The Banter - September 2009

interviews

Pearl and the puppets, twin atlantic, Newton Faulkner, Paloma Faith, Milla Jovovich and more inside..

competitions

win snowboarding lessons, xbox 360 games, cds, dvds and more to be won..

Also Inside Music, Movies, TV, Gaming and more....

THE MAGAZINE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE BY YOUNG PEOPLE

Welcome

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Welcome to the latest edition of The Banter This edition is packed once again with some amazing interviews. The Banter team have had the chance to talk to Scottish bands/singers Twin Atlantic and Pearl and the Puppets. We have also took the time to catch up with Newton Faulkner, Paloma Faith, InMe and Soft Toy Emergency.

One again he magazine is bursting with competitions and we give you the chance to win snowboarding lessons with SNO!zone. Your chance to win does not end there. We also give you the opportunity to win eyebrow threading at The Benito Browbar, mobile phones, DVDS, CDs, Xbox 360 games and more.

Of course there is all the usual favourites for you to read and by the time you do read this you should also be able to read the magazine and even more news, features and gossip at The Banter’s brand new website at www.thebanter.co.uk, and of course you can also follow us on myspace, bebo and Twitter.

Remember this magazine is all about you and we are always looking from more and more contributions from volunteers who may be interested in getting involved. If you think you would like to get involved with the magazine or you have any feedback about the magazine or what you would like to see in it in future editions then drop us an e-mail at info@thebanter.co.uk

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Contents

36

Contents

Issue 3 2009 ● www.thebanter.co.uk

6 Global Cool

We take a look at the current campaign encouraging the use of public transport.

8 INTERVIEW - Twin Atlantic

8 23

34 44

We talk to Sam McNulty, frontman of Glasgow band Twin Atlantic ahead of the release of their new album “Vivarium”

12 INTERVIEW Milla Jovovich

The Resident Evil star talks about her latest move The Perfect Getaway

14 Movies

All the latest cinema release and DVDs to be won.

18 Interview - Pearl and the Puppets

The Banter catches up with the young lady from Kirkintilloch who has been taking the summer festivals by storm.

23 Music

Ones to watch for, gig reviews and the latest CDs out now.

32 Interview - Paloma Faith

The quirky new singer/songwrirter talks to the The Banter.

35 TV

A look at the musical side of Manhatten in Gossip Girl and Dollhouse and Entourage DVD Reviews.

38 Interview - Newton Faulkner

The laid back finger tapping, dreadlocked singer/songwriter talks to The Banter about his upcoming album “Rebuilt By Humans”

44 Games

We take a look at the best current and upcoming games and give you the chance to win Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2

44 Interview - Soft Toy Emergency

The amazingly named Soft Toy Emergency talk to The Banters, Rosemary Lowne

18 THE BANTER |

Feature

Yes, Banter reader, during what’s left of the summer of 09, we’re being encouraged to “DO IT IN PUBLIC!” - use public transport that is! Global Cool, which is part of Global Cool Foundations wants to promote the use of public transport by making it fun and enjoyable, and to emphasise the importance of reducing our all too large carbon footprints.

Global Cool work mainly within the media and entertainment industries to encourage the use of public transport, reminding us that using public transport will offer the opportunity to relax, chat with friends or be creative, making music or writing songs on the bus or train! Orange Unsigned Act winner Tommy Reilly told Global Cool that he often writes when travelling on buses and trains as this allows him to reflect, and he is often inspired while travelling! Elbow do a lot of writing on the road, and they feel that even when songs are unfinished, a journal of their travels has been created, which allows them to reflect on their experiences Global Cool took their awesome double decker bus to various festivals through out the UK such as Download, which was on between the 12 and 14 of June, T in the Park, and the Wireless Festival (4-5 July), where festival-goers were encouraged to draw on the bus, recalling their own experiences on public transport, which created a massive moving picture! The bus also had books, music and DVD’s on board, to send out the message that great things can happen when travelling!

Interested? Want to find out more? Well, Global Cool provide a | THE BANTER

journey planner which, whilst helping you to plan a journey, also shows you how much carbon you’ll be cutting in the process! Check it out at www.globalcool.org/journeys You can also follow ‘Do it in Public’ on Twitter, Facebook and Myspace, where Global Cool will keep you up to date with more celebrity interviews about their own public transport experiences and exclusive digital content! You can also check out celeb interviews with artists like Florence and the Machine and The Noisettes at T in the Park, on Global Cool’s Youtube page. www.twitter.com/Global_Cool www.facebook.com/pages/Global_Cool/126118610184 www.myspace.com/globalcool www.youtube.com/user/globalcooltube BY louise anne geddes

Feature

One Creative Scotland

H

osted by the Tollhouse Studios on 1st August 2009, the second bi-annual “One Creative Scotland” event where “musicians, visual artists, photographers, tea connoisseurs and film makers come together as one to celebrate their creativity” was a definite success. The event, pioneered by Glasgow indie band, Suspire, provided a platform for many creative artists to celebrate and share their work with like minded individuals.

“One Creative Scotland” is supported by BBC Radio Scotland DJ Jim Gellatly, whose radio show “Jim Gellatly’s New Music” seeks up and coming talent such as Suspire, Dananananaykroyd and The Vivians.

The evening saw perfomances in the 2 studio spaces from artists such as The Cinnamons and Anna Meldrum in Studio C, and some mellower acoustic music from Spy Movie in Studio B. The Cinnamons, who have recently supported Metronomy at King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut in Glasgow, have a fantastic energy, and with catchy songs such as “Dead Man’s Shoes” and “Analog Man”, I don’t doubt that the band managed to gain themselves several new fans!. Listing influences such as the Happy Mondays and Pink Floyd, this infectious Glasgow 5-piece are certainly ones to watch!!!

The event, which was filmed by Bad Pony Media was largely promoted through word of mouth, and was bursting at the seams with lovers of music, art and Tchai Ovna tea alike!! Suspire are certainly to be commended for their passion in leading the underground arts community forward in terms of providing a platform for many creative disciplines in a way which is accessible and affordable to all.

Glasgow 3-piece Suspire, comprises of lead vocalist/guitarits Paul Duffin, bassist Mark Duffin, and drummer Clare Kelly, who are responsible for the Mutual Art Movement, which in the form of the One Creative Scotland event brings together diverse artists from a multitude of creative disciplines. Clare Kelly from Suspire says: “We just wanted to provide a nurture-ground for new works to be shared. It is important to keep each other uplifted – especially during such times of recession. Through this, we then gained the support of Glasgow west-end eco-label, First Aid

Records.”

The band, who were selected to participate in the ‘French Connection’ tour by French Promoter Vincent Feasson have recently played gigs in Lyon and St Etienne, where one fan described Suspire as a “Scottish Invasion” – meant in the nicest possible way!!

Suspire, through First Aid records will be launching their debut single “Legislate for Luck”, produced by Roddy McIlwraith (roddymacaudio) on 3rd October 2009. The eco indie label was founded in December 2007 by Roxanne Claxton and Dorothee Weber of Glasgow band Salon Society who “questioned the integrity of some aspects of the music industry and figured they could offer artists a fairer deal and safer creative way of launching their music careers.” Claxton firmly believes that “the label is dedicated to bringing together the best in Scottish genres to release innovative and vibrant music”, a description which couldn’t be better fitting in describing the energy and enthusiasm of Suspire.

The single launch night, which will take place in Glasgow club “Stereo” will feature support from The Cinnamons and Salon Society in what is shaping up to be a fantastic night for this emerging Glasgow talent.

