Named after the debut single by Teenage Fanclub.
This blog is all about being a music lover in Glasgow; reviews, interviews, memories, old faves, new discoveries (past and present), playlists and more. Thanks for visiting - I hope you discover something amazing you have never heard before, or that you rediscover an old favourite.
Regular features/playlists; Never Ending Mixtape / Cover Version of the Month/ Trust Me.
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Wuh Oh is an act I discovered after reading about their song Stay Tuned on the Podcart website away back in April. Podcart described it as a summer soundtrack and had this to say;
With its own distinct flavour,
this sun-kissed pop odyssey will make sure a smile doesn’t leave your face.
I totally agree, Stay Tuned by Wuh Oh is like the sound of sunshine on ecstasy, sample heavy uplifting pure pop, sounding like it is a lost cut from Since I Left You, the classic album by The Avalanches.
Wuh Oh has released the Wuh Oh EP to date (featuring All Yo, Saxy Beast, Trippin, the aforementioned Stay Tuned and Self Titled) and comparisons to The Avalanches can continue as he samples Marvin Gaye, jazz and pretty much everything he can get his hands on to create something unique.
I was going to email a few questions to Peter Ferguson, the producer behind Wuh Oh, but The list have beaten me to it and have an excellent interview with Peter HERE
Sample (and brilliant) quote;
My song 'Stay Tuned' is basically five seconds or so of a jazz fusion song spread out over three minutes, pitch shifted and chopped up and rearranged. I don’t usually actively look out for samples, but when you hear five seconds of music that clearly deserves to be a whole track, it’s hard to resist trying to make that happen.
It sounds like Wuh Oh is going to be releasing quite a bit of music in 2016, so Stay Tuned indeed!
The effervescent Halina Rifai from Podcart, BLOC Music andThe Scotsman, set a nice question on Facebook last week; 'Names of Scottish EP's, albums and artists that have released this year that you feel have not got as much praise as they deserve?'
If you're looking to keep up to date with independent and DIY music in Scotland then Halina is a good person to follow on Twitter and keep an eye on the Podcart website.
A number of people replied to her post citing the artist Best Girl Athlete. I am a sucker (and a bit of a snob) for a good band/artist name and this one stood out immediately for me.
So I dove in and oh my word!
Best Girl Athlete is Katie Buchan from Aberdeen. Katie is only 16-years old and she has already released her debut album and it is one that I have fallen for on first listen. Carve Every Word was released on the indie label Fitlike Records and has also been released in the US on Minty Fresh Records.
I have just bought a copy on vinyl - this is an album to be treasured.
Every song is beautiful - the lyrics, vocals, musicianship, structure and the production. Turn off your TV, mobile and everything. Turn the lights down, pour yourself a cuppa, a beer or a glass of wine and sit back and enjoy.
Winter Sun will draw you in, the vocals and stunning music sets the tone for the album, Turn On The Radio will pull you further.
Hills reminded me of Beth Orton - a gorgeous acoustic groove with stunningly beautiful and forlorn cello over the top of it - all kinds of dreamy gorgeous. All That is a song that you can just get lost in.
Best Girl Athlete - AKA Katie Buchan
Speaking of choruses, the one on On My Own lifts the song superbly; handclaps and brilliant guitar riffs back Katie's beautiful vocals.
Don't want to know what you're thinking
Don't need to hear your life story
Just want you to be happy
Cause I'm doing fine, I'm on my own
The verses are more subdued, the second one asks questions and makes statements.
Who told you?
Who was it?
What did they say to you?
I gave you everything I had
But I didn't give enough
Which Way To Turn is spine tingling and Talk is sheer beauty.
Tell me your problems
I'll tell you mine
That seems like a fair exchange
Seven Seconds leads into a glorious groove and Poppy What Have You Gone And Done? is another gem. In truth, they all are and when the album closes with This Time you'll want to go back and listen again - beautiful, deep, sublime.
A lot of my recent blog posts have focused on anniversaries of classic albums, subsequent shows and also on bands that I have been following for years. I make no apologies for that - I'm fortunate to have discovered a raft of amazing bands and artists as a teenager and in my early 20's that are still around. However I do enjoy discovering new music.
So I thought I would aim to write about nine new bands through the month of November.
I got in touch with a few people to ask for some recommendations of young bands that I should check out and I have thoroughly enjoyed listening to loads of fantastic music.
As it is 1st November, I'll start with the appropriately named November Lights.
November Lights
I've listened to a dozen new Scottish bands over the last couple of weeks - this band leapt out at me. I must have listened to their debut single Bring You Home at least 20 times.
