AUTUMN MUSIC PREVIEW
What the puck? Rob Dabrowski speaks to Hockey, the American new wave renegades ready to ramp up the enthusiasm on indie dancefloors
U ntil a few months ago Hockey were an unknown force outside the United States. But after a record label bidding war, they signed to Virgin and are being touted as the ‘next big thing’. Admittedly, there’s nothing startlingly original about their debut album Mind Chaos, which owes a pretty hefty debt of gratitude to late-70s new wave. But they do succeed in capturing the spirit of the era and regurgitating it in an exciting manner that no one has managed since The Strokes were catapulted into the spotlight in 2001.
It’s on the stage where the band really come
into their own. While the band
SEPTEMBER
stand rooted to the spot, lead singer Ben Grubin twists and contorts his way across the stage like a skinny-hipped Iggy Pop. ‘We like being in the studio,’ says Grubin. ‘But playing live is what it’s all about, playing our songs to people and seeing them react; that’s when we’re at our best.’ The highlights of their first LP are ‘Learn to Lose’, an up-tempo number that recalls Parallel Lines-era Blondie and harks back to the golden era of CBGBs, and ‘Four Holy Photos’, a gentle country strum-along with phrasing that recalls Bob Dylan’s half-spoken half-sung vocals. ‘I guess we just do whatever we think sounds good,’ says Grubin. But with expectations weighing so heavy on their skinny shoulders, are the Oregon four-piece worried they may implode before they get the chance to prove themselves? ‘We were surprised about how quickly everything took off, especially in the UK, which always seems to “get” good music before America. But there’s not a lot we can do about it. As long as our songs are good enough we’ll be fine.’
Hockey play Cabaret Voltaire, Edinburgh, Sat 19 Sep and King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow, Sun 20 Sep.
Ocean size The popular Glasgow rockers Twin Atlantic pack an onstage punch, and have more than enough ambition to follow it up, finds Camilla Pia
‘If you come to see us live,’ explains Twin Atlantic frontman Sam McTrusty, ‘I’m pretty sure we’ll be in your top five loudest bands of all time and top five most insane with our instruments, because we beat the shit out of them. I’ve seen everything from lighters in the air to breaking bones,’ he laughs. Well The List is pretty much sold; we love our rock stars wild and emotional. And while this Glasgow foursome are all that and more, there’s an intelligence to their lyrics, and an intensity which has inspired hundreds of fans to follow them from show to show since they formed just over two years ago. Some of them have even turned up to gigs proudly donning tattoos of the band’s logo and lyrics. Now that is devotion. ‘It is amazing, and it catches us off guard every time,’ says McTrusty. ‘The idea that people believe in us that
much gives us real self belief and drive.’
And certainly you won’t find a more determined young bunch. Bassist Ross McNae and McTrusty are old school chums who decided to put their plans in painting and photography to one side to form Twin Atlantic with guitarist/cellist Barry McKenna and drummer Craig Kneale. After a series of breaks on the back of self-released EP A Guidance From Colour and inspired by acts like Foo Fighters, Nirvana, Biffy Clyro, Idlewild and Jimmy Eat World, they set to work on their forthcoming and rather spectacular debut mini-album Vivarium in LA with producer John Travis (Kid Rock, Sugar Ray, Static X). ‘It was momentous,’ McTrusty says of the experience. ‘He really pushed us songwriting-wise. We wanted the
record to sound like we do live – organic and raw – and I feel like we have really captured that’.
Booked solidly gig-wise for the rest of the year, Twin Atlantic have a frantic few months ahead. But it’s all part of their masterplan.
‘Our dream is to play the Barrowland,’ McTrusty says. ‘That is the place I used to queue from 11am to see my favourite bands, and it would be amazing to get on that legendary stage in our hometown. We’ve got high expectations for this band,’ he adds with a smile, ‘we always have, and that is why we keep pushing forwards.’ ■ Twin Atlantic play The Ironworks, Inverness, Fri 11 Sep; Moshulu, Aberdeen, Sat 12 Sep; Fat Sam’s, Dundee, Sun 13 Sep; Studio 24, Edinburgh, Friday 2 Oct.
20-21 OCT
Pink SECC, Glasgow
The diminutive pop princess is still insanely popular here, in part because of her spectacle live shows.
26 THE LIST 10–24 Sep 2009
26 OCT ALBUM
Biffy Clyro Only Revolutions
They broke through to mainstream success in considerable style with previous effort Puzzle, Biffy have promised more left turns and surprises with their fifth
album.
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10 NOV ALBUM
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19 NOV
Eagles of Death Metal
HMV Picture House, Edinburgh
The kings of stupid big rock shapes put their tongues back in their cheeks and throw down
in the capital.
Bon Jovi The Circle There’s life in the old dog yet. JBJ returns with studio album number 11. The poodle perm may be gone, but the stadium rock skills still remain.
The Tragically Hip We Are the Same
The ‘Hip return with a blend of country melodies and
electric guitar moments. The
biggest global musical export from Canada in years
though still a relatively undiscovered treat here.
Motörhead O2 Academy, Glasgow Still going strong after 30- plus years in the business, Lemmy and pals return to delight the die- hard fans that will no doubt be filling the venue.