From the Outside Looking In 10 for 10

Ten for 2010

Well I’m back from a period of basically what they call terminal laziness. Work, life, and uni work for work has been keeping me busyish. But in the time since my last blog I’ve seen Al Murray And Michael McIntyre @ the Secc which were both awesome. Elsewhere I’ve watched Killie fail miserably in the SPL and a draw of Falkirk in the Scottish Cup well that’s pish aswell.

I’m writing this after xmas and it just so happens its Hogmanay. Over 2009 I have opened my eyes to some of Scotlands hidden gems, and to that I firstly have to thank Tommy Reilly. I heard his song Gimme A Call and was instantly hooked. Also the emergence of Twitter has provided me with an avenue for finding new music also. I started listening to Jim Gellalty’s podcast aswell as Vic Galloway’s Scotland Introducing radio show. After exhaust Jim’s back catalogue I decided to explore the podcast market to which I found The Glasgow Podcart. I listened to it for the first time in the dark in bed late at night and sat chuckling away keeping the whole house up. I did the same as I did with Jim’s and listened to the entire back catalogue over about a 3 month period on the train on the way to work. The funny looks I get when I heard things like Sean and Ally talking about Jobbies and the mad stories of this guy who went by the name Manky Bastard were just too funny for public listening!

Along the way I’ve found some great new bands and some of now favourites.

So here is my list of bands to watch for 2010. I’m not saying their going to dominating the charts but I’d certainly expect these bands to become more noticed over the next year.



Tango In the Attic

Kid Canaveral

Julia and The Doogans

Jocasta Sleeps,

Lions.Chase.Tigers.

Boycotts

Darien Venture

Be A Familiar

Trapped in Kansas

There Will Be Fireworks

Its only a list of ten, So it made it extra hard to keep it the limit. So I have to give notable mentions to French Wives, Cancel the Astronauts, Meursault, Ming Ming and The Ching Chings, St Judes Infirmary, Campfires in Winter and The Gap Year Riot.

So finally I’d like to thank Tommy Reilly giving me an insight into Scotland’s New Music,

Jim Gellatly for opening my eyes to the mountains of cracking music out there that I’d never heard of before in my life!

Sean, Ally Halina, Nic and Louise At Glasgow Podcart for just providing such a fucking amazing platform for new music in Glasgow and inspiring me to get involved.

Finally all the bands out there that I’ve been listening to and to anyone who actually bothers to read this!

So for 2009 this iBenji signing off for the year and will be back with a bang in January where I will hope to expand the From The Outside Looking blog!

Week 5 From the Outside looking In

Hello people who are looking in!

Well its week 5 and I’m quite surprised I’m still doing this, I never have the discipline for this kind of stuff. I blame twitter for being able to continue this for so long. This week I’ve set up a Myspace, and come November I plan to go mental on the marketing of the blog/forum/Myspace. Not much to shout about this week if I am honest but I’ll say one thing Zoey Van Goey’s Album is a fecking belter! Got it last night on iTunes and I was lets just say I was quite chuffed. £7 well spent in my eyes. They were one of the bands of the week last week so if you haven’t heard of Zoey Van Goey by now you’ve got issues musically.

Onto The bands of the week and I’m only doing one out of sheer laziness and the fact I’ve got a long weekend holiday from work