The infectious, uplifting guitar riff is played with real feeling, vocals with a sense of urgency and emotion, a tight rhythm section and the song opens by asking key questions.
Will you love, who you love?
Will you live for now? Will you live for now?
Things drop down for a gentle first chorus, the vocals are almost whispered, there is a pause and the band explode into life as the chorus is repeated with force.
Call on your brothers, fathers, your mothers
Let there be lovers, love one another
I'll hold your hand
And fight 'til I bring you home
Will you hold
The 1st verse is repeated before another chorus that is expanded to contain extra lines. I love a band that writes good choruses and November Lights hammer this one home another couple of times before finishing the song in 3 minutes and 30 seconds - another good sign, far too many bands push their songs beyond 4-minutes for no real reason.
I caught up with the James Hopkins, the bands singer and songwriter to find out a little more about the band. Check out the interview below.
1. How and when did the band get together? And how quickly did your sound come together?
We played our first show in November of last year (hence the name)...so we consider that to be the time we formed. Finding our sound is arguably still in progress but we all individually and collectively know what we are striving for. The vision between us is pretty clear.
2. Where are you from?
The band are spread from north Ayrshire to East Kilbride but we class Glasgow as our base. It'll always be home as it's where we all met and played our first shows together.
3. What are your influences?
I feel one of the best things about us as a band is that our music tastes vary so much that we get some weird and unplanned results. As a writer it's great to bring songs to the band because we all bring so many different elements to the table and can change the shape of a song from what was first planned. As a writer that's exciting to me. In terms of influences, our music tastes stretch from the pop of One Republic and Michael Jackson to more rock and electronic influences. There isn't too much that we don't take influence from. Melody is probably the most important thing to us.
4. ‘Bring You Home’ is excellent, was that one of the first songs you wrote as a band?
We are starting to write more and more together but the single was written by myself and then brought to the band...but I always say that it's a group effort because the song is no where near finished until everyone in the band gets their hands on it. Bring you home came together pretty quickly. We're happy with how it worked out.
5. How pleased have you been by the reaction to your debut video/single?
It's been great...Bring You Home is the first song that anyone has heard from us so to hear that people are loving it and singing along at shows is a great sign. It's positive and we hope that continues with the work we're putting in. The band just focusses on getting better and hopefully our fans will hear that with every release and show.
6. Any other plans before the end of 2015?
We have a few shows lined up in amongst some recording. We play, Edinburgh, Dunfermline, the Clyde 1 Strathclyde fireworks event and a special show in Kilwinning for 200 fans. That will be a fun way to round off the year.
7. What are you hoping to achieve in 2016?
Playing to as many people as possible in different places. We start the year with our first show in Dundee then have a big Glasgow show that we can't yet disclose. In general it's a massive year for us with lots of stuff planned. We are working on our first E.P due out in spring time and we'll be playing shows around that release. Then it's on to festival season.
8. Are any other young Scottish bands catching your attention?
We are huge fans of Prides, Fatherson and the LaFontaines, not to mention we played a show with the later two. That was amazing and we learned a lot. It's amazing to see so many bands coming out of Scotland, the music scene here is one of the best. We're proud to be a part of it.
BMX Bandits formed back in 1985 and released their first single, E102, in the summer of 1986. So it is fitting that the band are bridging 2015 and 2016 for their 30 anniversary.
A summer show at the Wickerman Festival was a delight and intimate shows in Dundee and Glasgow this week allowed the band to explore their back catalogue to the delight of some of their die hard fans who got tickets.
Duglas T Stewart always has his ear to the ground and he chose Edinburgh band The Spook School as the support for the Bandits last night. I had only seen the band once before - when they played TeenCanteen's The Girl Effect back in May, they caught my attention with a storming version of Icona Pop's I Love It.
I'd checked them out online and was looking forward to seeing them in action. The Spook School didn't disappoint. The front trio of Nye Todd, Anna Cory and Adam Todd look like they are in their teens, they jumped about, made their guitars sound glorious and their singy shouty vocals were catchy and infectious. Everybody Needs To Be In Love was an early highlight.
The band were punky, poppy and their ear for a chorus won them many new fans. I ended up buying their new album (the bands second) Try To Be Hopeful and a t-shirt. I'll write a separate blog on the band in the near future.
Duglas T Stewart and his BMX Bandits took to the stage and proceeded to delight the packed basement of The Hug and Pint with a set that took in their debut single, songs from their latest album and songs that Duglas is currently working on with Stuart Kidd from Dr Cosmos Tape Lab.