For more information on any of the bands, or the One Creative Scotland event, please check out : www.myspace.com/suspire www.myspace.com/onecreativescotland www.myspace.com/thecinnamons www.myspace.com/attictollhouse For Jim Gellatly’s Podcast on One Creative Scotland, check out http://radiomagnetic.com/main-features/episode-43-creative-scotland-revisited/ - Jim Gellatly’s New Music, Main Features: 05.08.09 | Episode 43: One Creative Scotland Revisited

BY louise anne geddes

THE BANTER |

photos by Daren Borzynski

| THE BANTER

interview

Interview

TWIN ATLANTIC

Scottish band, Twin Atlantic, recently returned to Glasgow following a spell in the States where they were recording their new mini-album, “Vivarium”.

The Banter caught up with frontman, Sam McTrusty, before their Glasgow gig supporting Taking Back Sunday.

How would you describe the Twin Atlantic sound for someone who’s never heard you before?

I would say it could be one of the loudest things you have ever heard or one of the quietest but with like a pop structure too because we always believe that if a songs a good song it should work through an acoustic guitar or through a metal zone as loud as it can go. It’s very diverse and it has very strong Scottish vocals over it, so that’s kind of our vibe.

You are a relatively new band in terms of time together, up until the last couple of years you were all previously in different bands. How did you initially get together?

We got together because me and Ross, our bass player, went to school together and pretty much were friends at school and went gigs and found we pretty much liked the same music.

That was before I could even play the guitar and I thought that’s awesome fun I am going to learn to do that as well. But then his band broke up at the same time and we kind of just got together and never really had any serious ambition for it we just wanted to mess about but then I ended up meeting a drummer through a bar job I had in the Beer Hall then it kind of just took off from there and we started to practice about 5 times a week. We then met Craig and Barry and since then because we practice everyday it’s just been like a full time job for the last two years, so been working pretty hard at it.

Interview list that were substantial bands, but they picked us out of that bunch and it was Jimmy Chamberlin, the drummer, that supposedly chose us so I have been told. It may be a myth, but that’s what I was told that they asked for us to play which is cool.

You’ve recently returned from a European Trip with The Subways, and then some gigs in the States, how do European and American crowds compare to those in Scotland?

The north of Scotland is really very similar to the German crowds because they just like a good time to be honest and as soon as they heard a rock chord they were just like Yeah!, so they are kind of similar. Everyone in England just stands still and looks at you to be honest, maybe that’s why we don’t do so well because I always let my mouth run away with me and give them abuse but they don’t even understand me half the time. In America we played a festival called Bamboozle, and we played a place called Viper Room, it used to be owned by Jonny Depp and is a crazy place and it was cool. The people in America who came to see us I don’t think were expecting us to be as energetic and as full on as we were. I got the impression they were all taken aback so that was a good first impression to make I think.

How did you get the name, Twin Atlantic?

This is always a disappointing answer because everyone thinks there is going to be some mystical story but it was honestly that we just wanted a name that would represent our music rather than people recognising the name before our band. We wanted the music to stand for these two words put together so we just wanted something that sounded kinda cool to be honest. It’s doesn’t really mean anything.

It’s been an excellent year for Twin Atlantic; could you name a few of your highlights?

We went and stayed and recorded in America for 2 and a half months and that was just insane, I had never been before never been to America and to get to go over there and for someone else to pay for you to live and treat you like some big band, when we are not was mental. And T in the Park this year was insane, we though the tent was maybe going to be half full, which would still be a lot of people, but it was full up to the back and we were fucking stoked out of our minds.

You were also personally requested by Smashing Pumpkins to support them at the SECC. How did this come about?

In a way yeah, we were put forward by DF Concerts along with 10 or 12 other bands, there were other Scottish bands on that THE BANTER |

Interview You have also been doing the festival scene with T in the Park, Download, Sonisphere and Belladrum. How has the festival scene been for you?

The festival scene, I am like a moany guy I like to be comfortable before any gig I do and if its raining outside and you have like a really shitty plastic chair to sit on there’s things like that I don’t really enjoy. I enjoy the fact that anything can happen at a festival because you have not had a sound check, you have not had all day to set up and you don’t know how many people are going to turn up to watch you. You always find that other bands that you have toured with that are all playing at the festival too all come and watch and its like a real get together with all our other friends and bands but you just have a lot more “I have got aspirations to play Hampden to be honest, that’s control when you are playing in a venue like ABC tonight, I know what the stage is my attitude towards this, it would be amazing to be like a going to sound like for example so I am massive, massive band but to get to you know when we go a lot more confident and I know how it is going to go. back to each site 100 more people come or 50 more people ‘What Is Light, Where Is Laughter’ had a digital release and ‘Light Speed’ was also available as a free download for your Twitter followers. With the internet becoming more and more important for bands to spread their wings, how much emphasis do you guys put on using MySpace, facebook, twitter and the internet in general to communicate with your fans?

Without those facilities for bands, most bands wouldn’t get started now. We wouldn’t have a third of the fan base that we have, in Scotland anyway. Just being able to keep in touch with them and show them how much you appreciate them choosing to spend their time, because its free time essentially, and they are choosing to spend their free time watching you fuck about on a guitar. Its really flattering, its cool, its good to just show that you appreciate it.

You were signed in early 2009 to Red Bull Records and have recorded your mini album, which is due to be released in September, what can you tell us about, ‘Vivarium’?

Its similar to the songs we have had before and there’s a couple of old songs on it as well, “What Is Light, What Is Laughter” is on it and so is “Audience and Audio?” That’s purely because its getting released worldwide and when we were working with the label they thought it was important to let people hear that because we have only managed to reach out to the people literally from our hands to their hands, given our CDs to and stuff, so that is what they were on. The rest of it is pretty dynamic man, I think there’s something in there for everybody but that’s not because we are trying to soften up our music I think its just because we’ve got a really eclectic taste between the four of us “You’re Turning Into John Wayne” is your first release from the album, can you tell us what it is about?

It’s a song about American Culture sort of seeping through into 10 | THE BANTER

come then that’s fine with me.”

every other culture in the world. It started off as a joke because our guitar tech when he walks down the stairs and he’s carrying a cabinet, he opens up legs really wide to get down the stairs and he’s like “Awww John Wayne, John Wayne” so that idea started from there. I then put it in a song which we found really funny, but then turned it into something serious. Basically it sounds like we are making fun of America but we’re not. We are saying its ridiculous that there are so many bands who try to sing with American accents and dress like they are from America and just lose their minds basically.

Scotland seems to have a knack for producing some pretty amazing bands, are there any that you can give us a heads up about?

Frightened Rabbit, a band called the Xcerts that we have toured with are really good friends, they are amazing you should check them out; they have a record out as well. A band called Flood Of Red that played with us on our last tour, they’ve got a new record out and a band called Sucioperro.

What’s the ambition? Where do you want Twin Atlantic to be in 5 years time?

The answer we always give is that we will be happy as long as we are progressing, whether that’s we feel that we are making better music together or more people are coming to see us play and we’re reaching out to more people. I mean I have got aspirations to play Hampden to be honest, that’s my attitude towards this, it would be amazing to be like a massive, massive band but to get to you know when we go back to each site 100 more people come or 50 more people come then that’s fine with me

Win! WIN! Your chance to win Orkio Netbook and phone bag!

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Extremely light, the versatile Orkio Urban Bagz range includes bags for mobile phones, MP3 players, compact digital cameras, DSLR cameras, laptops and general accessories.

