On Friday 22 May at 8pm, Everton Football Club brings you an evening of live music in support of our Blue Family campaign, which is helping those in need during the coronavirus pandemic.
Eleven acts featuring Everton fans have recorded exclusive sessions in isolation and ahead of the big show, we’re profiling them to find out more.
Next up, it’s SPINN...
Who is in the band and where are you from?…
The band is made up of Johnny Quinn (lead singer), Sean McLachlan (bass guitar), Louis O'Reilly (drums) and Andy Power (lead guitar). We're all from Liverpool, except for Louis who comes from Birmingham - we met him in a pub after our old drummer left, and never looked back.
Why are you supporting the Blue Family campaign?
Sean and I (Johnny) are huge Everton fans and, as well as being in the band, we work part-time up at USM Finch Farm on the car park to make ends meet between touring and recording, so we see how much the Club does for the community all the time. We think it's amazing that the Club is still doing so much when the rest of the world seems to have frozen. It makes you really proud to be an Evertonian when you see things like Everton in The Community and Speedo Mick and the Blue Family campaign doing so much for so many people, and we're very happy to help our community out in any way we can.
What should you have been doing in May 2020?
We would have been recording our second album at the minute. We’ve already got one of the tracks done but I suppose the lockdown gives us more time to write and rethink a lot of the things we might have recorded and not ended up being happy with - silver linings and all that. We were also meant to be doing a small tour around France and Spain. European tours are usually more like lads’ holidays, so I'm struggling to think any silver lining to not being in France drinking a beer with the rest of the band and our tour manager Kev. Instead I'm sat at my desk on my own.
How has the pandemic and lockdown affected you as a band?
It's been a challenging time. Obviously, we can't meet up to record demos or even just chill together like we usually do, but I think we've managed to overcome a lot of that and still got a lot of work done. I've found our work rate fluctuates; one week you'll be writing loads, then the next week nothing will happen. I think that's probably normal but I'm picking up on it more because I have nothing else to do. It's been sound, though, mostly, a lot of Facetiming to make sure the tunes are sounding good!
Band highlight so far?
I'd say when we headlined the big room in the O2 Academy in December. I always remember watching bands like The Wombats and Peace playing there when I was about 16 and being blown away. I think that was our main goal as a band when we started off, so it was just a dream come true really. Best night of my life by miles.
Favourite all-time Everton player and favourite current player?
Leighton Baines and Leighton Baines.
Rate your football ability out of 10...
I don't think one would even cut it, to be honest, maybe -12/10.
Best Everton memory?
Honestly, going down to Wembley with my whole family for the FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool is probably the best memory I have. It was such a boss feeling driving down to London for the first time, we even stopped off at a service station to get some food which was completely exotic to me then. We had some dodgy Everton song CD my dad had bought in the Winslow playing the whole way there. I remember getting the train to Wembley from the hotel and all the older fellas singing dead loud, everyone was having a laugh with each other and we saw absolutely everyone we knew on the walk up to the stadium. Even though we lost the game, the sense of community sticks with you and I think that's what football is about.
Favourite city to play a gig… after Liverpool, of course!
Anywhere in Scotland you usually get a good crowd - Glasgow and Aberdeen have always treated us well and the people up there are dead sound, too. Valencia was amazing when we played there. They were well up for it!
For those yet to hear your music, who would you say it is for fans of?
The Smiths, Orange Juice, The Cure, The Pale Fountains, The La's. Jangly guitars and kind of sad lyrics is our thing at the minute.
What does the next year hold for you?
Next year we're releasing our second album which should be recorded by the end of the year. We've also got lots and lots of touring planned, so hopefully lockdown measures will be lifted by then and we'll be able to get back on the road and possibly round Europe and America if all things go to plan.
What song have you chosen to perform in isolation for the Blue Family Lockdown Sessions?
We chose the song Sunshine. It's got that aforementioned "jangly guitars and kind of sad lyrics" thing going on. It's also really catchy and might put a smile on your face. Enjoy.
Where can we follow you?
We’re @spinnband on Facebook, @spinn_band on Twitter and @spinn_band on Instagram.
Everton’s Blue Family Lockdown Sessions will be broadcast in full at 8pm on Friday 22 May. Tune in to either the Club’s Facebook, YouTube, Twitter or Twitch channels to watch.