Little Hands was a brilliant opener, the Bandits at their best - romantic, melodic, catchy and fun. A cover of Daniel Johnston's Do You Really Love Me was introduced by Duglas telling the crowd that Daniel is probably his favourite songwriter. The vocals were shared with Chloe Phubo and the crowd really got going.
Serious Drugs was poignant and beautiful, while And It's You, one of my favourite songs from BMX Bandits last album (In Space), was just glorious. It is a gem of a song, stunning melody and has a great natural feel.
The Bandits always guarantee romance, yet they also guarantee a sense of fun and humour. The Road To Loved Is Paved With Banana Skins contained both in bags.
Way of the Wolf and It's In Her Eyes were the newies performed. The latter was my favourite out of those and I look forward to hearing them both on record.
If you haven't heard The Sailor's Song by BMX Bandits then please follow this LINK
It was a bit of a standout for me last night, beautifully sung by Duglas.
You could heal me, make me feel better
Make me feel better than I did today
The closing section was simply sublime;
I could watch you dancing all night
I could watch you dancing all night
Your Class was another highlight, introduced by Duglas as being written in response to hearing Stephen Stills Love The One You're With when he heard it back in the 80's whilst on tour.
It is one of my favourite songs by BMX Bandits, just hopelessly romantic and romantically hopeful.
The delivery was exceptional - Duglas was on top form all night - vocally and also between songs.
And what you do, what you do
Is breaking my heart in two
And I'll never get too tired of you
Don't say we're through, don't say we're through
Cause that could not be true
And I'll never get too tired of you
Disco Girl and E102 were great fun before an encore of old favourite Kylie's Got A Crush On Us and then Fireworks from In Space.
This was a pretty special encore for me and my sister as I used to play Kylie's Got A Crush On Us to her when I was 17/18 and Carla was a young 7/8! And Carla wrote Fireworks for Duglas and he has been exceptionally supportive of her songwriting and TeenCanteen.
This was a fantastic show and I look forward to Duglas and the BMX Bandits plans for the remainder of their 30th anniversary celebrations. Duglas is a singer-songwriter to be cherished and his band seem to relish playing his songs.
Next up for BMX Bandits is a support slot with one of my other favourite bands - The Charlatans - in Dundee in December.
Vigo Thieves new single Free is out today (30th October) and as the chorus suggests, they are set to soar.
The band burst on to the Scottish music scene a few years ago with the release of their Heart and Soul Pt I EP which contained the magnificent Heartbeats that was picked up by T in the Park for use in their promo video.
An incredible 2-years followed; the band became the first unsigned act to sell-out 2 back-to-back nights at King Tuts, there was the release of the Heart & Soul Pt II EP contained the epic Forever, the soaring Believe and live favourite Ghosts, some incredible festival shows, sell-out shows at The Arches and the ABC, the Barrowlands EP and the euphoric This Love single.
The band, led by the driven songwriter and frontman Stevie Jukes, bunkered down at Rocket Science studios in Glasgow where they found two producers in Michael Bannister and Ross Hamilton who totally understood what they wanted to achieve, to record an album - an album that I have been fortunate to hear.
We'll save that for another blog though, in the meantime Free is the first single to be released from the time at Rocket Science. It has already picked up airplay on Radio 2.
Check out the brilliant video below;
Vigo trademarks are there - melodic piano, soaring backing vocals that are ripe for a stadium or festival, Stevie Jukes singing his heart out, big beats and a chorus you'll be humming and singing for days to come, one that Noel Gallagher would be proud of.
Everybody dreams of something, can you feel it, feel it?
The song could well have been written about Stevie's own dreams and ambitions for the band, yet easily transfers to everyday life for the masses. The verses talk of his head being down, working hard but it's just not enough, being trapped in a small town that feels like it is closing in... we've all been there, but having the dreams and the ambition to break free are what keep you going. Stevie and his band certainly have the dreams, ambitions and songs to break free.
I can feel it, I can feel it coming
Free is being released on King Tuts Recordings. Tour dates are below.
Teenage Fanclub have never been shy in terms of wearing their influences on their sleeves. The band have released countless cover versions on b-sides or one-off singles and played them regularly at their shows.
I got into the band as a 15-year old, thirsty for discovering all kinds of music. I couldn't have picked a better band than the Fanclub to fall in love with - and they were from Bellshill, just up the road from Carluke! The Byrds, Dylan, Neil Young, Big Star, Alex Chilton, The Beatles, Madonna, The Velvet Underground, Yo La Tengo, Sebadoh....all artists covered by TFC.
