CHOON

An Afternoon With Razorlight

Sitting in the garden, drinking Earl Grey, and discussing golf. Sounds the perfect afternoon’s entertainment had I just picked up my pension, but it’s not very ‘rock’n’roll’. It turns out however, that these are just some of the electrifying pastimes of one of Britain’s biggest bands, Razorlight.

“I’m trying to get into golf’ claims drummer Andy Burrows. “I’ve had a couple of lessons now, and I’ve started reading golf magazines”. The gardens of Bournemouth’s Royal Bath Hotel suddenly seemed a surprisingly apt location for such an exchange, as I grabbed a cuppa with Andy and Carl prior the the band’s recent sell out gig at the BIC.

Having recently returned from a U.S. tour and Texas’s South by Southwest festival, I had looked forward to stories of the boys’ debauchery and wanton misdemeanour on the road. Of groupies and drugs, and trashed hotel rooms. I was instead greeted with tales of sightseeing and country pubs. “We’re not that crazy compared to some bands really. We’re just very lucky because we get to go out every night. There aren’t really many drugs about or anything like that. We’re a drinking band, very sociable. If you do a normal job and then come and spend a couple of days with us you probably would think ‘bloody hell, when does this stop?’, but it’s not too bad” reveals Burrows. “Our crew are worse behaved than us, they’re the ones you need to talk to about debauchery!” adds bassist Carl Dalemo.

Having conquered the U.K charts with two multi-platinum albums, a number one single and various sold out tours, it’s a different kettle of fish altogether for the band across the pond, trading festivals and arenas for sweaty club gigs.

“It’s different playing gigs in the States because we only play to a few people across there. You can play to a thousand people in New York or L.A., but in between it’s back down to just a few hundred. It’s the same for a lot of artists, bands that are huge over here are over there playing in tiny venues. It’s nice playing small gigs, but it’s a fantastic feeling playing to thousands of people all singing your songs back at you. That noise when you walk on the stage is pretty cool. We went to Mexico City half way through the tour as well. We’d never been there before but it was completely insane; 3,000 crazy Mexicans just going absolutely ballistic. It was great, they were just so up for it. If you compare gigs like that to ones in somewhere like Minneapolis, it’s pretty tame.”

Though the band might not be getting recognised on street corners all over America, it’s a different story over here. Even now, sat in a quiet hotel garden in Bournemouth, fans are keen to show their appreciation. In this case three 10 year old girls giggle their way over to grab a quick autograph. “They’re not usually that young” claims Andy, “honest!”

When they’re not stealing the hearts of pre-pubescent girls however, there’s no denying that Razorlight are emerging as one of the press stories of the year. With Johnny appearing on May’s cover of Vogue (only the seventh man ever to do so), and gracing the coveted front pages of various other publications including Q and NME (and now Choon!), the band are securing their status as one of Britain’s finest exports. Recent speculation Involving Johnny’s relationship with Spiderman sweetheart Kirsten Dunst only helps fuel such media interest.

“I dunno if they’re an official item yet”, states Bassist Carl Dalemo reluctantly “but she came to Exeter with us a couple of days ago. She’s realy nice”. “Yeah she’s lovely” adds Burrows, “she’s around. That’s about all we know.” It’s clear that neither are keen to spill any beans on the couple, who appear cautious of the media all of a sudden.

“I don’t like the big magazines, it’s all just politics.”

“I don’t like the big magazines” states Burrows, “It’s all just politics. It’s like we’ll do this for you if you do something for us. Thankfully we’ve reached a stage where we’re big enough not to have to worry about all that, we can just get on with our own thing.” Carl chips in: “Smaller publications seem to me to be more genuine. People will write an article because they want to, and because they’re genuinely interested in the band”

Sceptical of the media they may be, but reluctant to use their status for a good cause they certainly aren’t. Heavily involved with charities such as make poverty history, and having played recent gigs for Voice of Slavery and of course Live8, Borrell looks set to be the next Geldoff.

“I think it’s important for us to use our position to promote things like that, because it’s just not very hard at all. We’re in a position where people are semi-listening to us anyway, so it’s just no trouble. Whether it’s playing a gig or whatever, it’s important because it’s just so easy” says Burrows. “If you care about something and you’re in a position to do anything about it at all then you should” adds Carl.

For a band with such massive success, and with a reputation for certain members being slightly ‘over-confident’, it’s refreshing to find that they have their feet planted firmly on the ground. “We don’t really see this is a job as such, if it is it’s a very good job” claims Carl. “I think we have a job to do – to make good music, but I wouldn’t call it a job. It’s just fantastic! It does get heavy at times but then you just stop and think ‘shit, this is cool!”. “It does have some downsides though” adds Andy. “I miss home a lot and don’t get to go back that often.” I find it hard being away from my girlfriend so much” continues Carl. “We don’t get to see each other very much. I obviously want time off work to go back to Sweden every once in a while so it’s a bit annoying trying to plan holidays sometimes. I’m happy though. It’s just so amazing getting to play to so many people, and to see so many different places”

“If you care about something and you’re in a position

to do anything about it at all then you should”

So what’s next for Razorlight? A band that have achieved so much in such a relatively short space of time. “People always ask this, are you still hungry for more? The thing is it’s not as if we achieved a goal, we just want to keep on releasing good music and if it’s popular then great. Make a third album, that’s the next thing. So it seems the band have no plans to quit any time soon, which is good news for the rest of us. Say what you will about Razorlight, their mouthy front-man or even the music, but there’s no denying that there’s something special about them. With multi-platinum albums and sell out tours under their belts, they must be doing something right.

By Jack Marshall

.