TiJUANA BIBLEs

PLUSThe Velveteen Saints • Dog Is Dead • and more...

Glasgows hot new band

NOTEApril 2013issue oneTHE

Contents 3&4

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9&10

Welcome to the Note In this issue

we have TijuanA Bibles discussing

their EP launch and performing in

Glasgow. This issue also focuses on

small music businesses, Loud in

Lanarkshire and Soundwave

studios. and there is also the

latest from Glasgow’s gigs and

whats on next month. Enjoy!

Hannah, Editor.

April 2013 Issue One•

5&6

TIJUANA bibles

"As long as you’ve got good songs

and put in a 100% then you get that

back. everybody’s been really

responsive to what we’re doing so

that’s good"

Four boys from Coatbridge, Glasgow, put together a band in 2012, dreaming of success - a success which has now seen the release of their first EP.

Toni Costello, Behn Cross, James Brannigan and Mikey Dornan, have all experienced writing, singing, playing, and working in bands before until this one finally stuck. And so they were called “Tijuana Bibles”.

Having played around different venues in Glasgow, the band felt it was time for something more. They have spent six months, writing, recording and pro-ducing their album. The EP, called ‘Wild River’, launch was on Friday 19 June at a packed out Art Studio and creat-ed that much hype people were getting turned away. When The Note met the boys in a dim set cafe in Glasgow they couldn’t have been more excited about showing their fans all the effort they had been putting in. Tony, lead vocalist, said: “It’s been six months, but me and Behn have been writing for years, it’s a different sound though.

“We’ll be playing a new song that’s one of the things, and there’s a few more surprises.”

Each of them have played the Glas-gow venues at different times, within different bands but haven’t found a response like this before. Most venues, promoters will not mercy a new, un-signed band for the unreliability of mon-ey. Unlike live band nights in pubs it makes it a lot easier to gain a follow-

ing. For unsigned bands, they usually stick together and help promote each other. Mikey, drummer/vocalist, said: “When I was in another band it was pretty poor to be honest, but since I’ve been in this band its totally changed and there’s a few bands that I like.”

For them, it’s hard to describe their ‘sound’ with a mixture of blues, rock and soul, compiling an altogether unique sound. Discussing influences with the band and with an answer of ‘we all have different influences’ - it’s possible to hear this whilst listening back to the EP. Songs like “Wild River”, “Last of the Go Getters” hit your heart with a punch, and prov-ing its more about the song than it is with the lyrics as they are mostly instrumental.

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TIJUANA bibles

"As long as you’ve got good songs

and put in a 100% then you get that

back. everybody’s been really

responsive to what we’re doing so

that’s good"

The support they received from the audience at the launch was impres-sive. For a small band, who have just started, the crowd couldn’t have been more excited to see them. The stage presence of the four piece is the key to having a good crowd. Mikey said, “If you go out and play a gig and you can’t be bothered do-ing it, then you’re going get a crowd who can’t be bothered watching it, so far everywhere has been positive, really postive.”

For the music business the best way of going somewhere is using promoters - they will plan nights with venues, find bands to play, put on a headline show. But it is becoming increasingly hard for new bands to work with them. Tijuana Bibles have been one band that found it easier

to work alone, stating, “There only reason promoters are about is be-cause it’s hard to put something on yourself, if you haven’t got the funds to do it. Social media is great for getting crowds together and stuff like that. It’s the easiest way to do it.” Behn, bassist/vocals, gave advice to other bands and said, “Having com-plete control, complete creative control is very important.”

Now they have released their EP, Tijuana Bibles exclusively told The Note, they have hopes of filming a music video this year and playing venues down south, to gain popularity, as it’s known fact how to move up in the music world. With a few more surprises lined up, it looks like 2013 is going to be Tijuana Bibles year.

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Internet RadioIS IT the future?

The Note has a look into the business

of online streaming...

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Internet radio began in 1993, by pioneer Carl Mala-mud, with the first computer radio talk show. Twenty years later, over 16.9 million adults in Britain have lis-tened to Internet radio – at least once.

Online radio station ‘Loud in Lanarkshire’ is run in a small stu-dio in Coatbridge. There is many different tasks involved in running one of these private user radios, they involve; updating the web-site, staying in contact with artists, recording material for the site and producing podcasts.

