The High all fired up

John Matthews (left) and Andy Couzens

‘It’s good for the soul being back with your old friends, being involved with music generally again. It’s great’


THE creative juices are flowing freely once again for John Matthews and Andy Couzens of The High.

Former Radclyffe School pupil Matthews, and Couzens, planted 1990s Madchester favourites The High firmly back on to the musical map in the spring when they played their first city gig in more than two decades at the Gigantic Indie All-Dayer at a packed-out Academy.

It was a triumphant return alongside bassist Tony Meehan and drummer Jack Couzens — Andy’s son — and now, after almost six months of dedicated rehearsing and preparation, The High are looking forward to headlining their own show at the Academy 3 on Sunday, December 13.

Matthews said: “We took a bit of time out after the all-dayer, but since we’ve been back in we’ve been practising hard, writing new songs and basically just trying to keep them all together.

“Something has changed recently, something has stirred within me, and I am feeling a lot more creative.

“Initially when we came back in May we were just feeling our way back into the music, but after shows at York and the Academy, and now with more to come and studio time booked in, it’s driven us all on.

“We’re all enjoying working together right now.

“Andy and I had been away for so long, we didn’t know how the punters would react, but May went so well that has helped fire us up again.

“In fact quite a few people in the audience at Gigantic hadn’t actually seen us before.

“When The High were happening in the late 80s and early 90s they just weren’t around then, but their reactions were good and that has helped give us the drive and the get-up-and-go to do more.”

It promises to be a great night on December 13 as support will be provided by My Igloo and Still City Sound — Jack Couzens’ other band.

Jack (19) certainly is trying his best to make his mark on the Manchester music scene at present.

“Jack’s really busy at the moment,” said Matthews. “He’s preparing a set with Still City Sound, he’s rehearsing with us and he’s just been touring with (Stockport favourites) Blossoms as part of their road crew.

“He’s been all around the UK with them, he’s off to France, then Blossoms are supporting Paul Weller in Ireland.

“Jack’s a multi-instrumentalist and he’s writing and recording his own stuff all the time. He is a busy chap, but hopefully we can hang on to him for the foreseeable future and see how it goes.”

The High are spending some time in the studio recording new material in December, but as far as 2016 is concerned, Matthews is unsure what the future holds.

He added: “We’ve not really thought too much about next year to be honest. Even when we’d agreed to do the Gigantic All-Dayer earlier this year there was no real plan.

“We just don’t know what the future holds, but we do just want to keep playing together.

Bonus

“The new songs we’ve come up with have been a real bonus, and it is good for the soul being back with your old friends and being involved with music generally again. It’s great.

“I’d love to do more gigs, though I do have to admit that singing live is not something I particularly relish.

“I do get nervous, but yes, I’d love to get out there more.”

Tickets for The High’s gig at the Academy 3 — which also features New Order’s tour DJ TinTin — are now available via the link on the band’s Twitter page, @BoxSetGo.