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CAFÉ DISCO Café Disco. What’s that then? Are we on the brink of a revolution in clubbing/ dining? Actually, it’s an excellent pop-rock four-piece from Scotland’s west coast, although they have said that the band ‘is actually just a way in which we hope that one day we’ll be able to fund our burgeoning careers in the catering industry.’ We salute a band with creative ambition. That’s good forward planning. Seriously, though? ‘It was a nightmare trying to come up with a name but then as luck would have it Clare [Gallacher, drums] and Paul [Swinton, guitar] independently watched the ‘Café Disco’ episode of The Office one night, and when we next met up and were spit-balling names again, that was one that we all liked.’ Fair enough. What do they sound like then? You’re not really giving much away with this ‘pop-rock’ . . . We’re not, but that’s because they’re a fairly broad-ranging band – great guitar hooks courtesy of Paul and twin sister Rachel; tight, driving drums from Clare, with singer Fraser Welsh’s charming Irvine brogue weaving through it all. ‘We are not afraid of pop,’ they say. ‘We love nice melodies, we are all fans of Jimmy Eat World, as they’ve got great pop melodies which is something we look to convey in our music. We like the balance of something quite rocking that you can still sing along to.’ Sounds good. Where can I see them? ‘Just now, because we’re quite new, we’re just trying to play live, free gigs, work on our own stagecraft type of thing,’ says Fraser. ‘We’re doing that just for ourselves at the moment, then in October we’ve got a single launch, so we’ll take a break after playing these shows, then focus on getting as many people along to gigs as possible.’ (Niki Boyle) ■ Café Disco play Box, Glasgow, Fri 12 Aug; and Brel, Glasgow, Wed 31 Aug supporting Courtney Marie Andrews. Debut single ‘Persona’ to be released in October. Listen at facebook.com/CafeDiscoband.
Events are listed by date, then city. Submit listings at least 14 days before publication for Glasgow to glasgow@list.co.uk and for Edinburgh to henry@list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Fiona Shepherd and Henry Northmore. For ticket outlet information, see Book Now. ✽✽ Indicates Hitlist entry Thursday 11
Glasgow ■ Here By Chance, Blood Red Visions, Alone Among Company and Explicit Creed Ivory Blacks, 56 Oswald Street, 248 4114. 6.30pm. £6. Over-14s show. EP launch for the headliners. ■ Angelspit and Surgyn Classic Grand, 18 Jamaica Street, 847 0820. 7pm. £10. Industrial electronica from the New York and Berlin-based cyberpunk outfit. ■ The LaFontaines Stereo, 20-28 Renfield Lane, 222 2254. 7pm. Fusing hip hop, pop and indie to create a colourful sound. ■ Ashesh & Nekhvam Nice’n’Sleazy, 421 Sauchiehall Street, 333 0900. 7.30pm. £8. Nepal’s ‘leading blues-rock band’ on their first ever UK tour. ■ Dead Boy Robotics, Any Color Black and Blank Canvas Pivo Pivo, 15 Waterloo Street, 564 8100. 8pm. £5. New Wave electro punk sounds. ■ Tragic City Thieves and Bandito Fleeto The 13th Note Café/Bar, 50–60 King Street, 553 1638. 8pm. Glam punk. FREE Jam Session Samuel Dow’s, 67–71 Nithsdale Road, 423 0107. 8.30pm. Hosted by Independence. ■ The Low Suns King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 272a St Vincent Street, 221 5279. 8.30pm. £5. London-based five-piece drawing on the influence of Jeff Buckley, Flaming Lips, old time gospel and sci-fi soundtracks. With Slim Mistress and No Fxd Abode. FREE Nick Mercer Slouch, 203–5 Bath Street, 221 5518. 8.30pm. Formerly of Sergeant. Singer/songwriter bill completed by Phil Campbell and Danny Mahon. FREE Acoustic Open Mic 1901 Bar and Bistro, 1534 Pollockshaws Road. 9pm. Weekly open mic. FREE Dweller, Notebooks and Atlas:Empire Bloc+, 117 Bath Street, 574 6066. 9pm. Free before midnight. Punk and hardcore line-up. FREE Open Mic Night The Bay, 142 West Regent Street. 9pm. With a free drink for all performers. FREE Live at Lebowskis Lebowskis, 1008 Argyle Street, 564 7988. 9.30pm. Weekly acoustic showcase hosted by David Duffy.
Anstruther ✽✽ Haarfest Various Venues, fencerecords.com. Times vary. £65
for the weekend; £15 per night for evening concerts. Yet another small-but- perfectly-formed musical long weekend from the clever fellows at Fife’s Fence Records, this high summer shindig features walks and workshops around the picturesque seaside towns of Anstruther and Cellardyke in the afternoons, and gigs in the evenings featuring all the usual suspects, including the now Mercury- nominated King Creosote, plus James Yorkston, Jonnie Common, Found, Gummi Bako, Withered Hand, Kid Canaveral and many more.
Isle of Mull ■ Southern Tenant Folk Union An Tobar Arts Centre, Argyll Terrace, Tobermory, 01688 302211. Times tbc. £tbc. Gospel-influenced seven-piece with their own mix of old-time, bluegrass and Celtic folk music.
