Interview: Royal Blood talk a disdain for encores & becoming seasoned touring musos

Continuing our interview coverage from our time with Royal Blood in Sydney recently, Mike and Ben talk more on the development of their live shows and preparing for some of their biggest festival appearances yet, notably CalJam alongside Foo Fighters and Queens of the Stone Age.

“I think with another 10 songs that we get to play, obviously the set is going to be longer,” Ben says. “We can pick and choose the characters. Also, we have got more room for production; we have a bigger team around us that have bigger visions. A bigger perspective.”

“I think we feel experienced from the amount of touring we did on the first one.” Mike adds. “The first record, we were doing something for the first time whereas now, we feel a little bit more seasoned, I guess. We knew what we were into this time round.”

When it comes to their favourites to perform so far, the boys open up about How Did We Get So Darkmaterial.

“My favourite to play at the moment is “Hook, Line & Sinker””, Ben says. “It’s just one I get to where I’m relaxed. [It’s] in a good place in the set where you can just thrash out.”

“It’s a musical firework.” says Mike.

One thing’s for sure though. Royal Blood ain’t about that encore life.

“Here’s the thing.” Mike says. “We hate them because what’s the fucking point? Everyone knows it’s coming; it’s awkward, it’s weird. It’s patronising. …They just become so contrived. I’d rather just do our thing; destroy the place and leave.”

ROYAL BLOOD AUSTRALIAN & NZ TOUR DATES

April 24th | Hordern Pavilion, SYDNEY | All Ages
www.ticketek.com.au 

May 1st | Logan Campbell Centre, AUCKLAND | All Ages
www.ticketmaster.co.nz 

May 3rd | TSB Bank Arena, WELLINGTON | All Ages
www.ticketmaster.co.nz

May 7th | Riverstage, BRISBANE | All Ages
www.ticketmaster.com.au 

May 9th | Margaret Court Arena, MELBOURNE | All Ages
www.ticketmaster.com.au

May 13th | HBF Stadium, PERTH | All Ages
www.ticketmaster.com.au

Photo by Bruce Baker.

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Larry Heath

Founding Editor and Publisher of the AU review. Currently based in Toronto, Canada. You can follow him on Twitter @larry_heath or on Instagram @larryheath.