We went to see The Wired at The Plug in Sheffield a short while back and managed to grab an interview with the band a few hours prior to the gig and the release of their debut EP, 'Don’t Settle For Second'. The Wired are a four piece band from Sheffield and Rotherham that formed in February 2014; Caleb Smelt - guitar/vocals, Jacob Beaumont - guitar, Richard May - bass and Paul Gordon - drums.
1. Who would you say are your main influences?
Caleb: Our main influences, what are they? Like indie bands but then we’re also into different stuff, Paul who plays the drums he’s into quite a lot of American stuff, completely different from us. I like a lot of blues like old blues.
2. You’re releasing your debut EP, 'Don’t Settle For Second', later on this evening, tell us a bit about it?
Caleb: Our debut EP what about it?
It’s the best thing we could’ve done at the moment; it’s got our best songs on it so that’s it really. If people don’t like it they don’t like it.
3. Which would you say is the best gig you’ve played?
Caleb: Probably our first ever one because we’d never been so scared for anything, ever. I think people were surprised that we were good, that we actually could play guitars so.
4. What’s your favourite thing about what you do?
Caleb: I don’t know, we just enjoy playing music together as mates.
5. What made you want to form a band in the first place?
Caleb: Well it all started… I’ll get Paul to answer this one.
Paul: Yeah, my course at music college I asked Caleb to come and play guitar and I was playing everything else over it and he asked if it was alright if we brought Richard in, I didn’t know he played bass, so yeah we brought him in then he asked if Jacob was alright and yeah, we just formed like that and we all got together and he just took it and you know made us go further.
6. Are you at all nervous for you gig later?
Caleb: Half and half. We probably will be later. We’re all a bit nervous, it’s the most nervous we’ve been since our first one.
7. And finally, what’s next for The Wired?
Caleb: We’ve got a gig next year booked in March which I’m not allowed to say anything about yet but it’s supporting quite a big Sheffield band so that’s next really and next summer we’re gonna go out of Sheffield and play some dates then finish off with a big Sheffield date and release a single.
After we grabbed an interview it was time for their EP launch at The Plug. They was supported by other great local bands Bailey Street, The Mayfairs and The Time Sellers. It really is difficult to believe they’ve only been going for a few months due to the standard of their performance. With a sound following the trend of various Sheffield bands such as The Crookes, The Wired still manage to maintain an impressive level of individuality. The band played an impressive 9 song set list including a cover of Shakin’ Stevens’ 'Merry Christmas Everyone' which was a suitably festive addition to the gig. They radiated stage presence and got the crowd going from the minute they walked on stage. Highlights of The Wired’s set were ‘What Are We Doing With Our Lives’ and ‘Don’t Settle For Second’ both of which are new songs off the band’s EP. Get your own copy of the EP from the link below.
RIFFED’s rating: 9/10
Follow The Wired on Twitter: @_thewired
Subscribe to The Wired on Youtube: TheWiredSheffield
Listen to The Wired via Soundcloud: the_wired
Get their Debut EP here.
Posted by Millie Johnson.
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