The Killie Weekender - Day 3 - 2.6.13

Third day of The Dirty Weekender is a cracker as headlining Bakers is Fridge Magnets.  Winners of the 'Best Electronic Band' at the Electronic Music Maker Awards and 'Best Electronic Act' at the Scottish Alternative Music Awards both in 2012.  The 4 piece electro-indie rockers from Scotland have been tipped as ones to watch for 2013 by The Sun, 4 Music and Amazing Radio.  They've already featured on Radio 1's In New Music We Trust Playlist and supported the likes of Calvin Harris, Japanese Popstars and Burns.  




They have also had tracks featured on the BBC's Waterloo Road, C4's Sunday Brunch, and 4Music's Spotlight: Ones To Watch.   If you are looking for an insight into what the band actually sound like they describe themselves as “a mash up of Calvin Harris and Deadmau5 with elements of Example and Faithless”.  Fridge Magnets are Steven Winton - Vocals, Campbell Nelson - Synth/Keys, Innes Cardno - Guitar and Chris Philip - Drums.  Miss them at your peril...with tracks like - 'She Don't Dance (With The Sun No More)' - you'll dance your feet off!

Next up is Kilmarnock's own Whispery Club who've been on Ralph's next big thing list since he blogged them in September of last year.  Since then they've gone from stength to strength with new tracks and airplay on Jim Gellatly's In Demand show on Amazing Radio and Ralph's Indie Mix show on RadioKC in France!

Whispery Club are - Chris Lawrence - Guitar and Vocals, Gary Goldie - Bass and John McIntosh - drums - and individually their influences are - Chris: Radiohead, Nirvana, Oceansize.  Gary: Glassjaw, Circa Survive, Minus The Bear.  John: Funeral For A Friend, Say Anything.

Teknishin (Ryan Gordon) is an electronic artist from Kilmarnock in Scotland.  His love for Electronic Music started off mainly with Daft Punk and other big mainstream artists, but never started to grow a passion for it until Drum & Bass group Pendulum came on the scene.  The heavy bass music and pounding fast pace drums had him hooked on Heavy Bass music from there, drawing him more and more in to the Electronic scene! He then discovered music from today's top producers Flux Pavilion, Rusko and Skrillex. 



Ross Leighton of Fatherson is doing a solo set and as they've been relatively quiet of late (not for long, debut album on the way) this is a real pleasure.  Recently feted as a bit of a style icon in The Herald, Ross and Fatherson will be at The Stag and Dagger Festival on the 18th May, taking to the main stage at Rockness on the 9th of June and Belladrum in August.

Also appearing at Bakers are Mickey 9s who describe themselves as four gorgeous young lads who appeared in the hovels of Glasgow's wicked streets.  From small, miserable dwellings they emerged with but one intention: to hoach the place to smithereens.  Armed only with a huge supply of bass and snippets of a culture lost in the mists of modernity they proceeded to beast the place up, much to the delight of the local inhabitants, who had grown sore in the groin from funk deficiencies. 

They were friends extraordinaire, a band of brothers in each others' mothers, only too well aware of the potentials of beat - the rest is silence. Then it's MICKEY 9 explosion time!

If you head over to Dirty Martini's the headliners are Junkman's Choir a two man band offering a big mix of cajun, country, rockin' hillbilly, twists and turns on the works of Rabbie Burns, with some waltzes, jigs an reels thrown in for good measure.  Look out for them on the street, on a stage, anywhere you can find them stomping out their steel-toed rhythm soiled with Ayrshire sod.

With influences as diverse as The Pogues and Tom Waits to The Ramones and The Skids how can you not have a good time!

Also on at Dirty Martini's is talented young local singer/songwriter Matt Scott with a distinctive voice and a debut EP released in August of last year.  The Killie Standard was heard to say - With influences ranging from Bob Dylan to Tom Waits to Scottish legend Frankie Miller; Matt draws upon these influences, wears them proudly on his sleeve, which is always a good thing, and creates music which both pays homage to the greats but is also progressive and unique to Matt.

