Another year older and still staying young!

It's an awful feeling, wakening up on your birthday and almost instantly feeling like you've aged a hell of a lot. I swear when I woke up this morning I gained arthritis in my pinky!


In the 12 months since my last birthday I've witnessed a hell of a lot in the music scene. I've watched 2 radio stations appear, one magnificent (which leaving it is probably one of my biggest regrets) and one that I now wish I hadn't wasted my time with.......although if I had it my way things would be different.


I've saw some absolutely outstanding musicians come to the forefront of Ayrshire Music for example; Stonehouse Violets, Brown Bear and the Bandits, Johnny Graham, Anna Sweeney and so many more.


I put together a backing band and performed at King Tuts in the space of 4 days, getting the "Best Support of the night" review. On the same night I also found a love for a band called Phantom Limb, a band who made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.


I've saw some amazing gigs put together for Charities and been privilaged to be a part of them.


I've made some amazing new friends in music and at the same time lost a few. Although to be fair the ones who I've lost I couldn't actually give a flying f**k about!


I've been part of some amazing debates about music.......pay to play......sham promoters......and just some general abuse aswell.


I've realised one thing though in the last 12 months and that's this.........there is no better time to get into music. Right now at this very moment the music scene is booming. So many people say there's nothing going on well frankly they need to open their fucking eyes and ears!


If the last 12 months are anything to go by then the next 12 months are going to blow everyone away.
What's next for Ayrshire Music? Well my guesses are this.......Brown Bear and the Bandits and Stonehouse Violets are going to be massive come the 28th of July 2013........We will have a lot more Anna Sweeneys and Mel Kels.........one thing that won't change though is my love for this music scene. The sad thing is, unless you're part of it you don't truly understand how beautiful it is!


Anyway I'm away to drown my sorrows about getting old :(

Stonehouse Violets

Sometimes in life you become lucky, you get to witness things before the rest of the world. It's one of the rare moments when you have something that no one else has and you don't want to share it. Yesterday I got lucky, I was sent the new EP by Stonehouse Violets. I don't want to share it, I want to keep it all to myself because quite frankly something as unique this is something that I want to be greedy with.



For months I've been talking about Stonehouse Violets and how they're the band to watch out for. Their stage presence is nothing short of extraordinary and their song writing abilities and musical talents are endless. So when that little facebook chat window opened up and I was offered the chance to hear their new EP before the rest of the world and review it.............I'd need to be a dumbass to refuse.

The first song I listened to was 99 degrees, and for the first few seconds I closed my eyes (often closing your eyes and listening to music is the best way) and I heard something new. It wasn't a band from the depths of Scotland, it was a world class band performing at the peak of their career. The song captivates you from the start and the whole way through. There isn't one moment that you feel the song has frazzled out or lost it's edge. It's a few minutes of sheer bliss! So much so that I listened to it another 2 times before I moved on, if I listen to a song twice it's a good song, if I listen to it three times then there's a good chance that nipples are erect!

Moving on to "I am the light" and you have 3 minutes and 19 seconds of pure unadulterated awesomeness! The band show what they are made of with this song, I'm a big believer that a band can play with all the talent in the world but if you don't have a good vocalist you're screwed. Stonehouse Violets have the whole package. Mikes silky vocals will make even the hardest critic have a massive smile on their face.

Finally we have "Fly Away" and I felt a little let down by this song. I'm going to tell you why............the song in itself is a majestic piece of musical art but compared to the other two I didn't feel it was as epic. It's still an amazing song from a band who could perhaps be one of the best bands ever to come out of Scotland. Once you get your copy of the EP make sure and listen to "Fly Away" first, because without taking the risk of upsetting anyone it's my least favourite on the album. I only listened to it twice in a row...........still a belter of a track.

The EP is out on the 18th of August with a launch night at The Attic in Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow. I know I'll be there with bells and badges on. £5 for your ticket and that includes a 4 track EP a sticker and a badge! 4 Tracks!!!...........................hold on................I only got 3 tracks.............clever ploy for me to buy it, although in all honest I'd be buying it anyway, getting it signed and keeping it for the day when I get the Mega Bus to London with that EP and my Stonehouse Violets 02 Arena gig.......believe me it will happen!

