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Sonic Audio - From Happy Mondays to Glastonbury Print E-mail
Written by Sinead O'Connor   
Wednesday, 12 April 2006
sonic 2Almost 12 months on from their Glastonbury appearance, Sonic Audio are reeling from a year of triumph. Being asked to appear not once but twice at the same Glastonbury Festival would have any group worth their salt patting themselves on the back. Add to this the fact that they are working along side lyrical genius Sean Ryder and a “bigger than Jesus” proclamation wouldn’t be out of the question. Fortunately, modesty reigns with Sonic Audio who seems to enjoy their new found fame as a band in their own right. Front man Kav exudes measured calm as he tells STEREOBOARD.com of the band’s high points, hallucinogenic trip outs and his plans for 2006.

ImageMost bands struggle to get a decent venue to play their tenth gig never mind their second. Sonic Audio managed to play the Leftfield Stage at Glastonbury performing to thousands with the help of the Happy Monday’s front man. Kav (vocals/guitar), Jonny (Guitar/ keyboards), Mikey (Bass), Poss (DJ/Scratching) and Jim (Drums) provided an “electric” performance which was only equalled by the arrival on stage of the tardy Mr. Ryder.

“He (Ryder) nearly didn’t make it.” Kav recalls. “He was doing a guest spot with us at the end of the set and I remember waiting to go on stage and he hadn’t arrived. Some prick had decided to stop him at the gates. With out going into much detail, he eventually made it”.

But this little melodrama wasn’t the only thing that made for an infamous weekend. Just as they started to wind down from a truly fantastic performance they are asked to play the ‘Poptones’ stage in the place of the absent Carl Barat. They managed to sedate and draw in a lot of new support from the disgruntled ex Libertines fans.

“I thought we were going to get bottled – but everyone was dead into it”.

However, it didn’t take long before they were finding their own ways of keep the onstage adrenalin alive and well.

“I can’t seem to piece anything together – but it had something to do with this hippy geezer. He ends up giving us some mushrooms - that was it! We ended up on this mad adventure like something out of ‘The Doors’ film when he’s following the Indian”.

With Kav’s mini adventure culminating in a belief that he was “some 70 year old bloke who had always lived at Glastonbury”, it was time for Sonic Audio to come down and get back on it.

Whatever highpoint Glastonbury provided in Sonic Audio’s short career, one of the most memorable for the band was their union with the Happy Mondays in Clapham Common. Being the man behind the notorious club nights ‘Grooveharder’ and ‘Getloaded’, Kav decided to throw a festival in their honour. Shaun Ryder, a resident DJ at the ‘Getloaded’ nights and close friend with Kav casually recalls being asked to resurface as a headlining act:

“Right, well… the guys at Get Loaded, Danny and Kav, had this idea last year to do this festival on Clapham Common, but only if the Mondays would reform and headline. I thought, ok, sounds like a top idea, and they’re good kids, so we went for it.”

This also set the stage for Sonic Audio who backed the Happy Monday’s original line up of Gaz Whelan, Bez and Shaun Ryder. This opened the door for the long awaited Happy Monday’s reformation with Sonic Audio providing musical backing. Even the ever cynical Tony Wilson had to agree that “the bands style compliments the Monday’s rather than detracts”. And so the UK tour begins, with packed out venues in all major cities; the Manchester gig being the most prominent feature in the lad’s calendar.

“I was sh*tting myself before we went on but as soon as we got on and we kicked into ‘Loose fit” that was it – the best audience I have ever played for – the place was having it”.

So with a huge tour out of the way, Sonic Audio retired to the studio to work on their own songs. “Killing yourself” will be the first release with the date yet to be confirmed but Kav feels confident that this is a song true to the band’s style and sound:

“Killing yourself describes Sonic Audio. It’s an Introduction to the band and what the band’s about – proper raw energy – I do all my bitching in celebration, it’s the way forward”.

The lyrics in the song also take a dark side (“I feel as if I’m just living to kill myself”) which in turn is under-pinned by an elated melody. “We celebrate about being depressed” claims Kav who seems to have a more relaxed look on the negativities in his life.

“I don’t like going on about low points – it’s nothing compared to some of the stuff some people have to go through – I started writing songs to get things off my chest.”

With 2006 seeing Sonic Audio keen to elaborate their sound, with future collaborations moving towards the possibility of working with a leading rap artist to provide a more eclectic dimension to their music. With this in mind the yet to be titled album should prove to be a product of diversity and intrigue which will create a whole new demand in the dance and alternative market. So with a busy year in front of them, and enthusiastic front man would only have the one attitude, “GET ON IT!”




Sonic Audio Extras
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Comments
3. Rock n Roll as its meant to be!
Written by Justine Leigh on Monday, 24 April 2006
This is proper Rock N Roll!Not enough of those bands about these days - I wish Kav & the Sonic Audio lads all the best - sounds like they're going all the way! 
 
Justine XX
2. Rock n Roll as it should be!
Written by Justine Leigh on Monday, 24 April 2006
This is proper rock n' Roll -not enough bands like this exist today - I wish the guys all the best - sounds like they're going all the way 
 
Justine X
1. Excellent Article
Written by Richard Lawson on Tuesday, 18 April 2006
Fantastic article, would like to read more of the same please!!!!

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