Mobile Phone Bagz £9.99, Music Bagz £9.99 Digital Compact Bagz £9.99 Laptop Bagz 10” £36.99 Laptop Bagz 15.4” £49.99 DSLR Small Bagz £42.99 DSLR Large Bagz £49.99 For more information visit http://www.orkio.com/. Distributed in the UK by Swains International PLC. We have an Orkio 10” Laptop Bag and an Orkio Mobile Bag up for grabs for one lucky reader. All you have to do for your chance to win is answer the follwing question:

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Wahl have teamed up with The Banter to offer one of our lucky readers the opportunity to win a Lithium Ion Total Grooming Kit. To be in with a chance to win all you need to do is answer the following simple question.

Q. What is Orkio ‘all about’?

Q: How many cutting heads does the Wahl Lithium Ion Total Grooming Kit have?

Send your answers by e-mail to info@thebanter.co.uk with the heading Competition: Orkio along with telling us your name, age, address and e-mail address.

Send your answers by e-mail to info@thebanter.co.uk with the heading Competition: Wahl along with telling us your name, age, address and e-mail address.

Winners will then be chosen at random! Good luck, competition closes September 30th 2009.

Winners will then be chosen at random! Good luck, competition closes September 30th 2009.

THE BANTER | 11

Movies

interview interview

milla jovovich Milla Jovovich discusses her role in the new thriller from writer/director David Twohy, A PERFECT GETAWAY. Jovovich plays Cydney, a newlywed who goes to Hawaii with her husband Cliff (Steve Zahn) for some fun and adventure.

But the r & r quickly meets an end when a killer starts offing island tourists. Cydney and Cliff band up with a few other couples for safety, but soon everyone is a suspect.

Why did you want to make this film?

One of the main things was the character. I really enjoyed playing the part of Cydney because she’s so different from any other role I’ve played, that people have seen me. Cydney’s really a normal, nice girl and that’s a little different for me, because I tend to play rather leftfield characters. And for me, personally, I thought it’d be good to show people a side of myself that they don’t normally see. Plus I thought it’d be great to work with those people - I really like Steve Zahn and Tim Olyphant. And it was nice to get back into the swing of things after the baby…

Watching the film, it was nice to see that softer side of you.

We’re so used to seeing you kicking on-screen ass…

Definitely I’ve been doing a lot of action films these past ten years, and even with the indie films I was making before then, I invariably played some kind of strong character or a strong woman. It’s very rare that I play a really normal girl who’s really relatable to other women. For me, it’s very much a thriller rather than an action movie, so it’s really about the story and 12 | THE BANTER

these characters that the audience invests in. And towards the end of the movie it takes a really dark turn that people I think will not expect. That really excited me, because it’s an ensemble piece you invest in all the characters - you like them and you could imagine being friends with them. And when you find out who the real killers are, it really takes you by surprise As well as seeing you in A Perfect Getaway, will see you next in Fourth Kind, right?

Yeah, that’s all done and that‘s what you’ll see me in next. It’s based on a true story and is set in Alaska in this very small town that has had a lot of attention from the FBI, because there have been a lot of disappearances and no one has been able to find out why. A lot of people think it might be extra-terrestrials. wThe town has been visited by the FBI more than any others. And I play this young psychologist whose husband has killed himself, and with all these strange disappearances she thinks there might be some connection.

She begins investigating and pretty much breaks down. She starts thinking it might be aliens and it was really interesting for me to see how a completely sane person, like this psychologist, could believe so sincerely that people are being taken by aliens. I thought that was fascinating. I myself don’t really believe in aliens, so I can only think she was so traumatised. But there are so many people around the world who are convinced they’ve been taken by aliens, and they are normal people, like farmers, police officers or whatever, people who in every other way are totally normal, and yet

h

Movies they believe they’ve been taken by aliens. I thought it was an interesting film.

How did you get involved in Keep Coming Back, William H. Macey’s directorial debut?

He is just the most wonderful, talented and prolific actor, and such a sweet man. We had started filming already but the movie’s kind of fallen apart again because I have to get into Resident Evil IV, so we’ve put it on hold until next year. But I am hoping that by next year things get better with the economy and smaller movies will have an easier time getting financed again. It’s been an uphill battle for us, because I was the first actor to get involved with the project. He contacted me about the movie - and that was in November last year - so we’ve been trying to get it off the ground for a while. It’s really hard when you’ve got a film you want to make and are all set to go and then someone pulls the finance. We still want to make it so fingers crossed for next year.

You’ve been packing in the blockbusters in recent years, but do you now hope to go back and forth between bigger and smaller films?

In the end, with a big franchise, there is a danger of getting typecast, although I must say that I’m not too bothered about that, I have a great life and child, and work is work. In the end I don’t really care - it’s great to have a really well-paying job that comes up every few years! But, as an artist, I love to work on smaller movies, with brilliant people, and make no money, where it’s just about the characters and the script. So it’s important for me to have both - I get to pay my bills, train, and do great stunt work, which I love, it’s a huge part of who I am. But also to show different sides of myself, like with A Perfect Getaway. Honestly, Resident Evil is to me a bit like L’Oreal on the modeling side - it’s a great project that has taken almost a decade of my life but it’s very much just steady work. I’d like to do more parts that people wouldn’t cast me in - like a big romcom - and that’s what I really liked about Cydney in A Perfect Getaway. It showed I could be a nice normal person, not just a zombie killer who’s doing back-flips all the time. I like to show that I can diversify.

What has surprised you most about motherhood?

It’s so much more than you could ever manage. I think having a baby is the most incredible thing I’ve ever done as a person and also the biggest single teacher in the world for me is my child.

When you have a baby, the baby becomes so important that only really tangible problems become important rather than all these emotional concerns that you have before. Pre-children you create so many problems for yourself, ‘Am I ready for this audition?’ and you fret loads about whether you’re good enough, but now I have Ever it’s not such a big deal. Even if I don’t get the job, I know that I’m going to be really busy as a mum. And even if I didn’t do another film again, being a mum is a fulltime job. Now it’s all about my baby, her growing up well and getting everything that she needs. Everything else is just a plus.

Are you already planning all the things you’re going to do together as mother and daughter?

Are you kidding? It’s crazy to see how fast she’s growing and wondering next year if we’ll be taking her on camping trips.

When we drive somewhere - the excitement of going to Disney

World, the mountains or the beach, all the things I did with my parents when I was growing up - taking roadtrips and going skiing and I’m so looking forward to all the questions and all the conversations. It’s incredible to think of how much fun we’re going to have!

You’re a musician as well as an actress and model, Milla, so what’s on your iPod? Radiohead. I love Kid A, but In Rainbows is the best. They are the two best albums of all time for me. I’ve liked them throughout there evolution but I think I like later Radiohead better. I’m often one of those annoying people who’ll only download two songs from a record, but these I constantly play from start to finish.

Competition time

To celebrate the release of A Perfect Getaway we are giving away a fantastic selection of thrilling and chilling DVDs to accompany an adrenaline filled night in! We have copies of Blue Crush, The Messengers and My Little Eye to giveaway to two lucky readers. All you need to do win is answer the following question.

In which movie based on a video game did Milla Jovovich star alongside Michelle Rodriguez?

Send your answers by e-mail to info@thebanter.co.uk with the heading Competition: Perfect Getaway along with telling us your name, age, address and e-mail address.

Winners will then be chosen at random! Good luck, competition closes September 30th 2009.

THE BANTER | 13

Movies

FUNNY PEOPLE 12a At cinemas now

George (Adam Sandler) is a very successful stand up comedian who learns that he has an untreatable blood disorder and is given less than a year to live.

Ira is a struggling up-and-coming stand up comedian who works at a deli and has yet to figure out his onstage persona.

