Get to Know: Patty Hearst
We talk to Patty Hearst's Michael Cahill ahead of the band's appearance at Stay Fresh Fest 2
It's fair to say that Patty Hearst have put in the hours at the coalface of Manchester's DIY scene. Formed from the ashes of various bands, covering a multitude of genre and disciplines, they're a band with the tools and the know-how to be your new favourites. Fans of Les Savy Fav may well take heart in the off-kilter guitar patterns that drive their pacy drama, while their capacity for fuzzed-out hooks seems to know no bounds: these are songs that simply beg to be heard. Treasure 'em.
For locals who've not yet been lucky enough to witness their heroic live show in the flesh, good fortune decrees that there's a chance to do just that when they play Stay Fresh Fest 2 on 28 January. In the meantime, find out what makes the quintet tick as we learn a little more about 'em...
The Skinny: When and how (and why!) did Patty Hearst begin?
Michael Cahill: We got together after all of our other bands dissolved a couple of years ago: Scott, Mike and Ed had played together in With That Knife and had been jamming with Holly after New Hips split for a little while, I think. They asked if I wanted to join when I was fresh offstage at the last Well Wisher gig. It's been fairly slow progress because of real life things but we're happy with how we're sounding now.
Tell us something people would be surprised to learn about you.
You can gamble on Holly to win road cycling races, that's pretty cool.
The original Patty Hearst's story is fascinating, but are there any other famous Pattys (real or fictional) who you might have considered naming yourselves after?
Patty Mayonnaise from Doug, Patty Swayze, Patty Morita, Patty Evra, Patty Benatar, was gonna say Patty Moore but Ed says he was a UKIP member – imagine dreaming of reaching for the stars but being miffed about immigration.
What does Manchester mean to you?
Fuck knows, it's been home forever. I guess I have the same feelings for it as anyone does for their hometown; there are things I love and things I can't stand and sometimes those things are inseparable. I've always found it to have a weirdly hedonistic vibe, which is kind of great but also super-destructive. I think people here aren't shy about enjoying themselves to the point of collapse – it's a party city.
Which of the other acts at Stay Fresh Fest 2 are you most looking forward to watching?
Mums – they're just total powerhouses, plus with Lewis being there I'll have someone to talk about wrestling with. Strobes sound cool too.
What does the rest of the year have in store for you?
Write more stuff, record and release said stuff, little UK tour, hopefully get to Europe before we're not allowed in any more.
And finally: What do you like to do outside of Patty Hearst? Any projects we should know about?
Scott is doing a Masters, Holly is taking part in some crazy endurance bike race across Europe because she's dead hard, Ed is playing in Cemetery of Splendour with D from Hammers, Mike H is getting into Steve Jobs cosplay and I'm spending my 30s watching wrestling and playing Final Fantasy.
Patty Hearst play Stay Fresh Fest with Henge, The Orielles, Mums, Strobes, Luxury Death, Seize the Chair and Heavy on the Magic @ The Deaf Institute, Manchester, 28 Jan
Buy tickets here