TeenCanteen at Broadcast

Playing a gig on a Sunday isn't always a good idea, playing a gig on an Old Firm Sunday really isn't a good idea; however TeenCanteen were invited to play Broadcast as part of Independent Venue Week and decided to go for it.

The bands lovely friendly and informative e-newsletter was sent through the week and fans were told that TeenCanteen will be focusing on recording an album through 2015, breaking cover for the odd sporadic gig and this was the only one currently in the diary.

 TeenCanteen had a productive 2014 that saw them play festivals, earn some great support slots, play 6music and BBC Scotland sessions and gather excellent reviews and a word of mouth fanbase through the release of their second single and aforementioned gigs.

The basement of Broadcast was certainly quieter than the last time TeenCanteen played and packed it out, but the band immediately out everyone at ease and made everyone step forward when they introduced themselves and went into Friends - a song that has been a set closer in the past.

A pulsating synth bass builds into a beautiful noise and Carla stood on her toes to deliver everything she could vocally, backed up on 3-part harmonies at times by Amanda and Sita with Debbie playing a blinder on the drums.

It is a genuinely brilliant song, packed with emotion and beautifully arranged. I look forward to hearing this one recorded for the album.

The 2 singles to date; Honey and You're Still Mine were played in the first half of the set, Honey had a delicious new rawness to it and the closing instrumental of You're Still Mine was gloriously New Order-esque with a Belle and Sebastian tinge.

Roses (Coming Up) had a real Motown punk feel to it and the band blitzed through it with style and pace. This was swiftly followed by new song Sirens (these are the first 2 songs that TeenCanteen have recorded for the album).

Sirens is incredible - it really blew me away; building, swooping and just sounding like the band have found their direction.

The girls closed with the gorgeous Vagabond. For proof of how gorgeous a song this is then check the video below.

I look forward to TeenCanteen completing an album but I also look forward to them breaking cover for a few shows through the course of the year.

TeenCanteen at Henry's Cellar Bar in Edinburgh

There is something about a gig in a small, tight, sweaty basement bar. There is nowhere for a band to hide, it can make or break them. It is on occasions like this that you can see a band demonstrate just exactly what they have to offer, or fall flat.

TeenCanteen were incredible last night, truly stunning.

Analogue (currently available as a free download from T-Break) opened proceedings; highlighting the harmonies, humour and songwriting talent displayed by Carla, Amanda, Sita and Deborah.

Without pausing to enjoy the applause, the 4 girls started their debut single Honey. There was a nice raw edge to the sound of Amanda's acoustic guitar. The song flowed superbly, rising and falling and powering on through with delicious hooks and harmonies.

I am red when I want to be purple

The band introduced a new song Coming Up Roses and it was brilliant. A Motown beat kicked in and a Spector-esque Wall of Sound built up as the band unleashed choruses and hooks to die for. The closing section was rammed home.

A-L-W-A-Y-S

I'll always love you

A-L-W-A-Y-S

I'll always be true

The band were in fine form and had the confidence to play a beautiful love song called Under My Cover that slowed down to the point of stopping, just harmonies and breathless vocals before the band came blasting back in.

TeenCanteen are clearly a band that know their pop history; riffs, refrains, harmonies, choruses, false stops, hooks, flows...

Friends was introduced as a song about friends falling out and it started with a bass driven synth

This is how it starts

The beginning of the end

This is the point when you say

You just want to be my friend

It is a brilliantly written and delivered song that builds towards an epic closing refrain. Deborah Smith on drums was sensational, Moe Tucker meats Motown.

(How We Met) Cherry Pie was introduced as an old song they hadn't played in a while. An early demo was picked up for an independent film featuring Karen Gillan. The chorus flows superbly.

Like rain that falls without a warning, on a sunny morning

This is how we met

Like sugar in my cup of coffee, apples dipped in toffee

This is how we met

Like snow fall showing in the summer, with massive claps of thunder

This is how we met

Or missing puzzle pieces meeting, with joys of seasons greetings

This is how we met

New single You're Still Mine (available on ltd edition 7-inch sparkly vinyl here) was a cross between New Order and The Ronettes, delivered with gusto and style.

Going back to the small, tight and sweaty basement; it can really make or break a crowd. TeenCanteen had the confidence to close the show with Vagabond, b-side of their current single and a real tug on the heart strings anthem delivered largely with just Carla on piano and vocals with Amanda and Sita harmonising and Deborah playing just the right amount of drums and percussion.

This was an amazing performance and one that was lapped up by the packed audience.

Chants of one more tune were politely declined. More please.

TeenCanteen have a few festival shows coming up at; T in the Park, Wickerman Festival and Indie Tracks.

