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From the Pit, South West were recently granted exclusive access to some behind-the-scenes action with Carrier as they prepared for their highly anticipated headline show at The Junction this Friday night.
First up is the stage setup, featuring risers at the front to ensure that vocalist Kris and guitarists Seb and Matt are clearly visible to the audience. Even bassist Jonah has a box to step up on, while Matt on drums occupies one side, leaving ample space for an impressive array of lights—lots of lights.
Bringing in their own lighting technician, Matt, is a savvy move that reflects the band's ambition. As Kris explains, "We want people to experience who we are as a band. Playing these songs to a crowd is an incredible feeling, and we want to share that with the audience."
I watch as Matt works his magic with his array of equipment, and the stage comes alive with dancing lights. Meanwhile, Jonah is busy repositioning lights for the umpteenth time, striving for the perfection that defines the band. A few hiccups arise in the form of the troublesome 'inner ears,' but The Junction's very own sound guru, Dom, is on hand to resolve them. While managing this, he deftly adjusts knobs and sliders to achieve that perfect sound. Everything this evening exudes professionalism, which is exactly what I expect from this talented group.
A few hiccups arise in the form of the troublesome 'inner ears,' but The Junction's very own sound guru, Dom, is on hand to resolve them. While managing this, he deftly adjusts knobs and sliders to achieve that perfect sound. Everything this evening exudes professionalism, which is exactly what I expect from this talented group.
During a break, we discuss touring as this show kicks off their UK and Ireland tour, and the excitement is palpable, especially for Seb, who is gearing up for his first tour in Ireland. "I couldn't make it last time," he remarks, "Big Local (Liam from Lacerta fame) stood in, but I can make it this time...sorry, Liam," he adds with a twinkle in his eye.
We also chat about their recent play of 'The Hell in Me' on Radio 1's BBC Introducing Rock with Alyx Holcombe. "Basically, we received an email saying Alyx Holcombe played our track on his show, and here’s the link. We were like, oh cool, that’s awesome!" Kris explains.
Jonah adds, "We were quite happy—well, I was anyway—because we submitted it just before the release, and they kindly played it within a week of the launch, which we couldn’t have asked for anything better." A fantastic bit of free PR for the band!
By now, most of the technical gremlins have been sorted, and I’m treated to the final run-through of 'The Hell in Me.' With everything working smoothly, Kris promises to give 75% to ensure his voice is at its peak come Friday night. After witnessing the song performed live, I can confidently say it's a banger.
And that’s it for now. The band is ready, the stage is set—one question remains: are you?
