Teesside odd-pop heroes, Head of Light Entertainment, are back. Lee Allcock caught up with frontman Carl Green as they return to the live scene after an 18-month wait.
Head of Light entertainment are back! What can we expect from your set at our very own NE Volume Music Bar?
Yeah, we’re really looking forward to getting back! It feels much, much longer than just 18 months since our left gig. You unconsciously slip into a new headspace and start thinking: “Hey, did we really used to get up on stage and plug in and play to real people?” You start to drift a little, become a bit detached from the creative process, and we’re not the type of band who like doing stuff remotely – it’s a passion killer. But we’re back on track now with some typical and not-so-typical new songs that we’re very keen to share with everyone.
How have you been preparing for your return to the live scene?
We started rehearsing again in June, slowly at first, picking up the pace over recent weeks and just getting match fit I suppose. It’s pretty special to be back together again, working, laughing and catching up. We’ve missed each other not just musically, but personally as well. We thrive in our socially awkward bubble and enjoy the silences as much as the racket.
Why are independent music venues so important to you?
Without venues like NE Volume Music Bar, bands like us would end up playing a lot fewer gigs. We’re essentially a pop band (albeit an unorthodox model) so we like to play to people who get that, people who want to dance, have fun, and leave the venue chanting the tunes they’ve just heard. Small independent venues have always attracted a certain type of misfit music fan and these wonderful gatherings often feel celebratory, even slightly spiritual. Everyone needs a place where they can be themselves, come alive and mix with like-minded people. The best independent venues feel like home from home with added volume, stickier floors and more garish furnishings.
Do you have any new releases lined up?
Our Friday 15th October gig is not just our “comeback” but the launch of our new single, ‘New Boy’. It’s instantly recognisable as a Head Of Light Entertainment song but it’s more cavalier, more devil-may-care than our 2019 EP, ‘Periphery’. We’d just added it to the live set before lockdown so frustratingly, it’s sat dormant during the pandemic ready to pounce when the moment was right – and that moment is now!
What are your plans for the remainder of 2021?
We have a swathe of new songs written and we’ll be back in the studio during the winter months recording them. Our music is definitely taking an odder but catchier turn and the fruits of our labour will be available in spring 2022, probably as an EP, possibly even an album.
Head of Light Entertainment head to NE Volume Music Bar in Stockton on Friday 15th October. Tickets, priced at £5.00 in advance, are available at nevolumebar.co.uk.
