Words with: Howie from The Stands

The Stands are a Liverpool band that we should stand up and take notice of (pun intended). They have recently finished a sell-out tour supporting Oasis and fellow Scouse buddies The Coral. They have been name checked in The Face and ID magazine as the ones to watch in 2003…all this and they are still unsigned. With a potential record deal looming with the one and only Noel Gallagher, who popped into Bandwagon last month to have another peek at the cheeky chappies, surely the only way is up for The Stands. Lead singer, Howie talks to Gigwise about their past, present and potentially sparkling future.

Who are the stands?
Howie Payne (sings and guitar)
Dean Arvara (bass)
Luke Thomson (guitar)
Steve Pilgrim (drums)

How did The Stands get together?
I was in a band a while ago called The Big Kids and they split. So I decided to get
together a backing group to play the folksy acoustic nights at clubs with me. So I got together with my brother, who is now in The Zutons, Edgar Jones now with The Stairs, Martin Campbell who is now playing with Richard Ashcroft and Robbie from The Hokum Clones. They were my first backing group. Then I wanted to look for a more permanent group. It was through footie that I met Luke and we used to go to acoustic nights together. Then I was introduced to Steve by a mate from Crosby and he was just perfect for the band. We got together in August 2002, made some demos together and posted them round.

Have you got any major influences for the sound of The Stands?
Well, I'm friends with the Bandwagon lot, I love The Bandits and we're good mates. But at the risk of sounding clichéd, I am into good music. I can't put my finger on any specific genres or bands because my friends introduce me to new stuff all the time. Music that appeals to me has got a heart beat and breathes a little, do you know what I mean? Not one particular genre. I do like Bob Dylan, and at the end of the day, I love The Beatles!

What was your first record you ever bought?
I think the first record I ever got was given to me by my elder sister's boyfriend. He was a good bloke…actually, come to think of it , I think he was a bit of a rogue! He did have good taste in music though and he told me I should be into the same kind of stuff. So he gave me a copy of The Stranglers covering The Kinks, All Day and All of the Night with the original Kinks' version on it. I reckon I bought Thriller quite early on too.

And last record?
Oh, I was given a load a Christmas. American Beauty by The Grateful Dead was one of them. I also get sent new stuff all the time so I am aware of the bands out at the moment. The lads of The Coral give me load of records too. They recently gave me a record by The Byrds and some Tim Buckley stuff, which is great.

If you were to make a compilation today, which 3 songs come into your head immediately to put on it?
Oh my god, um, let me think, I reckon it would have to be, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down by The Band, Sad Eyed Lady of The Lowland by Bob Dylan and Candy Man by Grateful Dead. I'm beginning to get all country!

You are often mentioned in the same breath as The Coral and The Bandits, because you are all from Liverpool. How do you feel about the whole 'Cosmic Scouser' label?
I don't even know what that means! What is it? It was probably made up by someone that has never been to Liverpool! But of course I don't mind being identified with and compared with my friends. They are all fantastic musicians. We've got lots of history, as friends as well as musically. Being associated with a particular trend is only as drag if it becomes a fashion icon and when the people involved believe in it because of the iconic value instead of just being friends. I don't think that anyone sounds like each other. We all try to have our own style and if we sound similar its more a case of all liking music as a whole rather than trying to sound the same just because that's what's expected.

You recently supported Oasis and The Coral. How was that?
Yeah we did one with Oasis in the Royal Court in December. It was the smallest venue Oasis had performed in for 10 years or something! But it gave them a high profile and the tickets were sold for stupid prices. But the night was boss, cos it was in Liverpool. We also did five or six dates with The Coral in September/ October time. And we're still really good mates with both bands.

It's in the music press that Noel Gallagher may be looking to sign you on his own label 'Sour Mash'. Is there any truth in this?
Oh yeah, he came to Bandwagon, that was a boss night! It was crazy. People were queuing right down the road to get into Zanzibar. It was great but it meant that some of the Bandwagon regulars who normally buy tickets on the door, couldn't get in because the tickets were sold out in advance. I didn't want that to happen and I wasn't expecting that kind of response, but it was a brilliant night. Noel is a mate of ours and I didn't even know his label was still going, so it was very flattering to hear the news. It would be good to have Noel, but we'll go with whoever is best for us. We're in talks with lots of people at present, as there is still no firm decision.

So what next for The Stands? Anything to look out for?
Reckon we should have our first single released in April. Not sure who that will be released with yet obviously. We're performing with a band called The Burn next week. We'll be in Manchester Life Café on Monday 17th February, Glasgow King Tutts on Tuesday 18th, London's 93 Feet East, on Brick Lane on Wednesday 19th and Nottingham's Heavenly Social on the 20th. After that, we're coming to Bandwagon on the 1st March with The Burn again.

Photo by Ray Kilpatrick