The Nightingales

The Nightingales have always known where they’re at, creating intriguing, complex, unique songs that stay with you. Formed in 1979, loved by Peel, this post punk outfit led by Rob Lloyd have weathered the storms, managed to stay popular with the fans who really matter, and are strong as ever, with a brand new EP due this year and nonstop touring. In fact they’re playing the Arts Centre this month. Drummer Fliss Kitson hails from Norwich, and I spoke to her and Rob about how it feels to play a show in her hometown, keeping those day jobs and recording in Faust’s German studio.

In the late eighties the band stopped working but were reborn in 2004. What did you want to achieve at that point by getting The Nightingales together again Rob?

Initially there were no objectives as such. The band were offered some money to do a one off gig but soon after were also offered a bunch of gigs in America, including the SXSW festival in Austin, Texas. I had written a few songs and thought it would be a good idea to have a new 7" single to coincide with our U.S jaunt. Then I decided to copy Slade and release a new 45 every six weeks - and this was when there was no longer a vinyl pressing plant in the UK. It was a stupid idea and almost bankrupted us, but it did lead to interest from other labels and promoters and also re-ignited my interest in being a 'contemporary' group rather than a 'reformed' band.

You’ve been incredibly busy since then releasing loads of singles and albums, endless touring and playing festivals. Has it been challenging to return to that sort of schedule and lifestyle after some time away doing ‘normal’ jobs?

The challenge nowadays is being a supposedly uncommercial band and making it work. Were we young up and comers or even willing to be a nostalgia act I reckon our bookings, fees and everything else would all make our continuing, er, “progress” an easier slog but hey ho, it is what it is. We do our own thing and have to run with whatever that brings. None of us makes a living from being a Nightingale so 'normal' jobs or alternative income are not really a thing of the past.

Early in 2017 you’re heading out on a tour that runs from Edinburgh down to Southend via Norwich. Fliss, you’re from our fine city – how does it feel to play a hometown show for you?

I'm looking forward to coming back to Norwich - we haven't played for the last two or three years of touring. I used to feel heavily under pressure playing my hometown, it would always be at the start of our tour and the first shows are always a work in progress or a mess. I was pretty involved in the Norwich music scene a few years ago with my previous band Violet Violet, and after having a break from it I'm looking forward to seeing the old and the new gig-going faces. The Arts Centre is a stunning venue with the best staff – I hope it’ll be a rockin' gig!

Rob, you’ve been through a few drummers since reforming – what was it about Fliss’ style and attitude that worked with the band?

I was a big fan of her previous band Violet Violet and from the first time I saw her play I thought she would be ace for the Nightingales if it could ever work out. She has got even better over time and since joining this band but I never doubted that we would work well together musically. But, despite the Violets playing with us a lot, I did not really know Fliss as a person and thought maybe we might not get on but it transpires that she is a right game sort and we get on very well indeed.

You’ve recently been supporting The Damned and The Membranes – what sort of reception have you received from those sets, and how did you find the headliners as performers?

I think sections of the audiences for the Damned, Buzzcocks and the Undertones have been quite bemused by us - we are not exactly verse, chorus, repeat and do not play any 'hits' - but in general we do go down well because quite simply we are good and most gig goers seem to know a good group when confronted by one. And the bands we play with tend to be Nightingales fans so it is a fairly comfortable ride.

You had an immense amount of support from John Peel, and in fact recorded more sessions for him than anyone else other than Half Man Half Biscuit. Earlier this year you helped to celebrate his legacy and life at events like Unpeeled 16, Keep It Peel and Taped Off Peel. What did having him onside mean to the band in the early days?

We do a fistful of Peel celebration gigs every year. John 'discovered' my pre-Nightingales band the Prefects, he was responsible for my first ever visit to a recording studio and became a warm and generous friend as well as our main champion. Obviously his support was much appreciated and without him I don't know if a bunch of scummy youths from the Midlands would have ever gotten the exposure to be able to continue in earnest.

Marc Riley is continuing Peel’s support for you as you did a session for him earlier this year. Is it important to you to still be played on the radio and, more importantly, to play live on the radio to show fans what you can offer?

Marc and his producer Michelle have been great supporters of the band - at times the only ones that played us on the radio - and of course it helps to get played and perform live on the radio because there will always be someone listening that is yet to get hip to the 'gales glory and we can try n snap 'em up. The internet stuff tends to need people to come to you I think and experience has taught me that to rely on others is no good, you have to go at them.

There have been some hints on your social media that you might be releasing something new for us in 2017?

Yes. Before our February tour a six track 10" vinyl EP called Become Not Becoming will be released Jan 27th with a full length album later in the year, plus a possible single with a guest collaborator but there have been a few setbacks on that so we will see. At least now we have a label at last that actually understand the group and want to do more than one release with us - Tiny Global Productions, based in Budapest but with worldwide distribution - hurrah - and a bit of spunk - double hurrah.

Your latest album Mind Over Matter was recorded at Faust’s studio in Germany. I bet that place is filled with exciting equipment and instruments?

Indeed it is. There is a huge store room full of great gear. I think my favourite find so far is a hairdryer with a rubber glove attached to the end with the tip of one finger cut off and with a recorder inserted. Jo from Faust is a good bloke and a mate of ours - he played on our No Love Lost album and will be playing in the band at at least one show in Germany in March, and our bassist Andi is the house engineer at the Faust Studio so we try to record there whenever we can.

What sort of audiences do you draw now? Are they a mixture of there-from-the beginning stalwarts and young un’s?

Yes, exactly that. At first it was like the league of bald headed gentlemen looking for a nostalgic night out but as we have released more albums and played more gigs in the last ten years than the 'old days' we have a constantly evolving following, including the more open minded older fans. The best improvement is the number of females that get it compared to olden times.

The Nightingales play at Norwich Arts Centre on 20th February. Tickets available from norwichartscentre.co.uk