“Liking this makes you neither cool nor hip!” screams the headline on Q Without U’s myspace page. In a city where most bands are obsessed with being so achingly now, it’s quite refreshing to meet a band who aren’t concerned with being pigeon-holed into a category of cool.
ITM? joins three of the four members of Glasgow’s Q Without U on a rainy afternoon in Mono to discuss their new album and their achievements so far. Nursing a pint with ITM? today is Tam Killean (vocals and guitar), Andy Bonar (vocals and bass) and Calum Mackay (drums and percussion). Scott Walker (keyboards, brass and percussion) is unable to join us, presumably because his royalties from ‘The Drift’ means that he feels he is above a simple magazine interview.
Forming in 2004, Q Without U have played gigs across the country as well as gaining themselves a dedicated fanbase of their live sets.
“As a band we kind of just came together. I had known Andy for years and I went to the same school as Calum but we didn’t really know each other back then. I got to know Calum through various message boards, I can’t remember the exact time we first spoke actually,” says Tam “As for Scott he lived in halls with Calum so that’s how we know him. That’s how we arrived with the line up we have today.”
For a band with a good local reputation, Q Without U (by their own admission) have never been that pro-active in self promotion. A complete paradox to artists who use Myspace to advertise their gigs instead of practising for them.
“For years we just never had a press release, none of us bothered to make one. It’s so hard to make one that isn’t cringeworthy,” says Tam
“Eventually I gave in and knocked one together,” says Andy
What made the band come together?
“It just sort of happened. Personally I’ve always felt the desire to do something. Some bands say that everything comes easily to them and others say they really need to work at what they makes. As a band we just kind of don’t care. It always works out in the end.” says Tam.
“We have no sort of quality control.” says Calum.
“I think we work well now, we had to sack a previous member because he wouldn’t come to a rehearsal because he wanted to go see Celtic play instead. We ended up kicking him out the band via MSN Messenger. After that we recruited Andy when he was in the pub pissed one night,” says Tam.
“The first gig I played I was still reading my bass parts off a sheet on top of the amp,” says Andy.
What influences do you have as a band?
“I don’t think we have anything that influences us as a band on the whole. We all like a variety of things, we’re not one of those bands who came together through similar tastes in music. There’s probably only three bands that we all listen to. Bands are always trying to put forward an image of themselves by saying that Hunter S. Thompson is an influence, or some really diverse album is their favourite. As far as personal influences go, I’d say anyone who can play four chords that we’ve all heard before and do something interesting with them,” says Tam.
“I don’t have any drumming icons. I’d say we’re all influenced by a lack of work and the Super Furry Animals. A lot of people have said that we sound like Idlewild but I wouldn’t call them an influence,” says Calum.
“Other people have said we sound like The Fall, I’m not so sure about that. Peter Hook is a definite influence on me.”
How is progress with the album? Is there a working title?
“No title as of yet, we only have four songs completed so far. We’re working with our friend Ross who has done stuff with us before as well as working with We Are The PHYSICS. He’s amazing,” says Tam.
“Especially considering where he works, he operates out of this tiny attic,” says Calum.
What are your best live experiences so far?
“I really enjoy playing away to different crowds, London was a great night,” says Calum.
“Aberdeen was good as well, we supported the Ronnettes. We’ve played a lot of shite club nights as well though. There’s so many club nights in Glasgow,” says Tam.
How did the video for ‘One Piece Puzzle’ come about?
“We had thought about shooting a video for a while and we eventually approached a guy called Paul Allison to do it with us. It took over nine hours to film the video because of various technical difficulties,”
Who are your favourite bands and who do you recommend locally?
“I like Field Music a lot. Locally I like Frightened Rabbit, Errors and Findo Gask,” says Tam.
“I agree, Frightened Rabbit. I seen them at Connect Festival on the bandstand and they were just such a highlight. I really enjoy Explosions in the Sky, Mogwai and Battles too,” says Calum.
“I listen to British Sea Power, Teardrop Explodes and The Pop Group,” says Andy.
What are the future aims of Q Without U?
“Don’t think we have any set ideas, I like that we’re all happy with where we are. Although ideally we would like to tour to promote the album and go outside of Scotland,” says Tam.
Finally, what have you learned during your time together?
“How to play bass,” says Andy.
“Just how bad a room can smell with four boys in it,” says Tam.
“Not to piss about at gigs or blame soundmen for you sounding shit,” says Calum.
“Oh, and how to spot a gay bar. We were in London after a gig, having a drink in the hotel before heading out to a bar. Most places were shut but we found this one place that was still open. For some reason the fact that we were greeted by “Hello Sweethearts!” at the door never tipped us off. It never clicked when we heard ‘I Am What I Am’ on the jukebox either…”says Tam.