One night, these two perform at the same club and George takes notice of Ira. George hires Ira to be his semi-personal assistant as well as his friend.

D0RIAN GRAY 15

From 9th September

Based on the classic novel by Oscar Wilde, DORIAN GRAY tells the story of a strikingly beautiful young man named Dorian (Ben Barnes).He arrives in Victorian London and is swept into a social whirlwind by the charismatic Henry Wotton (Colin Firth), who introduces Dorian to the hedonistic pleasures of the city. When a portrait of Dorian is unveiled, such is it’s beauty that he makes a pledge: he would give anything to stay as he is in the picture - even his soul.

DORIAN GRAY examines the destructive power of beauty, the blind pursuit of pleasure and the darkness that can result.

14 | THE BANTER

DISTRICT 9 15

From 4th September

Thirty years ago, aliens made first contact with Earth. Humans waited for the hostile attack, or the giant advances in technology. Neither came. Instead, the aliens were refugees, the last survivors of their home world.

The creatures were set up in a makeshift home in South Africa’s District 9 as the world’s nations argued over what to do with them. Now, patience over the alien situation has run out. Control over the aliens has been contracted out to Multi-National United, a private company uninterested in the aliens’ welfare - they will receive tremendous profits if they can make the aliens’ awesome weaponry work.

So far, they have failed; activation of the weaponry requires alien DNA. The tension between the aliens and the humans comes to a head when an MNU field operative, Wikus van der Merwe (Copley), contracts a mysterious virus that begins changing his DNA. Wikus quickly becomes the most hunted man in the world, as well as the most valuable - he is the key to unlocking the secrets of alien technology. Ostracized and friendless, there is only one place left for him to hide: District 9.

Movies

THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE 12A from 11th September

Cut throat, ruthless and superficial – a few words which could perhaps be used to describe the fashion industry as it often portrayed in the media.

Directed by R.J Cutler, ‘The September Issue’ is a candid insight into what happens behind the scenes of ‘Vogue’ magazine as they prepare to release the autumn edition of the magazine known as the fashion bible.

The documentary follows Anna Wintour, Editor-in-chief of Vogue magazine, who is described by colleagues as the ‘Pope’ of fashion. Having risen through the ranks of fashion publications, Wintour is recognised as the single most important figure in the $300 billion fashion industry and ‘the most powerful woman in the USA’.

The documentary gives a fascinating insight into what it takes to bring together an edition of the world’s most famous fashion magazine, including an exclusive look at 2007’s photo shoot with Sienna Miller in Rome.

Hardly a warm personality, Wintour is cut-throat and ruthless when it comes to what makes the final cut for her magazine.

However, unlike the portrayal of Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) in the 2006 movie, ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ (The character was famously based on Anna Wintour), Wintour is ruthless with a view to producing a wonderful end product.

Despite being a hugely entertaining film, ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ was highly glamourised, painting a woman who was difficult and awkward just for the sake of being so. Anna Wintour is by no means a friendly approachable person, but her cut-throat attitude produces a magazine of excellent quality, and despite often disagreeing with her colleagues and staff, Wintour is well respected by those she works with.

So, if fashion is your thing, or even if its not, this documentary is not the unintelligent, boring piece of work I thought it would be. It’s certainly worth a watch if you want to see what it’s really like working in the fast moving, constantly forward looking world of fashion, where scrapping a $50,000 shoot is nothing, and criticism of Oscar De La Renta is all in a day’s work!�

ADVENTURELAND 15

From 11th September

It’s the summer of 1987, and James Brennan (Jesse Eisenberg), an uptight recent college grad, can’t wait to embark on his dream tour of Europe.

But when his parents (Wendie Malick and Jack Gilpin) announce they can no longer subsidize his trip, James has little choice but to take a lowly job at a local amusement park.

Forget about German beer, world-famous museums and cute

French girls-James’ summer will now be populated by belligerent dads, stuffed pandas, and screaming kids high on cotton candy.

Lucky for James, what should have been his worst summer ever turns into quite an adventure as he discovers love in the most unlikely place with his captivating co-worker Em (Kristen Stewart), and learns to loosen up.

SORORITY ROW 15

From 9th September

A group of sorority sisters are sworn to “trust, secrecy and solidarity” – no matter what. But their loyalty is tested when a prank goes terribly wrong and ends in a brutal murder.

Rather than confess to the crime, the girls agree to hide the bloody corpse and keep their secret forever.

A year later, as they prepare to say goodbye to the house and each other, the girls are confident their dark secret will remain buried. But does it?

louise anne geddes

THE BANTER | 15

Movies swing vote (PG) ANCHORBAY HOME ENTERTAINMENT  How many times have you heard politicians say ‘your vote counts’? In Swing Vote, Kevin Costner stars as Bud Johnson, a man who can barely function socially. Bud is out of control, totally irresponsible and cannot even keep his job at the egg packing factory. Molly, his over achieving twelve year old daughter, rescues him from every situation – including the night he gets drunk and forgets to vote in the presidential election. But things don’t quite go according to plan. Through a set of extraordinary circumstances during Molly’s attempt to lodge Bud’s vote, Bud becomes a celebrity. In fact it is his vote that wil decide who becomes the next President of the United States! A media frenzy follows as the world’s eyes all fall on the man from Texico, New Mexico. Each party will do or say anything to win the vote leading to a series of policy flip-flops. Does Bud vote for the right man? Starring Kevin Costner, Kelsey Grammer, Stanley Tucci, Dennis Hopper and Nathan Lane, Swing Vote will have you laughing all the way to the ballot box.

DAMNED UNITED (15) SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT  Michael Sheen, in another of his seamless performances, plays legendary football manager Brian Clough during his disastrous and brief tenure as manager of Leeds United in the 1970s. Talented but abrasive, Clough alienates some of those around him, including his rival, Don Revie, his predecessor on Leeds UTD’s bench. When Clough has the chance to coach Leeds, he takes on the difficult role of the manager of the country’s best soccer team. But outspoken Clough strongly disagrees with the aggressive soccer style the team has become famous for, while he has to struggle, quite unsuccessfully, to gain the trust and cooperation of his players.

STREETS OF BLOOD (15)

ANGELS AND DEMONS (12)

SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT  Angels and Demons re-teams director Ron Howard and star Tom Hanks for the sequel to their international blockbuster adaptation of Dan Brown’s novel The Da Vinci Code. Although the book Angels and Demons was written before the novel The Da Vinci Code, the movie transpires after the events of the earlier movie. Hanks stars as Professor Robert Langdon, the most respected symbologist in the United States, who uses his knowledge in order to decode a symbol on the skin of a murder victim. The clues put him on the trail of an international conspiracy involving the Catholic Church.

COMPETITION: WIN STREETS OF BLOOD DVD

momentum pictures  Streets of Blood is the gritty and gruesome story of corruption in the New Orleans police force in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Featuring a hot Hollywood cast headed by hard man Val Kilmer, stunning Sharon Stone and R&B artist Curtis ‘50 Cent’ Jackson. When Hurricane Katrina hits New Orleans Detective Devereaux (Kilmer) loses his partner in the storm but suspects foul play and launches a full investigation. Lawlessness in the devastated city reaches boiling point forcing Devereaux and his new partner (Jackson) to delve deeper and deeper into the criminal underworld..

To celebrate the release of Streets of Blood, The Banter has teamed up with Momentum Pictures to offer 3 lucky readers the chance to win a copy of the DVD.. All you need to do to stand a chance of winning is answer the following question.

In which movie did Val Kilmer play a famous superhero?

