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Idlewild are a band with, let’s face it, a bit of a reputation. Not for groupies or chucking tellies out of windows or even serious drug habits, but for being a heavy band with a passion for disorganised, wild live gigs which tended to disintegrate into frenzies. How many people who bought “Hope Is Important” or “100 Broken Windows” would have foreseen that, seven years on from the release of their debut proper, they would be warming up for their country-wide tour with a series of acoustic dates? Roddy Woomble (vocals) himself seems relieved at how the gigs have gone: “It was really good actually. A challenge, but I think we pulled it off.” They even have plans to play the Acoustic Stage at Glastonbury this year. “We like to do something different,” says Roddy. “That’s why we’re not playing T in the Park this year, but the Isle of Skye festival.” It may seem strange that Idlewild wouldn’t play the largest festival of their home country, but it seems that they consider themselves to be at home wherever their fans are. “I don’t consider Edinburgh as a homecoming, I’m just as at home playing in Norwich.” The band are however, excited about ending their forthcoming tour in Edinburgh’s spectacular Usher Hall: “I just think it’s a beautiful venue” Roddy enthuses.
The band have been changing direction ever since the 2002 release of third album 'The Remote Part', which saw them take a much more emotional approach to their music, resulting in an increase in commercial success. Surely this increased pressure on the band for their fourth album? “Not really,” disagrees Roddy. “The pressure to produce a good album comes from ourselves.” After the departure of volatile bassist Bob Fairfoull, Idlewild seem to have gelled into more of a unit. For the first time, the songwriting on new album 'Warnings / Promises' was done by all five member of the band, which now also includes longtime live guitarist Allan Stewart, and new bassist Gavin Fox. How did Roddy find this different from working alone with Rod Jones, the band’s guitarist? “It was refreshing,” Roddy considers. “We weren’t all sitting around arguing, someone would come up with an idea, then we’d all work round it. It was a creative process.” Judging by the reviews for the album, which is released Monday 7th March, it’s a creative process which works well for the band. Allan and Gavin have now been in Idlewild for two years, and have settled well with Roddy, Rod, and the band’s drummer, Colin Newton. Roddy is satisfied with his band’s new structure: “They’re two of my best friends, and they’ve helped bring a fresh perspective to the band, bring us to a different place.”
Roddy admits that many of his influences aren’t contemporary (Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen are the first names out of his mouth), but likes the Bloc Party album, and also appreciates Sons and Daughters, Bright Eyes, and Emeliana Torini. So is there any chance Idlewild will be competing with some of their London counterparts and putting on a guerrilla gig? “It’s not really my cup of tea to be honest” laughs Roddy. “I prefer a good sound system. Maybe I’m just getting old. It represents the spirit of punk rock though, doesn’t it?”
The forthcoming tour will include “bits and pieces” from the first two albums, but will of course centre on “Warnings/ Promises” and 'The Remote Part'. Roddy doesn’t like the sound of himself on '100 Broken Windows' – “I sound like I’m on helium” - but has been surprised by the album’s longevity. They have 40 songs prepared for the tour, so the set will be different every night. “We have a lot of fans who come to more than one date on the tour,” Roddy smiles. “We like to make sure it’s still entertaining for them.”
On a final note, The REM Question has to be raised. Roddy thinks for a minute. “Do you know what, it’s flattering to be compared to REM. They’re a band who can pretty much do what they want now, and it’s not about journalists’ opinions on their music anymore.” It seems clear that, if Idlewild continue to produce exceptional albums and evolve as they’re doing now, it won’t be long before they’re in the same boat.
The next single from the new album is entitled “I Understand It”, and is an “uplifting” track. The single version released will be different to that on the album to “keep things more interesting”.
