Scottish rock bands that opt for melody over architecture often have a hard time when they start out. Debut albums from Twin Atlantic and Biffy Clyro didn’t exactly win all the critics over. That’s not a problem if you have enough music industry support and, with hard work, build up a fanbase. For bands doing everything […]More »
{This topic may become a series…we’ll see how it goes.} MUSIC can mean different things to different people. For some it’s the soundtrack to a night out getting pissed. For others it’s weaved into the fabric of their identity. You may be aware of the famous quote, “Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, […]More »
Tonight marks the start of FAT GOTH‘s UK Tour. For three guys working full-time jobs it ain’t easy getting time off. You know how it is. So if you live in Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, Cardiff, Brighton, London, Nottingham, or Dundee and bands like The Jesus Lizard or Melvins give you a boner, then you’ll be glad you […]More »
New social media developments can make the web even better. For example Pinterest is a runaway success. It can also be another Emperor’s New Clothes. Tech writers reckon Twitter #music won’t be another Ping. Yet I can’t shake the feeling that we’re being sold a fancy way of linking to content within Twitter when a regular Twitter […]More »
If the last post was about the obscure, this one is all about Scotland’s media darlings. The longlist for Scottish Album of the Year 2013 has been announced. Is this the year when raising awareness of the event itself takes precedence over taste? More »
When it comes to DIY punk in Scotland, few are as involved at making things happen as Derrick Johnston. So he’s kindly agreed to bring us up to speed. Because let’s face it, what I know about the hardcore punk scene would fit on the back of a fucking stamp.More »
Billed as “Scotland’s Leading Creative Industries Festival”, goNORTH has been championing Scottish music for many years. Today goNORTH 2013 announced the list of acts invited to this year’s showcase. More »
Latest episode of the excellent music themed podcast FUTURE LIBRARY is available for your listening pleasure. Episode 8 features Dundee’s Rusty Hip Collective talking to Alex and Kat.More »
Alternative culture in previous decades was fuelled by printed fanzines. Making one required effort. Websites and music blogs don’t carry that same feeling of uniqueness. Why would they? You’re only ever one click away from another site. But just as it’s easier to ignore an email than a handwritten letter, printed zines can still serve a […]More »
On more than one occasion I found myself plugging the merits of sound recording engineer Robin Sutherland as Dundee’s answer to Jack Endino. The reference was more about Robin extracting amazing sounds from tiny budgets as opposed to any technical comparison of approaches. For example, he recorded the Bronto Skylift 7″ released on Pet Piranha […]More »
Hello! Thanks for stopping by. My name is Andy and you've found my blog. Once in a halley's comet I'll help a noisy band release a record like Bronto Skylift or die! die! die! but it doesn't happen very often. These days I mostly blog about the Scottish underground music scene. 'Creative Minds' is a series of posts on mental health because ignorance & hypocrisy grind my gears. Saying hello on Twitter is the best way to reach me. If there's a gig or record you think I'd like then drop me a line.
