There can’t be many bands around in need of just a little bit more luck than the Everlasting Yeah, the band comprising of the four U.K. based former members of That Petrol Emotion and featuring Raymond Gorman (guitar/vocals), Ciaran McLaughlin (drums/vocals), Damian O’Neill (guitar/vocals) and Brendan Kelly (bass/vocals).
When they last spoke to itm? in 2014, the band were about to release debut album ‘Anima Rising’ a record that had been a good number of years in the making. They were also about to play their first show outside London at Stereo in Glasgow and were keen to get out and spread the word.
Fate, however, had other ideas as the band have only managed to play a handful of London shows since and none at all since 2016.
The arrival of second album ‘Staying Cool, Staying Free with the Everlasting Yeah’ at the end of August, a full ten years after the debut, is therefore a cause for celebration.
‘Staying Cool, Staying Free…’ is a progression of everything that the band delivered on ‘Anima’ with seven songs which marry catchy tunes to exciting guitar-based rock, all underpinned by the band’s fluid playing. There’s a sense that with both records, TEY have firmly established their own separate identity whilst retaining much of what made the Petrols such a great band.
Whilst the debut took a long time to deliver for a variety of reasons that was nothing compared to the hurdles that the band faced in completing the second record as singer/guitarist Raymond Gorman explained to itm? recently.
“After ‘Anima’, it was quite busy for a while because we were playing live around London and we even went up to Glasgow. But that was as far as we got, we never even got as far as Ireland.
“But we were still meeting quite regularly and had written some new songs pretty quickly.”
Unfortunately, things were about to take a significant turn for the worse.
“After that, Brendan got his cancer diagnosis. And that really took the wind out of our sails. So, for the next three, four years, nothing really happened and then Ciaran had a lot of health problems as well, quite serious ones. So, it was just lights out for a while, really.
“But after Brendan did chemo, and got the all clear thankfully, we actually went in to start work on this record and we did three days in January 2020.”
Once again, due to the pandemic and resulting lockdowns, the band were in a position of having taken a step forward only to be forced back into limbo again. Raymond picks up the tale.
“We couldn’t get together basically for three years. But in the last year and a half or whatever, we’ve managed to get it finished. Even then there were more delays just to get it out because it’s not like the old days where it’s your main focus and it’s your livelihood.
“Thank God it’s done now and it’s ready for people to hear it.”
In terms of what fans can expect, Raymond thinks that ‘Staying Cool Staying Free …’ builds on the strengths of the debut.
“I always said that ‘Anima Rising’ was kind of like a Fifties record in the 2010s, if that doesn’t sound too weird. Essentially, it’s the same kind of ideas. With the Petrols we didn’t stretch out enough and then you look back and go, well, we were good at this, why didn’t we do this more?
“So this record has two quite long songs and we just kind of went with them. There were no thoughts of let’s prune this.”
Raymond is proud of what the band have achieved on the new record.
“I think this one’s better because there’s more detail and because we’ve had more time to work out arrangements. There’s also a fuller sound and better production.
“But because the songs were written a long time ago now, despite all the interruptions and everything, it’s a good follow-on.
“The bare bones of what we want, is we want to be able to put the record on ourselves and be really happy with it and that’s the case. Damian was saying he played it on his laptop the other day and he loved it. That’s all you can ask for really, isn’t it?”
One of the problems that the band face(d) operating without a recognised front-man is who sings the material. On the first record, Raymond tended to take the lead although the whole band sang at different points. This time the lead vocals are split almost equally between Raymond and Ciaran.
“We all know that vocals are really so important, because it’s make or break for a song when you first hear it.
“Originally, I was going to sing ‘The Girl From Miki City’, but it just wasn’t working and it didn’t help that it was in the wrong key. So, we were struggling over that and I could hear in the control room it was obviously shite and I thought I’m just going to have to give up.
“Ciaran thought I was singing too hard or something and that it should be softer. I didn’t really understand what he was saying, so I thought he should have a go. And he went in and did it and we thought yeah, it’s just better!
“People keep telling us your voices are quite similar. I found a version of one of songs of ‘Anima’ which we both sang on. I don’t know why we didn’t make that the actual version because our voices blended together really beautifully, but for some reason we only used one voice. And I think maybe that’s something we can explore.”
It’s a natural reaction after hearing the record to want to hear the songs played live, particularly since the Petrols were such a great live band. But Raymond is cautious about making any promises.
“I’m wanting to try and play live but it all depends on Ciaran, he’s got RSI. In fact, he was worried about doing this record but he nailed all his tracks in one or two takes which was just extraordinary.
“He’s getting an operation on his hand because he hasn’t even been able to play acoustic so he’s had to really play a different way.
“But he’s said he’d be into it if we’d start doing some of the slower songs, don’t play so hard and maybe play brushes. Even if he can’t play anything, I’d like Ciaran to be singing live. I think he feels a bit odd about that, being in the spotlight or whatever.
“So, I think the only way it’s going to work is if we do some kind of semi-acoustic thing because I think the days of playing as loud as we used to are over. I just don’t think we can do that anymore as anybody who’s been to gigs for the last 40 years or whatever, loses part of their hearing and I think as you get older your hearing goes as well.
“We’ll try and work something out but it would likely be one-offs. It just depends really, you know?”
If that is a somewhat downbeat assessment on the prospects of live shows, then Raymond throws out a tantalising possibility.
“Ciaran always had an idea to do Petrols songs and I’m sure if we played live now, we would be happy to dip into the Petrols catalogue. We want to be liked, we’re not difficult people!”
Having finished one record, the band are already looking to what comes next.
“I think the next one will be definitely more introverted. We’ve still never done at least three of my best songs. Ciaran’s got a couple of really great songs as well and Damian is probably hiding a couple in there as well.
“There’s probably enough already to go back into the studio because material is never the problem. But the idea is to try and get something nearly done by the end of the year, get in and recorded and get it out next spring.”
Wrapping up our chat, Raymond explained why the band have persisted in the face of difficulties that would have had many other bands chucking in the towel.
“The thing that kind of makes our band special is that we’re such good friends. Whenever the four of us are together, we just have such a laugh.”
The first video from the album:
‘Staying Cool, Staying Free with the Everlasting Yeah’ is released at the end of the month on the band’s own Infinite Thrill label. Check the band’s Facebook page for details of how to get a hold of the album on record or CD.
There’s a listening party to launch the record on Saturday 17th August at the London Irish Centre, Camden, London between 2 pm and 6 pm.
More info at www.facebook.com/everlastingyeah
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