Send your answers by e-mail to info@thebanter.co.uk with the heading Competition: Streets of Blood along with telling us your name, age, address and e-mail address.

Winners will then be chosen at random! Good luck, competition closes September 30th 2009.

16 | THE BANTER

Feature

IRN-BRU Is On The March for Homecoming!

IRN-BRU is on the march for the Year of Homecoming, as plans are unveiled for the launch of IRN-BRU Can Clan – a phenomenal new clan for everyone who loves IRN-BRU’s from Scotland and around the world.

Set up to celebrate Homecoming and the passion people have for Scotland’s favorite soft drink, the Clan’s Chief has been announced as Robin Barr, former Chairman and great-grandson of IRN-BRU’s founder, who is inviting fans to join him and sign up from today at www.irnbrucanclan.com Members will be invited to take part in a spectacular ‘Clan Gathering’ at Glasgow Green on 13 September, where they’ll be asked to don their kilts, kick up their heels and perform a record-breaking version of the world–famous Cancan dance!

The event is set to be one of the highlights of Homecoming, with the Guinness World Record Association sending adjudicators to ensure the attempt makes the record books – plus a wide range of free entertainment on the day.

IRN-BRU will also be touring Scotland with their ‘Road to Can Clan’ events, taking the IRN-BRU open top bus to every corner of the country to get Scots practising their Cancan steps in time for the big event.

IRN-BRU Can Clan members can also join in the fun online, and will be invited to create their own unique digital characters – known as a ‘BRUzers’ – complete with IRN-BRU tartan Kilts and customized features, who will dance the Cancan in their thousands on the website.

Robin Barr, IRN-BRU Can Clan Chief commented: ‘Over many years working with IRN-BRU, I have seen the drink’s appeal spread far and wide throughout Scotland and across the world. I am delighted that people will be able to come together in Homecoming year and celebrate the drink in a very unique and enjoyable way, and I look forward to welcoming members to IRN-BRU Can Clan and joining them in a really good fun event in September.’

THE BANTER | 17

Feature

18 | THE BANTER

Feature

Photoshoot for the Banter Magazine by photographer Daren Borzynski

Friendly and an extremely talented singer/songwriter, Katie Sutherland, aka Pearl from Pearl and the Puppets, is a breath of fresh air on the Scottish music scene.

This young woman from Kirkintilloch may not be on your radar right now but following rave reviews at The Wickerman Festival, T in the Park, Belladrum, where she stole the show, and a support slot at Elton Johns Glasgow gig at the SECC, we are pretty sure she soon will be.

Pearl and her band The Puppets were found having posted tracks on Myspace. Her songs attracted the attention of top management company Twenty First Artists (Elton John) and once again we have a new Scottish star in the making.

We caught up with her in the west end of Glasgow for a chat and a couple of quick pictures.

For those of our readers who don’t know who you are can you tell them who is Pearl and the Puppets?

Pearl and the Puppets is me, a soft pop/rock singer song-writer.

You’ve had a quite an impressive last 12 months what would be the highlight for you?

The highlights have been the most recent stuff especially supporting Elton John. T in the Park, that was pretty much the most surreal experience. It was all mad I was on STV news, BBC live and then playing live to a pretty big crowd in the tent. Our debut at T in the Park was pretty mental.

So you recently supported Elton John at the SECC, how did this come about?

I am signed to his management company and he’s been very supportive because not only is he an artist on the roster, he also makes decision in the company and he’s been very supportive of my music.

Did you think 12 months ago that you would be playing venues like the SECC? (Laughs) I thought I would be back primary teaching in Glasgow, “Because I do” is used in a Vodafone advert in New Zealand.

How do you feel about that knowing that your music is on such an international platform?

It’s weird! Because it’s not in the same country you don’t experience it. I think it would be strange if I seen it every day on TV, but its quiet cool, Its really good because its created a broader audience with all these fans that are eager to see you, I have never even stepped foot in Australia but I have a fan base there and it’s quite good to have a fan base before you get you somewhere.

You are on myspace, bebo and are often seen to be tweeting on Twitter. Do you think the internet is important for artists to keep in contact with their fans?

That’s all it is now isn’t it? It’s all about the internet. Kids these days are being brought up with the internet and we were brought up with the internet 10 years ago when it first came out. When someone thinks about a band the first they automatically think I’ll look them up on the internet, I’ll google them.

THE BANTER | 19

Feature

Fellow Scots Tommy Reilly and The Dykeenies are among those who you are tweeting with. Is the Scottish music scene quite a close community?

I think it is yes. its quite strange, all of a sudden, its good in a way because its such a small industry and in Glasgow and Scotland its even smaller It means the artists are quite close and its quite cool how things have happened, I am quite close to Cassidy, Healthy Minds Collapse, Tommy Reilly and The Dykeenies. Its good to have friends who know what you are going through and support one another.

If you’ve got something to moan about its good to contact another artists and say “This is what happened to me today...” and they’ll be like that is what happened to me last week its fine and it’ll be all good. Which you can’t do that with your mum or your dad, or a friend from school or what not, because they are not doing the same thing and they will be like “What are you talking about?”

You are supporting Tommy Reilly in September, how do you

20 | THE BANTER

feel about that?

I’m quite excited, its going to be some good times, I think there are going to be some drunken nights. But I’ll try and behave (laughs) it’ll be a lot of fun. It’s good to spend some time with Tommy because you don’t really see one another a lot apart from gigs and we end up really drunk.

How have you been enjoying the festivals? You were playing T in the Park, Wickerman, Belladrum?

I do love it and it’s a lot of fun but if you’re not drinking. If you are working and you are camping, I dunno girls don’t camp very well unless they are having fun so it’s quite good if I am playing on the Friday and you can just chill out for the rest of the weekend but if I am not playing on the Friday it’s a bit of a problem. But its good, there’s a lot of laughs it’s great to have fun with all your mates.

The Daily Record this week claimed you stole the show at Wickerman, how did that make you feel?

The Daily Record is my new best friend! They have been very

Feature

supportive and that was a lovely surprise. The tent was packed and there were people outside the tent apparently you know really, really packed, the audience seemed to love it. It was just a real nice atmosphere, its strange because I got a bit tipsy afterwards and I’m walking about and I kept hearing people shouting “Pearl...Pearl..hello.” .

If you could have a fantasy Festival line up (dead or alive) who would you have performing at it?

I would have Bob Dylan, but not right now, from back in the day, I would have the Cardigans, The Cranberries, Blur. I would have Imogen Heap, who else? Cassidy, Healthy Minds Collapse, Tommy Reilly (laughs) who else? I don’t know, that sounds like a good line up!

Which bands are currently on your current playlist of your ipod?

Citizen Cope is on my iPod right now, Priscilla Ahn, I have been listening to a lot of Priscilla Ahn, The Cardigans, Imogen Heap. I

have been listening to a lot of Tommy Reilly and The Dykeenies have a lot of new tracks out just now that I am really interested in because they have totally went in a different way from the last album which is really cool.

I believe you are in the studio recording just now so what’s next for Pearl and the Puppets?

I have a lot of gigs coming up. A lot of those are going to just be acoustic sets, me by myself, and if I am not gigging, which I am quite a lot of the time, I am in the studio working on the album, in Yorkshire. I will have an EP out first, the first single will be out in January and album to follow. I don’t have an exact date but next year.

So a little while to go then?

Well this is August so 4 months; 1 month will be spent with Tommy Reilly, another month in the studio. It takes a while to even get even the little things done, like getting it mixed and I want to make sure it’s right.

