Under The Street Light - Jim Walters (The Urges)

Welcome to interview number 3 in this series of Under The Street Light With Dave McMahon. First we brought you The Mighty Stef, then last up was Collie. Today we have Jim Walters who is the lead singer from Dublin band, The Urges. The Urges are about to release their new single and have a few Irish dates lined up so I thought it would be the perfect time to have a chat.

When did you first realise that you wanted to be a musician?

Heard Louie, Louie by the Kingsmen in the background of a TV ad when I was at a formative age. I thought----I'll have some of that.

How did you get started?

The old standard of begging my mother for an expensive electric guitar and eventually getting a cheap unplayable acoustic one instead. From then on, all else came second to playing music.

How did The Urges come about?

Natural next step after getting a guitar, find other people who have them and play together. We were mates into the same music, still are as it happens.

Where did the band name come from?

I'd like to say it came to us in a dream, but I probably saw the words scrawled on a toilet wall.

Who did you listen to when you were growing up?

The La's, the Doors and the Stones.

How much do other musicians influence your music?

To a degree, and then not at all.

When and where did you play your first gig?

Voodoo Lounge in Dublin.

What has been your favourite venue to play?

Olympia Theatre, or a place in Hamburg, can't remember its name---- a huge venue that looked like a cave inside but made out of paper mache.

What has been your worst concert experience?

A gig to no-one in Drogheda. I'd fallen off a roof the night before in a moment of revelry. I could barely stay awake with the concussion.

What was your favourite concert that you went to see?

Love, the La's or more recently Tame Impala.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

It's hard to say, being able to travel the world playing your own music, playing with musical heroes the La's and the Sonics in NY. We always have an eye on the next highlight though.

You released your debut album “Psych Ward” in 2007, why has it taken so long to record a second album?

It's hard to say, the ebb and flow of being in a band I guess.

The new single “Passing Us By" is launching on April 17th, how does it compare to your previous releases?

The sound has evolved. It has to or you face stagnation. At it's core it's still rock and roll but gone strange and psychedelic at the extremities---- with brass, strings, harmonies and half-heard echoes.

Has work begun on a second album and if so when will it be released and does it have a title?

Recorded, mixed and mastered. we are just waiting on a release date confirmation.

You guys seem to always be at gigs around Dublin, who has caught your eye recently as one to watch out for?

September Girls who play with us at the launch on the 17th.

Who do you currently listen to?

Temples, Tame Impala, Goat.

What are your top 5 albums of all time?

Love-Forever Changes

Scott Walker-Scott 4

Serge Gainsbourg- Melodie Nelson

The Doors-The Doors

Captain Beefheart- Safe as Milk.

Whats the best advice you have been given in your career?

Never forget your signing-on date.

What do you have lined up for the future?

Gigs in Grand Social Dublin on 17/5, Cork 18/5, Menagerie Belfast 25/5. Also have a French/ Italian tour in the pipeline for September and all going well, some festival dates.

The Urges release their new single "Passing Us By" on Record Store Day this Saturday 18th April.

#interview