Interview: The Ryes

5:17pm Tuesday 22nd July 2008

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MEMBERS: Paul Canning (vocals and rhythm guitar), James Singer (lead guitar and vocals), Dan Williams (keyboards and vocals), Dave Troke (bass guitar), Mark Pusey (drums, percussion and vocals) IT’S funny how the musical world goes around and around in big concentric circles.

For example, if 10 years ago I had told you that music inspired by ‘60s girl groups like The Supremes or ‘70s glam rockers like T-Rex would be back in fashion, you’d have looked into my beady little eyes and called me a fibber. But now, with acts like Amy Winehouse and The Darkness climbing up the “naughties” charts, it’s proof positive that trends repeat.

Great news for pop music lovers as the genre that never really went away is now as popular as ever.

I’m not talking about teeny pop like Westlife or The Spice Girls, I mean pop-rock like The Feeling, The Hoosiers, or The Zutons, And now that the charts are being dominated by acts who aren’t afraid to be called pop, it’s great news for bands like The Ryes.

London-based, these five boys are making waves in the industry with their catchy choruses and titillating tunefulness. They have a major deal with 14th Floor Records under their belt and have just finished supporting Scouting for Girls and Ben’s Brother.

When I caught up with front man Paul earlier in the week, he told me how much fun they were having climbing the illustrious ladder.

He said: “It’s been mad. We did a live acoustic session on Radio 2 with Dermot O’Leary, which was cool, and we’ve had airplay from Jo Whiley, Chris Evans and Alex Zane. Things are really moving now.”

With some of the most influential DJs in the country backing you, you know you’re onto a good thing. The key is their attention to detail, especially in the group vocal. The harmony is always spot on and their voices compliment each other perfectly.

“We sometimes get told off by the producers for spending too much time on harmonies,” Paul said. “We’re influenced quite a lot by bands like Queen, The Police and The Beach Boys so the group vocals are quite important to us”.

As part of a nationwide tour, next Saturday sees the band gracing the stage at Accrington’s growing hot-spot The Attic.

If you like your music catchy as a Christmas cold and bouncier than a beach ball in a blender, you’ll love The Ryes. On top of the superb writing, they’re a belting group of lads who seriously love music, each with huge instrumental ability and a real understanding of their genre.

As they hit the road on their own, and as the support act turns to the headliner, they will no doubt accept the accolades they will receive in abundance with grace and aplomb as they sell out venues across the nation.

The Ryes’ first single, How Come Loretta? is released on August 11 and will be available for download and on CD. I suggest you go and watch the Attic gig, because before you know it these boys will be all over the place and you’ll have to pay top prices to see them.

* The Ryes play The Attic, Warner Street, Accrington on Saturday, July 26.

* Martin Cooper presents Martin’s Sunday Sermon on 107 The Bee from 8am to noon every week