THE BANTER | 21

Win! WIN! Juicy Couture fragrance for him and for her with www.zooperfume.co.uk

Top scents at bottom dollar prices on www.zoomperfume.co.uk Save the leather on your Jimmy Choos by shopping from home with www.zoomperfume.co.uk, which aims to combine the lowest retail prices on the web with free delivery options and more than 2,000 different leading brand perfumes and aftershaves.

The UK-based website, www.zoomperfume.co.uk, has average prices of around 30% to 50% below retail cost, and some up to 90% off, made possible by reducing the frills and outgoings of a retail outlet to the absolute minimum.

Hard-to-find fragrances, a great range of perfume and aftershave ‘testers’ (the real thing, but without the retail packaging) and fabulous miniature perfumes mean that you can save a fortune on gifts for friends or family and treats for yourself. www.zoomperfume.co.uk is a fun and immediate way to shop, and we have two fragrances from www.zoomperfume.co.uk to give away – for her, Juicy Couture Eau de Parfum (Traveller Edition 30ml), and for him, Juicy Couture Dirty English Eau de Toilette 50ml.

For your chance to win these fragrances from www.zoomperfume. co.uk, answer the following question: How many products does www.zoomperfume.co.uk sell?

1.

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More than 50 More than 1,000 More than 2,000

Send your answers by e-mail to info@thebanter.co.uk with the heading Competition: Zoo Perfume along with telling us your name, age, address and e-mail address.

Winners will then be chosen at random! Good luck, competition closes September 30th 2009.

Reader Offer - All Banter readers can get 2.5% off anything on www.zoomperfume.co.uk by entering the discount code XMAS at the checkout. Your 2.5% will be deducted automatically 22 | THE BANTER

WIN! A year’s eyebrow threading at the Benito Brow Bar in House of Fraser, Glasgow.

Benito Brow Bar has a trained team of threading experts who can expertly shape and define brows. Here is your chance to win this service for a whole year. (One free treatment every month.)

The Threading Specialist creates tension in the cotton which is then applied to the face. As the cotton passes across the surface of the skin it catches up the hair follicle which is then lifted directly from the root therefore results are sharp, defined and leave the eyebrows looking fabulous and lifting the whole face. Threading is a gentle, non-obtrusive treatment and involves no harsh chemicals or hot waxes. There is little pulling of the skin and thus avoids wrinkles and sagging skin.

To be in with a chance of winning just answer the following simple question: Which Glasgow high street store would you find Benito Brow Bar? Send your answers by e-mail to info@thebanter.co.uk with the heading Competition: Benito Browbar along with telling us your name, age, address and e-mail address.

Winners will then be chosen at random!

Good luck, competition closes September 30th 2009.

For further information on the Benito Brow Bar please visit www.bentiobrowbar.com

Music

ONES TO WATCH OUT FOR....

MINI VIVA

Keep your eyes peeled for MINI VIVA Their debut single ‘Left My Heart In Tokyo’ is out 7th September and already the pop world is buzzing with even NME getting in on the act and giving the girls a two page spread.

The duo, Britt & Frankee, ar ethe latest act to emerge from the Xenomania conveyor belt of talent. They describe the sound they have found with their collaborators as “pop with a quirky edge. It could only be us.”

Check the girls out at www.myspace.com/miniviva

THE BANTER | 23

Music ERIK HASSLE At only twenty, Swedish singer-songwriter and idiosyncratic pop talent Erik Hassle has made the transition of a boy to a man through his music. Hailing from a tiny, remote village south of Stockholm, Erik’s success rocketed. Three years of making music in ten different studios, slowing climbing the Swedish music charts and devoting his teenage days to it - his patience has paid off. And his debut album captures the journey, the melodrama and passion along the way. The Banter Magazine caught up with Erik Hassle to learn a little about the man bringing another retro hair-do back into fashion.

For those who don’t know you who is Erik Hassle?

A tall, big-haired ginger from Sweden who knows how to sing!

You recently opened for Mika at the Itunes Festival - how was that?

It was wicked to break the ice and do my first full-band gig in England at the coolest venue I’ve ever been to. And the response from the crowd was great.

You grew up in a very musical family, do you think you were always destined to become a recording artist yourself?

I first went on stage when I was in the womb! My mother was a singer. I was introduced to instruments early and in fact I think I was destined to become a drummer but people, even my mum for some reason, appreciated my singing more than my drumming skills.

Your album “Pieces” is released in November what can you tell us about that?

It’s an album that I’ve been writing during the last three years with some of my closest friends in Stockholm. It is 12 arena-friendly love songs with a Scandinavian minimalistic touch (laughs). Its music about things you think of when you’re going to sleep, the songs were recorded from between the ages of 17 and 20. amy macbeath

ESMEE DENTERS In just a few short years, YouTube has given us must-see crazes and the new phenomenon of “internet celebrity”.

Chris Crocker made a name for himself telling us to “leave Britney alone”, Tay Zonday sang about “Chocolate Rain”, and surely by now we’ve all seen the explosive relationship between Mentos and Diet Coke. But while fame is fleeting for many users on the site, one has went from uploading videos of herself singing along to Beyonce, to actually sharing a stage with Justin Timberlake and becoming a pop star in her own right.

Esmee Denters, from Gelderland in the Netherlands, began posting her covers online three years ago. It didn’t take long for Dutch manager Jonathan Berhane to discover her videos, leading to a record deal with Justin Timberlake’s own label, Tennman Records. After touring with Justin in Europe, the twenty year old began working on her debut album, “Outta Here” with help from her new boss and others including Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic.

The new single of the same name has already reached the Top 5 in the Netherlands earlier this year, and is released here and in the United States this month.

More on Esmee can be found at her official site www.esmeeworld.com, and - of course - her EsmeeDenters account on YouTube. sean david

24 | THE BANTER

Music

INME by anna gault

I

n 2003 a young group of Essex boys going by the name of InMe, exploded into the UK’s rock music scene with their debut album Overgrown Eden. The album was for all means and purposes a success and garnered the young threesome an impressive following. Although they arrived at a time when other UK bands such as Funeral For A Friend were also breaking through with a similar target audience in mind for their music, InMe were able to carve out a sound and fan base of their own. Overgrown Eden spawned several big tracks such as Neptune and Crushed Liked Fruit which combined a heavy yet melodic guitar driven sound with singer Dave McPherson’s unusual voice. Two other albums followed, White Butterfly and Daydream Anonymous which saw InMe’s sound mould and change with a new line up (bassist Joe Morgan was replaced by Greg McPherson) and different musical influences directing it. Yet each of these albums was unable to reach the heights of Overgrown Eden’s success. InMe may be close to becoming one of those bands prematurely put out to pasture before getting a chance to stand and show their worth.

In 2009 however InMe are back with a new album, Herald Moth, and a sound which front man Dave McPherson admits is a removal from band’s earlier material. “The new stuff is a lot darker and more complex than what we have done before. The main

thing with this album was that once we had the song, melody and the hook, was to shower it with different musical instruments and push us on a personal level as musicians.” The band are maturing and are no longer the teenagers and young twenty-somethings they once were. “I am nearly twenty seven so I am making slightly different music to what a nineteen year old would make!” agrees McPherson.

