It seemed a gargantuan task. Taking on X-Factor winners, whoever they might be, in a battle for good against evil, socialism versus capitalism, the Scottish cult indie musician versus a global terror perpetuated by Louis Walsh and Simon Cowell. more… “Malcolm Middleton”
An interview with a musician can go very bad, very fast. The artist can show disdain for your questions, you in general, or have more interest in consuming drugs than actually talking.
more… “The Raveonettes”
Mention Mogwai to any discerning music fan and a slow smile will creep across their face. For over ten years the Bellshill boys have slain audiences across the world with their brand of post-rock, by turns visceral and beautiful they have remained critical darlings for over a decade. more… “Rock Action”
Once Dundee was famous for producing jute, jam and journalism – now it seems it principle claims to fame are producing computer games, music magazines and kick-ass alternative music. The city that brought you Lemmings, Grand Theft Auto and Clash Magazine is currently in the throes of a musical revolution. more… “Dundee – City of Discovery”
The world of pop is littered with stories of corruption – Alan Freed, the Pistols at #2… Scottish music’s tale of underhand dealings is less earth-shattering, though the tale of a certain act whose chart rigging scheme saw them buy so many copies of a single that the local Megastore’s stock went into minus figures is a particular favourite. more… “Cruiser”
‘Tartan’ and ‘Clef’
….are words many Indie Musicians’ would rarely utter in the same sentence, unless harking back to Archie Gemmell and school music lessons. However the 2007 ‘Tartan Clef Music Awards’, with Biffy Clyro, Idlewild, Gun, Franz Ferdinand and new boys The Law proved without a doubt this event is every bit as cool as a low slung Les Paul and shades indoors – yes people those are still cool if you’re rocknroll enough to pull it off…
Almost 15 years ago a Glasgow-based journalist (not a musicologist, he insists) wrote a book called In Session Tonight. I say “wrote”, there is a considerable amount of interesting prose in there, but perhaps ’compiled’ would be a more accurate part – certainly the bulk of Garner’s work will have been trawling the BBC archives gathering details on every session ever recorded for John Peel’s radio shows. more… “Ken Garner”
It’s good to know that sometimes even rock musicians are troubled by the minutiae of everyday life that bother the rest of us. When I arrive at Riley Briggs’ home in Edinburgh, the singer is in the middle of dealing with someone in a call centre. more… “Aberfeldy”
Waiting outside the ABC for my arranged meeting with one of the most lauded bands of the year, The National, I look up at the huge sign with the band’s name in lights and curse myself for not having managed to see them at any one of the smaller gigs they have played in Glasgow before tonight. more… “The National – interview”
An old Japanese proverb asserts: ‘If one man praises you, a thousand will repeat the praise.’ more… “Spookey”