Interview with The Pigeon Detectives

Q & A with lead singer Matt Bowman and guitarist Oliver Main from Leeds favourite indie band The Pigeon Detectives, who are nearing the end of their tour for their new album Up, Guards And Get Em.  They tell splash how the tour is going, about their new material and joke how they play the Ouija board in their spare time.

How are you enjoying your tour so far?

Matt: We’re in the final stages of it so everyone’s a bit tired, but it’s been great so far. We've had some amazing shows. Manchester stood out for me, London, Sheffield and still got Leeds to come which is our hometown.

Brighton was good, it was a soldout gig and a Saturday crowd so they’d all been drinking all day, was fun, bit messy.

Have you played in Southampton before? Do you like playing here?

 Oliver: We’ve played in Southampton many times.

Matt: (Jokes) No it’s awful and the crowds terrible, that’s a joke - Southampton’s always a good gig.

If you could play live anywhere in the world where would it be?

Matt: I like cold places, New York in winter time.

What made you decide to record your new album in America? How did you find it in America, did you feel like you fit in?

Oliver: It’s just something we’ve never done. We did our first one in Leeds, our second one on a farm in Wales.

Matt: When we toured America, it was amazing because we got to see the really big cities; we did Boston, Texas, Chicago, New York, LA.

When we were in New York we had two months recording the album was probably my favourite experience because we kind of became New Yorkers if you know what I mean.

Oliver: I remember one time that I knew we felt like New Yorkers when we were staying in Hell’s kitchen which is kind of near time square so we had to get the subway to the studio Brooklyn and Times Square was full of tourists – started to get annoyed because everyone got in our way.

When we were in New York we had two months recording the album was probably my favourite experience

How have audiences reacted to your new material?

Matt: All new material takes time to bed in, people have their favourites of previous albums but this is actually the second tour of this album. The new stuff seems to be going a lot better than the first time we toured. I think that’s a good thing, people have gone out, brought the album and liked it. Its relief to see people’s faces that their reacting to the new stuff rather than just standing there waiting for old stuff like found out or this is an emergency.

Are you planning on any festivals next year?

Matt: I think we are. It’s a shame Glastonbury isn’t on didn’t do it last year so I feel like could of played it next year. But no bands are telling anybody what festivals their playing next year, everyone’s still negotiating fees and trying to get as much money as possible.

Oliver: We’ve had a few offers for some, definitely will be playing some.

Do you have any advice for bands trying to make a name for themselves?                              

Matt: Put a lot of time and consideration into your actual band name because if you do make it you could end up getting stuck with it like us. I think playing live is the most important thing.

Oliver: You get better at practice.

Matt: Hone your skills, because if your entertain people live that’s when people go out and check you out online. If you’re a good live band you’re gonna start getting invited to tour with more established artists and that’s when you get your name out. I think practice, practice, practice and keep writing songs. You’ve never written your best song.

If you could change your band name would you?

Matt: I would quite like to be called just The Pigeons. But now were called The Pigeon Detectives I love the name, I’ve seen it on the Leeds Festival bill and on a Tokyo poster - it comes normal to us now.

Oliver: I think everyone’s bands name is stupid really, like The Beatles is a stupid band name

If you could collaborate with any artist alive or dead who would it be?

Matt: Could say something a little less obvious like someone from The Beatles like John Lennon. Think I would go for collaboration with Kayne west, something a bit different.

Oliver: Would make us sound better.

Matt: He could run me through an autotuner job done.

What’s the craziest thing that’s happened gig?

Matt: We get flashed the odd bare chest, males and females they all seem to get involved

Oliver: We used to get underwear thrown at us quite a lot. Like Tom Jones but that stopped.

Matt: I’ve been punched in the face by a fan, been hit in the face with a can of red stripe. It’s what you expect when your entertaining people that have paid to come and watch you.

Do you have any rituals before you go on stage?

Oliver: We sacrifice a pig… no we like…

Matt: (Laughs) no, keep it at that answer, that’s the best answer we’ve ever had for that question!

Oliver: …Sacrifice a pig

What do you do in your spare time?

Oliver: Ouija boards stuff like that, basically satanic things

Matt: Me and Ryan have started to play golf – I know it’s not very rock and roll.

Oliver: Our spare time is still consumed by the band when were not on stage touring were in studio writing songs – and the same as what everyone else does like playing fifa.

What was the first ever cd you brought?

Oliver: The first cd I brought with my own money was Sgt Pepper

Matt: That annoys me so much! The first one I ever brought with my own money was crazy chef - the chef from south park chocolate salty balls.

What was your first job before becoming a successful band?

Matt: I worked on a golf course cutting grass believe it or not. I’ve had a few office jobs here and there. But the cutting grass job was my favourite.

If you could have a super power what would it be?

Matt: It would be cool to go out clubbing and have the power of invisibility you know so when someone comes up to you completely hammered and spill your drink down you, you could be invisible - I’d like to be invisible but I’d like to turn it on and off - The ability to turn on invisibility.

Has the ever been an awkward moment where you’ve been approached by a fan and don’t want to be?

Matt: Burger King last night, me and Dave were eating chips - that’s just awkward you have salty hands and mayo all around your face and they stride over wanting a picture.

Oliver: It’s especially worse for him as he’s more recognisable. If you’re having a meal with your family or something it’s just a bit inappropriate.

Matt: Overall though you appreciate people asking for pictures and that because there only doing that cause there into the band so we have a lot of time for fans.

Do you ever get fed up with each other being together all the time?                       

No we’ve known each other since we were six years old and we’ll still be knocking about when were 60. Believe it or not four of us have brought houses all on the same street.