Twickenham band The Carnabys have supported Blondie and performed with Bruce Springsteen. Sam Dunckley catches up with five local boys making waves on the world stage
With Jack Mercer providing lead vocals, James Morgan on drums, Frank Connolly as the bassist, and two guitarists in Ben Gittins and Mike Delizo, The Carnabys have earned themselves a formidable live reputation, playing sold-out shows all over the world, supporting Blondie, and winning a description from one journalist as "the best band to come out of West London since The Who".
Given that Jack and Mike were schoolfriends at Christ's School in Richmond, and Ben attended Isleworth & Syon, they're also very much local lads.
These days they're back in the studio, recording songs for the follow up to their critically-acclaimed debut album, No Money on the Moon. Still, I manage to grab some time with James, Jack and Frank at The Cabbage Patch pub in Twickenham – familiar ground for the boys, whose very first gig was at the 2010 Kew Sparkle Christmas Fair, less than twenty minutes from here.
"The Rolling Stones, The Beatles and The Who all played some of their early gigs at Eel Pie Island, just across the road", notes frontman Jack. "There's a pressure to live up to those bands. We're constantly aware of that history, when we're rehearsing and performing. You feel you need to try and recreate the magic, you know?"
"We always like to give back", interjects drummer James. "We've got devoted fans at home, so we do a local gig once or twice a year, to show our appreciation."
He gestures to the pub we're sat in. "The local crowds are so great whenever we play; it's like a football team playing on their home ground! We love playing places like this."
"Plus, it's a chance to test out new material. If it doesn't go well with the local audience, we'll probably drop it. In that way, we're taking the vibe of Twickenham everywhere we go. We play what Twickenham likes! Our target audience is people who really love music, after all, and this area is full of them."
It wasn't until 2013 that the boys hit the big-time, aged just 19, with victory in the world's biggest 'battle of the bands' contest, Hard Rock Rising. Beating over 12,000 other bands from more than 90 countries to the grand prize, they were transformed overnight from local hopefuls to an act capable of embarking on a world tour with performances in Venice, Chicago, Hawaii, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong.
"And Scunthorpe!" interjects guitarist Frank.
Despite this, they remain humble. "I wouldn’t say we’ve made it big now", Jack replies, after a pause. "It was a milestone in our careers, a massive turning point, and a great confidence boost – we were number one, out of all those bands – but we've still got a way to go."
"It gave us an amazing opportunity", echoes James. "We were able to move from being a local band to this sort of stage,where we have the potential to break into the mainstream media."
It’s still a surreal experience for the band to see their name in print and their albums in shops. Going into the HMV where you bought your CDs as a teenager and seeing your own album on sale is "mind-blowing", says Jack.
"At the very beginning, we had people listening to us at each gig – but we knew them. They were only there because they were our mates. Even a couple of years later, it still amazes me to see people I don't know coming to our gigs!"
the carnabys
Three of The Carnabys – James Morgan, Jack Mercer, and Frankie Connolly (left to right) – with Sam Dunckley (third in line)
With a name like The Carnabys, you might assume their influences include The Who, The Jam, or Small Faces. While these bands are an undeniable influence, they're perhaps not so important as a number of other, more unexpected figures.
"Kings of Leon, Arctic Monkeys, Razorlight, The Rolling Stones...", Jack reels off the list. "From a performance perspective it’s got to be Mick Jagger, James Brown…”
"Don’t forget ABBA!" Frank interrupts.
From a lyrical point of view, Jack regards his greatest influences as poets and writers, such as John Cooper Clarke, Hunter S. Thompson and Nick Cave. "I like people with a bit of insanity. It’s more fun that way."
They're still a very young band, each barely out of their teens. Does their youth present additional challenges?
"The main challenge is competition. There are so many up-and-coming young bands, especially within London. The hardest part is trying to stand out amongst all the other musicians."
At this point an elderly, white-haired gentleman wanders by and says hello to Frank. Is that someone he knows?
"Yeah, he’s in an up-and-coming young band", Frank quips, sending the others into fits of laughter.
The musical heroes they've met through their extensive tours have been invaluable.
"Debbie Harry gave me the best advice", says Jack. "When we were on tour with Blondie I would sit in her dressing room, having a cigarette and a beer, talking about music as a career path. She told me not to worry about the future. Things never turn out how you expect them to – she wanted to be a painter, you see. It was great to speak to someone who has been there, done it and is still a success. She was very inspiring".
In turn, what advice would they themselves give to young musicians?
"Enjoy it before the liver kicks in," Jack jokes. "Seriously, though, keep your head on where you are, not where you want to be. Thinking far in advance is a good way to drive yourself, but if you spend too much time on it you’ll stress and tire out. It takes a toll."
James clearly agrees. "I saw a quote from Lionel Richie the other day who said he spent his entire career desperate to get to the top. He got to the top and realised there was nothing there. He missed all the good parts along the way."
Speaking of the future – what's next on the list?
"We’ve always said we want to be the best live band in the world. Tigers, panthers on chains, fireworks, that’s what it’s all about", Jack chuckles. "We enjoy being on stage, we don't care about looking cool, and the audience loves that."
Their next challenge, though, is to get that energy across on record. No Money on the Moon was just over a year ago, and album number two is now being recorded in Somerset.
"This one will be rawer, more to the point", Jack tells me. "The debut album was an in-depth conversation, but I consider this to be more of a punch in the face. Bish, bash, bosh."
Be sure to catch The Carnabys when they next embark on tour – tigers and fireworks might not be on the bill yet, but a first class performance is guaranteed.
The Carnabys will be performing live at The Jazz Cafe in Camden on December 15
