Set The Controls for the Heart of the Sun

Most people who know me will tell you that I’m not prone to exaggeration or hyperbole, or even talking shite, but I think that I can safely say without fear of contradiction that the heat at our album launch party was about a million degrees. The heat was so bad that at one point Jay almost fainted and I don’t blame him. Half way through our set I was thinking about the Bataan Death March, and maybe this was the night that all my years of wild hedonism would finally catch up with me. Drinking water was pointless; it was just evaporating into steam everywhere. Sweat was running down the walls, dripping from the ceiling. I didn’t think it was possible but we did it. We finally turned Studio 24 into Bannermans.

We played an hour and a half in that tropical heat and tried out two new songs, ‘Ghosts of the Past’ and ‘Do all Dogs go to Heaven (The Preacher)’, as well as ‘Freedom Thirty Five’, our homage to the Trailer Park Boys. I broke one string and played the most of the gig with five strings. I had spare guitars with me, but the intense heat and lack of oxygen on stage rendered me temporarily helpless and stupid. No matter. After we came off stage Sam collapsed in the street, the steam pouring off him like a blown radiator.

Big thank you to all the bands who were all amazing on the night. Of course Big Hand, The Amphetameanies and Root System are three of the best bands in the country any day of the week, not to mention a fine collection of human beings too, but that night they were all on top form, each set was a blinder. It was a terrific line up. Thanks to Andrew Moore for some terrific shots, which have that steamy Seventies porn look about them thanks to the heat; he complained that he had to keep going outside to clear up his lenses. Thanks also to Matt Justice and Graeme Young on the sound; thanks to Cameron on the visual backdrops; thanks to our brothers Luke, Gav, Baz (Melvin), and Dod who DJ’d until the crack of dawn; thanks to everyone at the Studios including the bouncers who didn’t expect 700 of you turning up. And of course thanks to all of you who came and apologies to all those who were turned away. I would also like to add that someone stole my black leather pork pie hat after we came off stage, so be warned; I’m keeping an eye out for it.

We’ve had lots of positive feedback about the album itself. Especially the snazzy layout and the popup CD tray. What can we say to all you kids out there; we aim to please. The music isn’t too bad either. That was the bit that took a while, but it’s worth it. You’ll laugh, you’ll dance, you’ll weep tears of gratitude; in short, buy it!

One more thing, it looks like we are supporting Toots and the Maytals again this year, at the O2 Academy in Glasgow.

Swish! Three Points!!

-->