Liverpool band, Silent-K are described as “Progressive safari punk from Knowsley” and the group claim to bring “new music for a silent generation”.
Talking to frontman and founder Chris Taylor (AKA The Pineapple King), he explained the origins of the sore-tooth, rough-edged rockers: “The band’s name came from the silent ‘K’ in Knowsley, which is where I and Dave McCabe are from.”
Shortly after The Zutons split, Taylor played in Dave McCabe’s solo project, Dave McCabe and the Ramifications and toured with them for two years before it all ended abruptly following disagreements between members:
“I and Dave fell out and we’re best mates like, but we needed some time apart. I was living down in London at the time and I remember coming back up to Liverpool to see some old friends and that’s when I saw The Fat White Family playing live. Next thing I know I’m on a plane heading for America with them.”
After a week playing with the Fat White Family in Manhattan, Taylor returned home and began jamming with Dave McCabe and described how the group has progressed since then:
“The last year’s just been about getting a tight live set together and making an impression and also trying to work out how the songs should sound. I’ve never understood people who go to shows and expect to hear exactly the same thing that they could hear with a pair of headphones at home.”
When asked about the weird and whacky nicknames for himself and fellow bandmates (Pineapple King, Ned Zanius, Fazzle Razzet, Roles Boyce, etc.), Taylor laughed:
“These are obviously the characters that are from the safari park. Nah, I was just making shit up man – they’re daft names so, they can mean whatever you want them to.”
In May last year, Silent-K supported Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds at Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff and Taylor elaborated on his favourite part of the experience:
“The catering was boss man! Walked backstage with the band and seen this big banquet table with fish, meat, veg, desserts – proper mad.”
Returning the conversation to music, Taylor spoke of working with Sheffield-based producer Ross Orton on their single “GO BACK” and future plans:
“It’s looking like we might sign with this local distribution label called Ditto Music, hopefully, release a few singles with them – maybe an EP. After that, though I really want to get out there and smash it with gigs and that.”
Silent K are set to play a half-hour set at a free Sound City showcase event at Queen Avenue on Friday 3rd May, Taylor concludes:
“That one’s going to be a rip-roar and blast it. High energy like, we’re going to have it!”
