Introducing Homework

 

Homework are Michael, Santiago, Andrew and Lizzie, a 4-piece band from Glasgow that came to my attention back in October when a couple of people I follow on social media raved about them.

The band have a busy period coming up, with a string of gigs including bringing in the bells with a Glas-goes Pop show at Mono with Teenage Fanclub's Norman Blake. Homework then keep momentum going with a gig as part of King Tuts New Year Revolution shows on 27th January.

So they are clearly getting their name out and about the Glasgow scene. That stems from the release of a self-titled 3-track EP via Gold Mold Records back in March 2023.

It has a delicious warm, melodic, fuzzy, slacker vibe to it. Think early Fanclub meets Pavement on a sunny day after a couple of cans of beer.

I was keen to find out a little more, so sent the band an email and they kindly got back to me.

If you read this in time you can catch them at BLOC on Wednesday 6th December.

When and how did you form?

The first two proto-Homework line-ups were formed in parallel back in 2019. On one end, Santiago (guitar) met Forbes (drums) at a cowboy themed party, and they started jamming as a noise duo. On the other end, Forbes was also playing with his primary school friend Michael (guitar).

Forbes cunningly merged these two projects together and recruited his friend Tom (bassist) formalising homework in early 2020. Covid unexpectedly hit before our first gig in april, Forbes moved to Estonia, and Tom to Aberdeen. This left Santiago and Michael playing occasional Maxwell Park acoustic jams before moving back to the studio in summer 2021.

Lizzie (30) was having a mid-life crisis and had just re-taken up the drums, her friend Izzy mentioned that we were looking for a drummer and one awkward email later, she was in. Izzy followed by taking up the bass and for a short period, our rhythm section had 4 zs!

Santiago was at the pub on a date and bumped into his old pal Alec and his brother Andrew (bassist). He started banging on about how great Pavement are, and how we needed a bassist to play on his birthday the following week. Andrew tentatively agreed to play, learning all the songs in a day, and was inducted into homework after quite a stellar performance.

2. Are you all involved in writing songs? How do you write/form your songs?

Santiago, Michael and Andrew are all songwriters. Lizzie plays the drums.

The process itself is quite collaborative with a no-front-person policy. Sometimes someone comes with a fragment of an idea, or a whole song, and we spend a lot of time jamming to figure them out. There is always quite a lot on the workbench and we love jumping from song to song. Every rehearsal is recorded and archived, so we can work on ideas at home individually. Extremely crucial to our process is spending a lot of time faffing about.

3. You've released one EP to date. Do you have any further releases in the pipeline?

Yes! Double a side single release, and a party for it in some near-future Glasgow 2024.

4. You have a busy run of shows into February including a couple of big ones at Mono with Norman Blake and then Tuts in January. What do you enjoy about playing live?

We like the general buzz that comes with hopping on the stage and putting up a good energetic show. We like to keep it quite relaxed, with a healthy dose of fuzzy chaos. One of the best parts is that we get to meet other people in great bands, hang out in a group and drink free beer. The conversations with people who you don't know after the shows adrenaline rush are really motivating.

We love really complimentary Dads. Shout out to the Dads, truly our strongest demographic.

5. Do you have much of a plan, or are you going with the flow?

We've got plans... We've got a gig coming up in London early next year, and would love to do more gigs outside of Glasgow *wink wink* promoters *wink wink* festivals *wink wink*

6. What music are you enjoying listening to at the moment?

Michael's been listening to MJ Lenderman, Bar Italia, Happyness,

Andrew has been listening to Second Grade, Ginger Root, Hotline TNT.

Santiago's been listening to this up and coming band called The Beatles, Autechre, Silver Jews, Kelora, Model/Actriz, and Beach House.

Lizzie's been listening to Divorce, Mega Bog, Dua Lipa's new one, and Beach House.

We have a playlist for this: Homework listens

7. Are there any other bands on the Glasgow scene you'd recommend checking out?

There are so many! As tempting as it is to rattle off a massive list of all our pals, we're wary of unintentionally offending anyone we'd inevitably forget. Come to our gig and well tell ya off the record : ) ; ) But we have a playlist for this to get you started: The Glasgow Scene  

3 new Scottish acts for 2023

Here are 3 young Scottish acts I've been keeping an eye on recently. I expect them all to make real progress in 2023. I've yet to catch any of them live, so I hope to change that in the very near future.