Darien Venture

I was singing a song a few weeks ago for a good couple of days that went “ This is the radio, We claim the air the we love” it had that heavy rock sound with the broad Scottish accent, I just presumed it was Twin Atlantic or Biffy Clyro and I’d heard it on my Ipod when trying to get to sleep one night. It was until I seen a Re-Tweet on Twitter saying follow @Darienventure Having heard of the band but not being familiar with their work I decided to follow them. Gave them a wee message saying I’d heard of them and stuff and one of the lads was as kind as to send us a link to their EP free gratis. Downloaded it and fired it onto the Ipod and listened to the first track “Broadcast Signal, Intrusion” and then straight away the penny had dropped! It was from the PodcART I’d heard it and I was singing along once again. There music reminds me of Biffy Clyro with a kinda more experimental edge to their sound. Broadcast Signal Intrusion is obviously my favourite. The band are in the studio as we speak and hopefully will have an album out soon enough. 13^th of November sees them playing Capitol in Glasgow, and I’m hoping to go, but November is looking an expensive month with crimbo, celtic away, al murray, simon amstell all on in the one month not to mention the usual nights out that will no doubt be happening in the glorious Kilwinning. So if I miss the Darien Venture I’ll either be preserving my pennies or have some sort of prior engagement but I’m certainly hoping to make it!

Single of the week

Zoey Van Goey –We don’t have that kind of bread

New Album is awesome and the video is a cracker for this.

Frisbee of the Week

Youmeat6- basically because it’s a fact of life they are pish

Thursday

Lightguides + Pacific Theatre - The Mill Glasgow

Cassidy + The Boy That Trapped the Sun – Cabaret Voltaire - Edinburgh

Friday

The Law – King Tuts Glasgow

Charity Gig For Malaika Africa:
Any Colour Black + The OK Social Club – The Hive Edinburgh

Oxjam Festival Edinburgh

Saturday

Mr Kil + Pearl and The Puppets – Together Beat Cancer – Art School Glasgow

Oxjam Festival Glasgow** SEE BELOW FOR MY BANDS TO CHECK OUT**

Sunday

Oxjam Festival Glasgow** SEE BELOW FOR MY BANDS TO CHECK OUT**

Edwyn Collins + 1990s + The Low Miffs – 02 ABC Glasgow

Tuesday

Our Brothers The Native – Captain’s Rest Glasgow

Be A Familiar + iseeshapes – Electric Circus Edinburgh

Oxjam Festival - GLASGOW

Heres my top tips for Saturday afternoon and night. Its only £6-10 for the weekend and well worthy and its all for a good cause

Saturday Round-up

3pm- 6pm ABC Polar Bar

BROTHER LOUIS COLLECTIVE

ALL PLAYING SLOANS 7pm-12am

STRIKE THE COLOURS
ZOEY VAN GOEY **BAND OF THE FESTIVAL FOR ME** -
YAHWEH
THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY

THE V CLUB – 6pm -12am

MAPLES LEAVES

LIONS.CHASE.TIGERS

Sunday Round- Up

Unfortunately won’t make Sunday at all as I’m going to se Michael McIntyre. But here are the bands to watch out for on Sunday

PIVO PIVO - 2pm-11.30pm

TANGO IN THE ATTIC

THREE BLIND WOLVES

THE ADMIRAL 6pm – 3am

TRAPPED IN KANSAS

FRENCH WIVES

CAPITOL – 6pm- 12am

MING MING & THE CHING CHINGS

BOYCOTTS

MAPLE LEAVES

Week 4 From the Outside Looking In

Week 4 From The Outside Looking In

Hello Hello!

Well I’m writing this on Friday morning as opposed to Thursday Night so its probably a bit of rush job. What’s been happening this week I hear you cry?(or probably not). This week I’ve created a forum for the new music scene in Scotland the URL is http://fromtheoutside.freeforums.org/ and it’s the place to be if you’re into the Scottish Music Scene. It’s online just now but I plan on shouting about it everywhere and anywhere come November. Not only have I made the forum I’ve also got myself a email address frtoli@googlemail.com if you want to drop us a line with bands to have a look at, or if you want me to review your band or you want to send me free stuff I’ll gladly receive it.

