Interview: Middleman
June 28, 2008 by Kane Fulton
Returning to our series of Live at Leeds features, we present you with our latest.. an interview with Leeds four piece Middleman. The band sell themselves as a band who write “vibrant, catchy tunes with booming basslines, bleepy melodies and smart lyrics, impossible to pigeonhole & raucous live.” We chat to bassist Lee and guitarist Krish about their second experience of Live at Leeds, what their favourite song is to play and what they’re getting up to over the summer.
AS: First things first, could you please introduce yourselves.
Lee: Yeah, I’m Lee, and I play bass in Middleman.
Krish: I’m Krish , and I play guitar in Middleman.
AS: How was playing at Live at Leeds for you? Was it good?
Lee: Awesome, yeah! We weren’t expecting it actually, I came straight from work and had to literally like, run out of the bus, take the gear on stage, set up, and start playing. It was really hectic! The venue was absolutely rammed..
AS: ..Yeah, I heard you attracted a more than decent crowd.
Lee: Great crowd, yeah! I mean we weren’t expecting it so it was a big surprise. We haven’t had a gig in three weeks because we’ve been recording a load of stuff.
AS: For the album?
Lee: Yeah, we’re going to be putting out an album soon. So yeah, it’s just like, it’s weird when you’re always in those practise and rehearsal rooms, you tend to forget how much fun you can have on stage.
Krish: Likewise, with it being about three weeks since we last played. We’re usually used to playing about three or four times a week. It’s quite refreshing to have a break actually. It’s nice, because we always realise that we love playing live. It’s well good. Well impressed!
AS: What’s your favourite song out of your set to play?
Krish: It always changes! Whatever seems to go down really well, I always get the most enjoyment out of that. I think today I really enjoyed playing that last one, it’s called ‘Can’t Hold Me Down’. It’s also because it was the middle of the day, and we managed to get a big group of people jumping up and down! That made my day. It’s great.
AS: Did you come to Live at Leeds last year?
Krish: Yeah, we played last year at the Brudenell [Social Club]. We played really early, well, about the same time actually. We played this other festival in Manchester straight away afterwards. What was it called?
Lee: D:Percussion? Yeah.
Krish: So basically we had to just play, and then get the hell out of there straight away!
AS: Would you say you’ve got your biggest following here in Leeds?
Krish: Yeah, I mean, we’ve been really lucky to have really good radio on the past couple of singles; so we have got a good collection of fans here and there, dotted around the country and stuff. We definitely have great support here in Leeds, it was magnificent.
AS: If you could play any venue in Leeds, where would it be?
Krish: I love the Brudenell Social Club, plus it’s right next to my house! [laughs].
Lee: My favourite place in Leeds used to be Dr Woo’s, down Call Lane. It’s actually just shut down, a couple of months back, but it was brilliant.
Krish: Unfortunately it got shut down because the residents above complained about the live music. It didn’t get shut down, but it was impossible for the guys who run the venue to do what they wanted with it, so it was pointless them doing it any more.
AS: What are Middleman up to in the immediate future?
Lee: At the minute we’re just recording and writing new material. We’re putting stuff together for the album so.. later this year, maybe? We’ll let you know!
Krish: We’ve got a really exciting thing coming up where we’re doing a bunch of workshops with a bunch of young people. We’re getting kids who play violins and brass to come and join us on stage. We’re planning on having about thirty people on stage with us at the festival over summer called the Garforth Arts festival. Basically we’re going to get a big orchestra joining us on stage - just for a one off gig. That’s really exciting, we’re on just before Richard Hawley. We’re looking forward to that one!
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