InMe were originally known for their intense guitar laden songs but it seems that along with maturity influencing their current sound so is the UK rock scene’s recent penchant for electronica inspired music. “I don’t know if this will put people off but we kind of did a retro video game concept so there is a lot of strange bleeps and blips. The weird music that would come out of those old computer games has kind of come back a bit, to us anyway, and just became part of our sound.” Despite the success of their debut sound McPherson feels the new direction will not hinder them. Long serving fans may be put off by the change in course with InMe’s music but McPherson says InMe are not here to satisfy the masses. “I don’t think it would be beneficial to us to think like that. Obviously we’ll win some people and we’ll lose some people but you can’t please everyone. I think the main bulk of our fans have an understanding with us that we don’t do the same thing on every album, there is no point in making the same album twice.”

With no official releases in two years McPherson does admit that even the fans that have been around since Overgrown Eden may have to have their interest in the band resuscitated. “We have gone off the radar a bit but that happens every time but it is nice to disappear because people lose that perception they had of what you were before. And they’ll hopefully listen with a bit more open ears.”

He adds: “If you put Herald Moth next to the first album people probably think it wasn’t InMe, as they knew InMe. So we do feel we have a lot to prove and take it so seriously and seriously work on the live set and try and make the best music we can make.”

With Herald Moth being released at the end of August and a gig-filled September on the horizon it appears as though the band have a long and arduous road ahead of them. But with some determination, good music and exciting shows, hopefully InMe can stay out of that pasture for a little while longer.

Herald Moth is released 14th September.

THE BANTER | 25

Music

JACKS MANNEQUIN QMU, Glasgow GIG REVIEW

Jack’s Mannequin have never visited Scotland but while their fan base here is not massive, it is dedicated. After being treated to an entertaining support act, the crowd was ready for front man Andrew McMahon to lead the band through a storming set of upbeat piano rock. Opening with Dark Blue from debut album Everything in Transit, the band immediately impressed, getting everyone in the packed venue moving. It was clear from the off point that the crowd was thoroughly enjoying themselves, with mass sing-a-longs and fists punching the air. The four-piece blasted through tracks from their two albums but with McMahon pausing now and then to show his appreciation for the crowd’s response.

Debut album tracks, Bruised and The Mixed Tape were the highlights of the gig, drawing the biggest crowd reactions and creating an astounding buzz in the QMU. Swim and McMahon’s solo encore piece, Katie, brought the tempo down slightly but still kept the audience’s attention fixed on the stage. McMahon is an extremely engaging front man and while he was tethered to his piano for the majority of the performance, energy exuded out of his every pore. Equally, drummer, Jay McMillan, appeared to be having the time of his life, as did guitarist, Bobby “Raw” Anderson, who amusingly survived a mid-song broken guitar string disaster.

Fans of McMahon’s former band, Something Corporate, were treated to a cover of their song Watch the Sky and Kill the Messenger incorporated a short cover of The Police’s Every Little Thing She Does is Magic. Last song Made for Each Other/You Can Breath ended the show on a high as McMahon thanked the crowd and asked them to tell their friends about Jack’s Mannequin so they could return to Glasgow as soon as possible. anna gault

26 | THE BANTER

competition

papa roach Metamorphosis POLYDOR Win one of 5 copies of Hacienda Acid House Classics  New State Music are proud to release ‘Haçienda Acid House Classics’, compiled & mixed by one of the key figures of the time, Peter Hook. A man who was clearly there, did it all and has plenty of stories to tell. This compilation is the ultimate collection of Acid House classics from those much-hallowed days of rave.

To celebrate the release New State Music have teamed up with The Banter to offer 5 of our readers the chance to win a copy.

To win one of the sets of ������������������������ win all you need to is answer the following question Q: Can you name one of the former bands that Peter Hook was a member of?

Send your answers by e-mail to info@thebanter.co.uk with the heading Competition: Hacienda along with telling us your name, age, address and e-mail address.

5 Winners will then be chosen at random! Good luck, competition closes September 30th 2009.

Music

REVEREND AND THE MAKER O2 ABC GIG REVIEW

Say what you like about the often outspoken John McClure but on the evidence of this gig one thing cannot be questioned and that is his ability to put on one hell of a gig.

Following two support acts which seen this venue only a quarter full as McClure took to the stage a quick look around and the place was packed and a whole new atmosphere took over the venue.

The crowd were soon bouncing as McClure belted out latest single “Silence is Golden”, McClure himself bouncing around, feet shuffling almost like a boxer, quite fitting considering the next number seen him swinging punches as “Heavyweight Champion of the World” really set the place alight.

The gig continued with a mixture of both the old and the new from the latest album “A French Kiss in the Chaos” but throughout McClure kept the crowd going to what was one of the most lively gigs I have been to a long while.

photos - daren borzynski

GLINT KING TUTS, Glasgow gig review

It was the music that did all the talking at the recent Glint gig at King Tuts. Although audience interaction was at a minimum, it may have been because the gig was shall we say “intimate”, this wasn’t an issue as the music from the American foursome was fantastic.

Producing a very professional sound it reminded me of a mix between the Editors and Enter Shikari. This was down to the singers unique voice and the funky tunes coming from the keyboard. With a definite nod towards electro, the band played some hits from their My Space

page such as Freak and the very popular Boys of the Stars along with some other tracks in their short set.

I found it quite strange they were playing this gig as they were sandwiched in between two bands that were very similar which in turn made their music sound a lot more edgy and different. But that just, if anything, made me appreciate their sound more.

Nonetheless with a tour across Europe and their EP on iTunes these guys are going somewhere and are most definitely worth a listen to. rebecca stevens

Cosmo Jarvis O2 ABC GIG REVIEW

Cosmo Jarvis; now there is a name you do not hear everyday though judging on this performance it soon may be.

Harrison Cosmo Krikoryan Jarvis is a talented young man and whilst he also is a film maker who shoots and stars in his own films it is most definately his songwriting and music that make people stand up and pay attention.

He may have been an unknown before this gig kicked off but after an amazing set which included the humourous “Sebastian the Gay Pirate” and well written numbers such as “Shes Got You” and “Problems Of Our Own” the crowd much like you should were left wanting to hear more of this talented young man.

photo- daren borzynski

THE BANTER | 27

Music newton faulkner Rebuilt by Humans INTERSCOPE  Following much critical acclaim over his debut Hand Built by Robots, the Surrey singer-songwriter returns with an impressive second album. Eagerly anticipated by fans wowed by Faulkner’s Brit-nominated, million-selling, number one album, the guitar virtuoso only gets better as his new material goes to show.

Despite his career-threatening wrist injury (apparently leading to the name of this album after a painful series of repairs) Newton Faulkner has already showcased some of the album over the summer. His unique style of guitar finger picking, tapping and slapping, soulful vocals and skilfully crafted lyrics draw influence from the greats including Neil Young, Tom Waits, Joni-Mitchell and Stevie Wonder.

INME Herald Moth Graphite  InMe’s fourth album is a product with which the band hopes to prove they still have a place in the UK rock scene after over six years in the game. Herald Moth delivers what those familiar with InMe have come to expect, melodic, guitar driven rock but this time with a slight twist.

From the intro his talented musicianship is demonstrated and the blazing pop song ‘Badman’ is instantly catchy and sure to be radio hit. Written with his brother it reminds me of the folk inspired Seth Lakeman, who is similarly passionate about making enjoyable music. ‘I took it out on you’ is another immensely powerful and heartfelt song and the superb first single to be taken from the album, ‘If this is it’, portrays his sincere gratitude and love for what he does.

There is a strong attempt to move away from their older material by using synthesisers, xylophones and other instruments not typically in the band’s arsenal. Belief Revival, Captain Killjoy and Single of the Weak display the new and old with a focus on strong guitar riffs and anthem like choruses but with an electronic undertone. These elements are married together well and the tracks are standouts on the album.

