Hi all,
at the risk of being a little biased, I’d like to blow my own trumpet here for a minute or two today. Of course it takes genius to be a real genius – Mozart, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Elvis etc all had the talent that really cut the mustard. Today though I’d like to argue a small case on behalf of us poor, hardworking and oft-maligned Band Managers and I say “It takes talent to see talent, then cherish, nurture, challenge and inspire it to become all it can in the lives of those it’s been entrusted to.”
That’s a pretty tough brief if you don’t mind me saying and when it comes to managing a band of 4 or 5 young folk that’s multiplied by a factor o’ at least… well a lot of huff and puff. Young egos are delicate you know…
So when it all comes together and better still others at the real grass roots of todays cutting edge music recognise and tell others about it too then all the blood, sweat and sometimes tears that come from managing a band is really worth it all.
Now without further ado look what I stumbled across on the Internet the other night handcrafted by those good guys over at Dead Earnest in their Dundee Bands Live section ( http://www.btinternet.com/~deadearnest/Dundee.htm ) I was overjoyed because Andy G (Kudos to you btw!) could see what I’ve known all along was within this rocking Fife fivesome the Skinflints … but don’t take my word for it – Andy G take it away!
Review By Andy G – Dundee Live Bands to Watch featuring the SKINFLINTS!
There was a first band on but I missed them.So, along come The Skinflints. Who? What? Where?
They set up on stage and we had a guitarist to the left as you look at it, guitarist and vocalist centre stage in front of the drummer, bassist to the right and guy on synthesizers to the right. As the first track began, your attention is immediately caught by the sight of the synthesizer player hammering the shit out of some kind of drum that’s set up to his left.
The band themselves are launching into this mighty hurricane of industrial strength rhythms, red hot guitar work and driving bass. That they then scorch into a song that reveals that the lead singer has a great voice, that the harmonies are strong are in tune and that you’re witnessing a band that’s got the furnace heat of a forest fire.
It’s riveting stuff and this is just the first song.
From there on, you’re hooked, for this was one stunning performance from a band who really cook. Throughout the set there’s this huge whirlwind of guitar rock with massive rhythms and industrial electronic undercurrents that fill the place with sound and provide a storm force of sound to transport you to places way beyond the average rock or indie band.
I was absolutely jaw-dropped by what I was hearing, so much so that there’s no way I can give you any sort of song breakdown or description other than the whole effect was a sort of fiery “Hanney-meets-Hawkwind in an inferno” type of thing and even this doesn’t comne that close!! You got searing guitar leads, the skull-crunching double drum attack, rivers of sizzling space synths undercurrents and electronic textural attack, all topped off by vocals that you feel this sort of a band rarely have.
The songs themselves are arranged to provide a truly dynamic approach so that the song is not merely a vehicle for the instrumental work – the two work in complete harmony and you are taken from solid songwriting to space-age inferno in a heartbeat. One absolute gem of a band and I can’t wait to see them again! (oh yeh, they’re from Glasgow!)
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Andy – “you da man!” You made one old rocker very happy and thanks for seeing what I see! And well done lads you’ve got everything you need within, now go let it out!
All the best,
Bill George
PS: Happy New Year everyone btw!
