Racing to a hometown gig

Photo: Mike McArdle

IN FULL flow . . . Last Race Home

THEY'VE not been together 12 months yet, but already the bright lights could well be set to beckon for exciting collective Last Race Home.

The locally-based six-piece folk/rock-inspired outfit - guitar/vocalist Denis Ferrige, guitarist Steven O'Toole, drummer Jim Corry, bassist Phil McArdle, trumpet player Stephen Greenhalgh and backing vocalist Donna Jevens - are an experienced bunch.

Aside from Jevens, they've all played in bands before (McArdle is still in Ok Broken), and that musical nous will be clear for all to hear when Last Race Home release their first (double 'A' side) single next month.

O'Toole said: "Everyone in a band wants to be heard and to turn the sound up to 11, but we've already learned that you can't do that.

"We're trying to create space in our songs - space so you can hear the drum solos, the bass, the trumpet solo.

"And how many gigs do people go to where they never know what the singer's saying?

"We've all been in bands, though, and this current one has learnt all of those things.

"This is bigger than any of us, so while we all have our bit, we also have to understand that when it's someone else's bit, we want the listener to hear.

"We think there's nothing worse than going to a gig and seeing that a band hasn't listened to one another. We go into the rehearsal room and you can hear everyone's bit.

"Everyone has their own input, it's spacious and it's great."

The two singles - 'Cornbrook Station' and 'How Close' - will be released alongside an eagerly-anticipated launch night at Manchester's cosy Three Minute Theatre on Friday, March 10.

O'Toole added: "The venue will give off a really good vibe, so we're excited about it.

"We could book a 500-seater and maybe half-fill it, but it just wouldn't have the same vibe about it.

"We know we're going to sell this gig out, and we can't wait because of that.

"There might be people who miss out, but they'll get the chance to see us again because we really want to share these singles with them and see what they think.

"It's just going to be a great night.

"People can go for a few drinks before, after work maybe, and then we'll all have a ball."

Ahead of the single launch, Last Race Home have been honing their unique sound at a number of open-mic nights recently.

Bassist McArdle said: "We have been keen to hit the open-mic nights. It gives us chance to see where our sound stands in today's music scene.

"The feedback we've had at some of those nights has been amazing. We've been getting mobbed when we've been coming off stage.

"We're just an unsigned band, but for what is a brand new band, the sound is totally different."

And the two new tunes?

"They're both totally different to anything that's out there at the moment," added McArdle.

"We don't think there's anything that's touching it to be honest.

"They're kind of punchy, and tunes that you can dance to straight away.

"There's lovely choruses in there and trumpet solos."

It all sounds very exciting, and lots of people who have already checked out Last Race Home live speak extremely positively about the band.

Vocalist Jevens has made a strong impression on McArdle, given she is by far the least experienced of the six talented musicians.

"Donna's vocals are growing all the time," added McArdle.

"It's the first band she's been in, but with each practise session she's building her confidence and it's awesome to be in a band with her.

"She's always dead happy and smiley, while we're just five grumpy blokes.

"If we've been in work all day, we're all grumpy, but Donna comes in and she's like a breath of fresh air.

"Everything is alright then."

Tickets for the March 10 launch night are going fast.

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