Single Review: Bury You – Where We Lay Our Heads

This is a new one for me but here we go! The upcoming single by Glasgow folk/rock act Where We Lay Our Heads will be released digitally on the 19th March. The band who describe themselves as “Rock band pretending to be a folk band, a folk band with distortion pedals,” are doing a launch for it on the 21st at Captains Rest (expect a review if I make it along), and a small tour.

The track itself starts off with some picked electric guitar, violin and singing from singer Wull in an almost spoken way with a local dialect. They are then joined by the bass and drums playing a staccato rhythm to them go back into a calmer verse. The track builds on this format throughout to reach a peak at that end with Wull singing the chorus on his own. Produced by Paul Gallagher who has recently recorded Three Blind Wolves, John Knox Sex Club and Kid Canaveral it has that sort of Scottish folky sound to it, definitely a good choice by the band of who to work with. So in short a good song well produced song by the band who are indeed worth checking out.

You can catch Where We Lay Our Heads at the following dates:

21st March – Glasgow – Captains Rest(single launch) w/LETTERS & Cafe Disco
22nd March – Inverness – Hootenanny’s w/LETTERS
23rd March – Thurso – Newmarket Bar w/LETTERS
24th March – Skye – Saucy Mary’s w/LETTERS
25th March – Edinburgh – Wee Red Bar w/LETTERS

Also on the 19th the song will available from Bandcamp, you can find Where We Lay Our Heads on Facebook.

Review: Withered Hand, Samantha Crain and Michael MacFarlane @ Henry’s Cellar Bar 27/11/11

After attending what was my first “big” gig since the summer festivals on Friday night and having forgotten how an audience react at an event like that, it was nice to be back in a small venue. Having never been to many venues or gigs for that matter in Edinburgh it’s always a pleasure to go somewhere different for a change. Organised by label owner, blogger, and all around swear-y man Matthew Young of Song, By Toad there was quite a bit of excitement over this one.

First up was Michael MacFarlane who I’d heard once before on a podcast and been quite impressed. Word had it that it was about his second or third gig but, it didn’t show. Some excellent lyrics combined with an interesting voice and good banter made for a good performance by a relatively unknown performer, who I’m sure we’ll see more from in the coming years. After covering Bats In The Attic (Unravelled) from the recent King Creosote & Jon Hopkins collaboration it made me realise just how much Michael’s voice was like Kenny Anderson’s (aka King Creosote) – definitely a big influence in that department. Musically too his music had a distinctively Scottish folk element experimenting with different tuning and swapping between finger picking and strummed guitar. As I previously stated I think we’ll be hearing more of him!

Next on the bill was American singer Samantha Crain. Giving I don’t follow too much of new music coming through from the states I had never come across her before. Currently on a tour of the UK this was her first show (and perhaps her first time) in our capital. The thing that stuck me most when she started was her voice, it was strong and striking but at the same time had an intimacy that suited her music. Having played with a band on her recordings and at other shows it was nice to see her music suited a solo acoustic environment. In between songs too she it was evident that she was an experienced performer and was not perturbed by being in an unknown country which was nice, since I’ve seen even some of the biggest bands crowd banter go down the toilet in Scotland. A great performer well worth checking out!

Last up was the headline act who I imagine most of the crown in attendance were there to see, and by this time Henry’s was getting quite busy for it size. Its been quite the year for Withered Hand (aka Dan Wilson) after having to battle to get his US visa to play at South By Southwest earlier in the year after apparently not being of “extraordinary ability” to playing at Edinburgh’s own Queen’s Hall at the showing of Sigur Rós’ Inni. So for him to play a venue of this small was definitely something to shout about. Using materiel mostly from his first album Good News to a brilliant reaction. After telling a story to do with dog s*it and the pedals in his car he asked if we had any requests to which Religious Songs was immediately requested. A great wordsmith who is hailed to as being Neil Young of the facebook generation he kept the crowd hanging on his very word. After revealing for the first time some new material that will be released next year he was joined by Samantha Crain for a duet on For the Maudlin to an ecstatic reaction from the crowd. All in all it was an excellent evening that made me wish I could go to gigs in Edinburgh more often.

