Scouting for Girls: 'We just want to make happy music that puts a smile on peoples’ faces'

Nov 14 2008 by Vicky Anderson, Liverpool Daily Post

Pop band Scouting for Girls _320

Vicky Anderson finds Scouting for Girls unfazed by success – or what Oasis call them

THIS time last year, Scouting for Girls had just released their debut album.

Tomorrow night, they return to Liverpool for a live show having become one of the best selling acts of 2008.

The London-based trio have been attracting devotion and cynicism in equal measure for their infectious brand of indie pop that has spawned a steady stream of hit singles over the last 12 months including It’s Not About You, She’s So Lovely, Elvis Ain’t Dead, Heartbeat and I Wish I was James Bond.

“It’s hard to explain how unbelievably, weirdly freaky this year has been,” says bassist Greg Churchouse.

“It’s really great looking at how the year has gone, from the first tour playing to thirty, forty, up to 100 people if we were lucky, to now selling out venues of up to 8,000 people.

“It’s amazing, and it just goes to show how amazing our fans are for giving their support.

“It has pretty much been non-stop touring – we had a break in the summer for festivals but it’s been fairly constant.

“Getting up on stage and playing shows is about 90pc of the reason we got into it.

“Lots of things these days are about the interactive experience, like games and DVDs, and a lot of our show is quite interactive – we don’t let you stand there and shoegaze, you’ve got to jump up and down, clap your hands and get involved.

“We want you coming out covered in sweat with no voice because you’ve been screaming and with your ears ringing.”

They have played Liverpool a number of times this year but found their fans always willing to come out and support the band, completed by frontman Roy Stride and drummer Peter Elland.

Famously, they had all been working blue collar jobs before their speedy signing to Epic UK and chart success.

“We’ve been playing together since we were at school, and we previously all worked part time jobs and did a couple of gigs a month.

“We’ve always been driven by our love for music but just not been able to do it full time.

“Now I’ve gone from sitting in the back of the off licence waiting for the last customer of the night to travelling around the country.