Introducing - 3 Scottish acts to look out for in 2023

Swim School 

Hailing from Edinburgh, I fell for Swim School within seconds of listening to Kill You, their recent single and first on LAB Records. I've now listened to it about a dozen times. LISTEN HERE

Kill You is rather gorgeous, the opening guitar riff is super dreamy, as is singer Alice Johnson's voice as she sings;

Are you awake?

I've called you about a million times

During the day

You're all I think of, is that alright?

Johnson says; Kill You is about being in love and wanting to spend the rest of your life with someone ... It's about the confidence you feel when you are in a good relationship and you feel comfortable enough to show your true self. I didn't want it to be your stereotypical love song, which is why I chose the title Kill You. It's funny feeling vulnerable whilst writing a song about vulnerability.

The chorus is a beauty and it's hammered home in all the right ways, firstly as the song bursts into life, then everything drops out to leave Johnson singing;

Ooh, ooh

I wanna have you with me

When days are old and looks have faded

If you're not there, well I'll be waiting

A glorious explosion of psychedelic shoegazey wonder leads to a final couple of runs through the chorus and that's it. Just over 3-minutes of blissful dreamy guitar pop.

Kill You was recorded with Iain Berryman, who has produced Wolf Alice, Florence and the Machine and Beabadoobee, in London's Narcissus Studios. On this evidence, I hope the band go on to record an album with him. Swim School self released a couple of EP's before their latest single. They hint that the band can swing from dreamy guitar pop like How It Should Be, to songs with a slightly punkier edge like the chorus of Too Young To Know (check a live session below).

Swim School are playing a string of dates in early 2023 for the 10th anniversary of Independent Venue Week. Hopefully a Scottish date or 2 is in the pipeline. 

Goliath

I stumbled across Goliath via an interview he did with film director Grant McPhee for Into Creative. I find myself drawn to Grant's taste and style, so I was intrigued to read him describe Goliath as one of the most incredible music talents to emerge from Scotland in years.

There is already a good catalogue of music to explore thanks to a steady stream of singles that Goliath has been releasing. Everybody Cries, released back in the summer, has flowing melodies flow and there is a beautiful vulnerability to the song. The chorus is infectious.

Ghost Town sounds so natural, Goliath's voice is so fragile at times, the song builds around it and the vocals are then layered brilliantly to match, falling to close the song. Eyes Unblinking is also a gem.

Goliath's videos are lovingly DIY, made with creativity and care, much like his music. I do intend to pursue an interview for a follow up blog, so I'm keen to find out if Goliath records everything on his own at home, or if he has friends who help, or if he uses a studio and producer. If he is producing all this himself then he is an exceptional talent.

Fingers crossed for some live shows.

Lizzie Reid

Lizzie Reid released Cubicle, her debut mini-album, in August 2021, following that up in August 2022 with the Mooching EP. The releases have left a mark, leading to airplay, festival appearances and support slots. Reid ended 2022 with a headline show at Oran Mor and supporting Paolo Nutini at The Hydro!

Reid's sound is personal, natural, melodic and catchy, with just the right edge to it. Warpaint (from the Mooching EP) is a fine example. But at other times Reid can strip things right back, like on the exquisit How Do I Show My Love to just her voice and piano

How does that go?

How do I show my love

In these times of dust that seem to be harbouring us?

I imagine that Reid will have a couple of other releases up her sleeve. I definitely intend to catch her live in 2023. Hopefully I won't have too long to wait.

Check the Warpaint video below which has some delightful crashing guitars around the chorus.

New shirts

Team work

But the truth hurts

Keep On Dreaming

Keep On Dreaming is the second single from my sometime/part-time band Starboard Hazes.

The song had the working title Lemonhead right up until when it was recorded. It's one of the few songs where I had the music before the lyrics. I thought the chords were very Lemonheads-y, so that became the title.