My favourite? - well it is either Free Again which they released on an extremely limited 7-inch (and I have one) or this - an absolute romp through The Byrds Feel A Whole Lot Better on the White Room.
I decided to compile my favourite ten cover versions performed by Teenage Fanclub. Here they are with links to the Fanclub version and also the original.
Unfortunately there were no links to their cover of Association by International Airport (details here) so that isn't included but it is well worth tracking down if you can.
Top 10 Teenage Fanclub covers
1. Feel A Whole Lot Better
Norman and Gerry take turns on lead vocals, the Fanclub at their joyous best. The Byrds released this as the b-side to Mr Tambourine Man - also covered by Teenage Fanclub.
2. Free Again
What a tune, a romp through the Alex Chilton song, an artist truly loved by the band.
Norman on stage with Alex
3. Don't Cry No Tears
A Neil Young song released on the b-side of the Everything Flows CD single. One of the first songs I ever learned to play on the guitar.
4. I Heard You Looking
Absolutely f**king beautiful. Almost 13-minutes of instrumental genius on this cover of a Yo La Tengo song. Released on the Neil Jung (alternate version) CD single.
5. Burned
Multi-format releases in the 90's was the perfect excuse for Teenage Fanclub to record a cover version or three. This, the original was by Buffalo Springfield, was on one of the Sparky's Dream CD's and Gerry Love just sounds like he is loving singing it.
7. Take The Skinheads Bowling
I used to have a couple of Fanclub cassette bootlegs, including a brilliant one from the Reading Festival when the band played this. A cover of a Camper Van Beethoven song. Just brilliant.
9. Mr Tambourine Man
I loved the Reading Festival bootleg I had. Teenage Fanclub came on stage, played an instrumental and then introduced themselves by saying 'Hi we're called Teenage Fanclub and this is a song by The Byrds.' I bought The Byrds greatest hits that week and subsequently discovered Bob Dylan.
10. Like A Virgin
Guitar pop punk rip through the Madonna classic - what's not to like?!
Quite a few of my recent blogs have been decidedly retro - anniversaries of classic albums or shows. I am extremely fortunate that many of the bands and artists I got into in my teens and early 20's are still around and I do enjoy looking back at their classic albums and blogging about their current activities. However I want to ensure that my blog allocates space to plenty of new bands and artists that I enjoy and also some of the issues they face.
So I thought I would write a blog about a recent (indeed a current) experience I have had with my sisters band TeenCanteen - one that should be of interest to a lot of DIY/unsigned bands.
The experience involved the crowd funding platform Pledge Music and I have to say that it has been extremely positive -so read on if you want to find out more...I hope this may help some bands or artists in the future.
The cost of being in a band
Some people really have no idea how much money you need to be in a band, even a relatively small one - equipment, rehearsal studios, travelling to gigs/touring, recording - studio time, production, mixing, videos, releasing..... believe me, it can all add up...especially if things start to get serious.
Most bands will put in their own money and any money they make from gigs, PRS or self releases then goes straight back into doing it all again. Unless you have a (major or large indie) label, sponsor, backer or you make some serious money from a song or release, then money is a constant worry.
Funding a serious start-up or DIY band is a serious issue.
Crowd-funding and Pledge Music
I first came across Pledge Music a few years ago when I was managing the Vigo Thieves. Pledge were very interested in capitalising on the interest Vigo Thieves were generating through their use of Social Media. Engagement with fans is something that singer Stevie Jukes is something of a specialist in - in person and online. To this day I remember Stevie hand delivering me Vigo Thieves first EP with a ticket for their show at Sleazys. Online - competitions, asking fans for their opinion, pics, updates, videos...it all helps. Social Media is essential for crowdfunding.
Vigo Thieves at King Tut's
Like a record label - Pledge have an A and R team, so, like a record label - Pledge need to find bands to make money. They get a commission, so it is in their interests to take on bands that will achieve their target and hopefully smash it.
Pledge Music was and is, an interesting, yet extremely simple concept - fan funding, or crowd funding. It is now part of common culture. People interested in a project help to fund it - simple!
So if you are in a band, Pledge Music have the format, skills, knowledge and experience to help you set up a fundraising project; for the vast majority of bands this is to raise funds to record an album. Not cheap!
