This week The Coral announced a series of Christmas homecoming gigs along with The View and The Twang.
I caught up with singer James Skelly to find out more about his musical taste, and what’s inspiring him at the moment.
“I’ve been doing some new songs, with Nick (Power, the band’s other main writer). Either I’ll go over to his with a bit of an idea or a chorus, or he’ll come to mine, or we’ll listen to music.”
The Coral formed 11 years ago, when six Hoylake lads with a passion for vintage music. They released their fifth album, the fantastic Roots & Echoes, this summer, and have spent the last few months touring the country, playing at Glastonbury, V Festival, T in the Park and the Arctic Monkeys gigs at Old Trafford.
Now they’re having a well-deserved break before heading back out on the road.
“At the moment I’m having a great time in my house, lying in the bath, getting relaxed so the writing just happens. I make a bit of brekkie and stick some tunes on. I can’t watch daytime TV, it makes me want to slit my wrists, but I’ll always put Corrie or Eastenders on.
“Mostly it’s just music. I’ve been listening to loads of Beck, Moby, Everly Brothers, old Motown compilations, everything really.
“Man of the World by Fleetwood Mac was one of the songs I liked before I knew what music was.
“Dream Lover by Bobby Darin is just a perfect tune. It’s perfect music, you couldn’t improve it.
“On Your Own by The Verve was the song that made me want to write songs. It’s always inspired me. I can put that on any time and it always feels right.”
The Coral play the Carling academy Liverpool on December 12, 14 and 15. For more information, see www.myspace.com/thecoral.