A lot's been written recently about the emerging scene north of the border. Scottish music luminary Alan McGee says "Glasgow is the best it's been for ages, there's a whole generation...loads of great bands who are into being rock'n roll stars".
Enter THE GRIM NORTHERN SOCIAL,hailing from Glasgow and currently blazing a trail through the UK with their their wildly eclectic brand of guitar pop under the influence of leading man Ewan McFarlane. We meet up with Ewan on the band's bus outside the Liverpool Barfly before the nights gig. There's a sweet smell of jazz cigarettes in the air and Ewan is sat alone watching the comin's and goin's of Seel Street in peace and quiet contemplation....
"So what's so Grim about a Northern Social?" I ask him
Ewan laughs and says that "the grim is to do with the terrible weather we have here" and that "people are always going on about the name". I tell him that it's a cool name so people are bound to want to know about it.
E:"Well that's it really, I thought it sounded like a good name for a band, it doesn't have any real significance, it just sounds good" he replies in his Glaswegian burr .It is a good name though and it hasn't let them down so far. I ask him how the tour's been going?
E"It's been a good tour, we've enjoyed playing, it's just a shame that there hasn't been more people there at the gigs"
B:"It's alway's hard this time of year, the students go home, there's festivals, holidays..."
E"I know, there's only so much money to go around and it makes sense to put any money you have towards buying a ticket for one of the festivals where you can see loads of bands and have a great time doing it!"
B:"did you play any of the Festivals?
E"We played T in the Park, it was fuckin' excellent we had a great time there and we're about to go on a tour around Scotland that starts in two weeks after this tour finishes tonight, so we've been busy."
After being nominated 'Best Unsigned Band' at In the City 2001 and getting themselves free from the subsequent industry scramble for their signature, the GNS will release their debut album 'Grim Northern Social' through 'One Little Indian' in September. I ask Ewan why they eventually chose 'One Little Indian' and what it had been like on the label so far?
E:"We met Derek Burkett; the owner of the label. He's a music fanatic, he loves music and is a great guy. We also get total artistic control, they can't tell us what to do on our records which is more important than money, we produced the album ourselves in the end and we're really pleased with how it all sounds. Everything is going well, it's a cool wee label"
B:"Was it hard to shake off the 'Best Unsigned ' thing? do you think it would be better to be worst signed?"
E:"It's better to be signed, it's why you do it, to get a deal so you can make records and let people hear the music, it's about getting your music out there to be heard."
B:"What are your hopes for the album?"
E:"All I hope is that as many people as possible get to hear the album and that it does ok and people like it."
I tell him that from what I'd heard of the album it was hard to pin them down although I did pick up some strong Pink Floyd vibes on 'Snap the Imposters'....
E:"I love Pink Floyd, yeah it's a trippy song....I'm always listening to 'Dark Side of the Moon'; smoking; it goes hand in hand."
I totally agree and tell him that Pink Floyd have a special place in the hearts of many a scouser who likes his smokee.
|
B:"are you playing it tonight?"
E:"no, we're not, we only get 30 minutes not enough time to play the longer tunes"(Snap the imposters is around 6/7 minutes)"so we try and put as much into that as we can. That means we can't play some of the longer tunes."
However, much to my delight Ewan later changes his mind and dedicates said song to Bradistini; it's arguably the gig's finest moment!!
It turns out that the song is an anti-heroin song, something that Ewan is eager to point out. He has a look of someone who has seen the destruction close up and it's something he obviously feels passionate about, he's been through some times but where's there's sadness he'll find joy in his songs.
Anyway, back on the bus; Ewan is from Glasgow and we are in Liverpool. You see where I'm going? The link of course being...Football.
B:"Rangers or Celtic?"
E:(laughing)"I can't believe you've asked me that.........Rangers" I quickly scribble this down.
E:(laughing some more)"I can't believe you're quoting me on that"
Fantastic, a football man. We then of course have the obligatory talk about football, that people from places where football is like religion tend to have. We both agree that the only job to want is that of a professional footballer but that touring the country in a rock'n roll band isn't a bad second! It also turns out that he used to come down to Liverpool to watch 'The Reds' and stay in The Adelphi (legendary hotel). Detailed analysis of Houlliers squad ensued and concern expressed over the Chelski phenonenon.
It's tough to beat a bit of banter. We mention the years when he lived in Canada where he played lots of football on account of being shit at skating, so no Ice or street Hockey. He remembered the 'Logs in the Water' scenes from 'The Beachcombers'; Canada's longest running TV Series, without knowing what it was ever about; a common problem. We also talk about the current scene, Ewan tells me one of the bands they've gotten on well with and who
they're sharing the bill with tonight; EL HULA are pretty good and worth watching; a fact later confirmed after seeing them! He also mentions The Thrills , The Black Keys and Kings of Leon in the passing.
I finish up :
B:"Kingsize Rizla or standard size?"
E:"Standard size, two together, one across the back"
I thought as much and with questions all answered I get on my way only to later realise I'd forgotten to ask THE question!!!! thankfully I see him again so seize the opportunity...
B:"I forgot to ask you, what did you think of Big Brother? I didn't like Cameron, I thought he was a bit snide!"
E:"I didn't see it mate, why what was he like?"
B:"well........."
Keeping it Grim.....
|