4/5

Review: Frank Turner @ Glasgow Barrowlands 25/11/11

On a pouring wet evening in Glasgow its obvious the weather hasn’t stopped people coming out tonight. Glasgow’s legendary Barrowlands was already busy when I arrived just as the first support act Emily Clay & The Red Halo (who I actually wanted to see) had come off the stage. Managing to sell out the 2000 (or so) capacity venue is a feat in itself for an artist these days, showing that Frank Turner really has become an established artist in his own right. Now touring to promote album number four he’s come a long way.

The next support act came in the shape of punk band Against Me! who seemed to have quite the following as it was, and also pleasantly surpised me. When they burst on the stage their combined vocal style instantly reminded me of The Clash, along with folk elements to fast punk music, so in a sense they were a perfect support for Frank Turner. They played a great, relentless set not taking much time to stop for breath. Whipping the crowd into shape they had people singing and jumping along, a mosh pit even formed! Politicly charged lyrics paired with themes of alienation (see “I Was Born A Teenage Anarchist”) they reminded me of The Gaslight Anthem. After all that we were ready for more!

As the house lights dimmed Frank Turner took to the stage to a rapturous applause. With the orchestrated wind band opening of his newest album Eulogy the whole crowd knew about every word and was an excellent start to the evening. Bursting into Try This At Home I was surprised just how his fans knew all the words to his very wordy songs. Another thing I noticed about the crowd was the wide appeal from both younger and older to men and women all of different social standings and groups. Again showing how Frank Turner has become an established artist with a wide appeal.

Rubbish picture taken on my phone but you get the idea.

Playing an older song Wisdom Teeth he described how he’d played The Barrowlands with his previous band The Million Dead and it was dream of his to do a sell out headline show there, to yet more applause. One thing I noticed the first time I saw Turner is that he can hold an audience even when talking and is a charismatic front man with passion for his music. After being joined on stage my support band Emily Clay & The Red Clay Turner blasted into more hits including I Knew Prufrock Before He got Famous and Long Live The Queen, Turner gave a tribute of his own to the late Queen frontman Feddie Mercury who on that date had passed away twenty years ago that day by playing Somebody To Love.

Not a professional picture I stole from facebook...

Coming out to do an encore by himself again he thanked the audience and thanked Scotland and explained how he loved playing in our country,even name checking local bar and venue Bar Bloc since its obviously somewhere he played a lot. Cowboy Chords was a new song he then played called that because he said it “uses all the easy chords”, followed by fan favourite sing-a-long The Ballad of Me And My Friends. Then to finish he played Photosynthesis encouraging the whole crowd to sing-a-long (the hardcore fans, the plus ones, the not sures, the bar staff, the security guards), in what he described as music helping to being people together in these times. Over-all it was a great performance by an artist who I’m sure will still be around for years to come!

4.5/5 A brilliant night!

Review: Rose Parade @ King Tut’s 11/11/11

If your in a band from Scotland playing at the legendary King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut is always considered to be a big deal, so this is a big one for Ayrshire favourites Rose Parade. The trio consisting of Ari on vocals, guitar and bass drum, Ed on Banjo and glockenspiel and Stuart on electric guitar have managed to build up quite a fan base by combining genres to create something quite individual.

Coming up the stairs as the first act indie band Black Canvas were half way through their set there was already a number of people there. A four piece combo hailing from Edinburgh they combined a range of modern and older indie and alternative sounds making for an interesting sound that was current but yet not too run of the mill. After finishing their set to a warm reception Rose Parade were next to take the stage.

Opening with an instrumental piece the audience really get to see a showcase of Rose Parade’s talents and how they cover different genres. With Ari’s guitar strums coupled with Ed’s delicate banjo picking, alongside Stuart’s harsh yet melodic electric guitar and the thump of that bass drum helped to really portray Rose Parade’s indie-folk vibe. Then heading straight into Midnight Wine, a song with a good strong structure marriged with a great backing from the band. With some thankful banter after a very warm reception they kept the pace up and didn’t stop till the end of their show. All in all a great show by a band who are definitely going places!

Rose Parade’s debut album will be released next year!

3/5 A great night by an upcoming band!