Friday Freebies

 

Butcher Boy

If you sign up to Damaged Goods mailing list then they'll send you 11 free tracks, which includes a song from Glasgow outfit Butcher Boy's  recent album Helping Hands.

Field Music 
Arguably the most under-rated band in the UK at the moment, Field Music are a abnd who continue to just get better and better. They're soon going to release their new album Plumb, as a wee teaser they've posted up the track “A New Town” for free download on Stereogum.

Evil Hand
Derek Bates, one half of Bottle of Evil, has just made his new mini album 'Rain Check' free to download on Bandcamp, rather ace it is too.

Holy Esque
The most exciting new material that popped into my inbox this week came from Glasgow outfit, Holy Esque, who's tune 'Rose' was one of the most exciting new things I have heard in a while. You don't need to take my word for it, just head on over to their SoundCloud page where you can download the song for free.

Kill The Waves
Electronic dream-pop outfit, Kill The Waves apparently blew everyone away with their appearance at King Tut's earlier in the week. If you fancy finding out what all the fuss is about then just head on over to their SoundCloud page where you will find a whole host of free tunes up for grabs.

FOUND
If you head on over to the FOUND Bandcamp page you can find yourself a  free download of the ComputerScheisse remix of Anti Climb Paint.

Eugene McGuinness
It's been fecking ages since we last heard anything from Eugene McGuinness, it's been that long that I simply presumed that he'd decided to call it a day. Thankfully he hasn't given up the ghost and even more excitingly if you head over to Facebook and 'like' his page he'll give you a free download of his new song 'Thunderbolt'.


DJ Shadow
You can download yourself another free track from the DJ Shadow's most recent album, The Less You Know, The Better. Download 'Give Me Back The Nights' for free here.


Bones & Money
Aberdonian label, Tuff Wax Records continue to impress, their most recent release comes from Bones & Money who have posted up their new single Close​/​Anxious for free download on Bandcamp.


Nerina Pallot
A free MP3 download of Long Tall Grass Of Summer by Nerina Pallot  is available here.


Khol
Experimental Glasgow outfit, Khol have made their EP 'Medicine Songs' free to download on Bandcamp.

Tim Chaplin
One half of the Factory Kids, Tim Chaplin has just released a new a mini album, Due Style, which you can download for free on his Bandcamp page.

We've Got It Covered #77

This week you're all getting an extra treat, as I have not one but two cover versions to share with you all. The reason for this being that tonight I am getting to see both Butcher Boy and Adam Stafford playing in the Southside of Glasgow. Now for any of non-weegies out there, the reason I am particularly looking forward to this one is that aside from the Academy, very rarely do we get any good gigs south of the river in sunny Glasgow. In fact I can only really think of the odd gig at the Tramway or the now defunct Plaza (which were converted into some horrible horrible looking flats), as venues which I have been to that are within walking distance of where I lived. Thanks to my pal Jim from the Vinyl Villain blog, I will get to add Langside Town Hall to that list tonight, as to celebrate his blogs rather impressive 5th birthday, he's putting on his first ever gig. Not only that, but he's booked a stellar line up to, which includes Butcher Boy who will be playing their first hometown gig since the release of the acclaimed LP 'Helping Hands' and one of my favourite artists, Adam Stafford. The gig kicks off at 7:30pm tonight, and tickets are £8 (you can still pre-order them here). If you live on the southside and you've not already got plans for tonight, get yourself along to this quite unique gig. If you need any more convincing, just check out the two cover versions below.


Butcher Boy - Streets of Philadelphia (Bruce Springsteen cover)

Adam Stafford-Invisible Sun (Police cover)

A Midweek News Roundup...

Once again my inbox is over flowing with loads of newsworthy things, which means it's time for another news roundup...

First off we have the pretty exciting news that Miaoux Miaoux has announced a very special live show at The Captain's Rest on the 23rd of November. The gig which is being put on to preview his new album, will see Julian (aka Miaoux Miaoux) playing with a full live band, plus some very special guest vocalists., including Profisee, Paul Carlin (Dananananaykroyd /American Men), Kris Ferguson (Mitchell Museum) and Anna Miles (Maple Leaves). Plus as if that wasn't enough there will also be support from the rather awesome Jonnie Common, it's £5 and tickets will only be available on the door so you'd be advised to get down nice and early.