Go check them out at www.facebook.com/stonehouseviolets



Mechanical Smile

Once again, the old blogs are still there http://undergrounduncovered.blogspot.co.uk/ go have a wee cheeky read.

Does anyone remember at the start of this year, I had a slight obsession with a little Kilmarnock based band called Mechanical Smile ...... mmmmmmmmmmmMechanical Smile!!!!

The band who I just couldn't get enough of, Mechanical Smile literally excited me more than Megan Fox in her knickers! I've avoided writing anything about them purely for the fact that I don't know if I could contain mysef when talking about them, but the time has come and I have to put down my honest opinions about the Machine that is Mechanical Smile.

I remember when I first heard Mechanical Smile, I'll be honest I wasn't that keen. Something just didn't sit right with me. It wasn't the abdn themselves so to speak it was the song "Kaleidoscope" I like excitement in songs and that song just didn't do it for me. I don't know whether it was the music itself or the fact that in my mind they were singing about an instrument you look through. Maybe it was because I was having a bad day, whatever the reason I instantly disliked this band and that is perhaps where I made my mistake.

Roll forward a few weeks and a throw in a radio show and that's when I heard "Close Your Eyes" and BOOM!! my first thought was "this band are amazing" and I instantly regretted being so quick to judge them before. I knew right there and then that I had to listen to every MS song that I could get a hold of, I had to go and see them live, infact I had to make love to them! Strangley the last one never came to fruition! From that moment I was hooked.

First off you have Dawn, a voice that just blows your mind. It's not conventional, it's not pop orientated, it's not what you expect but it's amazing and unique.

Garry and Nic on Guitar and Bass are truly outstanding. I don't want to sit here and get all excited about what this band do, because quite frankly I'd be here for days and it would turn into a love letter to the band!
 "Dear Mechanical Smile, can I have your babies please"

Murray on the drums is (in one word) Magnifitasticful. It's people who play drums in that way that make me love the old pots and pans so much.

The whole band comes together so perfectly, whether live or on recording! They have massive things in their future and I'm so glad that I knew them before I need to pay a fortune to get into a gig.

Go and check them out, for your own sake and for the good of mankind!!

Losing Passion

Music is a passion, I'm fed up saying this to people.

The amount of times someone asks me what I do and I say "I'm a musician" and then I hear the generic replies of......."I want to be a musician and be famous" "I want to make loads of money and be famous"

Most people just see music as a gateway into some sort of world of wonder............when in reality..........it's nothing more than a business that will either eat your soul or fill you with joy. On some strange occassions it can do both.

A couple of years ago I was in a pretty bad place, I had walked away from music for a few months (at probably the one point I should have kept going as things were starting to get good) and I was out on my arse pretty much. I had moved a good bit away and so it was going to be hard to get into anything. One night though, as I was lying in my hotel bed I got a phone call from Martin Bone, my very good friend and photographer. The man had been a star in getting my photoshoots done and ready for my EP release and here after months he randomly called me up out of the blue. That night I was under orders I was going to Su Casa to play. A bit of a shock, I wasn't prepared, I wasn't in the mood, I didn't even have my guitar. All I had were a load of memories of being onstage performing live, a backpack and an engagement ring that quite frankly I wanted to melt down and make a penis shape out of.

I got dragged to Su Casa that night, and upon arriving I was told I could use Jamie McGeechan's (Little Fire) guitar. As I got the guitar ready my mind was telling me that this was a bad idea, I was not in the mood, I hadn't performed in months, I just wanted to get out of there. In my head this was the worst possible thing I could do. My voice would probably sound like it had some sort of disease, could I even remember how to play the damn guitar?


I started, 2 years on and I can still remember my set and the exact order. It's one of those nights that I will always remember because it was the night music filled me with joy. I had completely lost my passion for music, something I never thought possible. That night I took to that small stage, in that coffee shop, in that small town. I played possibly one of the heartfelt sets I had ever played. I opened with End Game (a song which now I detest, it's possibly the worst song I ever wrote) but I played it with everything I had. I followed it up with "Words" a song which I will always play, it's the very first song that I ever wrote and it's over a decade old but I love playing it, as somehow it takes me back to when I was younger and just playing music in my room for the fun of it.


