AUTUMN MUSIC PREVIEW
NOVEMBER ‘BRING SOME BODY ARMOUR, BRING A HELMET – WE’RE A GREAT LIVE BAND’
a few things. Tom Meighan is now tongue-tied and humble in the face of his new-found critical acclaim. ‘The thing is mate, it’s proper serious, innit. I mean, the people who get nominated, they’re proper music heads. And I think we just made a crossover when they nominated us for it. I think it’s pretty incredible really.’ What about those fellow music heads? ‘La Roux is great. I fuckin’ love La Roux. It’s about time we had a proper popstar again. You know, she looks like a popstar. Florence and the Machine is great, and I love Glasvegas.’
As nice as it is to chat to him in this way, humility is not Meighan’s strongest suit, particularly onstage. Following their tour in support of Oasis, the band now have their own stadium odyssey to commence with this autumn, taking in the Glasgow SECC among the nation’s other biggest arenas over ten dates in November. Nobody is expecting anything other than balls-out rock’n’roll audacity.
‘It’s like a twister mate,’ Meighan says of the stage show. ‘Everyone’s just sucked into it man, and everyone’s just involved. We’ve got this thing that works really well and we captivate the audience and feed off ’em.’ Are the shows ever ‘a bit raucous’? ‘Bring some body armour mate, bring a helmet. Nah, it’s good, we’re a lot better. We’re a great live band, and we give people a thrill, we give them what they want, and they stay with us as well, and that’s why we’re doing so well, people want to see that again and again.’
The enduring appeal of rock’n’roll is both Kasabian’s meal ticket and their raison d’etre. For Meighan, sound-alike Oasis songs on Kasabian’s new album are just traces of a musical legend past living on in the present. Copying doesn’t come into it, because it’s all just rock’n’roll – the music of the people. ‘I think that one thing we have proved is that what we do is very real. We’re not a contemporary band, we’re not with any kind of fad or fashion or at the break of a scene, which the press would always love to put people in. I think we’re the people’s band of 21st century fuckin’ music mate, I really believe that.’
Kasabian play Glasgow SECC, Thu 12 Nov.
UP-AND-COMING International Acts
Scotland, as we all know, is a hub of great music, great venues and great live audiences. Which is why so many of the world’s great acts forget about the poor weather and poor diet and play here. Add to that list alt-country sorts, and favourites of Jenny Lewis, Whispertown2000 who make that journey from LA for their first headline slots here (Captain’s Rest, Glasgow, 16 Sep; Sneaky Pete’s, Edinburgh, 17 Sep). The Veronicas too make a long journey, this time from Australia, to show Scotland just how hip their girl pop power is (ABC, Glasgow, 23 Sep). Alternative Canadian thrash types Theory of a Deadman have been moved from King Tut’s to the Garage for their first Scotland trip, and promise to keep it intense (Glasgow, 29 Sep). And The Big Pink, offering something a bit more appealing to hipster sorts, remain in one of Scotland’s greatest small venues (King Tut’s, Glasgow, 14 Oct). Passion Pit get their first taste of Scottish headlining action later in the month too (Garage, Glasgow, 23 Oct. Pictured) before Tennessee indie kids The Young Republic play Nice ‘n’ Sleazy’s (Glasgow, 28 Oct). Then it’s time for critical darlings Grizzly Bear to top the ABC (Glasgow, 2 Nov) two years after playing Nice ‘n’ Sleazy’s themselves. (Thomas Meek)
had expected. He’s finishing off lunch with his family when I call, and has found a moment to pop outside for a quick chat about the band’s bright future. ‘It’s bizarre to be admired . . . people actually give a shit now, which is pretty weird. The Mercury Prize thingy, and the record’s doing fantastically, when it could have bombed, cos it was a risk. Well in some people’s opinion it was a risk, but I always thought it was gonna do all right. But yeah, it’s been fantastic.’ It’s not the opening gambit I had expected from one of the most outspoken voices in rock, but then the Mercury nomination has changed
23 SEP
25 SEP
28–29 SEP 30 SEP
4 OCT
Peter Doherty Barrowland, Glasgow Assuming he turns up, this gig will please the fans, and may be one of his last solo jaunts before the much-rumoured Libertines reunion next year.
Tommy Reilly ABC, Glasgow
He sang about the ABC in ‘Gimme a Call’, the song that made him a star, and now he’s finally getting the chance to play there.
Massive Attack O2 Academy, Glasgow
Debuting material from their next album due early 2010, they will get the biggest
cheers for anthems from their trip-hop heyday.
O C T O B E R
MOBO Awards SECC, Glasgow
Expect appearances from Tinchy Stryder,
Dizzee Rascal, Speech
Debelle and more as they celebrate the best in urban British music.
Pixies SECC, Glasgow
Still no new material but a dose of Doolittle in its entirety
should keep the heaving masses sated for now.
5 OCT A L B U M
The Twilight Sad Forget the Night Ahead A Scottish band with the ability to make their strong
accents sound like
caricatures, they brave the difficult second album challenge with
this release.
10–24 Sep 2009 THE LIST 23