XMR Hub Podcast #1 - Billy the Kid and Northcote

Being on Chuck Ragan's European tour, new records and loneliness in Canada

- 26.05.14 -

In an attempt to keep you all loaded with things to get excited about, we here at Xtra Mile Recordings are playing with a few ideas. One of these ideas is a regular-ish podcast where we interview some of our artists, play some of their lovely songs, including an occasional exclusive, and generally attempt to entertain you with their talking and music.

The first one, hot off the press, is with Billy the Kid and Northcote. The two Canadians join the excellent Chuck Ragan on tour this week in Europe, starting in Nottingham at Rock City on Tuesday, 27 May. All dates are listed below:

Chuck Ragan - Overseas Till Midnight 2014
with special guests Northcote & Billy the Kid

MAY
27  Nottingham, UK @ Rock City Basement
28  Bristol, UK @ Thekla
29  London, UK @ The Garage
30  Hunxe, Germany @ Ruhrpott Rodeo Festival
31  Erfurt, Germany @ Centrum

JUNE
01 Nurnberg, Germany @ Hirsch
03 Aschaffenburg, Germany @ Colos-saal
04 Munich, Germany @ Theaterfabrik
05 Wien, Austria @ Arena
06 Leipzig, Germany @ Conne Island
07 Berlin, Germany @ SO36
09 Utrecht, Netherlands @ de Helling
10 Cologne, Germany @ Live Music Hall
12 Milan, Italy @ Live Forum
14 Saarwellingen, Germany @ RockCamp Festival
15 Tilburg, Netherlands @ 013
17 Osnabruck, Germany @ Rosenhof
18 Dresden, Germany @ Scheune *
19 Wiesbaden, Germany @ Schachthof *
24 Brighton, UK @ The Haunt
25 Manchester, UK @ Gorilla
26 Leeds, UK @ Brudenell

* w/Dave Hause

Billy Pettinger (AKA Billy the Kid) has spent time in rock bands before going solo and her new album Horseshoes & Hand Grenades was produced by Frank Turner, who also played on the record alongside Sleeping Souls' drummer Nigel Powell. The result is a stinging, soulful album enriched with experience and eclectic taste. You can pre order Horseshoes & Hand Grenades here.

Matt Goud (AKA Northcote) continues his band-bolstered solo outing with his self-titled second album. Formerly of post-hardcore band Means, Matt has traded ferocious guitars and metalcore screams for invigorating soaring choruses and tasteful flurries of brass. You can buy Northcote's self titled album here.

They chat amiably about musical and personal isolation in Canada, their new records, excitement of touring with the inspiring and lovely Chuck Ragan, and their previous European experiences. You will also get to hear snippets of tracks from both records, including three unreleased songs from Billy's forthcoming album.

So, it's here to stream or download via Soundcloud. Please have a listen, enjoy, and perhaps we can carry this on, if you like it.

Finally, huge thanks go to Billy and Matt for being lovely, accommodating and excellent. Please give up some of your time to see them if you can, especially if you're already going to see Chuck Ragan this time round. It'll be worth it. They told me so.