Red Rum Club

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Red Rum Club – North American Tour 2022

9/19/22 – Washington, DC – Quarry House Tavern
9/20/22 – New York, NY – Mercury Lounge (Early Show)
9/22/22 – Philadelphia, PA – Kung Fu Necktie
9/24/22 – Chicago, IL – Downstairs at Subterranean
9/26/22 – Nashville – The End
9/28/22 – Dallas, TX – Ruins
9/29/22 – Austin, TX – Ballroom
10/2/22 – Denver, CO – Larimer Lounge
10/4/22 – Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court
10/6/22 – Seattle, WA – Barboza
10/7/22 – Vancouver, BC – Imperial
10/8/22 – Victoria, BC – Lucky Bar
10/11/22 – Berkeley, CA – Cornerstone
10/12/22 – Los Angeles, CA – Peppermint Club

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Red Rum Club – “Vanilla” b/w “The River”

Liverpool, UK indie-rock sextet Red Rum Club aren’t the type to take a break. Since their inception in 2016, the band has been relentlessly committed to bringing their anthemic, expressive brand of rock & roll to the masses, touring extensively throughout the United Kingdom and building a rabid fanbase in the process. Their electrifying live performances have earned them slots on major festivals including Glastonbury, Isle of Wight, Y Not & more, as well as supporting slots for global sensations like The 1975, Wet Leg, Pale Waves, Noel Gallagher and more. Now, Red Rum Club are preparing to embark on their second trip across the pond, with a fourteen date tour of North America supporting their brilliant new singles, “Vanilla” and “The River.” “Ever since we started, we’ve been like, ‘Keep going, keep going, believe in the music and the rest will follow,’” says the band’s trumpet player Joe Corby. “We just kept working away at it and never let stuff like missed opportunities slow us down.”

Red Rum Club—comprised of Corby, vocalist Francis Doran, guitarists Tom Williams and Michael McDermott, bassist Simon Hepworth, and drummer Neil Lawson— teamed up with their longtime producer Chris Taylor (Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Blossoms, Miles Kane) at Liverpool’s Elevator Studios to record “Vanilla” and “The River,” continuing a working relationship with Taylor dating back to their earliest studio recordings as a band. 

“Vanilla” immediately kicks off with a fuzzed-out bass riff atop a thumping quarter-note stomp that acts as the backbone for the entire track and calls to mind the iconic cadence of The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army,” if Jack White had the rhythmic inclinations of Alex Turner. There’s an admirable sense of delicacy and restraint that defines the track, each member steadfast in their refusal to overplay, allowing each melodic element to shine in its own right while simultaneously contributing to the song’s sticky, sensual mood. Lyrically, “Vanilla” delights in tongue-in-cheek self-deprecation, evoking a lighthearted sense of self-loathing in response to feelings of inadequacy. “We based all of ‘Vanilla’ off that irony of having such a bland flavor with such an exciting beat,” says Corby. “It’s got that kind of feeling of trying to make sure you’re not a bland guy, trying to stay a bit exciting, but it’s ultimately not to be taken too seriously.”

While “Vanilla” showcases Red Rum Club’s prowess when it comes to curating a vibe, “The River” is more concerned with storytelling. Opening with Doran’s soft, emotive vocals, “The River” is a nostalgia-soaked coming-of-age song propelled by folky acoustic guitars and pulsing drums, accented by Corby’s deliberate, tasteful trumpet lines. “We wanted to tap into that sort of British indie sound with that simple, in-your-face straight beat, kind of a Sam Fender style that’s popular right now, but with a slight country element,” says Corby. “We always stay true to our art, but we want to be aware of the art that’s around us as well. We want it to resonate with people; For us, one of the biggest things is that connection with the audience.”

Though Red Rum Club formed in 2016, their profile began to rise exponentially in 2019 with the release of their debut LP, Matador, which garnered rave reviews and found itself at #5 on the UK alternative charts. Unfortunately, as was the case for many, fate would find the band unable to tour in the following years. Rather than slowing down, the sextet doubled their efforts, releasing two follow up albums—2020’s The Hollow of Humdrum and 2021’s How To Steal The World—expanding their audience and building anticipation for their live return. “We ended up touring both of those albums together after the lockdown, and the reception has been absolutely crazy,” says Corby. “Our gigs have such positive vibes, just everyone bouncing around and having fun. Some of our fans see it almost as a kind of therapy, and it’s a great thing to know you’re doing that for someone—it’s more than enough to push you to keep going even when it’s tough.”

Red Rum Club first made the trip to North America in early 2022, touring across the country and returning to the kind of medium-sized clubs they used to play in the UK before the pandemic, an experience that allowed the band to connect one-on-one with fans and reignite their passion for fostering community at their shows. Now, on the cusp of their second North American tour, the band is doubling down and ready to hit the ground running yet again. “These tours in North America are almost a bit nostalgic in a way, even though we’d never been before,” says Corby. “It feels like when we were first starting out, just playing music and getting people’s reactions, having a drink and a good time with them. These tours might be a fool’s errand but who cares? It’s gonna resonate with some people and it’ll be a great experience.”

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