Hayley Scott
@Hayleys44
Hayley is a freelance music journalist, writer and editor based in Leeds. She regularly writes for The Quietus, The Girls Are, Loud And Quiet, Clash Magazine, The Yorkshire Evening Post and The Line of Best Fit. She also writes sleeves notes for records and and is putting on her first gig this month. You can read most of her published work here.
Have you always lived in Leeds?
No, but it feels like I have! I moved here from Brighton when I was about 9, I really hated my parents for moving me here at the time but now I'm really thankful for it, I don't think I'd be doing half of the great things I'm doing now if I didn't move to Leeds and meet the people I've met. Having said that, Brighton is a great place to visit, especially now, there's some really exciting stuff happening there music-wise.
What was first gig you saw in Leeds and what was the best ever gig?
The first gig I ever saw – as in 'proper' gig – must have been The Hives at the Refectory in 2006. I was about 16 then and only just started going to gigs, just in time for the explosion of landfill indie. I didn't know what to expect so I stood right at the front, got a bit squashed but didn't regret it, I've gradually gravitated further back as I've gotten older.
The best ever gig is a difficult one, because I've been to a lot of great gigs in Leeds. Probably The Fall at the Brudenell in 2012, mainly because it was the first time I'd seen Mark E Smith look like he wanted to be there, he was having a great time and they played a blinding set. I saw Leonard Cohen at the arena last year and that was really something. Cate Le Bon's gig earlier this year was also incredible, she's amazing and should be on the world stage, playing to much bigger audiences.
Most memorable gig you've been to?
Maybe the Tom Tom Club, again, at the Brudenell, partly because I got to meet Tina and Chris after. I was a bit nervous because I didn't expect to ever meet two members of Talking Heads in my lifetime. The Chills at the same venue was also a memorable gig because I love everything about that era of Flying Nun, and it felt weird that the man who wrote 'Pink Frost' would be playing 2 minutes down the street from my house, and I don't think that's likely to happen again anytime soon. Patti Smith because...it's Patti Smith, Crystal Stilts because they were just really friendly guys, and lastly, City Yelps- a local band, they played in my living room and it was very noisy which is always good. Also, weirdly, Black Lace – you'd have to ask Jonny Strangeways about that though. He's a regional celebrity.
Is there anything exciting happening within the Leeds music scene?
The DIY music scene is the best it's been in a long time. Leeds has spawned some really good bands; there's almost always a local band playing somewhere every week. Places like the Brudenell and Wharf Chambers play a pivotal role in that I guess. It all seems pretty vibrant. You've got bands like Hookworms and Eagulls who have made some waves further afield in the US, then there's bands like Cowtown, Esper Scout, Galaxians, T.O.Y.S, Black Moth, Manhattan Love Suicides, City Yelps, Nope, The Wednesday Club, The Seven Inches among so many others who have been around for some time but their gigs are always somewhat of an event here. Alanna from Joanna Gruesome has recently moved here so I'm hoping there will be more appearances from them because they're one of the best live bands around at the moment. Leeds is a pretty incestuous place music-wise. All the bands know each other and probably have at some point been in each other's band or something like that.
Best up and coming band in Leeds we might not have heard of?
As for "up and coming" I think Mushare going to do really well. They've only been playing for a couple of months and when they play live it looks and sounds like they've been together for ages. Leeds has a whole bunch of great bands coming out of it though.
Do you think there's a certain sound developing within Leeds?
Not particularly, I think the sound of Leeds is expansive if anything. There was a brief 'neo-psychedelic' phase following the success of Hookworms first album, which is still present I guess. We do indie pop really well, and we're good at making a racket. But on the other hand you have bands like Galaxians who aren't really like anything else out there at the moment, as far as I am aware anyway.
Favourite Leeds music venues?
Wharf Chambers, The Brudenell Social Club (surprise surprise) Belgrave Music Hall is growing on me venue-wise simply for the roof-top terrace and the gig room itself is spacious, but it's relatively new. Baby Jupiter is a great little place but I guess it's more of a bar than a venue, there's the odd band that play there occasionally but it's a bit of a hidden gem. They have a really good club night once a month called Don't Falter. No one ever goes apart from the usual faces but I think that's because most people don't know it exists.
Is there a venue that's been and gone that you particularly miss?
Not that I can think of. The Faversham is still there, it was brilliant for gigs and music circa 2007/2008; they'd have a club night every Saturday called Bad Sneakers and the music was great.
What's the best place to go to for a drink before a gig?
I sound like a broken record but The Brudenell is usually my first choice; most of the good gigs are there and it would be silly to go elsewhere for a pre-gig drink. I suppose I am a little bit stuck in my ways like that, I'm always hearing about new places to go out in Leeds but I tend to stick to what I know. That's the wonderful convenience of living in Hyde Park though: I live next to one of the best music venues in the country and it also happens to be an excellent pub; drinks are quite cheap too! If I do ever feel like venturing elsewhere, Wax Bar is always a good choice; they're one of very few bars that have vinyl decks and a superb record collection. You can pretty much request any song, and the bar staff are really lovely too.
Where do you stand on people taking photos at a gig?
Generally I think it's OK to take the occasional photo, but I really dislike it when it interferes with your own experience: how are you able to enjoy something properly if you are constantly holding your phone up to take a photo, or if there's a phone shoved in my face every 2 minutes? It's annoying to the people around you, and the band probably really hate it, too.
Best merch you've ever bought at a gig?
A Fall lighter, which is also bottle opener- what more do you need? I've bought some good records at gigs, and I am an ardent collect of tote bags, which sounds really hipster of me, but they're just handy. The best one I got recently was the Cowtown bag; it has a cat with pizza on it, two of my favourite things.
What's the biggest misconception about bands from Leeds that you'd like to challenge?
Leeds' music history isn't just about Chumbawumba, Scary Spice and post-britpop like Kaiser Chiefsand the Pigeon Detectives. The city has spawned the likes of Pale Saints, The Mekons, Gang of Four, The Wedding Present, Scritti Politti, Girls at Our Best alongside many others.
Best thing about living in Leeds?
It's a city that has pretty much everything you need without being overwhelming massive. We’ve got some excellent record shops: Timebomb, Norman, Jumbo and Crash are the main ones. Oh and the Brudenell! (ha)