Bloggers promoting gigs, it's a bug that seems to be spreading rapidly amongst the online Scottish blogosphere. This time round Jim from the Vinyl Villain has something pretty special up his sleeve as he's decided to commemorate the 5th Anniversary ofhis blog by promote his own gig. So on Saturday the 19th of November he's booked the Langside Halls on the south side of Glasgow and is putting on the wonderful Butcher Boy. I am pretty excited about this gig, as there are far too few gigs on the southside (if you exclude anything on the Academy that is), plus I can walk/stumble home from this one, which is all good in the hood. As if that wasn't enough, the support on the evening will come from Peenko favourite, Adam Stafford, who will be fresh from just having support the Twilight Sad on their Scottish tour. Tickets for the gig are priced at £8 and are available now using the following link.

Butcher Boy - The Day Our Voices Broke

Over in the east it's time for this years Oxjam Edinburgh Takeover, which takes place this Friday (21st) at various venues across the city, including the Cabaret Voltaire, Sneaky Pete’s, Electric Circus, The Wee Red Bar, Medina (now The Third Door) and Banshee Labyrinth with The Left Bank (formerly The Store) as the festival HQ.

The lineup includes an array of amazing local bands including: As in Bear, Black International, Citizens, Dead Boy Robotics, Endor, Esperi, FOUND, French Wives, i build collapsible mountains, Broken Records (solo), The Last Battle, Letters, Loch Awe, The Machine Room, Meursault, PAWS, Sebastian Dangerfield, Smithsonian, The Spook School, Trapped in Kansas, Trapped Mice, Vasquez and Verse Metrics.

On the day The Left Bank will be festival HQ from 3pm – 3am. It will house wristband exchange along with a few acoustic sets, merch for sale, cakes etc, a raffle and Oxfam reps. The afterparty is also happening here, featuring DJ sets from PAWS and Fresh Air with a few others TBA.

Tickets are £10 and are available from Avalanche Records, Tickets Scotland and WeGotTickets. Entry to the afterparty is free with Takeover wristbands or £4 without (£3 students). A full break down of all of the stage times can be found over on The Pop Cop.

To finish up I have a video of the new French Wives single, 'Numbers', in case you'd forgotten they have a wee single launch at Mono tonight, with support coming from Blochestra and Endor, oh and doors are at 7:30pm...

Scots Way-Hay #59 - Butcher Boy

photo by by Brian Sweeney

When I first started this blog, I never set out to predominantly focus on Scottish music, it was just something the I found myself getting drawn more and more into as I kept finding a wealth of great music in my own backyard. Butcher Boy were a prime example of a band that made me want to find out more about the Scottish music scene. At the time I remember heralding their last album, 'React Or Die', as being the new 'Tigermilk'. Upon reflection I think I might have been a slightly over zealous with my praise, however, it is a great fucking album that's worth hunting out if you haven't already heard it.

Not being ones for being known to play conventional gigs, I didn't actually manage to catch the band live until December of last year when they supported Belle & Sebastian at the last of their sold out Barrowland shows in Glasgow. Having waited a good long while to see them they didn't disappoint, now with a new album due out later in the year I managed to grab a few words with their lead singer John to ask him about playing in ice cream parlours and what's in store for Butcher Boy in 2011...


Would You Care To Introduce Yourself?

Hello Lloyd, my name is John Blain Hunt and I am the singer and guitarist with Butcher Boy. The rest of the band are - Basil Pieroni on lead guitar, Alison Eales on keys, Findlay Mackinnon on drums, Maya Burman-Roy on cello, Robert Spark and Fraser Ford on bass and guitars, Helena Flint on viola and Cat Robertson on violin.


How would you describe the music you make?

I hope it is kind and generous and has heart!


How did you start out making music?

When I was 19 I was out of work and I had no prospect of work... and in the absence of anything to do I taught myself to play guitar. I'd always loved pop music but I never considered myself to have any great aptitude for playing or understanding it... and I still don't, really... but I really loved the process of writing - and my only ambition, once I could play, was to write for myself. I can play about five songs other than my own!


What process goes into the way you write songs?

I'll generally sketch out the song - that's the really easy part, the chords and the vocal melody. A second melody will generally come alongside it - usually a cello line, or the bass line. We'll then flesh these sketches it out as a band... it really takes life when we work on it with Findlay, our drummer... and then, almost always last, I'll finish off the vocal and the lyrics. I might have had a phrase or a chorus in mind, but the words are what colours the whole piece.


Who are your big musical influences?

