Glasvegas are gearing up to play a special acoustic set at The Georgian Theatre in Stockton so Tobias Halford caught up with lead singer James Allan to find out what he thinks of Teessiders and more.
You’re heading to Stockton this month so what do you think about Teesside and the North East? Are there any areas you partially like?
Firstly, I love the accent. When you hear that accent it really warms the heart. I played football against Darlington two times in a reserve match when I was playing for Gretna. When I played for Gretna there were a lot of guys who came from places down in Newcastle and other towns around the North East and I always found them quite comical and humorous. I think it’s the characters that I really like from that part of the UK.
Are you working on any new material at the moment?
Yeah, I am working on our fourth album. I just heard the first master of one of the songs on the new album right there. A few songs are finished and a few are still a work in progress. It’s funny that I’m still working on it because some say to me I’m being too much of a perfectionist and I always think that’s not true; I just want to get the song to a level where it’s acceptable.
Do you adapt any of your songs when you play live?
Some people say that art is never complete, it is just abandoned. And if that has got any truth to it then I guess it’s just that whatever it is you’re thinking when you’re singing, or when you’re writing a song, it can alter over time. It’s about how you can stay lost in the song and the expression and stay there and don’t come back to having your feet on the ground and being aware of your surroundings. You’re just staying locked in the dream because then there is nothing in between you and the expression. But the more you’re tuned into reality and every detail of your surroundings then you are getting further away from the expression. So, I guess it changes the way you play and sing the song every time, depending on what dream you end up getting lost in. If that makes sense?
I understand. Also, you are known for singing with a strong Glaswegian accent. How important is it to you to stay true to your roots through music?
Being in this band and writing these songs in the beginning, it was the only place where I could go and naturally be me – there was nowhere else in the world I could go to do that. So, obviously, it’s important to me – but I think it’s important to everybody. It’s important to be able to find ways to take what I receive from the world and reflect that back in a way that is me being true.
Glasvegas head to The Georgian Theatre, Stockton on. Tickets, priced at £17.00 in advance, are available from georgiantheatre.co.uk.