It was a short set that night, 4 songs with my last two being the two that are probably my most well known "Reflections" and "House of Broken Dreams" Those were the two songs that brought me back my passion that night. It's the rush of performing, the buzz of knowing that for a short time everyone in the room is focused on you. It's not narcasistic it's enjoyment. You know you're entertaining, you know that any given moment the audience could turn on you and when it doesn't happen you love it. There's no better feeling than performing music live, whether it's to an audience of 5 or a massive crowd of 5000, the feeling is always the same. Get on that stage and for that short time, nothing else in life matters.

I lost my passion for music, and in the space of 20 minutes everything changed.

Some people say that it's not true, others will never understand it. Music really does make the world go round. Whether it's just one song, or whether it's an entire album or an entire back catalogue. There's music in the wind, and if you close your eyes just for a few moments, you'll hear it.

I met a young girl last night, who just speaking to her for all of 5 minutes, I realised she was exactly the same as me when I first started out in music. She loves it for what it is, she wants to do it and she wants to do it for the right reasons. Her words to me were "There's a song in everything" and I don't think there's ever been a phrase that has ringed more true in my ears.

Music isn't a gateway to be famous, music is a gateway to a world that will open your eyes and your mind. It's a privilage to be able to say that I'm glad I went to Su Casa that night, because otherwise I don't think I'd have gotten back that passion that I love so much.

It wasn't until I went to get a photo from that night that I saw two photos, that make my point more than words could.


Here's me before I performed, looking miserable as hell

Here's me performing......with a smile on my face

Perfect way to sum it up eh?


Anyway I've rambled on enough. Right now I'm going to go home and make Chicken Burgers......FUCK YEAH

The Talented in Ripley..

First of all a reminder that my old blogs are still there!! Go read them at http://undergrounduncovered.blogspot.co.uk/

Secondly, months ago when I started doing this blogging review malarky I promised myself that I would remain unbiased and impartial when reviewing bands. So the fact that I'm about to review a band who I'm now managing caused the problem of "how do I get across that what I'm saying is the truth" and here's how I can prove it......

Go back and read some of my blogs and see how brutally honest I can be, notice that I don't hold back and quite frankly if I believe someone to be shite I'll come out and say it. Now picture this......would I waste my time on someone who I didn't think were worth it..........NO!!! It's a fact of life, I'm to honest about music for my own good sometimes and I like to think that's a good thing.

Anyway time to get started.

Yesterday I went down with Jiezuberband to a wee place called Ripley in Derby, after getting picked up at 7:40am and having a rather long car journey that included passing the worlds population of motorbikes parked outside a tiny row of shops we arrived around 2:30pm. The band on at the time weren't that bad, but if I'm honest it was like My Chemical Romance had just bleached their hair and pubes, merged with Muse and proceeded to take to the stage, there was nothingn captivating about them, so much so that I don't even remember what they were called.

Anyway, Jiezuberband took to the stage at 4pm, and for a moment you look at these guys and think "What the hell are they wearing" and just for that instant, whether you know who they are or not you think that it's not going to be entertaining..........just for a second though.
As soon as John starts playing the Bodhrun you pay attention, then the rest of the band join in for what can only be described as the worlds best pre-rehearsed Jam. It's a few moments of mind blowing extravaganzaness (if that's a word, if it's not then fuck off it is now)

The second song is where the band really takes it's form. The combination of John and Claires vocals are mind blowing, if I could put it to in one simple term it's like and Angel singing alongside a Hells Angel......so contrasting but so perfect. There isn't a dud vocal note between them for the entire set and it's astounding how well matched their vocals are.

Gibby on his drums is a dab hand to say the least, he may look like a Beatle that's been catapulted through time but his drumming outweighs everything. From the timings right down to the fills, its pretty much perfection at it's best.

