Jade's Music Blog

Sean Francis Butler (guitar/vocals) and Kirsty Donaldson (vocals, flute, percussion) are all set to tie the knot in Liverpool, in what promises to be a unique celebration.
“It’s going to be quite a hairy wedding,� laughs Sean. “Everyone we know has got long hair or a beard, so it’s going to be a proper hairy event. Most of our friends are musicians, so hopefully we’ll be able to get some music in there.
“It’s taken loads of organising, which has been mad because we’ve been on tour pretty much non-stop.�
The quintet (Sean and Kitsty are joined by Anthony Rowan on bass, Stu Carswell on drums and John Sealey on keyboards and vocals) have been on a hectic touring schedule since signing to EMI almost a year ago. They are winning themselves an ever-growing army of fans with their folky Dylan-esque pop, a loyal band of followers they call the Sweethearts.
At the moment they’re supporting Tiny Dancers on a UK tour, and by the sound of it, they are having the time of their lives.
“It’s not often in life you get offered free beer every night, it’d be rude not to accept,� grins Sean. “But I’ve had to switch from beer to wine. I don’t want to have a beer gut. You don’t get many fat lads in bands, do you? They’d never get in their skinny jeans. I’m 25 now; I’m getting on a bit. I’ve got to start looking after myself.�
EMI scouts spotted the quintet, formerly The Neon Hearts, playing gigs at Korova and The Bumper.
“It’s weird, the whole getting signed thing,� admits Sean. “It’s like a courtship. They come and see you play, they talk to you, then they disappear. You don’t hear anything for ages, and it’s like they’re not interested, and then they come back. We had quite a few we were talking to, but EMI was always the one we wanted. When they signed us we hardly knew what to do. Well, no, actually we did. I went into work the next day and handed in my notice. I’d been working for the Home Office in India buildings every day, and then doing gigs most nights, so to be able to concentrate on
the music was amazing. I still can’t believe I’m doing this for a job.
“I suppose it’ll make it al real when we get our album out. That’s all done and ready to go, and I think we’ve got an EP out towards the end of the year.�
They’ve already dipped their toe in the water with their debut slice of uplifting indie-pop pie, in the form of single Hold On, released as a limited 7� (on Everton blue vinyl, no less) and as a digital download.
Crammed with lush harmonies, a stand out melody and fine musicianship; it’s been floating across airwaves, festival sites and indie club dancefloors alike throughout the summer.
Now Sean and the band are looking forward to a bit of rest and recuperation at home when they perform a four-week residency at Liverpool Barfly.
“It’s going to be great to be at home,� says Sean, from Stockbridge Village. “We’ve got to go back and forth to London a bit, but I’m looking forward to having a bit of time at home.
“The residency is a bit of a new thing for us. The first one I’m doing on my own, just an acoustic thing, and the other bands will be Peter & The Wolf and Dave Owen. The other three, it’ll be the whole band, and we’ve got loads of bands on. There’s Eugene McGuinness, The Great Northwestern Hoboes, The Bo Weevils, Northern Lights and The Pedantics.
“It’s really good to have a whole month, hopefully we can build it up into something really interesting. I’m hoping that people will get involved with it, will come and talk to us and tell us what they want. We’re always on MySpace too, so people can contact us there and let us know what they’d like to hear.�
So, for a bit of brilliant hum-a-long entertainment and some beautifully crafted and lazily hazy songs, look no further than four weeks of The Sonic Hearts.
The Sonic Hearts play Barfly on September 19 (with Peter & The Wolf and Dave Owen),
September 26 (with The Great Northwestern Hoboes and Sparkwood & 21), October 3 The (with The Bo Weevils, Northern Lights and Revenge Tragedies) and October 10 (with The Pedantics and The Fountains).
For more information see www.myspace.com/thesonichearts