Arguably one of the biggest and best bands to come from Leeds in recent memory are indie superstars The Pigeon Detectives. They burst onto the scene back in 2006 with the release of mega-hit ‘I Found Out’ which firmly placed them on everybody’s radar with its anthemic chorus and melodic charm.
Debut album ‘Wait for Me’ landed in 2007 to both critical and fan acclaim and included hits such as the aforementioned ‘I Found Out’, ‘Romantic Type’, ‘I’m Not Sorry’ and ‘Take Her Back’. All four of those songs quickly transcended into huge hit status and became synonymous with some of the best British indie anthems. The four songs have amassed over 7 million views on YouTube collectively and over 25 million stream on Spotify.
You will struggle to find many bands who put on a live show quite like The Pigeon Detectives. Frontman Matt Bowman is possibly the most energetic and charismatic frontman I have ever seen live and puts 110% into all of their shows. The last time I saw them play was at Leeds Wardrobe in 2016 and whilst performing, Bowman fell off the stage, heavily cracked his head and then just jumped up carried on with the set at full capacity as if nothing happened. A testament to their dedication to live performances.
The band have pretty much played everywhere in Leeds, including two huge outdoor gigs at Millennium Square back in 2008 where they played to over 15000 people over the course of the two nights. Leeds Festival and Live at Leeds have seen the indie rockers play them in recent years and the band certainly have a great relationship with the city.
I had a chat with guitarist Ryan Wilson about a great deal of things, including his favourite Leeds venue, whether they have any new material incoming and his thoughts on Leeds United’s promotion chances. Ryan also co-hosts a Leeds United podcast with Darren Harper called LS11 which you can check out here!
If you have ever wondered where their wacky, yet wonderful name originated then look no further than this interview!
Listen to it in full down below:
*The interview was conducted last year, so the section regarding Middlesbrough FC and Leeds United is now slightly dated!
Thanks to Ryan for his time!
Leeds: Live and Loud 