Linden - Bleached Highlights

Linden is Joe McAlinden, formerly of Superstar, guest on Teenage Fanclub records and very formerly of The Boy Hairdressers.

Linden's debut album 'Bleached Highlights' has just been released on Edwyn Collins new label AED Records. 

The album is already receiving some excellent reviews;

• Album of the Week - Scotland On Sunday
• “A beautiful record” 4/5 - Q Magazine
• Album of the Week - Alexis Petridis The Guardian
• “Beautifully assured” - The Scotsman
• “This album is stunning” - Daily Record
• Album of the Week - Vic Galloway BBC Radio Scotland
• Album of the Week - Tom Morton BBC Radio Scotland
• “Perfect pop moment” 4/5 - Sunday Express
• “Glorious… A prime contender for Scottish Album of The Year” - The Sun

If I was to add something from this blog to the section above it would be;

• "Immediate guitar pop with hooks and harmonies. Simple at times, always beautiful." everythingflowsglasgow

 The first four tracks on this album are sublime, as good as anything you will hear all year, or any year. McAlinden has an effortlessly pure voice and he splices it perfectly with chiming and warm fuzzy guitars.

Opener 'Brown Bird Singing' has been released as a limited 7-inch via AED. Upon listening, it is easy to understand why it was chosen as the lead single, although there are a load of potential follow ups.

It is the sound of sunshine, beautifully produced by Edwyn Collins and Sebastian Lewsley. Check out the DIY video below.

The opening four tracks on the album grabbed me; immediate guitar pop with hooks and harmonies. Simple at times, always beautiful.

'I Just Wanna Be Here (When I'm Somewhere Else)' and the title track 'Bleached Highlights' flow beautifully, leaving me wonder if they were written around the same time. 

'Thank You' has a chorus that just lifts the whole song;

I'm never gonna let you down girl, take my hand and welcome me back home

Hey, I'm always gonna be around girl, understand that you're my way back home

The CD (resplendent Jim Lambie print) comes with a lyric book and looking over the lyrics as I listen it is clearly evident that 'Bleached Highlights' is an out and out love album. 

That is hammered home by 'If I Had Wings' which (on only a few listens) is a song that stands out, brilliant guitar work and McAlinden sounding particularly angelic and soulful. At only 2 minutes and 20 seconds long, you'll be playing it several times in a row.

I finally found you

My senses around you

I finally found you

People in love experience all kinds of emotions and 'Written' and 'Hear My Name' highlight insecurities, maintaining the flow of the album but just slowing it down ever so slightly.

'Something Wonderful' is acoustic based until the chorus with McAlinden sounding almost breathless as he is singing his hear out.

Somethings wonderful just got better

And I think of you every day

The album closes with 'Hide Away' with a melody that reminds me of something else but I just can't place it. However that is one of Linden's (and indeed McAlinden's) clear strengths - immediately accessible and understandable guitar pop with melodies and hooks. It is simple and pure, this is not an album that will take you a dozen listens to get into, you either like it and get it or it isn't for you.

I like it and I've got it!

Tiny Little Sparks by Sonny Marvello

Sonny Marvello are busy working on their debut album, recording at Rocket Science studios in Glasgow with Ross Hamilton and Michael Bannister (Texas, Mogwai, Avril Lavigne..) 


It is coming together nicely and the band nailed a relatively new song 'Tiny Little Sparks' at the beginning of May. Within a couple of weeks it was being played on Radio 1 in Scotland, selected by Craig McGee (Glasgow Music/Warner Chappell) on the A&R zone on Ally McCrae's show.

I can see that (Tiny Little Sparks) in a festival field with people bouncing and bouncing.

Ally McCrae, BBC Radio 1 Introducing, Detour

Sonny Marvello's songwriting keeps getting stronger and stronger. Tiny Little Sparks is glorious, joyous pop with lots of catchy hooks and harmonies.

Craig McGee, www.glasgowmusic.co.uk, Warner Chappell Scout

It is HUUUUUGE. Elements of Coldplay, Radiohead and The Who are all merged together to create a song that is crying out to be blasted from stereos across the country.


More studio time is being scheduled for September, in the meantime plans are in place for a ltd single release of 'Tiny Little Sparks' in September/early October and gigs are in the process of being booked.


There will be a rather special announcement to be made by the band in the next week or so regarding the launch party in October.


In the meantime, enjoy the sounds of a band that are really pushing towards creating a rather special album. Check them out at www.sonnymarvello.net and listen to 'Tiny Little Sparks' at www.soundcloud.com/sonnymarvello

www.glasgowmusic.co.uk