Courting

Courting have wasted no time in getting under the skin of the UK on their first three singles. The Liverpool four-pieceā€™s biggest anthem so far, ā€˜David Byrneā€™s Badsideā€™, is a rowdy stab at casual pub racism (ā€œHe spits at the people when theyā€™re not his own / I thought we united, he says itā€™s his homeā€), but in the same breath theyā€™re just as determined to cut loose and make light of the tropes of Little England.

ā€œItā€™s about this idea of people pretending to be poor and how racist this country really is,ā€ frontman Sean Oā€™Neill explains over a socially-distanced pint in a Bold Street bar in Liverpool city centre. ā€œItā€™s so deeply ingrained: once you realise that it exists, you see it everywhere.ā€ He has a sharp vision of the type of person heā€™s calling out with the lyrics of ā€˜David Byrneā€™s Badsideā€™. ā€œItā€™s the person who says ā€˜buy Britishā€™ but owns a German sports car; who doesnā€™t understand what theyā€™re voting for but is inspired by hate politics.ā€

Drummer Sean Thomas points out the more light-hearted elements of the song. ā€œThereā€™s also lines about British culture, like The Chase, in there. The idea isnā€™t to bombard the listener with the sad reality of our society, but to balance it out with the music and lyrics at the same time.ā€ It makes sense: no matter how heavy the subject matter, youā€™ll struggle not to get caught up in how frantic and fun Courtingā€™s sound can be ā€” something also born out of circumstance.

ā€œI think we try not to make things too deep,ā€ Oā€™Neill says. ā€œThere are a lot of bands who, when you listen to them and theyā€™re saying something important, itā€™s so focused and itā€™s less of a song, and it comes off more like a blog post. I think a fundamental thing of what makes our band go is that no matter what we talk about, we try to make the music enjoyable. You can take it on a surface level, or you can listen to what weā€™re trying to say.ā€

Despite this, thereā€™s definitely an antagonistic edge lying just below the surface of Courting’s tunes, whether thatā€™s the blunt reality coming through in the lyrics or the band’s overall chaotic energy, which has been inspired by their own gig-going habits. ā€œThereā€™s been a culture in Liverpool for a while where youā€™d go to these pleasant indie shows and everyone would want to start walls of death and fights at gigs. So I feel like we played to that attitude ā€” that people like to feel angry at concerts ā€” a bit and it informed the music.

ā€œAt the same time, I donā€™t want to come across as a band thatā€™s pissed off with everything and trying to fix it all,ā€ he adds. ā€œI just feel it comes from a more cynical perspective. We try to write from a viewpoint that maybe we donā€™t even agree with, and think about things we donā€™t always consider.ā€

Some things, though, are just unavoidable ā€” like the presence of football on Merseyside. ā€œAs a kid I wasnā€™t a massive football fan, but it is impossible to ignore football when you are Scouse ā€” you canā€™t get past it,” O’Neil sighs. “You canā€™t avoid it: itā€™s what we see and experience.ā€

Courting’s January single ā€˜Footballā€™ captures the reality of hitting William Hill to place your morning accumulator before getting on the pre-match pints come mid-day. But the band themselves donā€™t partake in such rituals. ā€œNone of us are the most macho men, shall we say,” Thomas admits. “We donā€™t like sports, and to be a lad in Liverpool you [have to] like football. Weā€™re more artistic and seen as less masculine, so [‘Football’] was a way of us saying in your face: ā€˜We are this.ā€™ But weā€™ve pulled back away from that now.ā€

Oā€™Neill smirks when asked what prompted him to get the song out there. ā€œWe supported Sports Team at the end of last year, and after that gig at least three people matched me on Tinder saying: ā€˜Are you the person who kept shouting football?ā€™ I thought if my love life is being dominated by people recognising me as the man who shouts “football!“, then we should release it.ā€

Courting are also taking plenty of inspiration from their Mercury Prize-nominated mates, with Oā€™Neill praising Sports Team for “loving it ā€” thatā€™s key [as a band].ā€

NME canā€™t help but ask: do you think David Byrne has heard ā€˜David Byrneā€™s Badsideā€™ yet? Oā€™Neill pulls his phone out and laughs: ā€œI hope so, yeah! Iā€™ve emailed it to the address on his website three times.ā€

While thereā€™s still been no response from the Talking Heads legend in O’Neill’s inbox, the universe does drop a little hint that Byrne may in fact be listening. As we settle up and the band leave the bar to soak up the remainder of a sunny evening on Merseyside, ā€˜Once In A Lifetimeā€™ starts playing through the speakers ā€” if thatā€™s not a sign, then what is?

The post Courting: Unflinching social observations delivered with rampant sense of fun appeared first on NME Music News, Reviews, Videos, Galleries, Tickets and Blogs | NME.COM.

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