party after the show in Glasgow, Kelly’s brother fell over and had to go to hospital to get stitches and he just came back and carried on partying! Our livers have taken quite a pounding the last few weeks. The band gave us the drink they had left over from the tour to take back with us and we are still working our way through it now.”
The last year has been non-stop for the band, who hail from Gatharmlock and Coatbridge. After the TV show ended, the band toured the UK, released their debut single and toured with The Cinematics. But the pinnacle of 2009 was securing a slot on the T-Break stage at T in The Park. Rob said: “2009 was a roller-coaster year for us, one minute we were playing to 30 folk in a wee town in Fife, the next we were doing sold out shows at big massive venues, and playing T in The Park to a rammed tent full of people.
“We have been working really hard and the whole thing has been an amazing experience. Standing on stage at Wembley Arena – it was awesome but also really hard to take in. Most nights of the tour I kept thinking ‘this will be the best night yet’ and then each gig just got more and more impressive. To play Wembley Arena felt like such an achievement, and we got such a great response from the crowd, we were really chuffed. You expect a reaction like that from a home crowd but it can be a tougher audience down south.”
One claim to fame many bands can’t say they have achieved is inducing labour, but Hip Parade managed to help one newborn along the way during the Manchester leg of the tour. Rob and Sal’s cousin came to see them play whilst nine-months pregnant and her waters broke during the gig. Rob said: “We couldn’t believe it when we heard. The baby must have been like ‘get me out of here!’ with all the noise. We suggested she should call the baby something connected with the band but she didn’t take us up on it sadly! Maybe she can get a Hip Parade tattoo when she is older to commemorate the event!”
Hip Parade have a string of summer festival dates already in the diary along with a UK tour which kicks off in London in May. Next single ‘Catastrophe’, penned by Kris, is due for release soon.