Eliza And The Bear

The Haunt, Pool Valley, Brighton, Saturday, October 10

AS it turns out Brighton played an important role in making London’s Eliza And The Bear focus on music as a potential career.

The band played The Haunt and St Mary’s Church at 2013’s city-wide celebration of new music The Great Escape.

They were so knocked out by the response of the crowd according to frontman James Kellegher they felt they should start taking it seriously.

“We were 21/22 when we started the band,” he says. “We had all been in bands which had done the toilet circuit and been through the idea we might be the biggest band in the world despite nobody coming to our shows.

“We were just five guys hanging out for a bit of fun, and then there were these people going mental, catching on and enjoying what we were doing.”

After the shows the band got together and started to write some more material and release a few singles. Much of that early material will feature on their eponymous debut album, coming out in February.

“We felt like the album should be a scrapbook from day one of the band up to the day we started recording,” says Kellegher.

“There are lots of songs on the album that never got a proper release. We already have a lot of songs in the public domain, but we wanted to make some of them shine.”

To help create their first grand statement the band teamed up with Kings Of Leon and James Bay producer Jacquire King, who took them to his recording space at Blackbird Studios in Nashville.

“The level of musical talent in Nashville is unbelieveable,” says Kellegher.

“We were joking around that we should do an open mic night for a laugh – but when we went to one the quality of musicians was so high we said no way!

“One day there was a whisper Buddy Guy was in the studio next door, so we spent part of the time crowded around the door to hear his guitar amp.”

The country sounds associated with Nashville aren’t necessarily the first thing you think of when listening to Eliza And The Bear.

Their trademark sound is a joyous upbeat indie rock, based around guitar, piano and Kellegher’s uplifting vocal.

The songs were built up from four or five years constant playing on the music scene – although King added his own elements to the sound.

“When we first arrived we had a week of pre-production,” says Kellegher.

“Lion’s Heart turned from possibly not even being on the album to a single.

“Jacquire had this idea of speeding up the song and adding another chorus, which really brought it to life. It was hard work, but worth it in the end.

“Some songs became more guitar heavy, and some went the opposite way, more focused on the piano. It’s changed what we do live and where we place the songs in the setlist.”

As for the future the band has already penned between ten and 12 songs for a follow-up album.

“There’s a thing if we’re not active or doing something we get incredibly bored,” laughs Kellegher.

“We are blessed not to have jobs at the moment – so if it all comes to nothing at least we can say we worked hard at it instead of sitting around feeling entitled.”

Kellegher has a refreshingly realistic take on the band’s chances.

“No matter how many shows you play and how good you think your songs are, people might not like them. There are so many factors into who hears your music and who picks you up. It’s all the luck of the draw.

“The crowd reaction to the songs keeps you going – people are singing along, the songs still feel fresh to us.

“In this band we’ve learned more about the industry and all that goes with it. We’ve realised signing a deal isn’t like a gateway to stardom.”

Support from The Lafontaines and Viola Beach.

Doors 7pm, tickets £10. Call 01273 606312.