Scottish six-piece Flood of Red play Central Station in Wrexham tonight with a reputation as a big up and coming band Mark Taylor spoke to lead singer Jordan Spiers.
“It's a dream come true,” Jordan Spiers is sitting in a van somewhere in the countryside on the way to the next gig, he is the singer for a band called Flood of Red, laughing at the notion these Scottish school friends are actually touring the country, headlining shows in front of packed crowds every night.
“We started out as a trio when we were around 14/15, just playing music for our friends; it was all just for fun.
“We wrote our own songs, organised gigs and got our friends to come along, it wasn’t complicated, we recorded a CD ourselves, that got us bigger gigs, and suddenly we were playing shows in Glasgow city centre and it wasn’t just our friends, there were a lot of people coming along.”
The complete line-up is Sean McGroarty and Calum Doris on guitar, Jamie McGowan bass, Dale Gallacher on keyboards, and drummer Graham Griffith, the trio soon became a gang of six, fleshing out the sound which is about to roll into Wrexham before a series of homecoming gigs in Scotland.
After that? The small matter of a European tour.
“The bands that we liked, Idlewild, Hell is for Heroes, Refuse, we used to go watch them and they inspired us, we would go away after gigs and write songs,”
The band recorded their debut album in Baltimore, Maryland under the tutelage of punk super-producer Brian McTernan in his personal studio.
Spiers recalls the time spent recording in the notorious city; “It was very surreal, it was the first time we’d been to America, and it was January, and it was almost like a Christmas holiday, but crazier. And better.”
The band's work ethic was a perfect fit for McTernan; “We respect him a great deal and it was an amazing experience, but he never let us get lost in it, we were so busy and he would constantly make sure we were alive to everything that was going on and immersed in the album.”
While recording only took a month, the album itself was a year in creation, Spiers says the band are perfectionists and will not settle for anything they are unhappy with, “We were up at the crack of dawn, and we were still fine-tuning at midnight, we’d sit up and try and improve the songs, then we’d play them for Brian the next day, and you know, he pushed us hard.”
Determined to do things their own way, Flood of Red are dedicated to bringing the music direct to the fans, accepting that file-sharing in music today cannot be ignored, they are using it to their advantage: “We decided to cut out the middleman and are offering a first release of album to download through our website for one dollar before it goes on general sale.
“Our fans come to our show and they have helped us get where we are and this is a thank you to them.
“We always take time to listen to them after shows, they have come out of their way to see us, going out and speaking to people wins you fans, and it’s something we enjoy.”
Spiers has fond memories of the last time Flood of Red hit Wrexham, “It had been two years since we’d put out any music before this release, and we have been itching to get out there and play.
“I remember our set at the Central Station venue the last time we were here, the crowd were very receptive to us so we’re expecting another big show when we get to Wrexham.”
He laughs and says it again like he can hardly believe it, “It really is a dream come true, back then none of us thought it would actually happen, touring and playing gigs every night it’s the best feeling ever.”
Flood of Red play Central Station on Thursday 8 October.
New album ‘Leaving Everything Behind’ to be released 19th October 2009
Single ‘Home Run (1997)’ to be released 5th October