A lot of musicians who are much better than me will say that eventually you just have to let go of a song. Stop tinkering with it, stop taking things out or adding things in..

I get that. I'd have liked to spend more time on this. To make it a little more Lemonheads-y, maybe with some warm acoustic guitar for the rhythm. But we recorded 4 instrumentals in around 6-hours, going back another day to record vocals. We didn't have much time! 

So although it didn't turn out quite the way I had it in my head, it does capture the energy and zest from the recordings. I was absolutely buzzing, so we raced through it! Me on rhythm guitar, James on lead and Calum Muir on drums.

I think we recorded in 3 takes. Then James overdubbed bass. I went back one evening in February to record vocals with Annmarie Lochrie. Done!

What next?

Well we have another 2 songs we recorded at the start of the year that we'll put out over the summer. We'll start with Bandcamp and then put all 4 out as an EP on other digital channels. I'm at the age where I can't keep up with them all, but I used Spotify!

Then James and I are getting together in the summer to work out 3 or 4 more. After that we'll find out who is available to go into the studio with us to record them. And we also hope to play a gig!

In the meantime, you can stream or download (for free) the single via our Bandcamp.

Me and James working out the songs

Introducing Starboard Hazes

Reflected Sunlight (instrumental) (100 second clip)

For a few decades I had an imaginary band. 

I wrote loads of songs as a teenager and into my early 20's, but other than the odd occasional open mic and the creation of a MySpace page, I never did anything with them. I never formed a band, other than in my head.

Anyway, last year I found folders of my old songs up in my Mums loft. I enjoyed looking through the lyrics; some were terrible, some were real teenage angst, others were OK. There were loads about dreaming, some even had chords I had written down and as I poured through the songs I found myself remembering some of them. Some were actually alright!

I dug out my guitar and recorded some very rough demos. I really enjoyed playing, it was fun and something to do during lockdown. It was escapism. After a while I sent a few of the demos to my friend James. I was delighted that he like them and we booked a rehearsal room to jam them out. 

I talked about combining acoustic guitar with electric, like The Lemonheads did so well with their It's A Shame About Ray and Come On Feel albums. James introduced me to Strung Out In Heaven by Brian Jonestown Massacre. He totally got the sound I was looking for and was amazed I hadn't heard the album.

We had 3 very sporadic sessions over 18-months before regrouping in January for one final rehearsal, then we went into a studio to record an EP.

I think I might have formed a band! I have formed a band! We're called Starboard Hazes.

Read on for more details.

Kicking Our Heels (excerpt)

Personnel - Murray Easton & James Barker + whoever we can rope in. 

So far that has included Callum Muir (drums), Annmarie Lochrie (vocals) + Norman Blake (backing vocals).

Sounds like - Warm, melodic garage guitar pop & psychedelia. Dreams, memories, fantasies, regrets, musings, teenage angst, love, loss, heartache, heartbreak & falling in love. (Hopefully!). The Lemonheads are a big influence on how I want the band to sound. 

How did Starboard Hazes form? - As above, I started playing old songs I had written up to 30-years ago! I really enjoyed playing, working out some chords and melodies to go with lyrics, combining half finished songs and recording some very rough Garage Band demos. 

After a while I was confident enough to send them to my friend James who I've known for 20-years or so. We used to work together at Abbey National, in the big office at the top of St Vincent Street. James was someone I knew was into the same music as me through his mod style haircut, Fred Perry bag and his jacket. James and I met up a few times to jam on them. 

And it was great fun. Actually it was more than that. I felt pretty elated after meeting up to play guitars and talk music, especially as we couldn't go and see bands. So we were forming one! After decades of being a music fan, following bands, writing about bands, managing bands and putting on bands ... I decided I wanted to be in one. It's my lockdown/midlife crisis! Or awakening!

Recordings? - I booked La Chunky studio in the Hidden Lane, Glasgow.  The first session at the end of January (2022) was immensely energising and great fun. We recorded the instrumental sections for 4 songs. James played lead guitar, I was on rhythm and our friend Callum was on drums. James overdubbed bass afterwards and I added some acoustic.

