‘I WAS ALWAYS ON MY OWN AND THAT HAD A BIG IMPACT ON ME'
Keeping it real?
Many have been quick to write off THE BRAVERY as cash-in copyists. Camilla Pia wades through the bullshit to get their side of the story.
ave you been bothered by the Bravery yet'.’
Because those New York-based brats really do
seem to have it all: killer choruses. unbeatable chic. chisellcd cheekboiies and a wicked way with the ladies. all brought to us on a tsunami of hype which struck out buoyant indie scene just over a year ago. lca\iltg a trail oi broken hearts. hysterical youths and seething musicians in its path.
In a post-Strokes era. as no wonder we’re suspicious. .-\ttei picking through past interviews rile with tales of drink. drugs. debauchery and. more recently. a very public slanging match between the live-piece and the lsilleis' Brandon Howers. who claimed they were only signed on the back of his hands success. calling lt'tillllllitll Sam l1ndicott to find out the truth behind the little—tattle is more than a little nerve wracking. Yet toxins and troupes oi gi'otipies aside. it soon becomes apparent that behind the macho bravado and imposing. eyeliiier--tinged stare. lindicott is just your average music loving loner matte good. He lirst tell in love with ll iii junior hiin and became a teenage liuga/i obsessive bctoic l'oiiiiiiig the Bravery with college-mate John ( oiiway (keyboards) in an attel 'se electroclash. grime and hoine-iiiade compi. t .c with garage iock.
.\ sell coiil‘essed 'total loser that didn’t fit in aiiywheie'. shunned by both the mainstream and alieiiiaiive kids. liiidicott believes his early experiences as an outsidci stioiigly iiil‘lueiiced his approach to life .llltl his caieci 'I was always on my own and I think that ll.ltl a big lll||l.l\l on me because although I don‘t want to ii. pail oi tiiilli'lillhl society. I see no great heroism in
on it“; LIST
the indie community either. I think the average person is often a much more qualified critic of music than those who are supposedly in the know.‘
He needn‘t worry. as with a spate ot‘ hit singles. a top five debut LP and an uncanny knack for selling out every venue they play. the Bravery are well on their way to abandoning their initial underground status completely. much to the annoyance ol a certain Killers t'rontman who recently initiated a war of words between the two camps. (‘learly tired til it. however. lindicott is reluctant to add fuel to the tire. ‘I am hesitant to talk about this because I don't want to keep it going. We have responded to him because he said some retarded stuff but the whole thing is stupid. I don't really care
what the Killers do. but it' you talk shit about us then of
course we will respond to that. I just wonder why he (Flowers) is so concerned about us. I hope that when we’ve sold as many albums as him we won't worry about every new band that comes along.‘
At times like these. lindicott seems far from the young. dumb. attention-seeking rock star portrayed in the press but then for every smart statement. there is another one — like ‘we love the L'K because you guys drink more and in is legal' — following closely behind. You may never coax taxation talk out ot‘ lindicott. but there is definitely more to him and his boisterous bunch than it would first appear. 'Work hard. play hard is our attitude.‘ he jokes. ‘lt's all just rock'n‘roll.‘ Not since ()asis has a band been so unashamedly ‘up for it' and keen for us to know about it. This is certainly one very media-savvy man.
Barrowland, Glasgow, Wed 1 Jun.
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DATA pnoceoune
23;: Orlglnals The Edinburgh Rush continues with a magic wee acoustic showcase topped by ballboy‘s songsmith-in-chief Gordon Macintyre, ably supported by Flowers for Algernon, John Hunt and Sara Kamin. Roxy Art House. Edinburgh, Thu 26 May. (Rock & Pop)
Beck (pictured) Despite all the critical teeth grinding, new album Guero is not a return to form, but a continuation of a long and fruitful career of sonic greatness. Live. he rocks too. Carling Academy, Glasgow, Sun 29 May.
(Rock 8 Pop)
1'9: Phil Bancroft Quartet The saxophonist's ‘Spin Cycle' tour with his excellent quartet also takes the band into the Borders and the Highlands and Islands. Eastgate Centre, Peeb/es, Mon 30 May; To/booth, Stirling, Fri 3 Jun; CCA, Glasgow. Sat 4 Jun. (Jazz) '4' Spiers and Baden This pair's passion for English folk music knows no bounds. They knock the box out on melodeon and fiddle. See preview page 68. Edinburgh Folk Club, Pleasance. Edinburgh. Wed 7 Jun; Star Folk Club. St Andrew '3 in the Square, Glasgow. Thu 2 Jun. (Folk)
Mogwal Braithwaite and co take a break from recording their new album to play their only gig of the year. wetting the head of this new Glasgow venue. ABC. Glasgow. Wed 8 Jun.
(Rock & Pop)
'i-i'I: Jaga Jazzlst Ten-strong Norwegian jazz rock adventurers finally make their Scottish debut after ten years together blowing minds. See preview page 68. Mono. Glasgow, Tue 7 Jun,- Cabaret Voltaire, Edinburgh, Thu 9 Jun. (Rock 8. Pop, Jazz)
1“: Lollo Meler Dutch guitarist Lollo Meier is regarded as a leading exponent of gypsy-style jazz. and is joined by Belgian Violinist Tcha Limberger, plus Dave Kelbie on guitar and Pete Kubryk- Townsend on bass. Henry's Jazz Cellar. Edinburgh, Sun 5 Jun; Carnegie Hall, Dunferm/ine, Thu 9 Jun. (Jazz)