Archive for September, 2007
city slickers
Tuesday, September 25th, 2007
Nothing gets us furiously nodding the head in approval quite like some kick-ass American punk pop. However, you might have not realised it by reading The Pop Cop since many of our current crop of favourites (we’re thinking Jack’s Mannequin and The Format here) rarely set foot in Europe, never mind Scotland, so we have little justification in writing about them.
In truth, it’s your loss as well as theirs, especially when it seems like the bands who do make the effort to go transatlantic – and subsequently find their way onto your local radio station – are usually to be found at the bottom rung of the originality ladder.
But rather than waste energy on the undeserving – *cough* Fall Out Boy – let’s talk about MOTION CITY SOUNDTRACK, whose arrival in Glasgow is both imminent and very much welcome. The Minneapolis group play them fast and loud, hit all the right power chords and are effortlessly melodic.
And that’ll certainly give us the fix we need until Arizona gods Jimmy Eat World hit these shores again to show every other punk rocker how it’s done. But that’s for another day.
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Poison Pen
Monday, September 24th, 2007
Forgive us if you’ve heard this one before but our favourite JACK PENATE tale is of the time he visited Glasgow three months ago, when he relieved his boredom at Optimo in the Sub Club by scribbling anti-monarchy slogans on any piece of furniture he could find with a marker pen.
Despite being caught ink-handed, the Londoner refused to compensate the very pissed off nightclub manager for the damage and seemed to have got off with his vandalism when the police said they didn’t have enough evidence to charge him.
However, the story took an unexpected twist. When our Jack went back to his hotel, he realised he couldn’t find his mobile phone. So he did what any of us would do and called his own number. And who should answer? None other than a Subbie staff member, who persuaded Jack to cough up £200 if he wanted to see his precious moby again – although what probably clinched it was when the quick-thinking employee threatened to call his mum and tell on him!
While a smug Sub Club ‘insider’ was quoted as saying Jack Peñate “doesn’t have many friends in Glasgow” following the incident, it hasn’t stopped punters in the city queuing to see him perform, with his upcoming gig at The Garage long sold out.
Perhaps the good people of Scotland have succumbed to his upbeat choruses, which have a kick of mayhem and Madness. Or maybe everyone just loves a chancer.
4 Jack Penate – My Yvonne
b September 28, The Garage, Glasgow
b September 29, Moshulu, Aberdeen
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Mad Max
Friday, September 21st, 2007
Describing a group as “a great live band” can often be as damning as complimenting someone on having a nice personality or getting overexcited about their ability to make a good slice of toast.
But in the case of MAXIMO PARK it is a strength that allows them to fill venues twice as large as those played by some of their more famous peers.
The fact that the Newcastle quintet already have a wad of indie-pop gold in their setlist such as Apply Some Pressure, The Coast Is Always Changing and Our Velocity gives them a running start even before the gusto of their performance kicks in.
With hyperactive frontman Paul Smith prone to scissor-kicking and crotch-thrusting his way from one side of the stage to the other, not to mention gleefully whipping his jacket open like a flasher, you can’t question Maxïmo Park’s eagerness to please.
Whether they’re ugly is neither here not there, really.
4 Maxïmo Park – Wasteland
b October 1, Barrowland, Glasgow
b October 2, Barrowland, Glasgow
b October 3, Caird Hall, Dundee
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