The 2 main songs (Kicking Our Heels and Keep On Dreaming) were recorded in 2 or 3 takes. Then we recorded 2 instrumentals completely live and unrehearsed which was great fun. One (Out Of My Mind) has lyrics that were then recorded in February , the other (Reflected Sunlight) is a psychedelic freakout instrumental - see above.

I invited my friend Annmarie down to the studio when I was recording vocals at the start of February and asked if she would sing on Kicking Our Heels. I was very much going for a Lemonheads (Evan & Juliana) vibe. Annmarie kindly came down and asked if a friend could pop in later on as they were going out for drinks. I was pretty amazed when Norman Blake showed up!

Norman hung out and offered some ideas on Annmarie's harmonies. She improvised something really nice over the instrumental section as she was warming up that I loved. So Norman got up and sang harmonies with Annmarie. Amazing! If I hadn't asked Annmarie (and I only gave her 3 days notice!) and it hadn't been that specific night, then Norman wouldn't have been on the song. Fate!

Annmarie also added some lovely touches to Keep On Dreaming. In just a couple of hours she made a big difference.

Influences - The Lemonheads, Teenage Fanclub, The Velvet Underground, The Jesus and Mary Chain (and loads more) 

Songs - 4-songs recorded; Kicking Our Heels, Keep On Dreaming, Reflected Sunlight (instrumental), Out Of My Mind. Recorded at La Chunky, Hidden Lane, Glasgow on 29th January & 9th February 2022.

Plans - We'll release Kicking Our Heels to introduce the band to everyone. And see what the reaction is! Our main goal is to play a gig! Even if we just release a single, EP and play a gig I'll be pretty happy! Things I have always wanted to do. 

Having said that I've really loved the whole recording experience and I've earmarked another few songs to work on with James and go back into the studio. So we might do it all again.

Find us on Twitter / Facebook 

Poster Paints at the Poetry Club

 

God it's so good to be back at gigs. 4 in under a month. Each time I have felt elated from the sounds, the company, the atmosphere, the venues, the little moments of magic, the banter ... 

Through the course of the 4 gigs I've gone from grand (Assembly Rooms) to larger and legendary (Barrowland) to pretty small and legendary (King Tuts) to super cool and intimate - The Poetry Club.

Owned by the artist Jim Lambie, the capacity of The Poetry Club (situated through a blink and you'll miss it door next to SWG3 in an old railway arch) is a mere 120, You walk into a small bar area with a couple of Lambie designs on the walls, then through the to gig venue that somehow incorporates a little balcony due to the high ceilings.

Support on the night was a solo set by Broken Chanter, AKA David MacGregor. In the intimate setting I grew to appreciate his guitar playing and style, songwriting and storytelling, all the more. Should We Be Dancing? from his eponymous 2019 debut album is a gem of a song, as is Don't Move To Denmark which was my favourite of MacGregor's songs on the night, he really got into a flow at the end, repeating the a glorious chorus over and over.

don't move to Denmark, don't stay on my behalf,

the brass on my neck made you laugh all night, all night

what if you stay and I disappoint

thoughts like this keep me up all night, all night

On to Poster Paints, their first headline show after 3 support slots with Teenage Fanclub last month. This time they had their own teenage fanclub with a number of cool young kids standing to my right.

The band played beautifully, full of confidence, unafraid to play slower songs that built, but also playing faster paced songs like their two singles to date; Never Saw It Coming and Number 1. Fall Hard could well be a candidate for single number 3, while the closer My Song is fast becoming a favourite, the way the song develops after a couple of minutes, with new layers being added, the pace picking up, New Order style synths being introduced and the hypnotic guitar riff just keeps playing, backing vocals come in ... sublime. Might be too long to be a single, but for a gig and album closer - perfect!

I gave you the chance to have and to hold me

It turns out, that I got it wrong

Poster Paints invited Broken Chanter up on stage to sing a song called Ribbons in place of Lomond Campbell who co-wrote the song, due to Campbell living in the Highlands. The dreamy psychedelic, reverb-y guitars were sublime. Carla came in to sing the chorus - a gorgeous song.

