GJ, Steve
Scene & Unheard
Issue #33
GLASGOW
By Lauren Fairley
Published: December 1st, 2007 | 12:00am
AMY MACDONALD
LABEL: Vertigo
INFLUENCES: Arcade Fire, the Libertines, the Kooks, Razorlight, David Bowie, Travis
SOUNDS LIKE: Kristy MacColl during her Shane McGowan/Fairytale of New York days with a bit of KT Tunstall’s bright-eyed optimism.
THE LOWDOWN: Just 19, MacDonald has already signed a record deal with Vertigo, made a debut performance at Glastonbury and stunned crowds and fellow musicians at this year’s T in the Park festival. Festival headliners the Killers and Razorlight both predicted major success for MacDonald and insisted on having their photos taken with her. She has supported fellow Scots and childhood idols Travis, Glaswegian heartthrob Paulo Nutini, and opened for Elton John during the Scottish leg of his world tour. Her debut album, This Is the Life (Universal) was released in the United Kingdom on July 30, but can be downloaded all over the world from iTunes.
URL: myspace.com/amymacdonald
SOMEONES SONS
LABEL: Dirrty Digital
PLAYERS: Garry Mclaren (rhythm guitar, lead vocals); Ross Whitten (lead guitar); James Burnett (bass); Jamie Duncanson (drums)
INFLUENCES: the Libertines, Oasis, Squeeze, the Jam, and the View
SOUNDS LIKE: all of their musical influences “mixed with a nice bottle of Jack D.” Their fast paced, rocknroll-influenced up-tempo tracks have crowds wildly dancing and shouting along to songs speaking of such Glasgow realities as “pulling” girls at 3 a.m. after “the dancing” has shut down.
THE LOWDOWN: Formed at the beginning of June 2006, Someones Sons have been friends since childhood, and Garry and Jamie are cousins. James says the band formed because “some places give free alcohol to bands who play gigs and it helps to pay the bills, I mean, feed the habit.” To date, the band has played several gigs across the United Kingdom including venues throughout Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee, Manchester, Preston, and London.
URL: myspace.com/some1sons
GLASGOW HOT SPOTS
FIREWATER: Located at 1341 Sauciehall St., this is a hipster pool hall by day, popular dance hangout by night — frequented by the likes of the Arctic Monkeys, Dirty Pretty Things, and the Fratellis. (firewater-livemusic.co.uk)
BOX: Located at 431 Sauciehall St., this new and popular hangout attracts a slightly younger indie crowd. The venue aims to treat guests to fresh music every night. Lots of heavy boozing here, on and offstage, with 75-proof shots.
KING TUT’S WAH WAH HUT: Located at 272A St. Vincent St., this is the patriarch of Glasgow music venues. A load of United Kingdom bands got their start here, including Franz Ferdinand, Oasis, Adam Ant, Radiohead, and Blur.
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