There are hundreds of records I love - a tonne of things you'd expect from listening to indie records in the 1980s and 1990s, The Smiths, Tindersticks, Belle and Sebastian, Sebadoh, Felt, The Go Betweens... but as I get older I tend to look back more to the records I listened to when I was really young, pop records from the early 1980s. I find them really mysterious and magical. Having said that, the most enduring influence - and certainly the person I've cribbed the most from! - is Vince Guaraldi. Very little makes me happier than listening to the Vince Guaraldi Trio.


What kind of influence do you feel that where you come from has had on the music you create?

Musically, I don't think geography has too much to do with it - there's maybe a Scottish chord change or two in there, and perhaps a folksy phrase, but if there is much more than that it's not intentional! Lyrically though I'd say there is a more pronounced influence... a lot of my favourite writers are Scottish, people like Edwin Morgan and Don Paterson, and I admire the way they can invoke an implicit Scottishness without it being offensive or cloying. Those writers, and the film maker Bill Douglas, resonate with me a great deal more than much in the way of Scottish music.


Having previously played in ice cream parlours, bowling clubs and libraries, do you prefer to avoid playing more conventional gigs?

I think it's a lot more fun! As musicians we're unfortunate, in some ways, to all have day jobs - it doesn't really allow us to tour to any great extent. However, on the other hand, it means we can try things we perhaps wouldn't want to if we were running the band as a commercial operation!


Your previous albums have come out through with 'How Does It Feel To Be Loved?', how did you hook up with them originally? Will you be releasing your new album 'Helping Hands' with them too?

I knew Ian Watson through the clubs I used to run in Glasgow. Ian had come up to DJ a couple of times and I'd DJed for Ian too. When we recorded our first demo I sent a copy to Ian - I've always respected Ian's opinions on music - and, at best, I'd hoped he might play a song at his club. As it turned out, Ian was planning a label, and he offered to put a record out for us. The first album went down fairly well and so we did a second but, as we approached a third Ian said that while he would put it out for us we'd perhaps be better advised to see if any other labels would take us on as his resources were getting stretched. I was sad about it but we were fortunate enough to be picked up by another London label called Damaged Goods. And so Helping Hands will be coming out through Damaged Goods in July. I'm really looking forward to working with them.


A couple of years ago you performed an original live score to Enrico Cocozza's Chick's Day at the GFT, how did that come about and do you have any plans to do anything like that again in the future?

I've got a checklist of places I want to play in Glasgow and the GFT had been high on that list! We wouldn't have got anywhere by approaching them and just suggesting a show - and so we hatched this plan to perform a live score to a silent film! I'd seen Chick's Day a few years before and had been floored by it - it was shocking and brutal but also very tender, and incredibly well made - and it felt perfect for us. A lot of the themes in it chimed with a lot of what we'd write about. We explained what we wanted to do and the GFT were very supportive of it... and so we worked on a score for the film - which came out at around 25 minutes of new songs. At the time, I loved the idea of it being absolutely of the moment - we wouldn't record the event, and that the only way you'd experience it, or even hear the songs would've been to be there - but I softened after about a day! I was so proud of it - and, in the end, we've adapted parts of the score for our new record, and have used one of the pieces to close the album.


What are your plans for the rest of the year and beyond?

In the immediate term I'm finishing the sleeve for the album! We're going to release a song called Imperial as a single, with a new b-side called Juicy Fruit. All being well, Helping Hands will be out in July. We'll play the Indietracks festival at the end of that month and, hopefully, we'll be able to arrange some UK shows around that.


Butcher Boy - This Kiss Will Marry Us

Butcher Boy's first two albums Profit In Your Poetry and React Or Die are both still available to buy from the bands website. Personally I would suggest you check out React Or Die as it's a cracking record.

Butcher Boy
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Friday Freebies

Fleet Foxes
On Monday night the Internet went officially bat shit crazy for a few hours with the exciting news that the Fleet Foxes are coming back, with a new album and massive tour (no Scottish date yet). As a taster of what you can expect from their new material they are giving away their amazing new track 'Helplessness Blues' for free, if this is anything to go by then boy are we in for a treat.

The Streets
Love him or hate him, I think it's fair to say that Mr Skinners debut album, 'Original Pirate Material' is a fucking epic record. No question. Having decided to retire his Streets moniker with his final album 'Computers and Blues', I think he's going out on a bit of a high with this record. If you're not too sure if it's still your bag, then you can download '4 O'Clock Today' for nowt off Amazon.

Butcher Boy
Anyone who caught Butcher Boy supporting Belle and Sebastian at their last Barrowlands show should agree that the new material from the Glasgow indie outfit is sounding pretty damn sweet. If you haven't heard of them before then do yourself a favour and get downloading 'Clockwork' which is taken from their second album 'React Or Die', then go and buy the actual album. It's a hidden classic, trust me.