The Coatbridge run station prides itself on streaming new and existing talent. John Boulton, creator of the station said: “The original idea is to feature artists and bands from the Lanarkshire area and along with profiles, gig information and promotional op-portunities.” For bands, this is a dream come true, and allow for their music to be played into lis-teners ears.

The easy access of an Inter-net radio station is one that has grown over the years. Also known as free streaming systems, Spoti-fy has been the most popular to take over. It host independent and major labels including Sony, EMI, Warner Music Group and Univer-sal. It was launched in 2008 with a Swedish start up Spotify AB.

The website and application gives a free six month trial to us-ers then promotes a paid service that will grant unlimited access.

For a user, they are benefitted from the local radio because it’s an unlimited listen, although they aren’t getting mainstream music, it makes for easy listening. Spotify provides a better use of main-stream artists and bands which a heavy user will want – but the cost is something else.

Coatbridge’s station will always be affected the business more than the mainstream opportunities. John said: “As you probably know the music business as a whole has been in free-fall since music sharing became available.

“If your looking for a quick success I don’t think that’s a real-

istic option. If you want to play and have your music listening to by like minded individuals there are a lot of good venues in the city.”

The future of larger run radio stations like Spotify will probably be around for a long time to come from the subscriptions and fees. For local people with an interest in running their own John, said: “The initial outlay for this type of model can become a money pit where you always have your hand in your pocket.

“This can be off putting for an-ybody. To keep something like this running also requires the financial input. Sponsorship has been the only revenue stream for me and continues to be difficult to maintain. I think if you can come up with a unique approach to the model and have some spare cash there are opportunities but don’t expect any quick financial rewards. “

“I think there is

the opportunity

for small

independent

intenet based

statons to

become

sucessful”

CaveWall Studios in take over

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The Note can official-ly announce the takeover of Soundwave Studios to Cave Wall Studios. Cave Wall will continue to be known as an independent studio in Coat-bridge, Lanarkshire.

Soundwave studios ran as a recording studio as well as promoter and rehearsal space. In the past it has promoted bands from Lanarkshire like The Vespas, circa 2009-2012 and Crafty Bison – who still currently use Soundwave. They used live band nights as the best way to promote artists around the Coatbridge pubs, as well as raising money for charity.

Hoping that Cave Wall will carry on the legacy Soundwave created over their five-year reign. We spoke with new owner/producer Dave Lang, who is looking forward to take over the studio. He said: “We intend to be the best small studio around then expand from there – we’re going to

hit it hard when it comes to market-ing.”

The facilities offered from Sound-wave were tutoring, band rehearsal space and also the recording stu-dio with producer. On Soundwave’s Facebook page they stated everything would still be the same, although there was no mention of tutoring les-sons, and the producer will help the artists with creativity. The studio will also receive a full revamp commenc-ing the take over.

The announcement was made on the 24 April 2013 where manage-ment wrote “…as some of you may be aware Soundwave Studios will officially stop trading as of June 1st 2013 but don’t despair as Cave Wall Productions will be taking things over and will be running it as rehearsal and recording studios.”

Those at Cave Wall seem keen to work with the existing and new bands that come their way. Dave said: “Cave Wall Studios can help bands by offering an advisory service and help with PR and marketing for

any bands who want to take what they do to the next level. Recording is becoming more and more impor-tant.”

It is important that unsigned bands are catered for as they can be the most fragile and need help getting over the hardest parts of being successful. Dave believes the best part of music is the unsigned as most of them come from your own area. He said: “There are some incredible bands in your local area. People have to stop being lazy and go look for them. They’re out playing every week, working hard for little reward.

“It’s time for the people to take back the power for the record labels, who only ever care about money.”

Although Soundwave’s followers were disappointed with the news, it seems as though the studios are being left in capable hands and will continue to produce a high standard of musical talent.

Soundwave Studios to become

Picture: Soundwave Studios

Soundwave Studios to become

REVIEWS

Take a pinch of Miles Kane, add some Arctic Mon-keys, a dash of The Vaccines mixed with some classic 70’s rock (The Who, The Clash etc) and you have the rec-ipe for the home-grown, The Velveteen Saints.

