Four Play Interview by Dawn / Photo (July 2003) by Dawn Since forming in 1999, Four Day Hombre have been steadily gaining fans thanks to a fairly hectic touring schedule and some spectacular live shows - none more impressive than their support slot to Rooney and Clarkesville at the Middlesbrough Empire in July. Back then, a flurry of publicity in the local paper heralded their arrival in Teesside thanks to their first single being championed by Radio 1, so when the boys returned to perform at the venue's Play night with Shed Seven, Dawn braved the ever-chilly Empire dressing room to have a chat about the boys' background and their plans for the future. 'The four of us met at Lancaster uni', explains bassist Jason, gesturing toward bandmates Ed (drums), Rich and Simon (both vocals/guitar). 'After uni, we moved to Leeds to do this full time and Ash was asked to join. He's a schoolfriend of Ed's, so he got his old drumkit out and we moved into a house and started writing and gigging.' The band's biggest break thus far came when, earlier this year, Radio 1 launched an initiative to give airplay to unsigned acts and the public voted Four Day Hombre as one of their favourites. 'We got airplay in January, then again when the single [The First Word is the Hardest] came out in July, especially from Chris Moyles,' says Simon. 'I think we had about 15 to 20 daytime plays on different shows.'

Songwriting duties are shared - 'They're written as a co-operative', states Simon matter-of-factly - and when I spoke to them, the boys were soon to record their second single. 'We're going to release another single after Christmas - probably the end of January,' says Simon, who sounds unsure as to what it will be called, then smiles: 'We probably do know, but we're being coy.'

'Ooh, I love it when you're coy!' chips in Ash, giving his broad Yorkshire accent a distinctly camp air and making everyone laugh.

Getting back on track, Jason adds: 'I think an album will probably come after the single. We definitely have more than one album's worth of material ready to go, and we have the will and we have the way.'

The band's main aim is to continue to build up their profile: 'We just want to live off this - do this full time,' explains Rich, who enjoys both the full shows and the acoustic sets which Four Day Hombre perform: ' I think they've both got a place really, but I think if we could only do one, I'd do the full band.'

Asked about the songs they most enjoy playing live, they admit that nothing is set in stone: 'It's usually whatever we've written latest. Or something you haven't played recently,' says Simon. 'At the moment we've started playing some old stuff again and I've been really enjoying playing that.'

'It can be any song though,' Rich adds thoughtfully. 'I don't think it's any particular song; it's if a song goes well on that night.'

To end, then, the majority of reactions to the band have been extremely favourable, but has everyone been charmed by their vibrant guitars and soaring vocals?

'We had a review of the demo which said "Four Day Hombre have been penetrated by the double dildo of mediocrity",' says Simon, a wry smile suggesting that the description amused rather than angered him. 'That'll stay with me forever. Brilliant.'

Thanks to Four Day Hombre and to Jason for arranging the interview. Visit www.FourDayHombre.co.uk for more information.

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