Working Men's Club: Heading In A New Direction

Hailing from a forgotten part of West Yorkshire is Syd Minksy-Seargent, frontman of Working Men's Club, the band at the forefront of the evergrowing post-punk renaissance. They're straying themselves away from being labelled a 'Manchester' band, a scene described as "shit" by their enigmatic frontman. Instead they're out on their own, performing up and down the country to consistently sold-out audiences. As they head in a new, more electronic direction with two new band members, we caught up with Working Men's Club OG's Syd Minsky-Seargent and Liam Ogburn...

You guys had a busy summer. Shows with Mac Demarco and Boedga – how was it for you?

Syd: Very busy, very funny. But good, yeah.

Are there any funny stories you’d like to share?

Syd: I got wheelchaired out of Mac Demarco.

Liam: He passed out.

Syd: Yeah, I got really fucked. Started throwing up during the gig.

Liam: Mac was playing and it was in this like marketplace, you could see Syd getting wheel chaired out on the balcony.

How’s it being part of the Heavenly Family? You guys switched from Melodic right?

Syd: It wasn’t so much of a switch. We were only with Melodic for a single but when Heavenly came along it was just the right time for us. They’ve both been great, Melodic and Heavenly.

You’ve just changed things up a little, adding two new band members. How’s it going?

Syd: Yeh it’s been great. It works very well. It’s pretty fresh, so the songs are sounding the same but I think as time goes on it’ll get far more electronic. It’s what we’ve always intended on. No drums anymore.

What’s influencing you at the moment? Any particular music, art or books?

Liam: LCD Soundsystem. Yeah, that’s a big one for me. I’ve adored that band for years.

Syd: Afrobeat, Krautrock, Gabe Guernsey, Suicide. A lot of 70’s bands really, but then I’m listening to a lot of modern techno. I went to Berlin and it changed my ethos in music.

Did you go to Tresor? It’s insane in there.

Syd: Yeah! Mad in there init.

So your live favourite ‘Cook A Coffee’ is written about Andrew Neil. It’s nice to see that there’s other people sharing the same disdain for the right-wing media…

Syd: He looks like he’s got shit on his head.

What are your thoughts on the state of things at the moment?

Syd: It’s fucked and we’re all fucked. England is fucked and we should all get out and fuck off. Let the refugees take over.

Do you think you’re a political band, or would you stray away from that label?

Syd: I wouldn’t say we’re a political band, but personally, we are. Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion, that just happens to be mine.

Liam: I think it should be voiced through music, it’s one of the best platforms, in my opinion. Especially when its railing against what’s going on at the moment.

Syd: It’s just anger man, we’re fucking angry. Half of the people who voted for Brexit are dead. I’ve not got anything against the older generation, but I wasn’t old enough to vote at the time and like a lot of people, it’s our future that’s affected.

Liam: Bring on the second referendum.