Former Zutons frontman and Liverpool music icon Dave McCabe is returning to the stage later this year with a series of intimate UK dates throughout November and December with fellow legend and good friend Jay Lewis. The tour culminates in a very special hometown performance at Liverpool’s Arts Club on Saturday 12th December.
CLICK HERE FOR LIVERPOOL GIG TICKETS
For fans, the tour marks more than just a chance to hear the songs that defined a generation. It’s also an opportunity to see an artist who has rediscovered his love of making music — on his own terms. After years away from the spotlight, McCabe has been quietly writing and recording new material.
“I’ve been writing new songs and working with Danny Connors, Ian Skelly from The Coral and Zack McDonnell from The Dream Machine,” Dave says. “My new work is like glorified demos at the moment but I’ve been enjoying it. Recording music is on my own terms now — I just get in the studio and record. I just want to have fun with music now and I’m enjoying the process.”
CLICK HERE FOR LIVERPOOL GIG TICKETS
That relaxed outlook is a far cry from the pressure that followed the release of The Zutons’ biggest hit. After critically acclaimed debut album Who Killed….The Zutons became a nominee for the 2004 Mercury Music Prize and the band were nominated for the British Breakthrough Act award at the 2005 BRIT Awards, Valerie became the hit they are undoubtedly most recognised for.
“There was a lot of pressure in the noughties, especially when we released Valerie. There was a lot of expectation, but there’s no pressure now,” he says. “I’m enjoy my solo work and really looking forward to the tour at the end of the year with my good friend Jay Lewis — he’s boss! People can expect a mix of The Zutons, new stuff — it’s going to be a journey through everything I’ve ever done.”
CLICK HERE FOR LIVERPOOL GIG TICKETS
Whilst enjoying the freedom of recording and performing on his own terms, McCabe still treasures the experiences music has given him and is grateful for everything he experienced with The Zutons. At their dizzy heights, they headlined festivals with The Prodigy, toured the U.S with The Killers and played Jools Holland’s legendary annual Hootenanny on New Year’s Eve.
“I’m grateful for everything, even the stress,” he says looking back. “Playing Glastonbury, big festivals in Japan — all the gigs with The Zutons really. The gigs are the best bit about music. But above everything, my son is my best accomplishment. Being a Dad has made me grow up and see life for what it really is.”
“I am grateful for it all though. I’m grateful that we wrote a song (Valerie) that gets played on the radio and karaoke’d every day. It’s mad to think that people are singing a song that you wrote in your mum’s house — the melody that you wrote in the back of a cab.”
CLICK HERE FOR LIVERPOOL GIG TICKETS
McCabe also shared the true story behind the track that has become one of Britain’s most recognisable indie anthems. Later covered by Amy Winehouse with Mark Ronson, the titan hit’s lyrics such as ‘Well, sometimes I go out by myself, And I look across the water’, Did you have to go to jail? Put your house on up for sale, did you get a good lawyer? and ‘Why don’t you come on over, Valerie?’ are all clues.
“Valerie is a song about a celebrity make up artist in America named Valerie Star. We had a thing,” he explains. “The song was kind of like me sending her a postcard asking if she’s okay. She had crashed a car and got into trouble. The song was about me looking across the water and saying, ‘Why don’t you come and see me?’ She’s is doing alright these days. She’s living in New York and does makeup, art and photo shoots.”
CLICK HERE FOR LIVERPOOL GIG TICKETS
The Zutons’ meteoric rise to fame happened when Dave was a lot younger and he embraced the lifestyle. Now older and wiser, Dave is enjoying the creative process of working on his solo career whilst enjoying being a father. A much more laid back Dave, his new grounded outlook informs the advice he now offers to young musicians hoping to follow in his footsteps.
“If you’re starting out in a band make sure you love what you’re doing — that way you’re never really disappointed in what other people think. It’s harder than it’s ever been in one sense because there’s no money in it but what the f*ck do I know — I’m a middle aged rocker playing gigs to stop himself from being bored and going insane,” he advises.
CLICK HERE FOR LIVERPOOL GIG TICKETS
Philosophical and reflective, he summarises: “Follow your instinct and accept there will be mistakes and there will be bad haircuts, some terrible wardrobe decisions and a general feeling of embarrassment but it’s a f*ckin laugh init? The worse the music the more success you’ll probably find if it’s good and challenging in many ways that’s the key to sticking round. But it’s hard to get a grip sometimes.”
“I hate music on a Monday but come Wednesday I’m all in love with it, and myself for that matter. I feel like Mike Tyson and a princess all at once but then on the Sunday I just wanna move to the South Pole and never hear another note in my life — these things change very frequently. And I’m getting used to it — being uprooted from one place to the next.”
“I suppose when I finally become really happy I’ll just die on the spot and maybe even listen to my albums and go ‘oh that’s pretty good’. Enjoy it — you can’t buy that, you can’t bottle it and when you do you will own it but only for a brief moment. It’s not easy keeping light about it all.”
CLICK HERE FOR LIVERPOOL GIG TICKETS
McCabe confirms fans can look forward to a solo album sometime in the new year. He is currently writing, recording and finding what he likes the most. Tickets are available for his tour on his Linktree. For one of Liverpool’s most celebrated songwriters, this new chapter isn’t about chasing chart success. Instead, it’s about rediscovering the simple joy of making music.
CLICK HERE FOR LIVERPOOL GIG TICKETS
For all tour dates see Dave’s LINKTREE and follow Dave on INSTAGRAM
Jacaranda live show photos courtesy of ChristinaUndefined / Studio photos courtesy of Samantha Sampson
