Long Read - Demob Happy are ready to dive head first into their next tour!
Demob Happy really have built up a head of steam as they charge into the later months of the year, which sees them on track for a huge tour, following the release of the brilliant new record ‘Divine Machines’, an album which was gifted to fans on May 26th this year.
Since the release, the group have been attracting heaps of attention from all angles, and for good reason. Brilliant singles preceded the record in the form of numbers like the uber-cool ‘Run Baby Run’. These were performed to some untypical crowds for the band when they opened for the likes of DMA’S at Manchester’s historic O2 Apollo. Despite not being there for Demob, audience members were unable to ignore the brilliance of the new tracks. Being able to speak to the frontman Matthew Marcantonio was a real pleasure, as he delved into the details of the latest record, the meaning and making of a number of tracks as well as the feeling of the band ahead of their upcoming tour.
First off, we had to get into how Matthew and the rest of the Demob Happy members had felt the new record had been received by listeners. Two words summed this up: “Overwhelmingly positive.” The reception of ‘Divine Machines’ has been better than anything the band have released prior to this point, and fairly so. The album is rich in quality as well as the heaviness that we’ve come to know and love from Demob Happy.
It wouldn’t have been a conversation about the record without talking over the single ‘Run Baby Run’, which really did excite fans for a full body of work. Matthew shared the extremely fascinating fact that it is both the newest and oldest number on the record. It’s a track that has “always hung around” the band, with ideas about what the track could be floating around for the past 6/7 years, yet it was one of the very last to be recorded. Capturing the feel of the song in the present day, despite it being an older idea, was no easy feat, and so the Matthew and the group should be highly praised.
Having seen the track when Demob Happy supported DMA’s several weeks back, the occasion of playing such a historic venue in the form of Manchester’s O2 Apollo could not be ignored. Winning over a crowd as a support act is a tough task, but the group managed it with ease. Matthew said: “There were some confused faces, but when people get it, it’s like a lightbulb moment.” This couldn’t hold more weight. There were a notable amount of crowd members who became more and more engulfed by the beautiful riff-y mayhem that is Demob Happy. Matthew’s appreciation for the fans was clear, and it’s plain to see that the band relish the relationship between themselves and their faithful supporters.
Delving further into the group’s latest album, it was impossible to ignore the track ‘Hades, Baby’. It’s got both the heavy rhythm and brilliant lyricism. The band achieved the sound using a “buffet of stuff” in terms of instruments and effects, with Matthew saying that the group even used a Squier Stratocaster to achieve some of the sounds on the record. The frontman labelled ‘Hades, Baby’ “A fuck you to the billionaire class”, and a track which addresses the “unelected leaders of our society”. This message is so clear. There’s a real dysphemistic narrative that flows through the track, with Matthew explaining that those who the track addresses “could end many of the world’s problems in a day”, yet they do very little, and actually make everyday people feel guilty regarding the environment and other societal problems. ‘Hades, Baby’ seems to be a track that Matthew and the group are proud of. It’s also a track that seems to be particularly popular from the new body of work. This is hardly a surprise. There’s a real sense of resonation between fans and Demob Happy.
The release of ‘Divine Machines’ sees the outfit set to embark on a lengthy tour towards the end of the year. When asked how the group were feeling ahead of the heap of gigs, the frontman replied, “We’re really looking forward to it”, going on to mention how they particularly felt excited about performing the ‘deeper cuts’ from the record, as opposed to just the singles or just the initially popular tracks. This, of course, brought the conversation to the crucial question: What is Matthew’s favourite from ‘Divine Machines’. He, with no hesitation, opted for ‘Muscular Reflex’, explaining how it had been “A challenge to see how vulnerable” he could be with his song writing, whilst maintaining that Demob Happy feel that we’ve come to be familiar with.
The upcoming tour is heavily anticipated amongst fans of the group. Matthew expressed his admiration and appreciation for those who enjoy their music. He stated that the band have “done it the hard way, and people appreciate that”.
Exciting times lay ahead for the group as they are set to take a superb album on the road with them!
Feature by Matthew Caslin
Catch Demob Happy on tour at the following dates:
Wednesday 6th September - Thekla, Bristol
Thursday 7th September - Mama Roux, Birmingham
Friday 8th September - The Key Club, Leeds
Saturday 9th September - Yes (Pink Room), Manchester
Sunday 10th September - Audio, Glasgow
Tuesday 12th September - The Cluny, Newcastle
Wednesday 13th September - Bodega, Nottingham
Thursday 14th September - Village Underground, London
Friday 15th September - Chalk, Brighton