I also attended Glasgow PodcART live session in the 13^th Note Café in Glasgow last night (Thursday) with Julia & the doogans + Louise McVey & Cracks in the Concrete, I thoroughly enjoyed it and you can read what I think of Julia & Doogans in a previous blog either week 1 or 2. Julia & the Doogans were minus a cello player who scaled them self with a cup of tea prior to the gig. Without the cello player the band still came through with the goods with the best song of the night being my 2^nd most played on Itunes ‘ Glasgow’. Louise Mcvey and her band Cracks in The Concrete I had never heard before and didn’t even look her up before the gig so it was really a bit of a Kinder Surprise and boy was I surprised. Louise seems quite distant in her stage presence but Louise’s voice certainly made the hair’s stand up. Their experimentation with violin bow’s on electric guitars, to FM radio interference came totally out of left field. Definitely try and catch these artists if you can. Also thanks to the Ally, Sean and Halina at Glasgow PodcART for putting on such a good night.

Well its onto the bands of the week, it would have been Julia & The Doogans if I hadn’t done her a few weeks ago so I’ve went for Maple Leaves and We Were Promised Jetpacks

Maple Leaves

There seems to be a common theme running here with the bands I am discussing. What they all have in common is having female lead vocalists. When I first heard by downloading their song ‘Each Other’ by accident from the mill live website. The song came on, on my aptly named ‘ The Mill Live playlist’ and instantly had to take my Ipod out of pocket on my daily commute and find out who this lot were. Maple Leaves was the name still meant nothing. As soon as I was home from work I had to get onto Myspace and find out more. After having a bit of difficulty finding them via google I kept getting information about Canada I got found their site. There mix of folk and indie pop, really cheers me up every time I hear it and especially in ‘Each Other’ the lyrics always hit a nerve. Hoping to catch them at Oxjam but they are playing The Captains Rest on Friday 23^rd October. So get on the Myspace and check them out in the mean time. Oh and they have three tracks on the mill live website if you want some free music.

We Were Promised Jetpacks

Heard of this band in NME a few years ago, and a)didn’t realise they were Scottish b) didn’t think they would be any good c) really didn’t take much interest in any band that wasn’t mainstream. Now thanks to Mr Vic Galloway and a work colleague I am now hooked. The last CD I purchased was by this band. And its one of 3 albums I can listen from track one 1 til the end without skipping. Personal favourites include tracks ‘Quiet Little Voices’ and ‘Thunder and Lightning’ The similarities are there with friends Frightened Rabbit but with more of a harder sound. With Frightened Rabbit taking up the mantel from Glasvegas as my new favourite band jetpacks sit a close second. Missed my opportunity to see them at the year of the mill gig but my tickets are in order for the Homecoming Live Gig @ Tuts in November. Watch out this lot will be huge.

Single of the Week

Easy choice

David Guetta – Sexy Bitch. Its not Scottish and its not from an unsigned act or from the new music scene but I cant help myself, its catchy RIGHT!

Frisbee of the week

Hmm tough one, but I’m actually going for Kandy Rain from X-Factor just because they didn’t want to come across as strippers yet dress like them, the fools!

Finally Before the gig guide, A wee special mention to my fellow Kilwinkie Twitterer Connie McKendrick (@Connie220691) She’s got her own Youtube channel and she does covers of some artists out there and shes no half bad at the singing malarkey! For everyone to have a look.

Aw and also well done to my pal Amy for getting into Glasgow girl band Silk Rush!

Friday

Manky B*****d Presents: Stricken City + North Atlantic Oscillation + My Cousin I Bid You Farewell - Sneaky Pete's, Edinburgh

The Longcut - King Tuts Glasgow

James Yorkston + The Big Eyes Family Players + Mary Hampton + David A Jaycock - The Arches, Glasgow

Saturday

iLiKETRAiNS + The Kabeedies + Swimming - Tuts Glasgow

Monday

James Yorkston + The Big Eyes Family Players + Mary Hampton + David A Jaycock - Bongo Club, Edinburgh

Tuesday

White Noise: Mitchell Museum + The Scottish Enlightenment - Electric Circus, Edinburgh

Everything, Everything + Findo Gask - Caberet Voltaire Edinburgh

Wednesday

Music Like A VItamin: Attic Lights + Rod Jones + Frightened Rabbit + Norman Blake - HMV PICTURE HOUSE **GIG OF THE WEEK**

