Interview with The Kendos: ‘Our next single is about being in a relationship but not knowing what sort of relationship it is’

Liverpool-based alternative rock quartet The Kendos released their debut single ‘Rule The Real’ earlier this month, a punchy track about people who are wrapped up in their own self importance who won’t heed advice from others to change their stubborn ways.

The Kendos consist of Louis Grover (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), his younger brother Isaac (lead guitar), Nathan Farley (bass, backing vocals) and Tom Welsh (drums).

‘I wrote it on a train, I had a riff idea on the Merseyrail,’ Louis laughed. ‘I wrote the chorus. When we were jamming in the room, that’s when it came together.’

Next up will be their single ‘All The Same’. Although the Grovers record from home, just outside Tier 3 of Liverpool’s lockdown, their two bandmates are stuck in Tier 3, which makes meeting up a challenge – they haven’t met up in the past month. Both of them lament that they’re allowed to go to school and college and mix with thirty others in their class but they can’t meet their two bandmates. Louis describes ‘All The Same’ as ‘sort of about being in a relationship but not knowing what sort of relationship it is, you don’t know where you stand with them’.

The band cite influence such as The Rolling Stones, The Chameleons, The La’s, and Ocean Colour Scene. Louis is a big fan of American grunge band The Monks, as well as local indie rock band Ambedo Blue, who he describes as ‘a bit Catfish, a bit stoner 60’s rock’. Isaac is a fan of local post-punk band Courting: ‘They’re quite punky, they’re doing really well,’ he said.

If they could tour with anyone, Isaac picks Oasis: ‘Just imagine the atmosphere every night!’ I ask him if he’d want to tour with the Gallaghers when they were getting on or not? ‘Either,’ he laughs. ‘It would be entertaining either way!’ Louis jokes that he’d even tour with Coldplay, even though he’s not a fan.

They have already played shows at venues such as Liverpool O2 Academy Main Room, Liverpool Guild Of Students and have featured on the Kendal Calling 2020 lineup.

They’re also evolving as they write more songs: ‘We’re heading in a new wave direction, it’s quite rootsy,’ Isaac said. Their name comes from a landscape gardener mate called Paul Kendo: ‘ We wanted a name that didn’t have anything to do with the music,’ Louis said. I ask if he knows and Isaac laughs. ‘Yeah, he absolutely loves it – he tells everyone he’s named after a band!’

(Photo from left to right. Front row: Louis and Isaac. Back row: Nathan and Tom)