Nick McCabe
Nick: 'Songs Are Made For Stadiums'
27/04/08 14:41
The
Verve gave their first US performance in 10 years
at the Coachella Festival last night (April 25),
and NME.COM caught up with guitarist Nick McCabe
before their set.
Talking about the new album the newly reunited band have been working on, McCabe said that it is "tailor-made for stadiums" and has a lot in common with their 1997 album 'Urban Hymns'.
"It's the best thing we've ever done," McCabe said. The band, who reunited for a handful of UK shows late last year, have been hard at work on the follow-up to 'Urban Hymns' for the past few months.
McCabe said that they had originally intended to release the new album in May, but are now aiming for an August release due to some unexpected delays.
The Verve will likely announce additional US tour dates in September, McCabe said, adding that they've all grown as musicians and it feels better than ever to be playing together again.
However, the legendary guitarist did admit to some pre-show jitters before taking the stage at the California desert festival.
"My knees might go a bit wobbly when I see a few thousand people out there," he said.
Talking about the new album the newly reunited band have been working on, McCabe said that it is "tailor-made for stadiums" and has a lot in common with their 1997 album 'Urban Hymns'.
"It's the best thing we've ever done," McCabe said. The band, who reunited for a handful of UK shows late last year, have been hard at work on the follow-up to 'Urban Hymns' for the past few months.
McCabe said that they had originally intended to release the new album in May, but are now aiming for an August release due to some unexpected delays.
The Verve will likely announce additional US tour dates in September, McCabe said, adding that they've all grown as musicians and it feels better than ever to be playing together again.
However, the legendary guitarist did admit to some pre-show jitters before taking the stage at the California desert festival.
"My knees might go a bit wobbly when I see a few thousand people out there," he said.
Thaw Explained
23/10/07 19:56
Nick
McCabe has posted a new blog on his MySpace page
and had this to say:
"Here's a little note on the 'Thaw Session'. What you hear is the first thing that went to tape, yes, tape, we were already playing as the machine went into record, literally twenty mins after si turned up. When we decided to make this available we started to edit and polish, get the intro a little more slick, move instruments around, etc, and then Si and myself had a think and decided to do that would be out of step with the spirit of the offering. It's not a "taster", it's not a "clue" it's not a "used up b-side", it's not a "weaker track" or "out of step with the album" or any of that shit. Keep guessing Sherlock. This is what you would have heard had you been in the room with us, and you my friends, get to hear it. Gratis. Make of that what you will. Anyway, three days off albeit with tonsilitis and a particularly onerous 'comedy pickpocketing', back to the grind. Later."
"Here's a little note on the 'Thaw Session'. What you hear is the first thing that went to tape, yes, tape, we were already playing as the machine went into record, literally twenty mins after si turned up. When we decided to make this available we started to edit and polish, get the intro a little more slick, move instruments around, etc, and then Si and myself had a think and decided to do that would be out of step with the spirit of the offering. It's not a "taster", it's not a "clue" it's not a "used up b-side", it's not a "weaker track" or "out of step with the album" or any of that shit. Keep guessing Sherlock. This is what you would have heard had you been in the room with us, and you my friends, get to hear it. Gratis. Make of that what you will. Anyway, three days off albeit with tonsilitis and a particularly onerous 'comedy pickpocketing', back to the grind. Later."