Nels Andrews + Ana Egge + Saint Jude's Infirmary + Derek Minnis - Brel Bar, don't know anything about any of these acts apart from saint judes infirmary

www.myspace.com/juliaandthedoogans

http://www.myspace.com/mapleleavesmusic

www.myspace.com/wewerepromisedjetpacks

http://www.youtube.com/user/ConnieMckendrick

www.glasgowpodcart.com

Week 3 From The Outside Looking In

Hello one and all who are watching from the outside.

Well this is Week 3, It should be really be Week 4 but such is the way I was down in sunny Stafford with work and just didn’t have time/couldn’t be arsed writing a blog. Another tough choice on the music front because I’ve heard a good few bands and artists in the past week. Also the line up for Oxjam has been announced and when I heard Boycotts were playing I was quite the happy chappy. Typical though the fact the second day of Oxjam falls on the Sunday of Michael Macintyre’s gig at the SECC which I’ve got tickets for therefore fingers crossed all the bands I wanna see will be playing on Saturday. I’ll do an Oxjam special next week or the week after just because I’m such a nice guy.

Zoey Van Goey

Zoey Van Goey are and indie/pop three piece coming out of Glasgow yet not a single member is Scottish never mind Glaswegian. I’ve only ever heard them on Youtube and Myspace and I can’t get hold of their album anywhere for some strange reason any link that offers the album for download seems to no longer exist. They have worked with Stuart Murdoch of Belle and Sebastian and Paul Savage of Mogwai who both produced their first two singles. I really want a copy of their album so if anyone knows of how I can get my hands on it give us a shout via twitter or leave me a comment on the bottom. If you haven’t seen or heard of Zoey Van Goey yet go to youtube and search for the song ‘We Don’t have that kind of bread’ and watch the video they created on a budget of less than £8. Its funny and well produced for such a low amount spent on it. And for me it’s the best song they written. Zoey Van Goey are playing Oxjam which I’ve mentioned above on the 24^th or 25^th of October. So get down and see them if you haven’t already.

Twilight Sad

Twilight Sad a band from the east of Scotland, who are currently touring America with Frightened Rabbit and We Were Promised Jetpacks which I reckon would be the gig of the year without any shadow of a doubt if the three were to play on the same bill. They have just released their second LP “Forget the Night Ahead” which I’ve yet to hear but I am expecting bigger and better things since their first album ‘Fourteen Autumns & Fifteen Winters which is an absolute belter. Twilight Sad were signed to Fat Cat Records after only their 3^rd ever gig which I’ve never heard of before from any record label. They have supported Snow Patrol and Mogwai in the past and I’ve had a pal tell me that the snow patrol support act were shit and know he can’t get enough of The Twilight Sad. Unfortunately they don’t have any Scottish dates lined up but here’s hoping they are supporting Frabbits or Jetpacks in November and December.

Single of the week

Hmm always a tough choice I am tempted to go for Zoey Van Goey or Steel Panther- the shocker ;) if you haven’t heard of them youtube it and have a watch but be prepared you might pee your pants. I’ve decided on this as this single of the week because the lyrics are excellent.

Malcolm Middleton – Fuck it, I love you

Frisbee of the Week

Easy choice this week,

Lady Gaga – I wanna take a ride on your discostick or whatever the fuck its called. Simply for the reason she is an idiot, she’s a he, her music is dreadful, her image is dreadful, and she just is an all round dreadful artist. Oh and shes friends with Perez Hilton who I can’t stand either!

