TOURING, BILL RYDER-JONES AND PET SNAKE
Delving into the reality of touring, Bill Ryder-Jones and Evelyn Hall (Pet Snake) open up about the good, the bad and the unpublishable. “When we got back I didn’t sleep for three days”, confesses Bill, “the adrenaline was pumping at 8pm and I drank a lot that week, searching for that high.” Evelyn nods, “I was really social that week back, I twerked on tables.” And the tension breaks, filling the room with laughter.
Bill admits he’s “never really enjoyed a tour” but was “conscious of the fact that [he] really enjoyed this one.” And you can read that in his body language, as he sinks into the sofa, finding comfort in the tales he weaves for me. It’s about time, he’s been touring since 17, witnessing things that don’t bear repeating before he could legally buy alcohol. But he reflects on the luxury of two buses they once had, compared to today’s toilet-less van. “We have a bus with a toilet for Beth Gibbons” beams Evelyn, excited for the luxury of basic amenities after the “10 and 12-hour drives” in a cramped van they’ve gotten used to over the past months. But it’s the reality of most full-time musicians nowadays.
“It’s a balance of the books,” Bill explains as we delve into the financial side of the job, expressing luck in the fact that the “7 band members and 2 tour hands were all paid.” As with most touring artists, it was their merch that brought in the money, with the constantly restocked mustard Bill tote bag being a big hit. After years of touring, you’d expect the luxury to increase, with more tour buses and a bigger team, but it’s not the case, with most tours not even breaking even. One thing Bill was grateful that his time as a musician had earned him was the ability to step back during unloading, chuckling as he explained; “I hurt my back playing Sniper Relief V. I know Ennis (his manager) had a few words and I didn’t have to carry anything.” Evelyn wasn’t so lucky, with the group’s fear of breaking her prized Cello robbing her of the luxury of wandering off during load out.
The hard graft didn’t stop there, with her work starting from “the minute [they] got on stage for Bill’s soundcheck to the end of his set”, being both the support act (as Pet Snake) and Bill’s Cellist. “It was tiring”, she admits, but clearly worth it. Her demeanour is bright and excitable. Focussing on the beauty of the tour rather than the difficulty. Like Bill, Evelyn has years of touring experience under her belt, from travelling with orchestras to being a central part of Liverpool royalty, Clean Cut Kid. But this time, it was all her, “I’ve never had that with Pet Snake” she confesses, as we explore the beauty of people repeating your words back to you. “It’s so nice that people can find comfort in something you’ve written about”, personal stories that are mirrored back to you as people explore lyrics so personal to those who put them to paper. This was most palpable with ‘Smile or Die’, as people nudged shoulders and whispered “I know this one”, their voices filled the room and all of the hard work and non-stop days felt worthwhile.
Bill’s experience was amusingly different, opening his eyes during ‘Wild Songs’ to find “people singing the right lines” as he fumbled on his. But that’s to be expected, Bill’s fans are loyal, with his words filling gaps in their worlds. “A lot of people in my audience are not overly comfortable being out of the house”, he explains, “I get messages from people all the time.” Some express gratitude, explaining to Bill that whilst they were apprehensive about leaving the house, they were privileged to experience his music live, feeling supported in a space that is out of their comfort zone. That’s why seated gigs are so important to Bill, ensuring that “people like [him] who often don’t get thought about” are able to experience live music in comfort. To become anonymous in a room full of people and “just shut up and listen.”
Music is immersive and touring even more so, so it’s no surprise that the work hasn’t stopped since the pair returned to solid ground. Bill attempted to lose himself on holiday “but didn’t find it relaxing”, whereas Evelyn was inundated with opportunities as soon as the tour ended, with phone call after phone call requesting her to be a part of this recording and that. Now, the pair of them are on residency in Aldeburgh, unable to turn down yet another opportunity. Bill ruffles his hair as we come to the end of our call, his bed calling to him, and we say goodbye.
In typical Bill and Evelyn fashion, the pair of them are non-stop with plenty of projects, tours and festivals coming up. Catch them in Manchester, supporting Beth Gibbons at the Albert Hall June 10th, and at Yawn Again, Future Yard, July 13th as they celebrate the music made in and around Bill’s beloved Yawn Studios in the past year. Follow them at @billryderjones and @_pet_snake to keep on top of all of their shenanigans.
Words by Megan Walder (She/Her)
