If there's one thing that defines Red Light Company it is determination.

Ambitious, pushy and utterly assured of their own brilliance, they allow nothing to get in their way. Not even pushy immigration officers. When he was pulling together the band in London, frontman Richard Frenneaux invited bass player Shawn Day to an audition in the city.

It was a Tuesday, and the fledgling band had a gig that Friday. Fortunately Shawn had nothing on, and agreed to come. There was only one problem: he was at home in the Rocky Mountain state of Wyoming.

Still, he wasted no time in flying over. So hasty was he, however, that he forgot to pack any cash. A decision which failed to impress Gatwick's passport control officers.

"They wouldn't let him in because he had no money," recalls Richard.

"We were so happy that he was willing to fly over. But he didn't know the process and didn't have the funds."

They detained Shawn for six hours, but after Richard and the band showed up in person, they allowed him to stay for one night - as long as he caught the first flight back to America the following morning. Making the best of the situation, there followed an unplugged audition in the back of a van - which landed Shawn the part.

"We played in the car park," says Richard. "Then we took him to the pub, and returned him to the airport.

"It was quite a strange experience," he adds. Returning to Wyoming, Shawn sold everything he owned, landed himself a visa, and came back to the UK for round two.

"It was ridiculous," sighs Richard - but the best things come from the most ridiculous things!"

The story is pretty typical of this high-octane five-piece, who, while based in London town, boast members from all over the place. Richard was born in England but grew up in Australia and New Zealand - picking up a broad accent in the process; Shawn is from the American West, but was born in Japan; drummer James Griffiths hails from Wales, guitarist Paul Mellon from Scotland, and keys man Chris Edmonds is from Berkshire.

So dedicated are they that they carefully honed their craft in the studio before embarking on this, their first proper tour - which sees them play the Carling Academy tomorrow.

"The tour is going really well," says Richard, who is enjoying some afternoon sun in Birmingham.

"Everything is building for us, and we are really grateful to see so many people coming to the shows. We make big music and if that's what you're interested in, that's what we do. We have stayed in the studio for a long time before playing dates. Now we want to take it to people."

So what does it sound like? "The music is quite catchy and the lyrics have a childlike naivity," he explains.

"There are five of us in the band, but we try to make music which is bigger than the sum of its parts."

Their first release is EP With Lights Out. It's a song with a dark story behind it.

"I had a childhood friend who committed suicide," Richard sighs. "He folded his clothes up neatly by the side of a lake, overdosed on sleeping pills, then just walked in. The song is based around a letter you would write, if you could still communicate with them, covering the denial as well as acceptance of their departure and loss.

"We do have happier songs. However, it does have an uplifting quality that you can't put your finger on."

And how does he sum up the band's appeal? "Nothing is forced. As soon as you do that, you've lost it.

"Having said that, we do have delusions of grandeur. We are very ambitious!"

He's not kidding.

Red Light Company play the Carling Academy on Saturday (May 17). Tickets are £4. Debut EP With Lights Out is out on May 26 on Lavolta Records.

5:39pm Thursday 15th May 2008

Print

Email this