Gig Guide

Thursday

Sparrow and the workshop w/ Kill it kid - Captains Rest Glasgow

United Fruit, Orko - The Mill Glasgow - *FREE*

Friday

Mudhoney + Vaselines + St Deluxe - HMV picture house

Saturday

Fiery Furnaces - Sleazies, Glasgow

Skinny & 10 Tracks Twisted Kids Birthday:
Meursault + The Blessings + Over The Wall + Rbrbr + David Barbarossa + Huntly + Palmers Audio Club

+ Slabs of the Tabernacle DJs + Radio Magnetic Sound System + DJ Astroboy - Arches Glasgow

Kid British w/ Flamboyant Fella - Strathy Union Glasgow

Teitur + Brother Louis Collective + The Little Kicks - Brel Bar Glasgow ****GIG OF THE WEEK FOR ME***

Sunday

Call to mind + RBRBR - Cabernet Voltaire Edinburgh

Monday

Julia & The Doogans – Captain’s Rest Glasgow

Wednesday

Big Pink + Amazing Baby - TuTs, Glasgow **Big Pink are being played about radio 1 and stuff at the minute and there on an advert somewhere too!

Paolo Nutini -02 Academy, Glasgow - just because I think he's awesome! Yes Halina, Paolo is AWESOME!

Cheers for reading and I’ll speak to you all soon

Ben

x

www.myspace.com/zoeyvangoey

www.myspace.com/thetwilightsad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HqY9Ie74v8 – steel panther – The shocker

http://www.myspace.com/malcolmmiddleton

www.glasgowpodcart.com

Week 2 of From The Outside Looking In

Hello every who’s on the outside.

Week 2 of the Blog, and I’m up to 4 followers and had one comment! Slowly progressing in this world of blogging but as D:ream once said “ things can only get better” Well I talked about Tommy Reilly and mentioned Pearl and the puppets last week. And I went to the gig in Killie after watching the blue and white stripes pull off a cheeky 0-0 result against the weegies from Govan. For us that is a big result. We came back to earth with a bump and got beat off St Mirren last night(22/9) and put out the league cup for another year. Enough about football back to the music. The gig was in the Monkey Club in the town. A venue I’ve never been to before. Pearl played an acoustic set and went down well with the crowd playing the song I like best “Because I do” Also a cover of “Use Somebody” by The Kings of Leon. Tommy came on a played the tracks from his new album words on the floor and the song that reduced Alex James of blur to tears when Tommy won the Orange Unsigned Act - “Mr Brightside” by The Killers. Thoroughly enjoyable gig and got a good chat with Pearl and Tommy at the end. Who are now off on their travels around Scotland returning to Glasgow ABC on Friday night (25/9) still some tickets left but selling out fast, but if you do go get some make sure there is a couple left for me please.

Back to the present and its two new bands for you to get your ears on and the first choice for me this week again is a tough one.


The OK Social Club

This choice swayed me last minute when I was doing some office shredding listening to the Ipod and the track “Bombshell” came on during my new playlist ‘tunes from the mill’. For those who don’t know The Mill it’s a free gig night in the Oran Mor sponsored by Millers beer. The Edinburgh 4 piece played The Year of the Mill celebration gig in the capitals Cabaret Voltaire alongside Found, The Ads and Come in Tokyo. I’d say they are the best band in that list unless The Ads are something special as I have yet to hear any of their stuff. Sound like a heavier version of the strokes or the cribs. “Bombshell is my favourite track but if you like either the strokes or the cribs you shouldn’t be disappointed. The Mill offer a free download section of the majority of bands that played the mill. So if your wanting to hear more the link will be at the bottom of the page. OK Social Club will be playing King Tuts on the 7th of October. You can always rely on a night in Tuts for some great music in a quality intimate setting.

