You recently had the first gig of your longest tour to date in Germany, how did it go?
It was really good, it was cool. People weren’t necessarily expecting what they got, but they got into it.
You played Cavern earlier this year. What did you think of it and what would make it better next time?
Yeah, Cavern was wicked, it was one of our favourite venues on the last tour. Just because everyone was really nice. It was efficient and everything, and well organised; a cool little place. I’d like more of the same. Obviously it’d be cool to see some new faces there and whatnot.
Last year your current bassist, Miles, joined the band. How has he changed the band dynamic?
Miles has been with us since July 2014. Obviously we write a bit differently now. It sounds a bit different now, but we prefer it. It’s cool to have someone who brings a different influence to the table. Well, he’s been with us now for just over a year, so he’s definitely got his feet under the table. We’ve been mates for a few years before he joined anyway so it wasn’t like having a stranger suddenly come in and start booting around.
You’ve played with some loud bands before like Pissed Jeans, Sleaford Mods and God Damn. But you claim to be the loudest live band in Britain at the moment. What is it about Youth Man that makes them so “loud”?
We’re just noisy people. It’s just that kind of thing. I think a lot of it’s down to me, coz I’m not the quietest of drummers and I think Kaila and Miles obviously try to compete with that, so we’re pretty loud. Just doing bigger and bigger things and turning the volume up more and more. We pretty much try to “out loud” each other, absolutely.
So what makes a great Youth Man show?
We always try to bring the same sort of energy to a show because we enjoy playing live, that’s how we express ourselves. Obviously it’s good when the audience are particularly receptive to it. We like a bit of crowd-surfing and whatnot. Drum kits have got smashed up, Miles has smashed his bass into, like, a million pieces. I think that’s what makes a show, everyone getting involved, everyone getting on the same page.
You’re also an accomplished band now, you’ve been in Rolling Stone’s “top ten new artists you need to know”, several radio DJ’s rate you, including Zane Lowe. You’ve played several festivals too. What do you feel is your biggest achievement as a band so far?
For me, personally, Montreux Jazz Festival was my proudest achievement I’ve ever had because I never thought I’d play there, ever, let alone in my first band and at the age of 22. Also this tour we’re on is wicked; it’s our longest tour. When we first started playing we didn’t have any idea of doing shows outside Birmingham let alone actual proper touring. I’d say this German tour is our biggest achievement as a band.
So what is Youth Man’s ultimate goal?
I don’t know really. As a musician I think the aim really is to be able to make a living by playing music. Well, not in the sense of being a billionaire rock star and sticking a load of stuff up your nose and partying every night. Just being able to do what we love doing on a full time basis would be wicked. If as a result of that we get recognition and blah blah blah, that would be great. We just want to spread the word and make music that people dig.
Where does the name Youth Man come from and what is its relevance to the band and the music you make?
Well, we were looking for a name and me and Kaila went to see Henry Rollins do some spoken word. Youth Man is a character Rollins alludes to whenever he’s talking about him trying to live like a youth in his advancing years. When he said it we both looked at each other and were like “ooh, that’s a good name” and kept it.
Is there anything you want to say to Exeposé readers before your gig in Cavern next month?
Yeah, come to the show! Come to the show and get down and dirty with us [chuckles].
Youth Man play Exeter Cavern’s indie night with Tigerclub on 21 November 2015. Tickets can be purchased here.