ROCK&POP Friday 12
Glasgow FREE Bootleg Wonderland Chambre 69, Stock Exchange House, 69 Nelson Mandela Place. 6pm. Guitar- based funk, soul and pop covers. ■ Firebrand Super Rock, 15 Times Dead, Mair and Kahbela Ivory Blacks, 56 Oswald Street, 248 4114. 6.30pm. £6. Big riffs and power chords. ■ Breaking Curfew, Tear Jerks and Death Trap City Barrowland 2, 244 Gallowgate, 552 4601. 7pm. £6. Over- 14s show. Alternative pop rock. FREE Diana Schad The Living Room, 150 St Vincent Street, 229 0607. 7pm. Singer/pianist performing originals and covers. ■ River-side, Dazell and Sunflower Tuesdays O2 ABC2, 330 Sauchiehall Street, 332 2232. 7pm. £8. Four-piece indie rock band influenced by Arctic Monkeys and The Fratellis. ■ Male Pattern Band Nice’n’Sleazy, 421 Sauchiehall Street, 333 0900. 7.30pm. Junkyard pop from MPB. ■ Henry Cluney, Eddy & the T- Bolts and Alan Bishop Captain’s Rest, 185 Great Western Road, 332 7304. 8pm. £8. Solo show from the Stiff Little Fingers man.
■ Herculean The 13th Note Café/Bar, 50–60 King Street, 553 1638. 8pm. Indie rock trio from Glasgow. ■ Hollow Point, Exit Set, Pablo Eskimo and Coat Hooks Maggie May’s, 60 Trongate, 548 1350. 8pm. £5.
Biffy-style alt rocking. ■ Straighten Out The Ferry, 25
Anderston Quay, 01698 360085. 8pm. £8.50 in advance; £10 on the door; £22.45 with early dinner at 6pm. Stranglers tribute. ■ Alex Wayt, DIRTYsally and Till This Night King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 272a St Vincent Street, 221 5279. 8.30pm. £5. Heartfelt Americana from Wayt. FREE Isis Samuel Dow’s, 67–71 Nithsdale Road, 423 0107. 8.30pm. Soft rock. FREE Sonic Templars, Killing Spree and Scott Logan Slouch, 203–5 Bath Street, 221 5518. 8.30pm. Alt.rock from Glasgow.
Anstruther ✽✽ Haarfest Various Venues, fencerecords.com. Times vary. £65
for the weekend; £15 per night for evening concerts. See Thu 11.
Stirling ■ Fish Tolbooth, Jail Wynd, 01786 274000. 8pm. £17.50. The ex-Marillion singer embarks on his first far-reaching Scottish tour in over 20 years, showcasing material from his forthcoming new album A Feast of Consequences.
Saturday 13
Glasgow ■ Beat Down Battles The 13th Note Café/Bar, 50–60 King Street, 553 1638. 2pm. £5. Over-14s show. Rappers Steg G and Bigg Taj host this MCs and beatboxers battle. FREE The MeatMen Maggie May’s, 60 Trongate, 548 1350. 6pm. Rockabilly, bluegrass and skiffle from Glasgow trio The MeatMen. ■ Heavy Load and The Easy Riders Ivory Blacks, 56 Oswald Street, 248 4114. 6.30pm. £3. Brighton punk band Heavy Load is uniquely made up of musicians with and without learning disabilities and starred in a documentary of the same name from director Jimmy Rothwell. ■ Crazy Alice, Zaun, Note to Self, The Hardlines and Without Aeroplanes Barrowland 2, 244 Gallowgate, 552 4601. 7pm. £6. Over- 14s show. Mix of alternative rock.
ROCK&POP Music
W I N S T U F F
WIN AC/DC DVDS
The year before Bon Scott’s tragic
death in 1980, AC/DC played a
storming live show in Paris as part of the Highway to Hell tour. That final live performance is being reissued on Warner Home Video DVD, complete with backstage interviews with Scott and the rest of the band. To win one of three copies of the DVD, enter at list.co.uk/offers. WIN SYSTEM 7 ALBUMS
Techno ambassadors System 7 had a riotously good time in Berlin recently, so much so that euphoric club crowds influenced them to call their latest album UP. Album collaborators including A Guy Called Gerald, Japanese electric violinist Yuji Katsui and DJ Funky Gong Minoru. If you want to hear how that comes together, you’re in luck, as we have five copies to give away. WIN CHAD VANGAALEN TICKETS
Canadian artist/musician Chad VanGaalen is riding high at the moment. His fourth album, Diaper Island, is a guitar-driven mash-up of psychedelic, rock and folk styles, and it’s been getting rather fine reviews wherever it goes. He’s also amassed quite a following on YouTube for his self- animated music videos. He’s dropping in on Glasgow’s Captain’s Rest on Thu 18 Aug and Edinburgh’s Sneaky Pete’s the night after. We’ve got one pair of tickets to each gig up for grabs – to win, enter at list.co.uk/offers. See next issue for an interview with Chad. HOW TO ENTER
Log onto list.co.uk/offers. Closing date for competitions is Wed 17 Aug, unless otherwise stated. There is no cash alternative. Usual List rules apply.
11–18 Aug 2011 THE LIST 125