The second band again another choice between There will be Fireworks and Julia and the Doogans

Julia and the Doogans

Tough choice but the play count on itunes is slightly higher for this lot it had to be them. Julia and the Doogans are 7 piece band from Glasgow with two of their members hailing from Vladimir Romanov’s favourite country Lithuania. They are a band who have a bit of modern folky sound going on with Julia providing lead vocals with her west coast accent adding something special to proceedings. Their aptly titled track “Glasgow” is well written and the vocal delivery again by Julia is what makes this track so good for me. The opening lyrics “The Streets getting ready for another fight, between the boys in blue and the green and white” I especially like with the reference to the weej’s finest football fans perfectly describes how these characters act. Julia and the doogans can be seen at The Captain’s Rest in Glasgow on the 12th of October and 15th of October in the 13th note café for a Glasgow Podcart live session. Although I don’t have a Scooby how you go about getting into that gig. Mibbie if Halina, ally or Sean are reading this they can maybe enlighten me.

Single of the week

Choices, Choices, Choices, I could of easily went for almost any track of Tommy Reilly’s album but I thought I’ll stop talking about Tommy for a couple paragraphs. I’ve went for

The Ray Summers- The Shepard

Frisbee of the week

Easy choice this one. And I’m blaming my wee cousin Scot for this.

Enter Shikari – because young Scot said that this lot are better than Kasabian. Poor effort youngster!


GIG GUIDE

Here’s my round up of the gigs in Scotland worth going to this week.

FRIDAY

Glasgow

Tommy Reilly + Pearl and the Puppets @ABC1 – had to mention it sorry!
“Pooch” the band, Sonny Marvello, Mitchell Museum, Quick Run as part of The Pin Ups Circus Night @Flying Duck
Washington Irving – Captains Rest – was informed of this the other night! Cheers Stacey!

Edinburgh

ArcaFelix+ Helsinki Seven- Sneaky Petes

SATURDAY

Glasgow
Temper Trap + the Magistrates – King Tuts – possibly sold out
Fantazia – Braehead Arena- fancy a bit of QFX haha! Couldn’t help myself

SUNDAY

Glasgow
Bombay Bicycle Club – king Tuts–my wee pal Cally likes this lot very much
ArcaFelix + Helsinki Seven – Captain’s Rest – Halina from the podcart says you should go!

Edinburgh
Strike the Colours + Zoey Van Goey – Electric Circus – gig of the week for me
MONDAY

Glasgow

Jersey Budd, Sergeant, The Mode – Tuts- gutted I can’t make it

TUESDAY

Glasgow

This City + The Xcerts – Oran Mor

Edinburgh
Gothenburg Address + Lions Chase Tigers –Electric Circus

WEDNESDAY

Glasgow

Mobo awards – SECC – if that’s what you’re into.

THURSDAY

Glasgow

IamChemist + Trapped Live sets V club

Edinburgh

Cancel the Astronauts – The Mill @Caberet Voltaire – FREE GIG! And they were mentioned on the podcart.

Cheers to the podcart gang for the shout out this week!

Ben

X
http://www.myspace.com/theoksocialclub
http://www.myspace.com/juliaandthedoogans
http://www.glasgowpodcart.com/

Week 1 of From the Outside Looking In

Hi folks

Well this is the 2nd blog from me, but the first that is actually rating and slating bands. I’ve decided on a format for the blogs ever week but i reckon i might stray off the beaten track no doubt. Also if my english is pish, i apologise just now.

Tommy Reilly

I had to mention this lad first out of all the bands, because basically Tommy’s music got me into the New Music Scene. Tommy if you haven’t heard of him by now you should of. He hails from a wee town outside Glasgow called Torrance and boy is he good! His mixture of indie and pop is something special. Often found singing about relationships with the female species, most lads especially me can totally relate to what he is saying. Tommy begin’s touring on Saturday kicking off in Kilmarnock and seen as how its my nearest town on the tour i’ll be there after hopefully watching the killie boys putting one over Rangers. Yet to see Tommy live in the flesh but i’ve seen plenty of videos on youtube of him and can safely say he’s a must see act. Tommy’s single and album Words on the Floor also comes out this Monday (21/9) and from the cheeky snippets on Itunes of the songs i just know its going to be a cracker. He’s my one to watch for the year and expect bigger and better things from him in years to come. And his album is only £5.99 on itunes a bloody steal if you ask me.

