Photo: Press/Richard Gray
Drenge make one hell of a noise. It's a brutal blast of scuzzy garage and pure aggression - which makes it one of the few sounds that can upset the normally reserved and peaceful tranquility of the very middle class Latitude Festival.
But upset it they certainly did. You could go as far to say they tore Suffolk a new one in a way that only Northerners can. Not a bad reaction considering they've yet to even drop their debut album.
"I got a little scared," says singer and guitarist Eoin Loveless, shortly after stepping off stage. "I saw a little boy get carried out of the crowd. Some people got hurt. I don't condone it but there's very little that you can do to stop it."
That's simply the impact of Drenge. Nothing translates so effectively as raw power, and that's a language that the Loveless brothers speak very fluently. "We're lucky that other humans who listen to the music that we've made understand is and does and they enjoy it," continues Eoin. "The communication between us is A-OK and we're good to go. Our album isn't one of the most clever records that you'll hear this year but it works and it all adds up."
Drenge live at Latitude festival 2013, photo by Richard Gray
That simplicity and energy is a trademark and a thread that runs through a great many bands hailing from the North at the moment - especially those signed to Hello Thor, Gringo and more or less everyone that's part of the Leeds scene. However, Drenge are from Derbyshire - a key difference. Do they still feel part of some kind of movement?
"The scene in Leeds is fucking ridiculous and I'm really envious of it," admits drummer Rory. "I really want to move to Leeds just so I can go to the Brudnell every night and watch the support bands."
Eoin continues: "Leeds has always had a very distinct DIY scene. Bands love each other and it's like a family. It's almost impenetrable and you're outside and not a Leeds band. It almost feels a bit exclusive, but they're such amazing people and such talented musicians from a city that produces so much great music. I just can't say that there's a 'New New Yorkshire' or anything like that - they're just bands, but the best and most honest guitar bands in the country come from the North. It's where guitar music has always been strong."
Drenge live at Latitude 2013, by Richard Gray
We put it to Drenge that despite the brilliant quality and consisency of these bands, geography and being distant from the whimsical trends of the south often means that very few of them will find themselves on magazine covers or daytime radio playlists.
"Good!" laughs Eoin. "Keep them out of the spotlight and just let them do what they do. Let people find them."
Brother Rory agrees - adding that ambition and a passion for what they do is enough for a band to thrive, without ever cracking the mainstream: "The amazing thing about a lot of these bands is that they're so anti-careerist yet they're making a life just out of doing what they love. These are bands with day jobs but are still signed to a record label and doing whatever they want."
Being allowed to exist outside of the spotlight is all very well and good, but there are instances when an artist won't have a choice. That very inescapable thing happened to Drenge when the Labour Party's former general election co-ordinator Tom Watson MP wrote an open resignation etter to Ed Miliband, where he namechecked the Derbyshire duo.
"John Humphrys asked me why you were not at Glastonbury this weekend," he wrote. "I said Labour leaders can't be seen standing in muddy fields listening to bands. And then I thought how terribly sad that this is true. So: be that great Labour leader that you can be, but try to have a real life too. And if you want to see an awesome band, I recommend Drenge."
Cue a media storm of unwelcome attention.
"Now there are politics journalists who suddenly feel like they're music journalists, and start interpreting your songs into what they mean for the wider world and what Tom Watson means by liking your band," sighs Eoin. "The worst thing is that we're just a rock n' roll band. Rock n' roll has been around since the Rolling Stones, so all MPs are probably fans of that to some extent, so it's not like we're anything new musically - there's just nothing to talk about. We just play rock songs and what else is there to say? We're not overtly political, for good or bad. It doesn't come into our music, so why should we go into music."
Eoin adds: "Even when we eventually talked about it, it became a headline - and the headline was 'no comment'. How does that work? How does a no comment become a headline? That says it all really, there's nothing to be sensational about."
But, as Rory adds, they retain their very Northern resolve and humour: "For our new stuff, we are writing a concept album on the history of the Labour Party. It's called 'Red-y to Rock' or 'Red-y Milliband'."
Drenge's debut album is in fact self-titled and will be released on 19 August. They are set to perform a string of UK festival dates including Kendal Calling, Y Not, Boardmasters, Knee Deep, Bestival and Reading & Leeds before a full UK headline tour in October.
