Freedom rock

It isn’t so much that the three protagonists from ‘escape act’ (and yes, the lower case is deliberate) have some previous form – in local music circles Chris Heaney, Richard Dale and Alan Beattie are unrepentant and repeat offenders.

Take Chris – last seen banging the pots for Desert Hearts (and contributing greatly to Hotsy Totsy Nagasaki), but also known for fronting fondly remembered art-rock prospects Homo-Sapiens. Then there’s bassist Richard – his rap sheet takes in stints with Kismet, Ninebar and Roque Junior. Alan, meanwhile, served an apprenticeship with all manner of squads and outfits.
With so many indie-air miles racked up, you may well be wondering why they’ve bothered heading off on another lengthy jaunt. Well, you wouldn’t be alone. Even the band themselves had their doubts.
“When Roque Junior fizzled out I thought to myself that that was pretty much that,” admits Richard. “I couldn’t imagine being in another band. I couldn’t face the prospect of posting on Fastfude for other musicians, worrying about what kind of looper you’ll end up with, and how much younger than me they were going to be. So, I was preparing to bow out with what little dignity I had left still intact. But then I got a text from Chris.”
Two years previously, when the pair bumped into one-another (“pished as farts”) in a Belfast club, Richard told Chris he was “the best drummer in Belfast” and extended an invitation to collaborate some time in the future. The belated response, when it did arrive, was eagerly received but, in truth, couldn’t have come at a less auspicious time.
“I’d no real interest in being in another band,” says Richard. “And my father had fallen ill in Lanzarote and I had to fly over to see him in hospital. My head was turned. But at the same time, because I knew Chris and admired him so much, the idea intrigued me.”
When he returned, the pair hooked-up, with Chris presenting Richard with a raft of songs he had been preparing in his down-time from Desert Hearts. Richard was impressed enough to mothball his retirement plans and also invest in some new technology.
“I got an electronic drum machine and it turned out to be a really brilliant, liberating thing. It has completely revolutionised the way I think about recording music. In the three months we’ve been together we’ve probably recorded more songs than the eight years I was with Roque Junior. We’ve set up a MySpace address, designed our own sleeves, badges and posters. There’s a real sense of momentum with what we’re doing. It’s great.”
What’s impressive about escape act is that, despite their collective veteran status, their music is propelled by an energy and vibrancy that would put many younger bands to shame. The impression is of a band who, conscious of the pratfalls that can hobble acts of their stature, are determined to maximise the potential they undoubtedly have.
“We’ve all been in bands when we were younger where no-one had a clue about what they were doing and things just started to drift,” says Richard. “We’re all grown-ups now – we’re all holding down proper jobs – so we want to approach things differently. The point is that we’re lo-fi and organic, but we’re also professional. We’ve got our shit together.”
A recent recording stint with Ben McAuley should provide the band with more than enough goodies to dish out during their planned pre-Xmas shows. And judging by the ferociously up-beat and head-spinning bent of their early tunes, gig-goers should be prepared to fill their own pockets.
“I think what keeps us all going is the fact that we all just love great tunes. It’s as straightforward as that.”