IF you walk past a certain address in Leeds and hear a familiar sound seeping out through the walls don't be surprised.

Chances are it's The Pigeon Detectives banging out a new tune or warming up for one of their famously frenetic live shows.

They may be well on their way to worldwide fame but the lads from Rothwell are not flying the coop just yet.

"Me, Jimmi and Oliver all live in a terrace in Woodlesford," says lead singer Matt Bowman. "It's a bit like The Monkees – only minus the TV cameras.

"We're closer than ever. There's a definite gang mentality to the band and people can see we're having fun."

"We all practically live within a five-minute walk of each other," confirms guitarist Ryan Wilson. "There's no plans to move out of Leeds, I love it too much.

"Where I live, in Rothwell, it's got a lot of fields where I can walk the dog and that kind of thing.

"If I moved to London I'd have to drive to find a field, it's not my cup of tea, really."

The Pigeons' love-in with their home city is set to go supernova this weekend when they play in front of 14,000 people over two nights in Millennium Square.

But the lads – Matt, Ryan, drummer Jimmi Naylor, bassist Dave Best and guitarist Oliver Main – are still getting their heads round it.

"It's a pretty big deal to us because the bands we've seen play there have been Embrace, Snow Patrol and Kaiser Chiefs," says Matt.

"To consider ourselves on a par with them is amazing.

"We remember playing at Joseph's Well in front of 40 people two years ago, so we're grateful to be there.

"I just hope I can remember it because the big gigs usually go in a blur.

"You sit down a week later and try and think what your highlights were and you have quite sketchy memories.

"It'd be good if I could remember the words. Right now I could sing you both albums word perfect but something happens when I get on stage.

"If I forget them I'll just have to do what I usually do and make them up."

"Any gig in Leeds is a little bit extra special," says Ryan.

"But to come to the biggest venue in Leeds outside Elland Road and sell it out for a couple of nights is amazing.

"When we get on stage and the fans start screaming it's just going to be electric."

So how has life changed in the last year?

"We're a lot busier but as people we're still just five lads from Rothwell," says Ryan. "When we get home we just like to chill out and then go for a couple of beers in the local pub.

"None of us would say a bad thing about being in a band. It's been the best 12 months of our lives."

"But we haven't got millions of pounds and huge mansions or anything," says Matt.