EVERY popstar has their cause celebre, Sting has the rainforest, Bob Geldof the African famine and homegrown Kendal band British Sea Power have the Post Office, writes Lisa Frascarelli.
The hydro-powered five-piece, who have been making waves in the British music scene, return to the familiar stage of the John Boste tonight for a protest gig over the closure of rural post offices.
Not exactly rock star glamour but this is a band that likes to birdwatch and chooses to recite the works of pastoral poets before gigs.
The group – created from the ashes of Kirkbie Kendal school band Arkham – are brothers Scott and Neil Wilkinson, fellow Kendalian Matthew Wood, university friend Martin Noble and new keyboardist Eamon.
Softly spoken bass player Neil said: “We’ve played at quiet a few low key places. Kendal is our home town and we’re really proud of it. But this is also a kind of protest about the closure of rural post offices. We were really upset about the Beast Banks post office shutting up.
“We played there (John Boste) when we were younger so we thought it would be a nice idea to go back.” The artful antics of British Sea Power – they have been known to perform in first world war uniforms and decorate the stage in foliage and plastic birds – have had many music journalists in a spin.
Their debut album The Decline of British Sea Power – which Neil describes as “pretty good” – has seen them lauded by The Sunday Times as the “best band in Britain” and their high brow rock has earned the staunch support of political heavyweights Jeremy Vine and BBC political editor Andrew Marr.
But Neil – the boy who began his musical career in his Natland bedroom with a cardboard guitar said he is finding the media attention bewildering: “What’s happened is all very strange – it doesn’t feel real. I always knew I’d be in a band but I never knew what would happen – there was no plan.” -Tickets for the BSP show cost £5 and are available at home accessories shop GEAR in Elephant Yard, Kendal, or on the door at the John Boste. Doors open 7.30pm.
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