Boycotts

The second band i’ve went for this week was a tough choice, only minute i had Pearl and the Puppets the next minute it was Wee See lights I just couldnt decide so i went with Boycotts.

Boycotts are a 4 piece from Glasgow lead by the lovely Stina Twee on lead vocals, the quirky scottish accent adds a whole bit of loveliness to the superb guitar and drums to all their songs. The one that sticks out for me is “A lesson in gravity” which first heard on Vic Galloway’s Scotland Introducing radio Show on BBC radio Scotland. Their Ep “Lets start a boycott” is out on itunes and in the words Ally from Glasgow Podcart “Get in aboot it” . This lot are supporting the King Hats in Tut’s on Saturday so if your not at Ayr Races or Tommy Reilly i thoroughly reccommend you get your finger out and get to Tuts for what will be brilliant night plus the fact The King Hats aren’t that bad a band at all either.

Song of The Week

this really needs no explanation this, basically what i’ve heard on a podcast or the radio or anywhere for that matter Mainstream or Underground just whatever ispushing my buttons that week.

We See Lights – Parachutes

thats what gets the inaugural From The Outside Looking In Song of the Week.

Frisbee of the week

This is basically a song or album or general artist i’m fed up hearing, generally don’t like or just dislike for whatever reason i see fit. Frisbee being the fact i wouldnt mind chucking it out my bedroom window in a frisbee fashion

Paramore – Misery Business . I’m sticking my neck out here going for this lot but the amount of tweets on twitter i’ve read about them this week has completely sickened me and unlucky for them they get the first frisbee of the week!

www.myspace.com/tommyreillymusic

www.myspace.com/weseelights

http://www.myspace.com/startaboycott

www.myspace.com/pearlandthepuppets

Welcoming one to look from the outside

Hi and welcome to my first blog this is called From the Outside Looking In. I've been listening to the Fratellis; The View; Paolo Nutini basically mainstream Scottish music for years but it wasn’t till the beginning of 2009 where I started hearing more and more about the Scottish Music Scene. I started hearing noises about one lad from Glasgow, Tommy Reilly who had won the Orange Unsigned Act beating off another Glasgow act Hip Parade.

Tommy’s cover of Mr Brightside made the hairs stand up on the back my neck and I thought I must look into him some more. I found his songs Gimme A Call and I don’t Like Coffee and within minutes new I was going to really like his music. For me it was the words in the songs he writes so easy to relate from I personal point of view.

I continued to listen to him and found more and more bands and artists mainly Scottish which I just couldn’t get enough of. Frightened Rabbit were the next band I found through Tommy and that what was where my fascination with all things Scottish began. I eventually found podcasts by Vic Galloway BBC radio Scotland DJ and champion all things unsigned. I was hearing of more and more bands and artists weekly I found myself on Myspace looking up more and more bands everyday. I found Jim Gellatly’s New music podcast on Radio Magnetic, I was chuffed to have found some more music and free I might add to listen to. Wednesday’s would come and I would have my new batch of music to listen to on the train to work. I loved it.

Step forward about a month later and after hearing Jim mention the Glasgow PodcART I had to get some of that I thought. I downloaded the latest episode and listened to it on the train in a similar fashion as I did with Jim’s. This one was brilliant, I described it as “piss your pants funny” on twitter the other day which it simply is. It should really come with a health warning. The mixture of new music and Glaswegian banter between Sean, Ally and Halina is too much to handle on a train journey to work every morning, the funny looks one gets from commuters is brilliant.

Now I’ve explained my liking for the Scottish Music Scene your probably wondering why I am writing this. Well after hearing all these podcasts and hearing all this great music I have decided that I fancy having a slice of the cake and telling everybody what I like! And the fact I’ve always wanted to be in the band.

So every Friday or Monday I haven’t decided yet my week’s worth of music will be told to you readers if there are any and you can have a listen for yourself.

Anyway cheers for the read

Ben

x