here and what seems possible here.
Surely the Chemikal Underground label is one of the inspirations behind that? Paterson: Definitely. I think (‘hemikal
l‘nderground is probably the best example of
the way to run an independent label in Scotland. and it‘s certainly an inspiration for us. It just shows you that you don‘t have to go down to London. you don‘t have to pander to what other people want. you don‘t have to alter your sound to get signed. If you like your music then fuck it. you can do it yourself. Henderson: We‘ve been lucky. (‘hemikal l'nderground has turned out to be a reasonably successful label in tertns of surviving. but I wouldn‘t necessarily overstate what part we might have played in Glasgow. I think we‘re in a great city to have a record label in. because we‘ve got a lot of great new bands coming up on our doorstep.
Pollock: We tried to take the idea of doing it yourself but trying to present everything as professionally as possible. which is important. But it helps that there are so many resources in Glasgow. so much talent and so much media. The BBC being here. that alone is one of the most important things.
Henderson: Everything changes. I remember once I started going into town for a drink. you'd he stood in the pub and Norman Blake or Gerry l.ove would walk in and you‘d be like. digging your pal in the ribs. that‘s Teenage l"anclub. For me. to see these guys from Bellshill making these records that were kicking off all over the world. that was a really empowering thing. I thought if these guys from Bellshill can do it. why can‘t l‘.’
tourist trap. It‘s going to be more profitable to turn a venue into a tartan pub than it is to turn it into something that will benefit the local music industry there. And Glasgow's never really had that problem. has it'.’
Henderson: You only need to look at the Edinburgh Festival year on year to see how it‘s swallowing that city tip. Edinburgh is a very any city and there‘s so much money made in the Festival. but the grass roots music that we‘re talking about comes much fttrther down the pecking order. and I think that‘s just inevitable. Having said that. Sl. Records are hanging in there. they‘ve had some degree of success. I take my hat off to them.
Back to Glasgow, what about Franz
Ferdinand winning the Mercury? Paterson: I had a tear in my eye. honestly. I was so chuffed. Henderson: l was the same. It‘s strange for us. cos when the Delgados started. Alex lKapranos. Franz l-‘erdinand‘s lead singer] was a fixture of everything that was going on. He was a real cornerstone in the l3th Note. putting on shows there. What they‘ve achieved is an amazing testimony to someone who sticks at it and keeps just doing what they‘re doing. And it‘s brilliant. that band is another great asset to Glasgow. another type of band to come otit of Glasgow. l was really fucking chuffed.‘
What about the inevitable scramble amongst London-based A&Rs to find ‘the new Franz Ferdinand’?
Paterson: Well they‘re not going to find it. because all the bands here sound different. Mother and the Addicts sound different from
Pollock: I think the city‘s musical success also has a lot to do with the nature of Glasgow folk.
There seems to be a certain amount of
confidence. people are quite vocal with their ideas. You see everybody else doing something and you think. Jesus. well if that prick can do it. I cart do it better and before you know it another label or band is born.
Smith: I found it really refreshing when I moved up. Instead of people having ideas and not doing anything. here loads of things just happen. It was really refreshing.
Morland: The art scene and music scene in Glasgow share that in common. When I was at art school I could be at a gallery opening and standing next to an internatiotutl artist who‘d be talking to a first year undergraduate student. It‘s the same
us. Park Attack. the Multiplies. any number of hands you care to mention.
Morland: Also a lot of the stuff exists on such a small scale level. parties in people‘s flats and things like that. I think the small-scale structure might make it hard for A&R people to find out about that stuff because it‘s so ingrained in the city. one-off events in really small venues and things like that.
Paterson: If they plan to come to King Tut‘s or something like that to discover a band like Alan McGee did with ()asis. well it doesn‘t really work like that any more.
Finally, looking forward to the gig at the Barras? Henderson: Totally. We talked about it before
thing as seeing Teenage Eanclub in the pub.
Henderson: Another thing that also helps is jttst
how pocket-sized Glasgow is. that‘s a real strength as well. London suffers from being a sprawling metropolis where it‘s difficult to hook tip with people. but here there‘s Sleazy‘s. the Art School and the Barfly. all in a reasonably small area.
But surely Edinburgh is even more compact, yet there’s nothing like the quality of bands in that city that there is in Glasgow.
Paterson: Glasgow has incredibly supportive venues. places like Stereo. Mono. Sleazy‘s and stuff. but in Edinburgh you don‘t have the C as Rock any more. you don‘t have any of these smaller venues. There‘s nowhere to focus for bands that are just starting out and that‘s really killed Edinburgh.
Pollock I think Edinburgh suffers from being a
18 THE LIST 7—21 Oct 2004
the album catne out and l was quite belligerent
about the fact I wanted to play Barrowlands.
‘If you book it. they will come‘ and all that. Paterson: We‘re really excited about it. we‘ve never played the Barras. It‘s an institution — one of the best venues in the world. Henderson: ‘We actually played there right early doors in our career. We played this thing called A Bucketful of Bands [there is general uproar as people remember this show]. an all- day show on a Saturday. Travis played it. I think. and the Blisters [a previous Alex Kapranos band]. It was shambolic. But this show‘ll be good. for my mum and dad to come to and everything. Maybe I‘ll be walking off stage with a bunch of flowers or something. thanking everyone who knows me.‘
The Delgados, Sons and Daughters and Mother and the Addicts play Barrowland, Glasgow on Sat 9 Oct.