You have got to listen to this man sing live, he’s very much a poet as well as a great singer with one of the best whisky soaked voices I’ve heard yet.

Also on the bill is Glasgow singer songwriter Lori McTear whose ability to flit between soul, folk and pop with her melting vocal tones has put her on big Jim Gellatly's radar on Clyde 1's On Demand of late.  Building on the success of 2012 that saw the release of her second single 'Freedom And Machine Guns' and having shared bills with the likes of Ocean Colour Scene, The View and The Saw Doctors at the Troon Festival was described as Scotland’s hidden gem.

The Tenement Trails gig reviews

With over 30 bands spread over 5 venues all day on the 9th of March, the Tenement Trail Festival organised by those lovely people at Tenement TV in Glasgow is an event mirroring EH1 in Edinburgh and with an equally as impressive list of gigs.  With that in mind Ralph's intrepid roving reporter in Scotland Malcolm 'anorak' Parry set out to cover as many as possible by close of play.

Going over to Glasgow to cover the SAMA Awards and having a Quo gig on the Saturday night, it would have been rude not to cover the all day event, 30 + bands over 5 venues (mainly Sauchiehall Street) and flat 0/1. At only £10 a ticket, in my opinion, a bargain, especially when you get the chance to see upcoming and many of Friday night's SAMA nominees and winners live in one day.

Still a bit fragile from the night's before shenanigan's I wearily make my way to the art school to catch first act Luca. All four members play head bound like they have all received bad news or just to create an atmospheric ambiance. Whichever way, I like what I hear, moody 'Placebo' style vocals, sometimes 'Bush' like in places, a touch grungy with chiming guitars ringing out to finish. A good start

I catch up again with Fat Goth before they take the stage, telling me they wisely got an earlier night than me. Frazer telling me last nights performance didn't do them much justice, a bit rushed and one of their members getting to the event just before they took the stage. They take the small intimate venue by storm, today I like them more, thinking these sort of venue's suit their energetic metal riffs and aggressive vocals better. 





Their sound a mixture of Metallica and Megadeath licks, Frazer doing a great Dave Mustain shredding like his life depended on it.  Doom laden vocals with a touch of falsetto which takes the edge off, the rhythm section tight as a Fat Goth in wet leggings, all with a punky attitude.  My god these boys make some racket.  Catch them at a venue near you soon.

Next I enter second venue G2 (the Garage ) to witness a 5 piece indie rock band Crash Club including a DJ- knob twiddler, sounding like early '90's indie dance Primal Scream 'Screamadelica' period, especially with a lead man who looks uncannily like a young Bobby Gillespie even strutting and dancing like him. They swap main singers for a taller more static singer, who is introduced “As the lanky Bastard” he takes them in to a different sound direction, more acid house. Young Bobby swaggers back introducing the last song, a cosmic rock 'Exterminator' period frenzy. Well worth looking out for, lost a bit of edge due to the venue's sound being a bit low.

Back to the Art School to catch 3-piece Baby Strange and by this time the venue is busy.  Lead man oozes Joe Strummer coolness. I witness a touch of Glasvegas without the football chant anthem's, crumbles of shoe gaze, rock a billy rock especially on track 'I want it, I need it' Black Rebel Motorcycle Club driving garage rock on 'Get by me'.  Just the right side of punk rock which makes the girls dance and the lads nod along in respect.  Lot's of cool influences from these young guys.  Another highlight and one to watch.

Back to G2 to see Madison (met the nice lads the night before). They cater for a younger pop sensibility taste, all a bit too fluffy for me, though excellent musicians but not my thing. Lead man taking to the keyboard to sing 'Like Glue' a heartbreak song, all heartfelt but making me feel like I am watching a teenager movie or Glee. Sorry guys. I moved on.