Funnilly enough I did something on a much smaller scale with the band Sonny Marvello when I managed them. We raised some decent money through shows at Stereo in Glasgow, but also set up a Fanclub - the 100 club. Only 100 members and you got a mini-acoustic album, access to a secret show at a vintage clothes shop in Glasgow (what a night that was!) and a badge. It sold out in a few days and raised £1,000 for the band. Crowd funding - it works if you offer the right event/product/project, promote it correctly, deliver and thank.
Good studios like Tape in Edinburgh, Rocket Science, Cava or Gorbals Sound in Glasgow can cost £400+ per day. Smaller studios like the brilliant La Chunky or Green Door in Glasgow are around £200 per day. So if you're laying down 10-tracks and recording everything separately - you need a good number of days. (please correct me if I am wrong on any prices)
So for recording, mixing and production of an album, you can be looking at a fairly considerable sum. Not the kind of money most bands have lying around.
Cava Sound
Vigo Thieves decided against Pledge Music in the end, largely because at the time it was pretty untried and untested. In 2015 it is fast becoming one of the best ways for small and also for large bands to engage with fans and to fund projects; The Libertines are one of the biggest bands to currently be using Pledge. Cast, Marillion, Reverend and the Makers are others. Do The Libertines need a record label in this day and age when they already have a huge fanbase?
In Scotland, Roddy Hart and the Lonesome Fire are a band who have embraced crowd funding and Gerry Cinnamon is an emerging artist who has smashed his Pledge Music target to fund his debut album. Gerry is an artist who wants complete control, no compromise- he has it.
Gerry Cinnamon
My sister Carla has a band - TeenCanteen - and she asked me if I could help her raise the remaining funds required to complete their debut album that they are working on at Tape Studios in Edinburgh. They had found the right studio and producer, recorded 4-songs (in Mono), but needed a cash injection to complete the album.
I spoke with Pledge, they liked the band, their engagement via Social Media was strong (despite the fact they maybe didn't have the follows or likes of other bands), they had good songs and videos, good support from the likes of 6music and they also liked the fact that as well as being a music fan, I am a fundraiser by profession.
I worked with my sister and the band on setting up the Pledge project. We set up a range of ways that fans could get involved to help the band complete their album..... Stripped back home sets, a live album, limited artwork, TeenCanteen cover versions, appear in a video, do handclaps on the album, a Skype harmony lesson, handwritten lyrics....something for everyone ranging from £10 to £350 with loads in between.
We couldn't believe what happened next.... but before that, check the video below....
22/09
TeenCanteen launched their Pledge Music campaign, spending a small amount on Facebook advertising and sending an e-newsletter to fans.
23/09
The campaign is almost at 50% within 24-hours with pledges towards TeenCanteen doing cover versions and a stripped back home concert helping with a large percentage of that total. Cover versions were £50 and a home show was £350.
In Fundraising Terms people pledging for a home concert are like your major donors - pledging a substantial amount and really making a difference.
But like fundraising - for a crowd-funding project to really work - you need a variety of income streams. Look at Comic/Sports Relief for example, they have big shows, big challenges, people holding events for them, but they also need people texting at £5, £25 or going online and donating whatever they can.
They are also great with the films they make, highlighting the difference you can make. So the video above definitely helped.
24/09
Carla posts a short Thank You video on Facebook as the campaign reaches 54%. Within a few hours this leads to cover versions and home concerts selling out and an increase towards other pledges; including the Skype harmony lesson.
In fundraising - thanking your donors properly is of paramount importance. It strengthens relationships.
24/09
The campaign reaches 94% and Carla posts a video of an excited Chloe running around the pub they are in - leading to the campaign breaking 100%.
Another great example of thanking and showing how much it meant to the band.
25/09
The campaign breaks 100% and Carla posts a thumbs up thank you picture leading to more pledges.
27/09
A further thanks and a reminder that there are still loads of things like handclaps on the album available.
The campaign remains open and pledges are still coming in, even though the band are concentrating on communicating with pledgers rather than promoting the project.
We are now in the process of sorting out everything that needs to be done - communicating with fans, timelines for recording covers, letting fans know recording dates for handclaps, letting people know when they will be sent things, working out availability for home concerts..... I guess this is when a manager comes in handy - or someone like me who can help.
What is really interesting is that it is truly fans that have embraced the Pledge campaign. 98% of the pledgers are non family/close friends. They are proper fans who have read about the band, or heard them on 6Music or caught them at a festival or supporting someone.
This is something that has given my sister a huge confidence boost - the fact that the songs she has been writing in her bedroom and creating with her friends is generating real love and people want to help her make the album.
Music fans - supporting a band to create music = is it really that simple?!