The song that melted my heart, probably most hearts in the room, was a beautiful ballad called Hard to Sweeten. Callum on drums switched to a mellatron, while the band delivered gentle chords and riffs, while Carla's voice was crystal clear;

Cause I was warned of love like yours

That's hard to sweeten

But I adore a fire that burns

That scars me deeper

A beautiful song, it sounded instantly classic, a beautiful gig. I look forward to seeing what Poster Paints do next.

Photo by Robert Winning

Introducing Poster Paints

Meet Poster Paints, my sister Carla J Easton's new band, formed during lockdown with her friend Simon Liddell formerly of Olympic Swimmers and Frightened Rabbits.

Simon recorded some music and sent it on to Carla to see if she was inspired to write melodies and lyrics. She was ... and it worked - rather beautifully.

As lockdown wore on, the two continued creating and soon had enough songs for an album. 

The songs developed with contributions from friends including Ziggy Lomond Campbell, Susie Bear, Jonny Scott, Eugene Kelly, Gabbi Coenen, Andrew Chung and Amanda Williams.

Poster Paints is (in my opinion) the best thing (to date) my sister has been involved in. Simon and Carla have created something really special. 

Debut single Number One has a flowing, bright, breezy feeling to it, the instrumental section with jangly guitars has a dreamy quality to it, the vocals are crystal clear and I love the production. This is scuzz pop for teenage romance.

This is a mere hint of what Poster Paints have in store. 

Spring has sprung and Number One breaks the ice rather nicely, offering glimpses of the sunshine to come. Download it from their bandcamp page. It's out on all other streaming platforms on Monday 10th May.

We got together when we were so young

We were aiming for the sun

But kids are so naive 

I wear my heart on my sleeve

Cause baby you're my number one

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Birds of Pandaemonium

Earlier today I was listening to Lauren Laverne's fantastic 6 Music show when I was stopped in my tracks by a song, Days Go By, the debut single by Birds of Pandaemonium, released by Our Starry Universe.

The duo, based in Brooklyn, are Millennium Culkin and Hazy James (born in Inverness). With Days Go By they produce a beautiful shimmering majestic quality, set over New Order-esque beats, while the vocals are reminiscent of Ian McCulloch, the guitar solo certainly tips a nod to Will Sergeant.

One other blogger has described the song; 'if Air invited Bowie along to their Moon Safari sessions then it might have sounded a little something like this.'

Hazey James from the band had this to say about their debut single; 

It's new chapter and pure emotion. It's an inner call to love without expectation. It's a conscious choice to move forward the positive regardless of the obstacle one may face. It's a mantra to truly make each day better, for yourself and for everyone in your orbit.

The ten minute Bryan Mette remix is something to check out as well!

You can find out more about the band from this excellent interview.

Download / stream / order the limited 12-inch single from Birds of Pandaemonium Bandcamp page

Blue Flowers

You can expect a few blogs through the year that feature or focus on L Space, a band I first introduced with an interview in November 2017.

They really did blow me away when I caught them at Nice n Sleazys in that same month. They look great; all different but really coming together as a band. They sound fantastic; capable of tender moments of wonder and soaring sonic journeys, both of which can transport their audience to a special place. And singer Lily has the look, style and personality that captivates. A real star in the making.

Lily Higham by Brendan Waters

When I first checked L-Space out, I was kind of spoilt for choice. They had a whole range of digital singles/demos I could check out online. I opted for the song-title that attracted me the most - Blue Flowers.

In my November blog I described it as Hope Sandoval from Mazzy Star fronting Portishead. I was floored by its dreamy brilliance; Lily's voice whispering and soaring over a tight groove and Gordon Johnstone's guitars rising to blow minds. It reminded me of things, but it was also most definitely different from anything else I was hearing from young bands across Scotland. It is simply beautiful but with an edge, ready to explode.

L-Space filmed their live set at the recent Last Night From Glasgow second birthday bash and they have released the video of Blue Flowers. Look out for more videos over the coming weeks and months as they build to the release of their debut album on LNFG later in the year.

L-Space play the Shuffledown Festival in Larbert on 28th April. Look out for more live dates;

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