SPITALFIELD: Life Happens Fast, Slow Down and See The Sights
“Looking back from when we first called it quits to now, and just how special and remarkable this whole scene is, it’s the best feeling in the world.” Originating in the Chicago underground scene in 1998, punk-rockers SPITALFIELD took an indefinite break back in 2007 that was broken by stop-start reunions and projects, but it was never quite the right time to fully reform while personal life continued to hurtle forwards for each of them. Now, however, the time has finally come - not only have the stars aligned with their schedules, it feels like the perfect moment for them to celebrate the album that first launched their name off towards the musical horizon, Remember Right Now. Ahead of their UK tour where the album will be played in full, we sat down with founder and vocalist Mark Rose to talk about how the scene has changed over the last 30 years, but the response from fans old and new is still as unwaveringly loyal as ever.
“When we started the band we were just kids, we were already into the local punk hardcore scene even though we were very young, there were a lot of DIY shows happening and we wanted to start a band like THE GET UP KIDS, THE PROMISE RING, and TEXAS IS THE REASON.” Chicago is renowned for having an expansive underground scene, connecting young musicians performing in multiple bands at once to create their own concrete projects, with notable acts like FALL OUT BOY, RISE AGAINST and SMASHING PUMPKINS joining the ranks with SPITALFIELD. “We’d been a band for almost five years and were already in college when we signed our first recording contract, which is crazy to say because for a lot of folks Remember Right Now was our debut album, but it’s the one that had major distribution and a team behind it. That came out and we became a full-time touring band, and it was just ‘go go go!’”.
Given they were barely out of college, it’s alarming how much pressure there was for the band to perform worldwide at such young ages, but as the years have gone by with them continuing to tour under separate projects, touring today feels a world away from where they started. “The concept of touring has evolved from a mental standpoint,” Rose states as he considers his answer. “It’s similar regarding going from city to city in a vehicle and all that goes with that, but having toured more (Rose went onto a successful solo career after SPITALFIELD first hit pause) you gain a different approach, where you treat it like an opportunity to do something you love. The competitive side of trying to ‘make it as a band’ is in the rear view, now we’re talking to people who grew up with our music and supported us for decades so it’s a totally different feeling than when you’re green to it all.”
With the impending tour locked and loaded, it’s given the band members more opportunities to meet and practice together, and added to their already strong camaraderie. “It’s been therapeutic in a way,” Rose explains with plain joy and relief at playing with his friends again. “It’s kind of a small getaway, even just for a few hours, but getting to hang out is so important. It’s like seeing a long lost friend after a while and you’re trying to catch up quickly; when you start to see people more often you can hit a routine with them, it’s more natural, and ahead of the tour we’re settling into that natural state and I feel like we can just be.” Jamming sessions are letting SPITALFIELD relive the best moments of Remember Right Now, a nostalgic connection they look forward to sharing with their fans. “For folks who know the album, it’ll be like watching a movie that they love where they know it from start to end but it still captures them. I Love The Way She Said LA will probably get the biggest crowd response and singalong, but I really love In The Same Lifetime off the B side. It lets me catch my breath and lets me think about where I’m at in my life - life happens fast sometimes. To get to perform that overseas for a fanbase that hasn’t seen us perform live in so long, plus folks who are seeing it for the first time, I think that might hit hardest for me.”
SPITALFIELD are set to travel across the UK and see the sights as they go, their decision to tour here based on their dedicated fanbase that have welcomed them from overseas before and have eagerly awaited their return. More than that, the band in fact take their name from the London area that has a history steeped in horror and intrigue. “When we come over and perform there it’s a fun moment of “we’re SPITALFIELD from Chicago!”. With only one London date available on the tour, will they get to visit their namesake area? “London is normally the busiest day on a tour because there’s so much going on, but at the beginning of the tour we built in a little bit of a buffer.” Their first stops are Bristol and Brighton before they head up toward the Midlands and beyond to Glasgow, their tour dates are back-to-back with barely any room to breathe - perhaps the sight-seeing tour will be reserved for their next visit across the pond.
Words: Julia Stark
Photos: Spitalfield
With thanks to: Major PR and Spitalfield
Comments