thinking, ‘this could just be our band!’ We’ve managed to move the sound of the band forward a little bit while still retaining what it is people loved about us. I think it all went a little bit west on the second album; it were all a little bit moody and a little bit druggy and political, and what have you, but I brought it back round on this album to just be an album of songs that people love.
I read that you were writing about little situations that happen in Sheffield, and I spoke to another Sheffield troubadour recently, Richard Hawley. Is there something in the water there, or does the city wear its heart on its sleeve? Hawley’s been great man, and I’ve been through some times where I’ve just fucking lost my mind an’ that, and lost my will to be in a band and he was just like, ‘look, times are weird at the minute – don’t do anything shit. Just keep making good music as it comes to you.’ I think that’s what Sheffield does, is act real, like we’re in it for the long haul here, we’re not just pissing away. Tat’s the thing, like, if you’re good, stay good – keep doing it and eventually if enough people hear it and it touches enough people’s lives, it picks up from there really.
I can understand you taking a step back from writing political songs, ‘cause you had a hard time of it; I remember you doing the Mongrel interview, talking about how your parents were terrorised for your involvement in Love Music, Hate Racism… Oh yeah, this is it. And I used to think that because times were bad, people wanted someone to remind them how bad it is, but contrary to that, nowadays I think times are so bad that people want someone who’s just going to go, ‘do you wanna just forget it and have a really good party?!’ As much as I love people like Billy Bragg, and people like that, I don’t
I think it all went a little bit west on the second album; it were all a little bit moody and a little bit druggy and political.
24 /October 2012/
outlineonline.co.uk
want to be defined as a political artist.
I think your relationship with your fans has pulled you through any kind of hiatus, and even though Sheffield is fifth in the ranking of illegal downloads per city, it’s a really positive statement if they’re coming to see live gigs… Well this is it, I think people are kinda becoming intelligent enough to know if they’re gonna nick your album, they’re gonna have to go and pay to see you live ‘cause otherwise you’re not gonna be around much longer, do you know what I mean? We’re at a level now where we can kind of have ten more years doing this and from here, we can only get bigger really, ‘cause we’ve got that body behind us, that people love our stuff. What’s really encouraged me is the amount of young kids who’ve got into this album. Tere’s people tweeting and they’re all kids, 15, 16, 17! Tere’s a real thirst out there for bands and I think kids are bored of pop music, so they’re looking for other things and luckily for us, we’ve been there for ‘em.
I can understand your excitement at getting two tracks on Fifa 13, because the soundtrack’s always immense… Yeah, the other thing is I play Fifa all the time, d’you know what I mean? I’m like bang into it, so it’s like at least we can hear some good music while we’re playing football.
Now Jon, whether you’re writing about the hard stuff or the every day
stuff, you write a lot; you write poetry, you’ve duetted with John Cooper Clarke – I wondered if you had a book in you at all? Yeah, yeah, I’ve got a few ideas for books. I was gonna do a kinda ‘this is what the music industry was like while I were in it’, but I’m gonna save that while I retire. But there’s all these people who’ve done stuff and I’ve just sat and watched ‘em and been like, ‘right, this is the moment for you’, d’you know what I mean?!
We’re really looking forward to having you come to OPEN in Norwich – it’s got the most amazing soundsystem, so your album’s gonna sound mega – - Wicked!
I read that you’d calmed down the partying a bit, but you’ve got a fair old tour ahead of you – you need to keep the energy up… Oh, don’t worry; I’ve not turned into, like, a nun! I’m still in to it, but it’s just like I kinda went a bit overboard, hence why the second album sounds a bit like a smackhead album! I’m just enjoying having a bit of time back in me mind now, if you know what I mean?!
We know you’re gonna bring it to the live show, so what as an audience can we bring for you? Erm… dancin’. Havin’ it. Let’s just go for it from word go.
Emma Garwood
Reverend and the Makers come to Norwich on October 19th, supported by Sargasso Trio and Tese Ghosts. For tickets, go to
www.ueaticketbookings.co.uk. Read the full interview on
Outlineonline.co.uk
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