September 3, 2007 21:44

Hard-Fi launch album with intimate Radio 1 session

Plus Richard Archer announces new tour for later this year

Hard-Fi played an intimate session for BBC Radio 1 tonight (September 3) - and announced their third tour of 2007.

Playing an hour long set for Zane Lowe's show in front of a tiny audience at the BBC's Maida Vale studios, the band performed tracks from new album 'Once Upon A Time In The West', which was released earlier the same day.

Kicking off with recent hit single 'Suburban Knights', the Staines band included the likes of 'Television' and ’We Need Love’ as they told Lowe they are set to hit the road again this year, following a tiny pub tour and their current club dates.

"We're announcing some dates for December," explained frontman Richard Archer. "I don’t know much about them but I don't know what I'm doing tomorrow. But look out for them, they should be out next week."

With the set also including several first album favourites like 'Cash Machine' and a thumping version of 'Hard To Beat' - "which requires some jumping around and general going bananas" noted Archer - the singer explained he was glad to be touring again.

"All the stuff we went through to make the record stops today as it's out, so it's good going to be out on the road now, it feels where we should be," he told Lowe, adding that their current set of dates had already proven eventful.

"We played Southsea a couple of nights ago and the lights went out in the middle if the gig. They were out for two numbers... But it was good," he said. "People got their mobile phones out and there were a couple of torches, it was good a bit like New York in the power cut."

Hard-Fi played:

'Suburban Knights'
'Tied Up Too Tight'
'Can't Get Along (Without You)'
'Television'
'Cash Machine'
'Tonight'
'We Need Love'
'I Shall Overcome'
'Hard To Beat'
'Living For The Weekend'

The sessions can be heard again until September 9 at bbc.co.uk/radio1.

For news of the band’s December tour, stay tuned to NME.COM.