Derry noiseniks TOUTS are on the cusp of something huge. Formed as The Blue Jeans in 2016 by Matthew Crossan (guitar/vocals) and Jason Feenan (drums), momentum built quickly, but when they “decided to have a decent go of it”, a name change was in order.

“The Blue Jeans was a shite name, and there was that Mersey beat band,” says Matthew. “We were fucking ages reeling off names. TOUTS came up; the lads thought it was fucking lethal. I came around to it – one word, short and snappy.” Looks good on the posters too? “Aye,” nods Matthew.
A name like TOUTS, a slang term for police informants, is bound to have connotations for a band from Northern Ireland. Did you get much flak over it?

“I thought it was going to be a lot more hassle than it was,” replies Crossan, “although we did get a few taxi men going, ‘Jesus, that’s some name isn’t it, hi?’”

The debut single ‘Marty’, the charming tale of their mate and his vibrator, followed promptly. “He wasn’t much of a drinker or a smoker so he’d fuck all to spend his money on. Up North, after you turn 16 you get the E.M.A. (Educational Maintenance Allowance), £30 a week for going to School” laughs Matthew “It goes straight in your bank too” So he bought this monstrosity and started taking it to gigs? “He threw it on stage once and gave Matthew a black eye” according to Jason. The single got picked up by both Radio Foyle and Radio Ulster, “(DJ) Stephen McCauley has his ear to the ground, if there’s a band in Derry, he knows about them” says Luke, although manager Mark reckons Stuart Bailie on Radio Ulster played it first.

At this point, Luke McLaughlin came in on bass. “We started talking about tours and contracts and all, so our original bass player’s Da put his foot down about school” remembers Jason. Luke, a long-time friend of the band, had arranged their first gig in local haunt, Sandino’s. Their debut EP, Sickening & Deplorable, arrived shortly after, with blistering tracks like ‘Sold Out’ and ‘Political People’ – imagine a cross between The Undertones and Stiff Little Fingers covering the first Clash album at 100 miles an hour. “For as long as I can remember, I’ve been going to Undertones concerts, my Da’s a massive fan. In the same way I grew up listening to Stiff little Fingers and the Pistols” says Luke. “Coming from Derry, you can’t escape the Undertones”, adds Matthew. “Not a bad thing” nods Jason.

The EP was picked up by BBC Radio One, which led to a prestigious Maida Vale live session, a major turning point for the band, with Huw Stephens, on the recommendation of fellow DJ Phil Taggart. Stephens also played the single twice in a row, a throwback to the Undertones’ famous John Peel. This exposure resulted in a sold out London debut at the Camden Assembly, and spots at Reading/Leeds and Manchester’s Sound Of The City.

The second EP, Lit, featuring full-on anthem ‘Bomb Scare’, arrived later in the year, and is, if anything, even better than the first one. “I saw a comment on your Facebook page saying ‘Bomb Scare’ sounds like The Jam’s ‘All Mod Cons’, I had to go and listen to it, for the first time, to check!” Matthew swears.

Down around this parish, the band already made an impression at Hard Working Class Heroes, and there was a serious buzz about their Electric Picnic appearance. “That was definitely a landmark gig”, remembers Matthew. Luke continues, “I walked out before and there was maybe twenty people, and I thought right, we’ll just enjoy it. I went for a fag, came back, and couldn’t believe the size of it.” Their blistering show set a lot of tongues wagging. “It’s weird when you overhear people talking about you. I was in Derry another time talking to a bloke and he said “What about these TOUTS?” I had to laugh and say, “I’m the bass player!”

Another high profile Southern job, although they cite Dingle’s Other Voices as their favourite, was supporting Liam Gallagher at the Samhain festival in Lucan, “Weird venue, fucking freezing” Did you meet Lord Gob himself? “Not really” says Matthew “Although he walked past me and said ‘Nice shoes, man.’”

Up next are support slots with Paul Weller, “he handpicks bands, like Gallagher”, America for South By Southwest, “we were invited last year but it was too soon”, and further Irish dates, including a stop at Dublin's Grand Social on March 24th, before moving onto Europe, and the festival circuit.

Of course, dates in the Republic mightn’t be as easy to get to once Brexit kicks in. “It’s just a fucking nightmare, turning things back thirty years. It wasn’t done with any concern for Northern Ireland. Theresa May triggering article fifty saying “because of the wishes of Britain – Wales, Scotland and England.”

Talking of the bad old days, surely growing up in Derry is a different experience now? “You know the craic if you’re from there,” reckons Matthew. “There are some places you’d be wary of, some places you can’t go.” “It might be less of a religious thing now, and more of a social thing,” adds Jason.

“Yeah, if you’re a cunt, then you’re a cunt,” Matthew reasons. “We could call ourselves TOUTS in 2016,” says Jason, “but I don’t know if we could have in 1986.” According to Luke, “A lot of people when we play in England haven’t a clue. They think we’re walking down war-torn streets still.” Like that old English dear on the telly who accused the Irish of “just making trouble because they lost”?

“Fucking halfwit!” is Matthew’s closing thought.