Scott on Guitar is phenomenal, they say guitar playing is an art and Scott has certainly mastered the art. There's a problem some guitarists have where they miss a string or they don't pick at the right pace, I've witnessed it happen a few times, but there's no doubt that it would never happen under the capable hands of this man.

Kenny on the Bass is like.........actually wait........before i go any further I do have a problem with Kenny. His onstage outfit makes him look like a mad dentist who's waiting to "Taste the Rainbow" (Skittles I want paid for that advertisment) but aside for that he's a bassist who really knows his stuff, the bass lines really give the music that depth that makes it stand out.

Finally onto the Keys and Mikey. I love keys, I always have. Partly because I was brought up with them by my dad who played pretty much anything with keys he could get his hands on. So when I see a band that incorporates them I always look forward to listening to them. I wasn't disappointed, three sets of keys and a million different ways of playing them (and thats just in the first 5 minutes of the set) I was utterly blown away. Not to mention that towards the end, whether its part of a song or not, those keys started playing the Doctor Who theme tune and I swear the Tattoo on my arm started getting a chubby!

All in all do I rate Jiezuberband...........hell yes....
Is this a biased review................no

Sometimes you realise when a talent isn't actually a talent.....for example Scarlett Inside, Shrapnel, The 585's and more

Jiezuberband are a talent who are going to go on to do some amazing things. I'm going along for the ride and I hope to god you guys come with us

http://www.jiezuberband.com/
www.facebook.com/jiezuberband

Jiezuberband

Right.....just a wee favour!!
Well not really a favour.......more of a demand!

Jiezuberband are going to be the biggest band on the planet and so if you miss out on anything that's going on or if you're out the loop for anything you'll end up hating yourself and being full of regret. So go like their page!!!

It's that moment when music and love making come together. Jiezuberband are one of  the best bands around at the moment and one of the most underrated and unnoticed bands!

I can guarantee anyone who has heard Jiezuberband instantly falls in love with them, whether it's the music, the passion of the sense of "fucking awesomeness" that they expell from their every pore!

Don't miss out on something special!


If you ever want to book the guys for a gig contact mmcl_music@hotmail.com
... I think that's all................ oh aye here's the page
https://www.facebook.com/jiezuberband

A new start?

So I've had to create a new blog page, which ultimately I'm rather unhappy about. All my best work was on my other page, remember that one about the wee old guy who went to the gig? Yeah it's there, the posts are still there so go and check them out http://undergrounduncovered.blogspot.co.uk/


Anyway, it's time to start again. New blog, new vision, new sense of honesty!


I might make people cry, I might make the smile, I might make them laugh or (as has been the way for the last 4 weeks) I might get in a drunken stupor and be verbally abusive about everyone!


I think the drink quite possibly took it's toll on me, as you can imagine it's not everyday you get majorly excited when your irish friend brings you in a new pair of shows, so excited that you start doing a dance and insist on going for a walk. Well that was the stage I was at this morning. In the last 4 weeks I've been drunk and at a party with someone from pretty much every nationality and no matter who I'm with or where they're from I always turn the conversation back to Local Music. It's not because I don't have anything else to talk about, it's because I love it. There is no music scene in the world like the one we're privilaged to be part of right now. From the "Newbies" like Anna Sweeney to the resident "Golden Oldies" like Little Fire this music scene is thriving no matter what anyone says.


So how about we talk about someone who we've not really spoke about before "Sonic Templars"


A band who are by no means short of talented, artistic, energetic and just ooze that sense of "If I was a chick I'd be dropping my scants" -ness


Take "The Human Connection" by far my favourite song of theirs, it's smoothness of the music combined with a voice that I can only describe as "Angelic with a sense of fear" if that makes any sense? It makes sense to me and right now that's all that matters.


Sonic Templars make music like the Colnel makes Chicken........to absolute perfection. I challenge anyone to sit down and listen to them and pick out a fault in their music. Go see them live and pick out an inch of that stage that doesn't feel like it's filled with passion.


The deliverance of every note from when it's played to when it's heard it's a fantastic experience that is not to be missed.


If I was to say one thing about getting to start a whole new blog.........it's that who better to start it with than Sonic Templars!!


In my professional opinion..................................Fucking belter of a band