Southend band Nothing but Thieves returned to the town for their second album lunch, signing copies and performing a set at HMV in Southend High Street.

The band have had an impressive rise since being signed to RCA Records two years ago and they took a trip back to where it all started.

Celebrating the release of their second album, the band played a four-song set to fans who had packed out the shop.

The Echo spoke with the band about their time at school, first local gigs and their impending fame.

Speaking about their school years, former Westcliff High School for Boys student, lead singer, Connor Mason, jokingly said: “I think the school has a gold statue of me and Joe holding hands!”

Keyboardist and guitarist Dominic Craik, a former St Thomas More pupil, said: “I got an email just last week from the headmistress saying all the teachers were coming to our gig at the end of the year.”

It seems the whole of Southend it getting caught up in the whirlwind of their success, and they often get stopped by fans when walking through their home town. Dom said: “We first noticed it at Christmas about two years ago, Connor rang me freaking out.”

Joe added: “I’m alright with it, we spent so many gigs playing to no one, and nobody knew who we were, so its fine talking to fans.”

The rockers headlined Village Green in August after requesting to play.

Connor said: “We just like playing Southend, it’s where we’re from and we just really wanted to play.”

Dom was happy to share his first memory of Southend’s music scene. He recalled watching his cousin, bassist, Phil with his old band at Chinnery’s

He said: “It wasn’t just my first local gig, it was my first gig ever. I thought it was the coolest thing I’d ever seen in my life. The reason I got into music was because of Phil’s bass playing. That’s not sarcasm, that’s true. We love going to gigs round here.”

Reminiscing about the local nightlife, Dom said: “I used to go to Mayhem quite a lot, I was devastated when that place shut. Phil still goes to the Alex. Connor added: “We went to the Pink Toothbrush a lot. Still do, it’s cool.”

The band will begin touring the US on October 11, returning to the UK on November 5 for 11 dates.

To see the full interview head to the Echo website.