Trained Eye is a three-piece alternative rock band hailing from Liverpool, England. This band of brothers, no seriously, they are all related, now call Cleveland, Ohio home. Since their family relocated across the Atlantic five years ago, Trained Eye has been saturating the northern half of the buckeye state with their self-reflecting blend of English influenced rock music. John, Luke, and Ste McCullagh released their first full-length album, Riven and Worn in 2007. Well into the process writing a follow-up, Trained Eye sat down with S*KM to talk about English sitcoms, the direction of their new material and England having better music then Cleveland.
S*KM: How did you make your way across the pond to the great city of Cleveland?
TE: Our family relocated over here about five years ago and we were excited to come to the home of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
S*KM: Is playing music with family more difficult then being part of non-DNA linked bands?
TE: The advantage is that we have been playing together since the very first time we picked up our instruments. We actually started out playing separately; Ste played in a different band in England and John played solo acoustic. At some point along the way, we realized it made sense to play together.
S*KM: How did you decide you wanted to play music together, instead of pursuing your own projects?
TE: We just started writing our own stuff and wanted a band to play it with. We never really decided to play together, it just happened that way. Music has always been our strongest bond.
S*KM: In a giant Cleveland vs. England “Battle of the Bands,” which city would walk away victorious?
TE: Kind of an unfair contest. Just mentioning one band, Radiohead, already gives victory to England. Then add to that Muse, Hard Fi, The Editors, Doves, Bloc Party, Coldplay, Oasis and The Music to complete the rout.
S*KM: Alright we will give you this round. What have you grown attached to here in the States that you couldn’t live without back in the motherland?
TE: We get to see so many more great bands touring in the U.S. Every band plays Cleveland, from the Q Arena to the Agora. We have seen many of the big UK bands of the moment in small venues here, which are playing arenas back home.
S*KM: If you could play in any band other then Trained Eye what would it be?
TE: Ste – For a change in tone, I’d probably join a dance-rock band like The Music or Kasabian.
John – Definitely Fleetwood Mac. I’d be more than happy being back-up guitarist to Lindsey Buckingham.
Luke – Bloc Party would be really cool.
S*KM: Let’s get a liberal arts education of Trained Eye. What’s in the McCullagh Brothers DVD player right now?
TE: I’m Alan Partridge, Season 2 – An English sitcom that very few Americans would get. Entourage, Season 3 – the best U.S. comedy around at the moment
S*KM: Best “Guitar Hero” player in the band?
TE: We don’t play it – but we do have some epic “Mario Kart” battles (Luke wins).
S*KM: Alright serious question time. In your song “I Want Away” you sing “I want to get away from here, away from here right now.” Where are you getting away from, Cleveland or England?
TE: Actually, it wasn’t from a place, but rather a state of mind. However, since writing the song there have been a few places I’ve been where it has come to mind.
S*KM: This question is for the rabid Trained Eye faithful. You released your first full length album last April, have you begun work on follow up?
TE: The follow up is well underway. We’re hoping to be showcasing a lot of new material as the year progresses.
S*KM: What direction are you taking your sound with the new material?
TE: We’ve been really working on getting the intensity of our live performances down on tape. We are also trying to showcase more of the breadth of music we create. You’ll probably be hearing more acoustic guitar, but at the same time there will be even fiercer guitars than before.
S*KM: Time to play six degrees of separation, S*KM edition. I played bass in a band that opened for Trained Eye and My Dear Enemy last spring at CeBars. Do you remember the name of my old band?
TE: Scattered Like Seconds, if we remember correctly. It was a fun show.
S*KM: Not bad. For having such a good memory, you have earned some Saw*Kick face time, tell us what’s coming up next for Trained Eye.
TE: See us live at the Agora on April 26th supporting Fiction Plane. Hope to see you all there. In the meantime, please check us out at www.myspace.com/trainedeye. Cheers and thanks for talking to us!