“We’re Not Fucking Sidekicks!” Interview with Heavy Lungs

“We’re Not Fucking Sidekicks!”

Interview with Heavy Lungs

Hailing from Bristol and bringing a twisted post-punk impression, comparing four-piece Heavy Lungs to their fellow musicians IDLES is expected. With a similar sound, presence and appeal, Heavy Lungs have just come off the UK leg of IDLES’ recent tour. However, Heavy Lungs weren’t picked at random or through the control of a record label. The band are good friends of the recently-shot-into-stardom IDLES and they knew each other before they even formed bands.

It may come as a shock when you find out Heavy Lungs vocalist, Danny Nedelko is the topic of famous IDLES single, ‘Danny Nedelko’. Go figure. Both the bands released a 7” together featuring ‘Danny Nedelko’ sung by IDLES with Heavy Lungs tune, ‘Blood Brothers’ that was written about IDLES frontman, Joe Talbot. Danny explains, “the Blood Brothers name came from when Joe would introduce me as his brother. We’ve known each other for years now”. 

But how did the boys meet? Well Danny met IDLES a while ago whilst working in a pub, “I was working in this pub called the Golden Lion where Dev was the manager…” and where he also met Joe. However, Oliver states he met them about eight years ago when they supported his old band, The Rants.

The friendship is clearly a beautiful one that sees the bands travelling in the same direction. But surely there could be an air of competition between the two bands? 
“Yeah and they’re beating us!". Guitarist, Oliver continues, “The only really healthy competition between us is in terms of pranks,”. The band clearly have stories to tell from their time supporting IDLES. “When they played the Q Awards inbetween that and the Kentish Town Forum, Dev stayed up all night and couldn’t get to the bus so he ended up sleeping rough which was really ironic”. However, it pokes the question, surely the boys must get bored of constant comparisons to their mates when they are an individual band? 

“It’s not boring…” they begin. “I feel the stage they’re at it’s an obvious comparison to go to. But we are completely different bands. We were slightly concerned at first that we’d be known as ‘the sidekick band’ but I think we’re all pretty happy that’s not the case. We’re not fucking sidekicks!”

But Heavy Lungs have moved on now to pushing their post-punk band and their debut EP that was recorded in a mere three days. It could be assumed that they recorded it in three days to help capture that punk sound and attitude that is reflected so well in their music. “No,” begins Danny, “It’s all we could afford. Not at all [intentional]”. Hailing originally from the Ukraine, Danny left and moved to Bristol ten years ago. When questioned on how the music scene differs in the Ukraine he replied, “I was young. The concept of good music wasn’t familiar. I don’t know any good bands but can tell you good football”. However, Heavy Lungs themselves are a triumph. With a name taken from a Bloody Knees song, the band bring an antagonistic and combative approach to their music making them an exciting group with a good future ahead of them.

Sidenote: I preferred their live set to IDLES. Sshh…

You can catch them on tour here