Reconvening in a tiny subterranean rehearsal space two doors down from vital Leeds venue the Wardrobe, the band set about challenging themselves once more. Locked away by the pandemic – and newfound fatherhood – The Pigeon Detectives relished the chance to make a noise together. “The way we write is intense, we all have to be in the room together,” Dave says. “We made our reputation as an energetic live band. On this album, we wanted to capture the frenetic feel of our early albums, while growing musically. We wanted songs that would go down a storm at a festival. We wanted to capture the energy of our live shows. And that’s what we offer – we’ve always been a great live band.”
Putting their pedal to the metal, The Pigeon Detectives smashed out song after song. Nothing was wasted, and nothing was delayed – few songs were allowed to extend beyond four takes. Punchy, dynamic, supremely addictive comeback single ‘Lovers Come Lovers Go’ is the first sign fans will get of this new direction. It’s a swaggering return, tailor-made for those sweat-drenched live sets.
The band’s first album in six years, there was never any question of The Pigeon Detectives going quietly into the night. The bonds between them are too deep, the love of music too ingrained within them.
Hitting the live circuit last summer, The Pigeon Detectives trialled new ideas at Sheffield’s Tramlines, and Manchester’s massive Neighbourhood Festival. Joined by a new generation of fans – “we’ve become this coming-of-age ritual” – the group found themselves at ease with who they are. Carrying this quiet confidence into the studio, ‘TV Show’ is a superb anthology of what makes The Pigeon Detectives such a thrilling proposition.
With their finest material to date now complete, The Pigeon Detectives are looking to the future. Rightly confident in their abilities, the band are itching to reconnect with the world, show by sold out show.