Over the road to Nice and Sleazy's and I love this venue. I'm greeted by a drunken audience all dancing along to 5-piece Saint Max and the Fanatics.  Ska fused upbeat indie popsters, including trombone/ trumpet players. Lead man ' Saint Max' with an eccentric edge sounding like Early 'Blur' and 'Clearlake' dancing frantically along with the groove, introducing a cover of Boney M - 'Rasputin' nice choice!  Awesome feel good music.  Even yodeling at one point.  We get Kings of Leon – 'Molly's Chambers' riffs mixed with The Kooks vocals on one track.

Afterwards I catch a quick chat with lead man 'Saint Max' He tells me he is heavily influenced by Morissey  which shows on 'Wonderful Life' and his aim is - “Too make music girls will dance too” well his work was done today judging by the ladies bouncing along to his quirky pop tunes.  Already championed by Steve Lamacq on BBC Radio 6 music, surely these guys should be put on your must see bands of the year.

Last venue was Broadcast and I catch the end of psychedelic rockers Selective Service.  All 60's acid infused early Who, The Small Faces, Pink Floyd and Status Quo with a shower of Jimi Hendrix, especially the bassist who's sporting a mean microphone hair style.  Lead man sounding and strutting like Tom from Kasabian I feel like I’ve walked into a Swinging 60's London bar.  I swear I saw John Lennon off his rocker in the corner.  I aim to investigate their music more, so should you.

Next we get traditional blues men 'Dirty diamonds and the Guns lingers. More experienced rock n rollers, full tight sound including double bass, harmonica with a real blues lounge feel and bluegrass edge. Quality.

Back for the last time in the art school for Fridge Magnets.  A sound of commercial Electro music dance titan Avici mixed with guitars.   Lead singer sporting a base ball cap to the side like a Scottish Eminem.  Enticing the packed audience to move closer and get ready to touch the ceiling.  The music drops into a electronic breakdown, the crowd go wild, music which would go down a storm in Ibiza/ Majorca rocks outside summer gigs.  Very commercial, entertaining and uplifting.

I take a quick exit over to the Quo gig at the o2 then get back for last band of the night in Broadcast, enjoying a chat and drink with members of River 68's' and The Holy Ghosts.  I head downstairs slightly intoxicated to catch Sunshine Social a folksy pop 5-piece who should have blown me away but didn't.  Never really taking off, stopping and starting, a toned down 'Mumford and Sons' though nice harmonies, acoustic tinkering and Scottish vocal delivery.  Maybe they were too drunk or I was, but wasn't impressed.  They did let out illuminated balloons into the audience which was a nice finish.  I leave or stagger, heading over to see the much anticipated band of the day.

Outside Flat 0/1 there is a queue to get in to see Kassidy.  The highly tipped band already fresh from having played twice today, I surge forward to the doormen and explain I need to finish the day reviewing this band as my wee dog blogger wouldn't be a happy puppy if I returned to H.Q. without it, he tells me the venue is at it's maximum capacity.  I wait for people to leave and get the nod to go in, he wasn't kidding, the punters squashed up, all eager to catch a rare chance to see their local heroes in an intimate setting.  I stand back as the boys take to the makeshift stage, a stripped down version of the band, minus a drummer (who someone tells me got kicked out and refused entry due to capacity, until they realized who he was!  I cannot confirm or deny this statement). 

Now Ralph being a conscientious reporter has investigated the situation regarding Kassidy's drummer and it is absolutely true.....

@fruitbatwalton it is I saw it. Was standing right beside him when it happened and I tweeted him next day and he replied saying aye lol
— Emma (@youareamoo) March 19, 2013

Regardless the atmosphere is electric as everyone sings along to every word from the front men.  Their sound is definitely anthem 70's sounding mainstream folk rock.  Initially I thought they came across like The Stereophonics with the Faces, all good company.  A couple of tunes in I’m singing along, infectious chorus and Ronnie Wood blues like rock riffs.  One band I would think will be new Scottish exports, a big band to end a big  thoroughly enjoyable day of quality live Scottish music.  Hat's off to the organizers for a great job and I would like to finish saying “See you next Year”