Possible Support Acts For Verve Comeback Gigs
04/10/07 19:20
Nick
McCabe as posted info on his MySpace page on who he
and Si Jones would like as support acts on the
Verve's comeback gigs:
"As of 8th October we're in the thick of it. Will have the moby but probably no net access for the foreseeable future. Apols for the backlog. Must. Try. Harder. xxxx
Here's an idea... Hot water possibly... fuck it... Some highly inappropriate supports have been suggested for the December gigs. We've had a good think and Si and myself fancy: Modest Mouse, Guillemots, Jose Gonzales, Midlake, Arcade Fire, obviously some of these might consider it beneath them, you never know though. Of course I'd love Nova Saints and Exit Calm in there- what do you reckon? I'd personally love to see Afghan Whigs/Twilight Singers every night, don't know if Greg loves us as much though, ha... Your gigs innit ;-) make sure you don't have to endure this weeks indie flavour on yr big ticket, lets all have a good night. Direct your angst at http://verveunofficial.forum5.com, and not at myself thanks (sorry Trish), and we can take notes. We love to help out new bands but we have certain criteria with this arena shit so the answer is 'no' before you flood me with requests. Cheers, see you in November.... "
"As of 8th October we're in the thick of it. Will have the moby but probably no net access for the foreseeable future. Apols for the backlog. Must. Try. Harder. xxxx
Here's an idea... Hot water possibly... fuck it... Some highly inappropriate supports have been suggested for the December gigs. We've had a good think and Si and myself fancy: Modest Mouse, Guillemots, Jose Gonzales, Midlake, Arcade Fire, obviously some of these might consider it beneath them, you never know though. Of course I'd love Nova Saints and Exit Calm in there- what do you reckon? I'd personally love to see Afghan Whigs/Twilight Singers every night, don't know if Greg loves us as much though, ha... Your gigs innit ;-) make sure you don't have to endure this weeks indie flavour on yr big ticket, lets all have a good night. Direct your angst at http://verveunofficial.forum5.com, and not at myself thanks (sorry Trish), and we can take notes. We love to help out new bands but we have certain criteria with this arena shit so the answer is 'no' before you flood me with requests. Cheers, see you in November.... "
Verve Break Silence About Inter-Band Fighting
04/10/07 17:21
The
Verve have revealed how they settled the
differences that split up the band after the
release of their classic album, 'Urban Hymns'.
Richard Ashcroft and his band members explain how they resolved their issues in the new issue of NME, on sale now.
"We had quite a lot of time being angry," guitarist Nick McCabe explained, talking about the fighting that split the band. "Then, once you've sort of resolved a lot of things in your own mind, you kind of realise that it wasn't such a big deal in the first place.
"Then you think, 'God, what went on there?' All the stuff that happened since is a bit of a nonsense, really."
"It's all bollocks really," frontman Richard Ashcroft went on to say. "We're not here to get on the fucking couch. We've got our lives, we've got kids, we've got our wives. There's a lot of sacrifice goes on making a record and we're prepared to do that."
Richard Ashcroft and his band members explain how they resolved their issues in the new issue of NME, on sale now.
"We had quite a lot of time being angry," guitarist Nick McCabe explained, talking about the fighting that split the band. "Then, once you've sort of resolved a lot of things in your own mind, you kind of realise that it wasn't such a big deal in the first place.
"Then you think, 'God, what went on there?' All the stuff that happened since is a bit of a nonsense, really."
"It's all bollocks really," frontman Richard Ashcroft went on to say. "We're not here to get on the fucking couch. We've got our lives, we've got kids, we've got our wives. There's a lot of sacrifice goes on making a record and we're prepared to do that."
Verve On MySpace
27/06/07 13:47
The
official Verve myspace has just gone up as well as
Nick McCabe's, and Simon Jones myspace aswell,
where you can listen to stuff they recorded after
the Verve split.
Nick McCabe - http://www.myspace.com/nickmccabeuk
Simon Jones - http://www.myspace.com/simonjonesuk
The Verve - http://www.myspace.com/thevervetv
Nick McCabe - http://www.myspace.com/nickmccabeuk
Simon Jones - http://www.myspace.com/simonjonesuk
The Verve - http://www.myspace.com/thevervetv
Nick McCabe Back On Stage
19/01/07 17:09
Founding
Verve member Nick McCabe made his first live
appearance in eight years at the weekend (July 22).
The guitarist joined Bristol band
The Nova
Saints (formerly Spencer, see below post for more
info) The Nova
Saints onstage during their performance at Ashton
Court Festival in Bristol. It was the first time
McCabe has played live since quitting The Verve
following their homecoming show at Haigh Hall,
Wigan in 1998.
McCabe - who has been working closely with the unsigned five-piece on recordings for the past year - was welcomed onstage for the band's final song, the appropriately titled 'The Last Song', to play guitar on the track which is heavily indebted to Verve guitarist's early work.
Since quitting The Verve eight years ago, McCabe has worked with both John Martyn and The Music, but has kept a relatively low public profile. Some of the guitarist's work with The Nova Saints can be heard on their MySpace.com site
McCabe - who has been working closely with the unsigned five-piece on recordings for the past year - was welcomed onstage for the band's final song, the appropriately titled 'The Last Song', to play guitar on the track which is heavily indebted to Verve guitarist's early work.
Since quitting The Verve eight years ago, McCabe has worked with both John Martyn and The Music, but has kept a relatively low public profile. Some of the guitarist's work with The Nova Saints can be heard on their MySpace.com site