Whenyouhearasongbymostgoodnewbaidthmakesyoukeentofind out MnaneJnflvecaseofGlasgow‘shtestat—pulrmhowever, hearhgtheirnameonlymakesyoudesperatetof’ndoutwhetherthey live up toiLUkeaneanhm—assadtitghybridoffllackfiagandSladeJhissix- headedbeast(singer6ile58aiie,gtitaistsmnobertsonand David Rw,mJanesHamitonandCahmG|maidbassistLaura Donaghey) certainly do. Robertson tels us more. You’reabitofacleegowupemaeyounot?
Well David and James were in Multiplies. who split up — let's just say because of ‘musical differences. Laura was in Michael Dracula. | used to be in Simplestorm, also with James, Giles sang and played guitar in a band called Ki Yourself, Calum did some solo laptop stuff under the name Acronym. We formed in February and we've already had lots of airplay in Scotland and from Zane Lowe. so I think this is already the most successful band any of us have been involved with.
So where does the name come from?
It was James who came up with it and he always has a different story for every interview. Perhaps if I say that names we rejected were Black Fag, Minor Treat and A Thousand Pounds — because there would be nothing better than finding a thousand pounds — it'll explain where we were coming from. I just like the fact that people will come across us on the internet and have no idea what we might sound like. Plus Dan Aykroyd seems like a nice bloke! (David Pollock)
I Dananananaykroyd play I Fly Spitfires at Cabaret Voltaire, Edinburgh, 2 Nov and Blitzkrieg Bop at the Arches, Glasgow, Fri 10 Nov with Aldra the Don, The Needles and The Shakes. Their second single ‘Some Dresses' is released on Jealous on Mon 6 Nov.
HIP HOP THE PHARCYDE Liquid Room, Edinburgh, Tue 7 Nov
For many, the golden age of hip hop came and went in the early 19908 when the pioneering East Coast Native Tongues (A Tribe Called Quest. De La Soul) eschewed the Gangsta rap of macho posturing and opted instead to emphasize messages of unity and activism through verbal skill. Around the same time a little- known LA dance crew formed into hip hop foursome The Pharcyde and injected some west coast flow into the scene. bringing together a decidedly un-gangster ethos and freaky humour in their debut album Bizarre Ride II. The LP made an unforgettable mark on 903 hip hop and tiacks like sob story comedy ditty ‘Passin' Me By’ even became a crossover hit.
Unfortunately, the group peaked spectacularly early and subsequently spent the last decade on a truly bizarre ride. Follow-up album Labcabinca/ifomia was an ill-fated departure from the playful and perfectty out-of—step Bizarre Ride II and third album Plain Rap, released in 2000, disappeared without a trace. The group have also suffered from continual label disputes and internal strife, as well as vocalist Fat Lip's alleged penchant for nasal sports. which eventually led to his exit in 1997, followed by Tre Hardson a couple of years later.
Not entirely positive, then. But these setbacks aside. The Pharcyde — enduring members imani Wilcox and Roomye ‘Booty Brown‘ Robinson, at least — remain a formidable name in hip hop, not least for their energetic live performances which are likely to satisfy even the most nostalgic jazz-rap idealists. (Sam Friedman)
BATTLE OF THE BANDS
THE MUSIC SHOW DEMO COMPETITION PLAYOFF Classic Grand, Glasgow, Thu 12 Oct
Call it a low rent X-Factor, or a high end
Battle of the Bands. this showdown event offered entrants a unique opportunity. Ol over 100 bands that submitted demos to 8801 Scotland's The Music Show, five were selected to play a short set at Glasgow's spanking new venue the Classic Grand. Each was filmed for online viewing; Joe Public is invited to have a swatch and vote for his favourite. the winner being aired on the program when it returns later in the year.
First up: Dumb Instrument 00 . a quartet of dapper looking gents in matching suits playing some kind of fiddle, piano and spoken word based vaudevillian gypsy rock on serious downers. Nice idea. but a bit of a snooze. Young upstarts The Clicks .0. boy/girl surf punk space rockness
recalling the 8528 without sounding shit
(an impressive feat in itself). Their set ended with some rolling about on the floor: always good to see that.
Ska tinged hi-nrg disco rave punk behaviour from AKA The Fox eee
livened things up further. What they lack
in hooks they more than make up for in presence. their frontman dry humping the limelight like the very best of them. Arctic Monkeys-alike indie urchins The Cuts ee buy a pint. but pulled in the biggest crowd of the night (their singer declaring, ‘l'm living the dream!’ bless him). Ape (no pun intended) less and put that spunk to more original ends and you could be onto something lads. Rounding off, surprise highlight
Satellite Dub .00. . a rotund fellow
armed only with a laptop and similar electro-gizmos who drummed up a
snatch of heavy bass'n'beats that could
give Chemical Brothers a run for their money. But was it a spectacle lit for the box? You decide.
(Malcolm Jack)
I Voting opens Sun 5 Nov at www.bbc.co.ul</musicshow
were much more sprightly. their
FOLK
7 ALASDAIR ROBERTS,
PUMAJAW AND MY KAPPA ROOTS Henry’s Cellar Bar, Edinburgh, Thu
26 Oct 0000
Among a particular breed of Scots
folkie. Alasdair Roberts holds
; somewhat legendary status. His music is more precisely traditional than the
look barely old enough to E
updated styles of the Fence Collective- affiliated alt.folkers. yet — under his own name and as the lynchpin of folk collective Appendix Out — he has released records on Rough Trade and Drag City which feature Will Oldham and Isobel Campbell.
This great-value show by new Edinburgh promoters Tracer Trails proved his music to be a love it or hate it affair. Many seemed underwhelmed by the gentle guitar, olde English lyrics. and almost exaggerated enunciation. Yet, just as many were enthralled by his
crisp storytelling and almost angelic voice — for the purposes of this review, he's an acquired taste. but one that's wonh the effort to appreciate.
Sadly, flu kept septuagenarian folk hero Duncan Williamson from his
planned support slot. but Pumajaw (aka
Fence associates Pinkie McClure and John Wills) stepped in capably. Playing a deathly kind of folk on guitar and accordion, McClure's voice is an atmospheric blend of Marianne Faithfull and Sandy Denny, while the great second support My Kappa Roots — young Fifer Pablo Clark — played a pared-down, more modern solo take on Roberts' own style. (David Pollock)
2—. 16 Nov 2006 THE LIST 63