Josh Hayward, bass player, most recent and youngest member of the Crows has been talking to the Crow Website about his first few months with the band and life in Crowsville as they prepare for their first show at Rochester Sweeps Festival on Sunday 4th May 2025.
Crow Website (CW): How are preparations coming along for your first appearance with the band at Rochester Sweeps Festival on Sunday 4th May 2025?
Josh Hayward (JH): The Crows have been putting in 100% in the rehearsal room preparing songs for the first gig of 2025 at Rochester Sweeps Festival. And the hard work is paying off with clear signs of remarkable progress on everyone's part.
CW: How do you feel your style of playing is fitting the band's songs?
JH: I am by no means a showy player but i like to add melodic touches to a solid bass line that serves the song and i feel the songs we do accommodate this style perfectly.
CW: Craig has been the band's drummer for 9 years. How much progress has been made in 'locking-down' the rhythm section with him?
JH: When it comes to playing as a rhythm section there's a chemistry that you kind of feel is there or isn't there. Craig has a deep understanding of that concept as much as do I and we both sit in nicely with each others playing. He is a very good ally to work with.
CW: Have you seen the Crows play live in the past?
JH: I first saw the Crows play as headliners at the Sandwich Folk and Ale Festival 2024. It was very good performance to mark the end of a great festival.
CW: There are also a couple of important shows coming up in May at the Ship Inn, Gillingham and The Lighthouse, Walmer, Deal. These are two major local music venues. What are you and the band looking forward to achieve on these nights?
JH: These two particular venues are important to us as they specifically accommodate originals bands. It's a great opportunity for us as we have been working very hard to bring the maximum out of the songs as well as each of us individually. These venues will be the chance to show what a great show the Crows can put on with top quality music.
CW: You have worked with the band's keyboard player, Bryan, in the past. What is your experience of working with Bryan and what can he bring to the band now he has joined in a full-time capacity?
JH: Bryan is a very good friend whom i met and worked with in a jazz blues band called After Dark. In 2023, we had a guitarist depart and were in need of a melodic player and the band decided on a keyboard player, so along came Bryan. He immediately added a wonderful edge to the band with his solid playing and lovely melodic solos lines. I have also worked with Bryan in various other projects which were equally enjoyable. There is something magical and special about bringing Bryan's keys/piano into a band, it's unique. It adds a special melody and it really makes a difference to the band's songs as it takes them to another level which can only be good! Along with a falsetto voice it's a game changer, the possibilities are almost endless regarding future Crows albums and recordings.
CW: You already have a fairly busy schedule in the coming months. What are you ultimately looking to achieve with the band after you get a few shows under your belt, everything is going well and the band is getting stronger?
JH: What I always want is to have the maximum amount of fun and take pride in doing something I love. These shows will prove the hard work was and is worth it!!
CW: Tell us about the LA Music Club in Dover where you first started mixing with other musicians and the main characters you met at that time.
JH: The LA Music Club (Louis Armstrong Music Club, Dover) was a popular weekly club get-together with lots of diverse musicians, mainly teens looking to start bands and test the water by playing with lots of different people and seeing who played well together. It was organised by a music teacher of mine at the time, Bert Osbourne, an old-school guitarist. I also met drummer Nicky 'Topper' Headon of The Clash who would come along to assist with drum tuition.
Thanks for your time, Josh and we wish you all the best when you hit the road with the Crows. We'll see you out there!
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