The Family Rain: Three brothers from Bath in the UK – Will Walter [lead vocals & bass], Ollie Walter [guitar] and Tim Walter [drums] – have just dropped “Indulgence”; their second album – a superb offering currently being promoted on the band’s 11-date UK tour.
We caught up with them at their fabulous London gig at Omeara, where our skilful snapper Mr Liam Battersby did his thing with the camera, and shot the band live on stage and on walk-about in that there London.
“Indulgence” is the band’s first album for 10 years, since “Under The Volcano” released via Virgin EMI Records put these guys on the map back in 2014 – offering up “pinch me” opportunities to share the stage with the likes of The Rolling Stones at Hyde Park, as well as tours with Biffy Clyro, Miles Kane and 30 Seconds To Mars.
Alongside the excellent new album comes the single “Who Let The Gods Out” – the track is a modern feel-good love anthem with a Keith Richards’ 80’s Stones-style hook.
“There is too much self loathing in alternative music, occasionally it is necessary to love yourself, sometimes it’s required to call yourself a God…
“Every so often you are called upon to plagiarise Baha Men, luckily with this track all those boxes are ticked and the rock and roll spirit lives on”, say the band.
The siblings formed the band in 2011, but called it a day in 2016, before they reformed in 2019. The last six years have seen three EPs released, a bunch of singles and a mini album of a sun-soaked side project, “Voyages”.
The new album came about through relentless writing and recording sessions with long time collaborator and Grammy-nominated producer Tom Dalgety (Royal Blood, Ghost, Pixies) and brotherly duo Bad Sounds, another set of Grammy-nominated producers in their own right.
TRACK LISTING:
1. Hit The Ground Running
2. Gasoline
3. My Other Car Is A Tiger
4. Machete Western
5. Easy When You Know How
6. Loud & Clear
7. Good Grief, Bad Grief
8. Who Let The Gods Out
9. Sabertooth
10. Four Letter Insult
11. End Of The World
12. Innocence
” ‘Indulgence’ is a love letter to the ambition of any band/artist rattling around in a splitter van full of warm beer, to the decadence of a service station and to the Wizard of Oz-like state that the music industry upholds, the curtain is velvet green, the lights are bright, but sweating behind the veil are three brothers working tirelessly to make something sweet for you to enjoy”, explains vocalist and lyricist Will Walter.
Wil
The album represents every aspect of the brothers’ combined influence from AC/DC to Scott Walker via Fat Boy Slim. It’s a rock and roll album at heart…and we love it. Especially the raw and raucous closing track: “Innocence” – see video on this page – a hit to our ears. Killer – gargling razor blades and gasoline – vocal!
Omeara Setlist
Every So Often
Hit the Ground Running
Gasoline
Loud and Clear
Don’t Waste Your Time
Carnival
Machete Western
Pushing It
Who Let the Gods Out
Sabertooth
Good Grief, Bad Grief
Binocular
Trust Me… I’m A Genius
Will
Photos: Liam Battersby
Words: Steve Best