The Leggomen’s Billy Hutchinson talks to Hollie Carr about returning to live music and how the band have adapted to the Coronavirus restrictions.
The Leggomen started out as a group of friends and will mark their 10th anniversary next year. “We kind of just threw it together just so we had reasons spend time together in the pub,” explains Billy Hutchinson.
“I think whenever you do anything really, it doesn’t really matter how good you are as long as you’re doing it with your mates and you’re having fun. That’s all that really matters.”
I miss that part in the middle of the song when you turn around and you catch the eye of one of your band mates – and you’ve just done something that sounds badass.
Not being able to perform live has hit the band hard. “I miss that part in the middle of the song when you turn around and you catch the eye of one of your band mates – and you’ve just done something that sounds badass. You’re on point and I’m missing the feeling you’re going to get from that. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely miss playing in front of crowds and people, but ultimately I miss playing with the boys.”
He described the “silver lining” to this lockdown as being the fact the band have been fairly productive.
“Not only are we a covers band, but we also write quite a lot of our own stuff.”
I think when we come back in June this is going to be a certainly more evolved outfit for sure.
Their last album Missing the Middle was released in 2015, but lockdown has proven to be a good time to write. “A lot has been done over the past few weeks in terms of writing. I think when we come back in June this is going to be a certainly more evolved outfit for sure.”
With regards to song writing, Billy revealed that some of the content is “absolute pony” and they have to filter through it. “That’s when you find that in there are little bits of gems and every now and again you’ll come up with an absolute belter.”
During the pandemic, the band have been doing a lot of virtual gigs to raise money for different charities including Mind and the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.
The Leggomen also played at the Virtual Quay Fest “one of two” which raised more than £14,000. Billy adds: “It’s quite an impressive little fee really considering everyone at the time was unsure about jobs and whatnot. And it put a few pennies in the old covid pot.”
Obviously, it’s been a horrific time for millions of people but there’s silver linings to everything.
Like many bands, virtual gigs have become part of the Leggomen’s repertoire. “It is certainly something that everyone’s been forced into, you know the whole virtual thing,” admits Billy. “Most people wouldn’t have had a scooby about it and now they’ve had to otherwise they’ve been unable to perform. Obviously, it’s been a horrific time for millions of people, but there’s silver linings to everything. In terms of music there’s been a lot more people putting stuff out on the platforms and social media, so I think it would be silly for all that to stop.
“I certainly think people should continue doing that but at the same time just can’t wait for those venue doors to open.”
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