Tour Diary: The Speedways
GUEST POST: Matt Julian
It’s impossible to talk about modern power pop without mentioning The Speedways.
The London-based band started out as a solo project for Matt Julian (guitar/vocals), but these days The Speedways are a powerhouse, multi-songwriter quartet featuring Mauro Venegas (guitar/vocals), Adrian Alfonso (bass/vocals) and Kris Hood (drums).
Their impressive third album, Talk Of The Town (Snap!! Records/Hurrah! Musica/Beluga Records, 2022), features big choruses paired with wailing guitars on tracks like “Kiss Me Goodbye,” “Secret Secrets,” “Dead From The Heart Down,” “A Song Called Jayne & A Lie Called Love,” and “Shoulda Known.”
Drawing on influences ranging from Nick Lowe and Elvis Costello to the Flamin’ Groovies and The Kinks, it’s no surprise that guitar pop fans around the U.K. and Europe have fallen for The Speedways’ hooky songs and high-energy shows.
In particular, Spain has almost become a second home for The Speedways. “I don’t know what it is about Spain, but the passion and dedication to rock and roll and live music is always so high,” Julian said.
So, I asked him to share a few pictures and personal memories from The Speedways’ recent Spanish tour.
The Speedways Tour Diary
By Matt Julian
Madrid—”Metallica songs unplugged in the dark…”
There was big demand for tickets for tonight’s show. We’re told they could have sold the venue twice over, which is an exaggeration perhaps! But it’s a confidence boost all the same.
Kris and Adrian have been suffering with a heavy cold so the germs backstage and in the van are having a field day. I felt bad for them but paranoid that I’m gonna catch it!
Soundcheck went well, but just as we’re getting ready to leave and get some pizza the lights go out..and stay out for the next few hours. We sit on the stage and play Metallica songs unplugged in the dark.
It's almost midnight by the time we go on, which is fairly standard for Spain, but not on a Wednesday night. The momentum and mood suffers, but we soon warm up and play a good set.
There’s a lot of familiar faces in the crowd and plenty of new fans too, which is really cool. Madrid feels like our second home. It’s always good to be here.
Valladolid—”I can order breakfast and a beer…”
Writing the setlist from the balcony of our hotel. Tonight we play the Reducto Sonico. I usually write the setlist because I have the neatest handwriting apparently! I’d much rather do it early like this than when we’re faffing around before we go onstage.
The weather is cold, but crisp and sunny. Kinda perfect, so after doing this I went for a walk by myself and found a bar called LaLupe which gave off Burlesque vibes. I stayed for a couple.
I still don’t really speak any Spanish, which is frankly bullshit given that I’ve been here so often, but I can order breakfast and a beer (not always at the same time).
I’d love to spend some time in Spain and not have to soundcheck or have a guitar to carry. It’d be nice to explore these streets at a leisurely pace.
Valladolid—”Blowing the dust and dirt off my strings…”
The venue feels new with a great backstage area (it's always such a bonus when you have that!).
I'm blowing the dust and dirt off my strings. I probably should change them but I decide to risk one more show. They hold up fine.
It's our first time here and the gig goes well. We debut the song “Monday Was The Start Of The Stars.” Merch sales are great tonight too!
Zaragoza—”Your ears are so precious…”
Waiting for our intro music to start at the Casa Del Loco. We’ve been walking out to “You Don’t Own Me” by Lesley Gore on this tour. I’m putting my earplugs in, which is sadly a must these days as I have permanent tinnitus in my left ear.
I was diagnosed in January 2018. It’s a drag, but I don’t want it to get any worse. I wish so bad that I had worn earplugs when I was younger. Johnny Ramone used to say it was “cheating”—and I do understand that attitude—but fuck, your ears are so precious.
Adrian is showing off his pint of whiskey. Chema, our promoter in Zaragoza (and big supporter of the band), is very generous with his drink measurements! I only had half a pint on ice which went down a treat during the set.
Zaragoza—”I’m losing my memory as well as my hearing.”
I announce the show on stage as our “third time in Zaragoza,” only to be told by the audience and my band mates that it was in fact the fourth time. I’m losing my memory as well as my hearing.
After the show we head into town for a few drinks. Punishers absent this time around.
Zaragoza is one of our fave places when we come over to Spain. We have some loyal fans here and the hotel, venue and bars are all on the same street!
Murcia—”My memory becomes a bit fuzzy after that…”
The drive from Zaragoza to Murcia is the longest of the tour. Including a stop for lunch, we’re on the road for over 7 hours. I’m still on the hunt for sunglasses (mine broke at the airport before flying over) so I wander off when we stop at the services.
Salo our driver is working with us for a third time. He speaks very little English and has already mentioned my Spanish is non-existent, but we get on great! Lovely guy.
Football is a universal language so we’re able to communicate when watching the match highlights on a phone. United are playing and hang on for a narrow win, so I’m absorbed in that for a lot of the journey.
We arrive at Murcia in time for a quick change at the hotel before heading to the venue. It takes a while to find because, as it would turn out, Musik is housed in the caverns of an actual bullfighting ring. I’m not feeling good about that, but try to blank it out as we soundcheck.
The show itself turns out to be my personal favourite of the tour. The venue’s sold out and people right to the back of the room were dancing and singing along. It’s such a good feeling when the crowd inspire you in that way.
There’s a lot of friends and fans at the merch stand so we spend a while there before heading into town for drinks. It's Saturday night and the bars are rammed. The music is great (including a blast of “Kisses Are History” in our honour!).
My memory becomes a bit fuzzy after that… It was a great first visit to Murcia, although it was a nightmare to get coffee the next morning.
Valencia—”I hit the whiskey and lemon tea.”
Loco Club will always be one of our favourite venues whenever we visit Spain. Lorenzo and the guys have been supporting The Speedways since the beginning. The crowd gets bigger each time we play so I guess we’re doing something right.
The tour bus cold virus has finally caught up with me. Mauro notes that I “sound like Bryan Adams” after I give a verse of “Is She Really Going Out With Him” at soundcheck.
You know when you get that prickly feeling at the back of your nose and roof of your mouth? I hit the whiskey and lemon tea.
We eat at the usual spot, a great little place around the corner from the venue. I remember our first visit there, we were asked to "sing for our supper." (I gave an a cappella verse and chorus of “Do You Wanna Dance?”)
The show goes great. It’s easier to soldier on when you know it’s the last night of the tour. We blast through the set and say goodnight with “Reunion In The Rain.”
Apparently it only rains one day a year in Valencia, and the next day it did. The Speedways always bringing the rain.
Valencia: ”The passion and dedication to rock and roll…”
As with Madrid and Zaragoza there’s a nice familiarity to Valencia, but it’s a Sunday and there aren’t many places open for a night cap. A couple of friends take us to a bar before we head back to the hotel.
I don’t know what it is about Spain, but the passion and dedication to rock and roll and live music is always so high. We plan to be back again very soon.
The journey home the next day is a long one—taxis, planes, tubes and trains. I crawl into bed at half past 2am. You can't beat your own bed and a nice cup of tea.
Popsicko: Deep Dive Podcast Interview
Marko DeSantis (Sugarcult, Popsicko) and S.W. Lauden were interviewed about the Popsicko oral history book/vinyl re-issue project from Big Stir Records.
We talked about the ‘90s Santa Barbara music scene; the making of Popsicko’s only album, Off to a Bad Start; how the oral history book came together, and more.
I absolutely love the newest album - and "Secret Secrets" is the kind of song that should be a number one hit. And there's definitely something in the water in Spain; Kurt Baker is pretty much a full time resident these days and even back in the 90's bands like this did well touring Spain.