Azure Ray
If you haven't got any plans for this evening then might I suggest that you get yourself down to King Tuts for an evening of indie-joy. Having been on a bit of a hiatus for the past few years the amazing Azure Ray are back in town and they've asked Glasgow's finest, Beerjacket to support for the evening. If you haven't heard of Azure Ray before, then get that rectified by downloading this collaboration they recorded with Sparkelhorse.

Come On Gang!
Last week I was lucky enough to have been asked to appear on Pop Goes The Revolution on Subcity (you happy now George?!), I got asked to choose 4 songs to play. Seeing as I do this weekly post I thought it made sense for me to select songs that are freely available on the internet. One of my choices was the poptastic, 'Fortune Favours The Brave' from Come On Gang!. Sadly the band have decided to call it a day, but not before going out with one final hurrah, which will also be there album launch. If I am honest about it, I am pretty gutted about them splitting, for me they're another holiday romance band, just as soon I've fallen for them they'll be gone for good. On a more positive note, they have crafted on the best albums I have heard so far this year. Anyway, enough of that ramble, you didn't come here to be rambled at, you are here for free stuff and that's what you're going to get. Just head over to their Bandcamp where you will find free download of the aforementioned song, plus a download of former single Wheels.

French Wives
Those luverly French Wives really have left the best till last as they begin to roundup their series of Home Fires freebies by giving away Me vs Me, one of their finest moments to date. Their new EP is due out later in the month, look out for as it's a corking wee release.

de Selby
It's been a while since we've heard much from the Second Hand Marching Band, so ti came as a nice surprise to find out that not only have they been practising new material, but one of them has gone off and formed his own wee side project. Step forward, Alistair Beith, who has roped in some of his fellow Marchers to record an EP under the banner of de Selby. The EP has been getting some heavy rotation in my car this week, it reminds me a touch of Burnt Island. No bad thing in my eyes, if you fancy hearing the EP you can download it as one of those pay what you want deals on Bandcamp. If you like what you hear then there is a limited edition CD that you can buy too, it's awffa pretty.

Dear Mountaineer
If you missed my Scots Way-Hay post earlier in the week, then now's the time to do some much needed catching up. At the time I found myself bemoaning the lack of a full track on their Bandcamp page, then I ended up looking rather foolish when they posted up the excellent 'The Hare Versus The Bear' on their Bandcamp. Again it's a pay what you want kind of download, so it's up to you if you want to download it for free then on your shoulders so be it. Either way I urge you to check this four piece out.

Yeasayer
Technically it's not a freebie as it' one of those pay what you want deals, but hey there is an option to pay fuck all, so if your conscience can cope with that then you will find a free download of a recording of Yeasayer in Belgium here.

Now Wakes The Sea
A few months back I posted a freebie from Now Wakes The Sea, this was shortly before a gig he was playing for Elba Session. Being the nugget that I am, I hadn't realised they weren't the original band that had been booked up to play. The original band were my mates band, so when I came across the freebie I automatically thought it was my mates band and I started to profess about me being mates Now Wakes The Sea. Yes, I am fuck nugget. On the brighter side he really impressed me at the gig, now his new EP 'Oral Arms' is up for free download I would suggest you check it out. One day I hope that he becomes my friend too.

North American War
Matthew 'Song By Toad' wrote a cracking wee review of an EP from North American War earlier in the week, the review caught my attention for two reasons. One it was released on the awesome Winning Sperm Party label, and two it's free to download. I would suggest you read the Toads review, then if it sounds like your cup of tea you can download it for free here.

Bear Driver
I have already admit how much I like this Leeds pop outfit, so it was good to hear that they're heading out to this years SXSW. In the build up to their big adventures the band are giving away a new track every other week until they fly out. Awesome stuff.

Julia and the Doogans
The female fronted Glasgow indie folk outfit have a pretty new website, to celebrate it's prettiness they've made one of their demos available to download for free.

Yuck
I really don't seem to be able to get away from Yuck, I am almost at the stage were I am determined not to like them, but I know that eventually I am going to cave in. Perhaps it will be this free download of 'Coconut Bible' that will push me over the edge. We wait with bated breath.

The Barettas
The singer from this trio from Hamilton, Ontario sounds a lot like Gwen Stefani, if that's a plus in your boo then get downloading their single Touche, there's also an awesome wee video for you to admire too.

Vivian Girls
Stereogum have a free download of a new Vivian Girls song.

