The Hour

On the eve of the release of their most comprehensive greatest hits records to date we spoke to brothers Pat and Greg Kane about their durability, which is seemingly at odds with the mercurial nature of the pop music industry, and discussed their willingness to revisit the past.

“The way we’ve done it is that it’s all the hits and it’s all the b-sides to all the hits.  So for all the fans whose vinyl copies have disintegrated and thought, how can I get a hold of those b-sides, they’re all going to be on this collection” explained singer Pat.

The inclusive nature of the album, a bridging between band and fans, is something that the boys are interested in continuing.

Through the Hue and Cry website fans have been able to request songs that they would like to appear, not only in live shows but also on this most recent record, creating a dialogue with the musicians that has had a real impact.

“The website, which is completely interactive, is where people tell you what they want you to play…their recall of b-sides and obscure numbers is amazing.  Basically our tour set list is composed with the Hue and Cry fans on the website.”

There is a danger with some bands that by compromising to this degree the band would be lumbered with a set that would only reflect their most popular songs, but both Pat and Greg agree that they have no concerns about revisiting pop floor-fillers, in fact they are interested in returning to a more commercially orientated sound after having spent the last decade experimenting with fringe musical genres such as jazz.

“We’re deeply proud of them.  If Glasvegas can have hit songs about social workers called Geraldine then we can have a hit-single about a woman who ran away from her abusive husband called Linda.”