What’s in a name? As I sit awaiting the arrival of ‘Turin Brakes’ for an exclusive interview something strange happens. The lead singer from a band called ‘Brakes’ arrives. A lovely man called Eamon Hamilton; who has no idea that he is about to be interviewed by an idiot.
I feel like a guy awaiting a date with Vanessa Paradis. Then Vanessa Feltz arrives. Expecting a shag.

Anyway, as it turns out this Eamon fellow is no musical minger. Fate deals tourdates a generous hand; Brakes are not only splendid company but, as I later discover, they write splendid music as well. They are actually very much like ‘Turin Brakes’. Err, without the ‘Turin’.
My first task is to try to explain my confusion to the poor man; that he is not quite who I was expecting. He takes the news with admirably good grace. “Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha, that is fabulous, genius,” he wrongly observes. God bless him.

If you, like me, have not in the past stumbled upon Brakes then you should know the following things...
Brakes were formed when the legendary Tom White and Alex White of The Electric Soft Parade saw Eamon Hamilton (then of British Sea Power) performing a solo gig. They were gobsmackingly impressed. “I was supporting The Lonesome Organist in Brighton,” recalls Hamilton. “It was quite a random set of circumstances, it is funny the way things work out.”

Marc Beatty, he of Mockin’ Bird Studios and The Tenderfoot (who incidentally worked with British Sea Power, when recording their debut album) was also recruited. The band was complete. They set about recording their debut single, ‘Pick Up the Phone’, ultimately released on Tugboat Records in 2004.

Hamilton completes the story. “In early 2005 we recorded the debut album, Give Blood, for Rough Trade Records. The album was released in July of the same year. It was great, sixteen songs, including re-recordings of some earlier tracks, it was 29 minutes of raw beauty.” Having now heard it I can confirm he is correct.

The album featured some interesting duets; with Liela Moss of The Duke Spirit on a cover of the Johnny Cash/ June Carter Cash classic ‘Jackson’ - and with The Pipettes on a version of The Jesus and Mary Chain’s ‘Sometimes Always’. It was voted the best album of 2005 by Rough Trade shops.
“Things really took off after that,” explains Hamilton. “We toured with Belle & Sebastian in early 2006 which was fantastic, then we toured with the Editors straight after that, it was an exciting time, it developed at a strange pace.”

After such success Hamilton announced he was quitting his role as keyboardist for British Sea Power to concentrate on Brakes full-time. I ask him if that was a very difficult decision to make? “It just felt right, it all happened in the right way, it was a pivotal moment.”

It is reassuring to know that the confusion with his band’s name has not been confined to dim londontourdates journalists. He tells me reassuringly: “When we released our album in America we were forced to change our name, there is another band there with the same title, so to make life more confusing for you we are known as ‘BrakesBrakesBrakes’ over there, it is all a bit messy.”
I presume after so many years on the road the band must have some great stories of rock deviancy; unfortunately Hamilton has been strangely preoccupied with making good music. “We are pretty well behaved I’m afraid,” he confides.

Surely some of the big rock acts you have toured with have helped you get up to mischief. “I must admit I was pretty amazed when I saw the amount of alcohol the Super Furry Animals had waiting for them in their changing room,” Hamilton says with a large grin. “There were two large cases of Becks beer, bottles of champagne, it was quite a collection.” We hope you helped them polish it off Eamon? “Er, no.”

He also claims a similar lack of ‘rockstar’ instinct when it comes to acquiring hot groupie ladies whilst on tour. “No groupies, no underwear being thrown on stage, no hotel room invasions. Nothing, I’m afraid. I remember supporting the Strokes and they had quite a collection of groupies and all sorts of girls, it was a real eye opener. I wish we could compete.”

It doesn’t really matter; because where the Brakes can compete with the big boys is in the quality of their music. The curious mix of Indie/Folk/Punk is as distinctive as it is potent. An innocent request as to what inspires the creation of such original material is met with a worrying revelation. “My favourite song at the moment is that Avril Lavigne song ‘Girlfriend’,” whispers Hamilton. Dear God, no man, say it can’t be so. “I know, it is very embarrassing, the rest of the band was horrified when I told them.” Quite rightly so. “It is just that kick drum and snare, it is genius,” he says defensively. Eamon, using Avril Lavigne and genius in the same sentence is like brushing your mum’s teeth with a chainsaw; a really odd thing to do.

“I know,” says Hamilton apologetically. “Listen, I’m sorry, she is being sued anyway - Avril apparently stole it from that other song ‘I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend’ by The Rubinoos, justice will be served.”

Impending London gigs for Brakes include late September dates at 93 Feet East and the UCL Union. Eamon’s favourite ever gig was at a less trendy venue, “My first concert, and favourite ever was at Gloucester Leisure Centre to see the Pixies.” Wow, Gloucester Leisure Centre, did you manage to get in a game of badminton as well? “No, just the gig, it was incredible, to be quite honest no other concert has ever lived up to it since, not one, it is tragic, I was only fourteen at the time – blessed too young.”

Favourite London venues for Brakes are predictable. “We love the Shepherd’s Bush Empire,” reveals Hamilton. No, you can’t say that, everybody tells us that. “Oh, sorry, ok, the Water Rats then, that is a great place to play, and the Barfly as well, it used to have a great bouncing stage but I think they have got rid of that now. ‘Tis a shame, I like to bounce.”

Unfortunately it is now time for me to bounce as well, goodbyes are never easy. “I’m sorry you got me instead of Turin Brakes,” he says with a cheeky grin. Do not apologise, it has been a pleasure my dear man; Vanessa Feltz would have been a darn sight worse.

www.tourdates.co.uk/brakes

Brakes play UCL Union on 25 September and 93 Feet East on 29 September 2007.