Inspired by the Rotherham Advertiser, driven to rescue Rotherham United FC's finances and jugglers of dozens of jobs, now the band is reaping the benefits of its elbow grease.

"What's truly yours is what you've worked for," says Lee McMahon, who sings, writes and plays guitar in the South Yorkshire outfit.

Unlike other indie acts, The Tivoli's forthcoming debut was not a result of a swift signed-sealed-and-packaged deal with a six month turnaround. Rather, it was a painstaking affair recorded at various studios. It had to be – McMahon alone worked nine jobs throughout the album's two-year incubation period.

"I've been in bands for ten years and I've had nine jobs in the last two years. We didn't have the opportunity for an advanced payment but then that's just wasting money – and it's only a loan anyway."

"I've done driving jobs delivering stuff, working as a receptionist and have been stewarding at Sheffield Arena – it's been hard work, but it's got to be," he said.

Now The Tivoli are preparing for a UK tour and the release of National Service, an album of hard-rocking indie numbers (Spirit of Tennessee) and edgy, electro-tinged tracks (Pawns on the Fence).

"It's quite an eclectic group of tracks, which is what we wanted it to be. We wanted to make an album that displayed a wide variety of songs with each song serving a purpose," says McMahon.

"It does my head in when you hear albums that are one-dimensional, with no-substance or depth."

The band, who met at Red Tape Studios during a sound engineering course, recorded their album with session percussionist Goldfinger, who plays in Ian Brown's band. A fun, poppy aesthetic runs through the album, somewhat deceptive given the album's social commentary about Britain today.

"Some of the tracks are almost a document of what it's like living in a small town that's working class – the album's not aimed at the working class, but at people who get up and work every day. The album's about people who are stuck in jobs as a result of loyalty or paying the bills. It's like National Service," says McMahon.

"It's a way of life in this country – possibly the rest of the world. People aren't becoming as educated as they need to be. I don't want to get on my high horse about politics but it's decisions being made high up that result in towns such as Rotherham being overlooked. These are the places where people work hardest for very little money. It's like being in the infantry – equipped with very little."

Songs also explore darker themes – My Town raises brutal truths about Rotherham – and by extension, small town Britain, addressing issues such as drug dealing, terrorist neighbours and a taxi driver being killed. Far from mere lyrical constructions, The Tivoli's gritty themes are inspired by stories in the local press.

"The stories are based on ones I have read in the Rotherham Advertiser. When I was at school I watched the Beatles Anthology and I saw how John Lennon made a Day in the Life – when he took stories out of the Mirror. I wanted to describe what life was like around me so I looked at the Rotherham Advertiser."

Though Rotherham is the source of inspiration for many of The Tivoli's songs, McMahon says the songs have cultural resonance for people throughout Britain: "I'm hoping that people will connect with the songs despite where they are from. Drop Me off in Rotherham could be about Coventry, for example."

But Drop Me off in Rotherham will have greater significance to Rotherham United FC fans. The song was written and launched on iTunes as the band's demo. Proceeds from sales of the single were donated to Rotherham FC "who were struggling at the time," says McMahon.
It was on the back of the Drop Me off in Rotherham release that the band was signed up to Shiva Records.

"We signed a contract during half-time when Rotherham FC was playing against Chesterfield," says McMahon.

"Shiva have got a working relationship with various session musicians and they put up the money for us to record the album. The producer, who does not want to be named, has been around for a few years," says McMahon.

Asked as to whether the band feel any pressure to compete with the likes of Reverend and the Makers or the Arctic Monkeys, Lee says: "People will inevitably compare us to these bands because of their profile but we don't feel that pressure."

"There is pressure being in a band when you're trying to convince people to listen to your music. But the only pressure you really have is the pressure you put upon yourself."

Looking back to the Rotherham Utd match during which the band was signed McMahon says: "It became a day to remember – but it was a rubbish match, Rotherham lost one-nil."

The Tivoli's album is released on October 6, the band plays Carling Academy, July 23.

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