We love going out with the Oasis lads - Nick Power of The Coral talks ahead of Birmingham festival
From getting drunk with Oasis to DJing at Northern Soul nights, The Coral’s Nick Power has come a long way since being a schoolboy in the Wirral.
He first joined indie rockers The Coral as a keyboard player in 1998. And though it was just two years after the initial line-up had got together, he says its members already seemed like they were born for the job.
The band’s gearing up to play the Beyond The Tracks festival in Digbeth on September 16. The three-day festival runs from September 15 to 17.
Explaining the band’s early days, he says: “I was in school and the rest of the band were actually sort of already together.
“I started writing songs together with them and, helping write the songs, I already felt as though I’d joined the band.
“They were like sort of supernatural musicians, as though they had been born for it.”
Nick says they were influenced by Oasis; though he is now also a huge soul fan and DJ.
“I think a lot of bands who started when we did would be liars if they claimed not be somewhat influenced by Oasis or Blur,” says Nick.
“After listening to Oasis, I went from there and began listening to more underground stuff later.”
He adds: “We’ve got drunk with Oasis a few times – it was brilliant. They’re great lads; dead nice and really accommodating.”
“I know they’re presented in a certain way, but having toured with them I don’t have a bad word to say about Liam, Noel or any of the band. I’d like to tell you we’ve had some big fistfights or something, but they’re really great.
“We’ve had a few late nights with Blur as well. We supported them on a winter tour across Europe. That was for the Thinktank album about 10 years ago.
“You can tour with bands, but I don’t think you really know what they’re like unless you collaborate with them.
“When on tour with other bands, you don’t really get a chance to get to know each other. You’re either rushing around and don’t speak to each other, or you get absolutely bladdered with each other.
“When we play Beyond The Tracks, there will be a good mixture of songs you know, as well as some bits of psychedelic stuff. There’ll certainly be a good variety,” he adds.
“It’ll be a really good show.”
The band’s excitement ahead of the festival is no doubt helped by the fact they are on good terms with fellow headliners The Twang.
“We know The Twang; we know Phil quite well. We haven’t actually worked with the band, but I’ve seen them a few times at our gigs. They pop up every now and again. We just get on with them,” says Nick.
“We don’t know Maximo Park and we’ve yet to work with Ocean Colour Scene.
“We’re just really happy to be playing the weekend. We love playing with anyone.”
It’s not the first time the band has been England’s second city either, having played numerous Birmingham gigs, including one at Moseley Folk Festival last year.
“It was a lovely festival,” says Nick.
