In part two of our Q & A interview with Steve Davis we touch on some of the more contentious issues surrounding the man and his gig promotions.
NE:MM: Why did Think Tank? move from Hoult’s Yard to Digital?
NE:MM: Why did Think Tank? move from Hoult’s Yard to Digital?
Steve: It’s hard to comment on this really but it was the best option for all concerned. The small shows out there suffered. Nobody want to drive out of town on a Tuesday night in the rain to see emerging bands. It has to be accessible in the city centre to work.
NE:MM: What is the current set-up - you use a mix of venues still or Think Tank? and Riverside as home?
Steve: Think Tank? and Riverside are home but we still use The Academy for big shows, The Head of Steam a lot because we love it, The Uni’s, sometimes along with the Gerogian Theatre in Stockton, Leeds Brudenell, York Fibbers, Factory in Manchester and more.
NE:MM: How did the Riverside deal come about?
Steve: The company that owned it went into administration and a close friend got Riverside. The set up there is now the best in the region for that capacity. We have some amazing unannounced shows to go in their its super exciting for all of us.
NE:MM: Why do you think Riverside is important for the city and the music scene?
Steve: Riverside is vital and I believe will bring around a new scene for the quayside; its perfect down there. The pre-bars, the parking, the setting, the hotels for bands etc, this will be the main venue in the city by September. Nobody’s favourite gig was in a 2000 cap space, seeing bands with 600 others is where the atmosphere is. Where the bands main hardcore fans are there and additional people find it hard to get a ticket. It’s got soul that building, the bands love it.
NE:MM: Why do you think Riverside is important for the city and the music scene?
Steve: Riverside is vital and I believe will bring around a new scene for the quayside; its perfect down there. The pre-bars, the parking, the setting, the hotels for bands etc, this will be the main venue in the city by September. Nobody’s favourite gig was in a 2000 cap space, seeing bands with 600 others is where the atmosphere is. Where the bands main hardcore fans are there and additional people find it hard to get a ticket. It’s got soul that building, the bands love it.
NE:MM: What future TT and Riverside gigs have you got lined up? (can you give us one exclusive announcement as a headline?)
Steve: Haha I would love to let you all in on the holds we have in the diary but can’t, but by the end of June that venue will be firmly on the map.
Steve: Haha I would love to let you all in on the holds we have in the diary but can’t, but by the end of June that venue will be firmly on the map.
NE:MM: Bigger than Interpol and Courtney Love? There were rumours of you trying to get Prince!!??
Steve: Yeah believe it or not the Prince story had some truth behind it, they wanted some warm ups for the London shows last time around, they wanted warehouses and asked about Hoults, then we didn’t hear further! And yes bigger than Interpol and Courtney Love.
NE:MM: How did the Courtney Love booking happen?
Steve: We just got offered it as an additional show to her tour when the agent heard how well the Interpol show went. I will definitely be repping that one, it’ll be great to meet her and find out what she’s like, that’s an exciting weekend for us as we have Frankie and the Heartstings the night after too.
Steve: Yeah believe it or not the Prince story had some truth behind it, they wanted some warm ups for the London shows last time around, they wanted warehouses and asked about Hoults, then we didn’t hear further! And yes bigger than Interpol and Courtney Love.
NE:MM: How did the Courtney Love booking happen?
Steve: We just got offered it as an additional show to her tour when the agent heard how well the Interpol show went. I will definitely be repping that one, it’ll be great to meet her and find out what she’s like, that’s an exciting weekend for us as we have Frankie and the Heartstings the night after too.
NE:MM: Do you have any further expansion plans?
Steve: Yeah always looking to move forward, I‘d like to do more grass roots stuff but I’ll tell you more about that on another day. SSD local will be something we launch in the winter of this year in local bars etc. we also have Cult Festival to announce for August.
NE:MM: You use a few regular bands as local supports - Lisbon, Gallery Circus - are you involved in managing them at all? Any others on your roster?
Steve: Yeah we officially manage Lisbon and Gallery Circus, both are flying at the minute. Gallery Circus will be one of the bands to watch this year, they are on just about every festival in the UK the next single is something else. Lisbon ... well just wait and see where those guys go, Lisbon are going straight to the top, amazing bunch of guys, amazing tracks. This is why we got into this whole thing in the first place to try and help guys like these.
NE:MM: Some final questions - about how people perceive you
He's impossible to pin down / get hold of ...
Steve: Anyone who worked in a professional role who ran 2 venues, 1 promo company, managed 2 bands and had 2 small children would be hard to pin down. I tend to stay off the phone now as it wastes a lot of time, everyone who emails me gets a response.
NE:MM: He does too much. If he did 50% of the stuff he'd be able to do a more thorough job of promoting the gigs he does ...
Steve: If I did 50% there’d be a chance 50% of the bands you all want to see would come to this city, and if I did 50% I wouldn’t be giving my all. I don’t agree with that comment anymore, maybe in the past when we had the issues of Hoults to address but now we are a well oiled machine and have an ace team behind us.
Steve: Anyone who worked in a professional role who ran 2 venues, 1 promo company, managed 2 bands and had 2 small children would be hard to pin down. I tend to stay off the phone now as it wastes a lot of time, everyone who emails me gets a response.
NE:MM: He does too much. If he did 50% of the stuff he'd be able to do a more thorough job of promoting the gigs he does ...
Steve: If I did 50% there’d be a chance 50% of the bands you all want to see would come to this city, and if I did 50% I wouldn’t be giving my all. I don’t agree with that comment anymore, maybe in the past when we had the issues of Hoults to address but now we are a well oiled machine and have an ace team behind us.
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