And they weren’t scared to show fans they have so much more to give than their predecessors at Glas-gow’s King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut. Fans were treated to support acts like Daniel Meade, Transfer and Ti-juana Bibles as they waited patient-ly for the eagerly anticipated four piece. The sold out show kicked off with drummer Michael Gagahan making his entrance, and starting a roaring drum riff introducing the first song ‘Always What You Want’. After thirty seconds or so, the rest of the band join him.The second hit to please was ‘Wake Me Up’ released last year, an energetic song that packs a few punches, and lets the

audience know they mean business. It’s clear that frontman Shaun Hughes is a showman - he wasn’t shy to put on a show along with guitarist/vocalist Martin McDonald.Last year was a big year for the band who found them-selves touring with Tim Burgees, The View and the Joy Division legend Peter Hook and it seems like they have picked up a few tricks of crowd pleasing quickly within an intimate set. ‘Die Alone’ was next on the hit list for the four piece. A popular track first released last year by the band. Its provides similarities which sound like they could be sung by The Vac-cines. It fast paced and catchy lyrics - it had you singing as you leave.There was a change of pace when TVS played their new song, only finished a few days before, ‘Dancing in the Avenue’, performed by bassist Mark Thomson. This song goes down well with the crowd as it has a jive beat with ‘poppy’ lyrics.Its endearing to see how much the band appre-ciates the crowd dancing and mov-ing to the music as they play. The

sly smiles to each other and laughs shows they couldn’t be more closer, and working their hardest is paying off as everyone is enjoying themselves. As it came to a close, they welcomed Michael McEneny, a pianist who cov-ered the keys whilst they played ‘Red Wine’. It was an enjoyable song, and having the keyboard play broke it up from sounding similar to the others that made the setlist on Saturday evening.

The final song was ‘Rock and Roll is Dead’ described as a love song from Martin, it sounded similar to a song you would hear from The Clash/Greenday. This was a good finishing song as it allows the crowd to just let go. Its title may be claiming rock and roll is dead, but it certainly makes you feel the opposite. It was safe to say The Velveteen Saints know how to put on a performance as they left the stage, the crowd stood waiting, wanting more. They wanted the encore that never came and that pays compliment to the band. It is a humble sight to see that such a small band can have this effect on a sold out venue.

THe Velveteen Saints

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Dog Is Dead

Its Monday evening and King Tut’s is ready - for to-night, Dog is Dead come to play and the crowd couldn’t be happier.

Opening the show with “Sin”, the five piece from Nottingham, start off beautifully with guitar and vo-cals then drums and bass guitars to follow. The vocals on this track are soothing and harmonic, sounding ceremonial to kick it all off.

After releasing the album “All Our Favourite Stories” it seems like the band have found who they are. With similarities to Two Door Cinema Club and the Maccabees- its pleasing to hear their tracks live as it shows they are much more than that.

Next from the set list, taken from the album, “Talk Through the Night”. An upbeat song compared to the first when they soothed you. It sounds like it could be a summer/festival song that fans and people hearing them for the first time would adore, due to the catchy lyrics, which self titles the track.

It was interesting to see frontman

Rob Milton switch instruments with Lawrence ‘Trev’ Cole as he gave bass to Milton whilst he played the saxophone. Hearing the brass play throughout some of the songs added shown they could be on a different level to most indie bands.

The intimate setting that King Tut’s allows means frontman Rob Milton can engage with the crowd during song changes, letting them know of his appreciation that the band has such a following. Milton notes that even know the band are only in the beginning they are still humble mentioning how happy he is to have released an album. Its sweet to see they haven’t lost touch.

“Do The Right Thing” the newest song to be released pleases the crowd as they start to loosen up and dance. Similarities to their other songs, they start off steady - an easy pace, soothing to listen to then builds up and makes you want to dance.

Like many other bands, they are always excited to let their fans hear

some new songs and tonight was no different for Dog is Dead when they showcased “I’d Never Hit You Back”. Although the title sounds ominous it’s a delight to hear with a gritty indie feel that lingers throughout the crowd.

The band proceed with a few more songs from the album which the crowd enjoy and really get into. They sing and dance along, hop-ing that the band don’t stop playing and when they do, they shout and scream for just “one more song”. As the band pause, waiting for the right moment to complete an encore, the crowd quieten thinking it’s not going to happen, then they appear.

The final two songs “Young” played acoustically with the five piece around one guitar and microphone - an amazing, sweet sight to see. And for “Teenage Daughter” looks and sounds like the crowds favour-ite song of the set. For both songs, the crowd know them well and didn’t hold back to sing whilst they played, showing that even though its only the beginning Dog is Dead are on to something special.

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