Rising from the North East’s grassroots scene, Tired Of Fighting feel like a band built on instinct, emotion, and a refusal to do things by halves. Frontman Nic Wood didn’t originally plan to start a band; he was performing solo on the acoustic circuit, although rarely in a conventional way. “My sound was very loud and aggressive,” he says, often finding himself opening for rock bands instead.
Things changed after a chance meeting at Newcastle’s Cosmic Ballroom in 2012, where Nic met bassist George. “He said he loved my sound and would be really interested to see what it sounded like with a band.” Nic admits he was hesitant: “I liked my weird, loud little acoustic thing,” but the idea stuck. With Kev later joining on drums, Tired Of Fighting came together.
That balance between restraint and release still defines them. Describing themselves as “explosive emo-punk” is less about genre and more about intent. “Our songs mean something,” he explains. Their sound moves between stripped-back intimacy and full-band intensity, often building into moments that “become an absolute cacophony, and it’s a joy to be a part of.” One review captured it best: the energy of Paramore with the storytelling of The Gaslight Anthem.
Like many bands in the genre, their roots trace back to early 2000s emo, with artists such as Motion City Soundtrack and Taking Back Sunday leaving a lasting mark. “It was pure, honest communication clothed in chants and distorted guitars.” Tired Of Fighting channel that same emotional honesty, but as a three-piece they lean into simplicity, aiming “to make the biggest sound possible with just the core elements of the band.”
The songwriting begins acoustically before being shaped by the full band, while the lyrics remain deeply personal. “All of the songs I write are ultimately about my experiences,” he says, often exploring grief, loss and longing through metaphor and storytelling.
Those emotions come alive on stage. From chaotic tour moments – like accidentally keeping a room of cyclists awake with his snoring – to a defining show at Edinburgh’s Usher Hall, where “people were singing the words back to us,” their journey has been steadily building.
Now signed to Punkerton Records, the band are preparing to release their debut LP this month. “We would never have been able to release an album without them,” Nic says. The record promises their signature blend of “raucous noise with heartfelt whispers,” tackling heavy themes while still offering hope.
At its core, Tired Of Fighting are about connection. “I want people to allow themselves to be sad if they need to be…to recognise how far they’ve come.” Above all, it’s about experiencing “truth, emotion, energy and beautiful noise.”
You can listen to their new LP later this month on all major streaming platforms.
