After finding out that one of my fave South West based bands (Colour TV) were supporting Mike Joyce (The Smiths drummer) when he performs a DJ set at the New Lion Brewery in Dartington on December 3rd, I got in touch with Sam Durneen, singer of the aforementioned and threw a bunch of questions at him to ponder. He was quick to reply, take a read through and see if his responses make you laugh as much as they did me….
Colour TV are supporting Mike Joyce (drummer from The Smiths) on December 3rd at the New Lion Brewery in Dartington, what are you MOST excited about?
We are excited most at the prospect of dining out at next door’s pizza parlour. I can say confidently that Pizzalogica serve up the best Italian cooked bread this side of the Colosseum. (If only that were paid endorsement.)
I went along to Mike Joyce’s last set at the Brewery in May and had a cracking night. His eclectic mix of post-punk staples, funky classics and noughties indie hits made for a disco at which one felt obligated to jiggle. To share a stage will be a surreal privilege.
I can tell that The Smiths are an influence on Colour TV, what was it that they did that you liked so much?
I liked it when they said, “Love will tear us apart again.”
Gags aside, they are timeless artists whose work conjures incomparable hope and reassurance every time I listen – but I must emphasise within the band it’s only really me, Sam, whose fingers type this right now, on whom The Smiths have left any impression. As far as lyricism is concerned, their work influences me to dress honest sentiments in clothes of my own size. 90% of lyrics we hear other bands sing are trivial dirge. It’s the easiest trap to escape and The Smiths set a benchmark. You can be vulnerable and expand your literate palette beyond how much you wanna hump. And still rock!
But we’ve never listened to Johnny Marr and gone, “Let’s write something in this style”. The more we’re compared, the further east of Smiths our sound travels. Thou shalt not worship false idols.
Please let me have your top three Smiths tracks of all time and maybe a brief explanation as to why?
“Hand In Glove”. The urgent debut single about love and desperation.
“How Soon Is Now?” As progressive as anything of the 70s.
“Back to the Old House”. The most poignant phrase: “And you never knew how much I really liked you / Because I never even told you / Oh and I meant to”.
Have you considered asking Mike to step in on a Smiths cover when you play? If so, what song would that be?
We wouldn’t want to patronise Mike as I’m sure that would mark a career low. We respect him far too much to “Ask”. “I Don’t Owe You Anything” he’d say. Or, “You Just Haven’t Earned It Yet, Baby”. “That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore” you’re thinking. “I Know It’s Over” I reply.
You released an incredible 4 track EP ‘Is That You’ earlier this year, when can your fans expect new material?
The word “soon” doesn’t compliment the word “February” the way I hoped. We’ll release our next single when we embark on tour, around the 2nd or 3rd, the title of which I can reveal now, here, exclusively:
“Christopher’s Halo”.
Ooh, a February 2023 tour, where are you planning on visiting?
The dates comprise a Club Tour with everyone’s favourite indie booking agent, This Feeling! We look forward to playing with a host of smashing bands, and hopefully, if the wind’s in the right direction, stand out amongst the crowd. Not literally amongst the crowd. We plan to stick to the stage. Radicals!
Dates as follows. Tickets available here: thisfeeling.co.uk/colourtv/
• Cardiff, The Moon (Thursday 2nd)
• Bristol, The Crown (Friday 3rd)
• Manchester, Off the Square (Saturday 4th)
• Nottingham, Chameleon (Thursday 9th)
• Liverpool, EBGBS (Friday 10th)
• Leeds, Lending Room (Saturday 11th)
I know it’s early but I wanted to ask if you have any plans for festival season 2023 yet? If so, please share so we can update our calendars!
Keep an eye out if you live on the Isle of Wight….
Lastly, if you had to describe Colour TV to someone using just one song by The Smiths, which would it be and why?
“These Things Take Time”. The jokes write themselves!
Catch Colour TV supporting Mike Joyce at the New Lion Brewery on December 3rd - Tickets available HERE
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