Esben and the Witch
The internet seems to be spaffing over this lot, I can't get past their shite name. If you are less fickle than me you will be pleased to know that you can get yourself a free download of their song 'Warpath' in exchange for your email address.

Valentine Records - Doolittle
The Manchester label has just posted up a free download of a covers album of the Pixies classic, it includes Neil Miltons take on Wave of Mutilation.

Smith Westerns
Another band getting a lot of hype at the moment are Chicago trio, Smith Western, their album 'Dye It Blonde' has been getting a fair few spins on my MP3 player over the past couple of weeks. I still haven't quite made my mind up if it's for me or not, if you fancy checking them out you can download their song Weekend for free via KEXP.

blood blood
A very late addition to this weeks freebies comes courtesy of Glasgow lo-fi outfit, blood blood, who I cam across courtesy of Happy Particles Facebook update. If you are quick off the mark then you will find a couple of free EPs to download here.

Peenko's Albums of 2009 #9 - Butcher Boy - React Or Die

Back when this album first came out it was a minor revelation for me, I think I even heralded it as being the new 'Tigermilk', I might have been getting a bit over excited, but fuck me this album is good. It's very twee, so if that doesn't float your boat then it probably won't be for you, personally it really worked for me. Still relatively unknown in their home town of Glasgow, the septet keep things very low key, playing only a handful of low key shows in bowling clubs and cinemas. For me this album was a major step forward from their debut album 'Profit in Your Poetry' filled with beautiful harmonious songs, if you are looking for something that bit different to add to your Christmas list then look no further.

Butcher Boy - Carve A Pattern
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Butcher Boy present Enrico Cocozza's Chick's Day (14/06/09)

Having recently played in a bowling Club on the Southside of Glasgow, Butcher Boy have announced yet a another show which is just that little bit different, this time they'll be playing at the GFT in Glasgow, playing their latest album, 'React or Die' (the one I was creaming myself over the other day) and in addition they will also be performing the score to the film Chicks Day.

Here's the blurb:-

Enrico Cocozza (1921 - 1997) was a filmmaker born out of time, a Scots-Italian David Lynch who left a body of work as hilarious and eccentric as it was frightening and stylish. His 1951 film Chick's Day is true cinema - a fable of bruised Wishaw skies, delinquency and murder that caused considerable controversy on its release. Butcher Boy are fans, and will perform an original score to the film before playing a set from their second LP React Or Die, recently released on the How Does It Feel To Be Loved? label.

Here's what John has to say about the show:
"The GFT is my favourite place in Glasgow. It's the best place to meet, to hide, to see movies, to read, to drink coffee. I've seen almost all of my favourite films there - and the GFT has played a huge part in them becoming my favourite films. "Enrico Cocozza's movies portray a Scotland that's more familiar and genuine to me than the world depicted by other, more lauded Scottish filmmakers. His films can be violent and genuinely shocking, but they are also often laugh-out-loud funny - and they excel in depicting the specific combination of brutality and poetry that exists on the west coast. "Writing and performing a score for Chick's Day will be a challenge for the band, but it's a challenge we're relishing. The film is wonderful but Cocozza himself is an inspiring figure - and someone we want to pay tribute to as beautifully as we can." The programme also features Cocozza's classic short Smart Boy Wanted, and is introduced by critic Mitch Miller. Tickets are £6/£4.50 (concs.) and are available in advance online (www.gft.org.uk), by phone (0141 332 6535) or in person from the GFT box office.

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Introducing - Butcher Boy

I am not sure why, but since the start of the year the number of great Scottish albums to have come out has been nothing short of phenomenal, what's even more surprising for me is the number of 'new' (or at least new to me) acts to have emerged. With albums by the Twilight Sad, Idlewild, Broken Records, We Were Promised Jetpacks, Lord Cut Glass and My Latest Novel to name just a few - still to come this really is turning into a bit of vintage year for Scottish bands. Here's another one to add to that list, Butcher Boy, a band I have only just come across in the past few weeks after I read about them playing a gig in Queens Park Bowling Club, how did I miss this?! Apparently in the past they've done gigs in Queens Park Cafe (the ice cream shop, not the pub) and various other Southside venues. They are set to release their second album, React or Die on the 6th of April, and an absolute corker it is too, do you remember the first time you heard 'Tigermilk' well that's pretty much how I felt after my first listen, really i can't recommend this highly enough. If you want more info or a better description of the band get googling as I really don't think I have the capability to emphasise quite how good their second album actually is.

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