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X-clusive: The Zutons Set Sights On Mercury Prize
Following their nomination for the Mercury Music Prize, Scouse psychedelic funksters The Zutons speak exclusively to Xfm Online and explain the crazy powers of the underdog, and just what they’ll do with the money if they scoop the prize.
With their Mercury Prize-approved debut album ‘Who Killed The Zutons?’ almost certainly set to sail up the charts in the coming weeks, Xfm caught up with Zutons singer and guitarist Dave McCabe and saxophonist Abi Harding to find out exactly how they rate their chances.
“We’re just shocked and excited,” McCabe said, “And sweaty, but its just good to be recognised. 12-to-1, eh? You just never know, the underdogs sometimes have some crazy powers so we could just do it. Look at Greece, they just won Euro 2004.
“I don’t actually know exactly know who we’re against though,” he concedes as he’s passed the full list of nominees. “Oh right [looking down the list] Er…good, good, shit, good, shit, shit…Wait a minute, why are we at the bottom of the list?”
“It’s really is brilliant just to be nominated,” Harding jumps in before McCabe gets the chance to start multiple inter-band wars. “But there’s some big ones on there like Joss Stone, isn’t there?”
With an estimated prize money of £20,000 the band have already decided how to blow the cash, though a night out on the tiles in Liverpool doesn’t feature too high on the list…
“Get straight out to the Bahamas,” McCabe instantly decides, before reconsidering somewhat, “Or maybe just pay off all of the debts we owe to different people. When you’re in a band you’re constantly borrowing money.”
The band’s debut album ‘Who Killed The Zutons?’ is out now while the band have extended their UK tour in the wake of their Mercury Prize nomination. The band have added an extra date to their autumn tour, playing London’s Shepherd's Bush Empire on October 26.
Tickets for the tour are available from the Xfm Xchange on 0871 222 1049 or online at Xfm Live Gig Guide by clicking here.
• Brighton Corn Exchange (October 4)
• Bristol Anson Rooms (5)
• Exeter University (6)
• London Shepherd's Bush Empire (8)
• Portsmouth Pyramid (9)
• Cardiff University (10)
• Northampton Roadmenders (12)
• Norwich Waterfront (13)
• Leeds Metropolitan University (14)
• Wolverhampton Wulfrun Hall (16)
• Nottingham Rock City (17)
• Newcastle University (19)
• Glasgow QMU (21)
• Manchester Academy (22)
• Sheffield Leadmill (23)
• Cambridge Junction (24)
• London Shepherd's Bush Empire (26)
Who do you think should win the Mercury Music Prize 2004? Franz Ferdinand? The Streets? Joss bloody Stone? To vote click right here
To discuss this story on the Xfm News Messageboard click here.
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