Pop band Scouting for Girls _320
“We’ve sold an amount of records I never contemplated ever selling, it has been so bizarre.”
But alongside the adoration – most notably demonstrated by their hardcore fans, the Wolfcubs – has come a lot of negative attention from critics who find their saccharine-sweet ditties unpalatable.
Greg says he and the others can see the funny side.
“We’re all pretty laid back, take-it-easy kind of guys and I don’t think we ever want to pay too much attention to critics,” he says.
“We’re more than happy for anyone to have their two cents. We’ve been told Noel Gallagher called us Scouting for Idiots.
“We found it hilarious, because a) we are idiots, and b) Oasis are one of the bands we grew up listening to, and for him to even know who we are is awesome.”
Then there are the continuing accusation that their success is down to a savvy marketing campaign rather than their own merits.
Their label, they argue, gives them a free creative rein and, as a small subdivision of Sony BMG, has less clout than the major players.
“It always makes me laugh when people say we had some kind of big marketing strategy,” says Greg, 30.
“We wrote these songs together for our mates down the pub. After a hard week at work, no matter what music they were into, they could just come down and take it easy and have a good time singing along.
“One of the greatest things for us has been Myspace, it’s been an amazing tool to get us out there.
“I think it’s been a very organic thing and we’ve been phenomenally lucky, especially with radio play – I disagree that video killed the radio star.”
Following this most recent tour, which has included a string of sold out dates in London and Dublin, the band will take a well-earned month off (“I’m going nowhere near an aeroplane or an airport”, Greg laughs) before heading back into the studio to make album number two.
“We’ve been together for quite a period of time and we have a horrendously huge back catalogue of stuff so we’re constantly writing and recording,” he says.
What genuinely comes across is that the music of Scouting for Girls is just the natural outcome of the interplay between band members, all childhood friends who have been playing together for years.
Having tried many different directions, they plumped for their current name and guise in 2005.
“The band is a very good recollection of what the three of us are like.
“We tried being a rock band, knocking back Jack Daniels, but being debauched wasn’t us. We go to gigs and tidy the dressing room.
“We just want to make good, positive, happy music that puts a smile on peoples’ faces.
“I can’t imagine doing this with anyone else.
“We’ve known each other so long and it’s the greatest experience being on the road with my best friends.
“We’re more like family – brothers – than best friends. This last year has been weird, but awesome.”
* SCOUTING for Girls play Mountford Hall, Mount Pleasant, tomorrow night. Tickets are £17.50, available from 0151 256 5555.