The lyrically and vocally beautiful ‘Resin on my heart strings’ sees effects put on Faulkner’s voice, creating what his producer Mike Spencer calls ‘a faceless choir’. ‘Lipstick Jungle’ written with the mixed blessing of extra time putting the album together is an added bonus, a funky and sunny track which I’m sure will be blasted from car stereos. Recorded entirely live, the simplicity of acoustic track ‘Been thinking about it’ is enchanting, Faulkner’s voice sounding better than ever.

Yet, strings are also employed on All Terrain Vehicle, a slow and slightly haunting song which flaunts lead singer Dave McPherson’s unique and at times, beautiful voice. Whilst the vocals used are mostly soft with flickers of a harder edge when McPherson’s English accent pushes through, the album is not without some screaming. Master Storm will satisfy those partial to guttural noises with the song opening with a roar and diving into thunderous guitars.

The quirky, plucking of ‘Let’s get together’ is uplifting and cheery. He is keen to stress how much fun he had making the album and it shines through and ‘Won’t let go’ with the urgency of strings driving it on has gone down a storm live. Heartfelt ‘First time’, ‘So much’ and the soaring ‘Over and out’ show off an impressive vocal range.

The album is mostly comprised of fast paced songs which feel complete and succinct. However some tracks bleed into one another and in some instances it is difficult to tell where one ends and another begins. The focus remains very much on providing strong and polished tracks that will certainly get some heads nodding and feet stamping.

InMe have succeeded in providing something different from their earlier sound but some may find the electronic element hard to swallow when combined with a heavy guitar sound. anna gault

28 | THE BANTER

‘This town’ is a gentle ballad recalling the heartache of a love leaving and already a favourite live, the closing track ‘I’m not giving up yet’ is a commanding acoustic tale of inspiration.

The album is pretty lengthy but the music is so enjoyable that it is barely noticeable and this coming from a first time Faulkner listener. There are also a number of interludes through Rebuilt

by Humans, a nice touch which helps the album flow through as seamlessly as it does. It begs the questions though, with such a remarkable follow up, how will the exceptionally talented Newton Faulkner top it? I’m sure he’ll manage somehow. amy macbeath

Music GWYNETH HERBERT Outta Here NAIM EDGE  Gwyneth Herbert is the beautiful Ghost of Jazz Yet to Come, defying classification with new album ‘All the Ghosts’. Whilst ghosts like Regina Spektor and Nina Simone haunt this album, the voice and spirit are her own. Had songbird Katie Melua flown the coop of popular music earlier, this album would be very different.

Rhythms flow from private performances to bouncy ragtime rags, interjected with robotic effects and zaps of modernity.Herbert’s music is charming. The catchy ‘Jane Into a Beauty Queen’ pastiches melodies which the album’s labours to establish. These textured songs seldom overlap in style, capturing a remarkable impression of a very specific point in a life. Wholly original and personal music.As a finale, Herbert brings out the Stardust, performing a fresh interpretation of David Bowie’s ‘Rock and Roll Suicide’. Its raw vocal and acoustic guitar is the perfect curtain scott purvis

esmee denters Outta Here

polydor  With a talent like Esmee Denters, there’s no doubt that YouTube was only phase one in turning the Dutch songstress into an international phenomenon whether Justin Timberlake was involved or not. From the very first track on “Outta Here”, you can hear this is essentially a JT record with a new voice, and if you skip to the fourth track “Love Dealer”, his is the first you will hear. While this possibly detracts from the attention you would devote to Denters when listening, Timberlake’s role as executive producer and contributor to many of the songs on the album undeniably gives his protégé a debut effort to be coveted by her contemporaries.Lead single of the same name aside, stand outs on this record such as “What If”, “Memories Turn toDust” and “Bigger Than The World” oddly don’t feature her boss at all and serve as evidence that Esmee certainly doesn’t need the help.

sean david

gary go Gary Go polydor  When critics call you “A one man Coldplay”, it’s hard to tell if you have made it in today’s terribly cynical single charts.

His style is the progeny of the last five years, suckled on the teat of never-ending epic stadium rock tours, given the voice to emote by indie bands and breathed into life by music’s other Gary, the right honourable midwife Barlow.

Whilst rather repetitive, some songs are goers. Brooklyn, a song which manages to portray something other than wholesale “Rule the World” optimism which categorises the album, is a sweet orchestral piece, infinitely helped by the synthesiser turn down and the well needed introduction of a quaint little thing called a string section (strings!).

Though he is not quite there yet, he will certainly go far. scott purvis

twin atlantic Vivarium EMI  Anyone who sings in their own accent, instead of trying to mimic their voice into sounding like a poor version of their American peers deserves kudos before you have even given their songs a good listen. Thankfully ‘Vivarium’ sucks you in straight away, so before you know it its 1a.m and you’ve had the album of repeat about five times.

‘Lightspeed’ was a pretty spot on choice for their first single, approachable and catchy for the new fans yet it’s one that can still create a sizeable mosh pit come the chorus. But second single, ‘You’re Turning into John Wayne’ pretty much blows it straight out of the water after only one listen.

Arguably the best track on the album, its only flaw amongst the infectiously jagged hooks is the fact they seem to have jumped on board with the slagging off America theme, one that’s been seen by too many bands before them to still be cool.

The seamlessly smooth chords at the beginning of ‘Caribbean War Syndrome’ glide through any speakers with ease, showing a side to the Scottish quartet that isn’t seen enough.

But right when you think you have discovered their soft side, front man Sam McTrusty comes screaming through with some heavy vocals to remind you just how much they can rock even the softest of songs.

It would be easy to stick Twin Atlantic in the box marked ‘early Biffy Clyro’ or even categorise them in the same breathe as some of Idlewild’s work but in reality the rest of the album shows a band who have made one hell of a debut. All you need to do now is get yourself a copy. sarah moyes

THE BANTER | 29

Music la roux La Roux POLYDOR  If you have listened to commercial radio at all during 2009, this album – even on first listen – will sound familiar in its entirety.

La Roux’s first three major hits – “Quicksand”, “In For The Kill” and “Bulletproof” – are among the first four tracks on this album in all their sing-along-chorus glory, followed swiftly by their next single, “I’m Not Your Toy”.

The album manages to make the absolute best of its minimalist arrangements: most of the album is made up of Elly Jackson’s vocals over synths by Ben Langmaid.

This album is proudly rooted in the 1980s and early 90s and aimed squarely at capitalising on our generation’s nostalgia for our youth.

DAVID Russell

JONAS Brothers Lines, Vines and Trying Times POLYDOR  WWith their reputation as teeny bopper heartthrobs you would expect the third and latest Jonas Brothers’ album to have an undertone of screaming running throughout it.

Fortunately that is not the case but Lines, Vines and Trying Times does contain the type of music that the Disney target audience will bounce around their bedrooms to. The album’s sound is in the same vein as the previous Jonas Brothers’ releases. The result of which is a collection of songs which are mainly composed of generic pop rock but with a few glimmers of something slightly more substantial.

There is no denying that the brothers have talent with writing credits on most of the tracks and an obviously genetic flare for singing. However this album does not display much else from them. Paranoid which is the first single release is a jaunty pop song with guitar tinges to satisfy the perhaps slightly more mature fans, if any. It has a catchy chorus but nothing that matches the hook of previous material such as Burnin’ Up and SOS. Predictably, fellow Disney darling Miley Cyrus features on Before the Storm a country inspired love ballad but strangely respected rapper Common shows up on Don’t Charge Me for the Crime.

The song is slow-pace and drawling, with a slight edge which sees the track stick out but while Common is an excellent artist he feels misplaced in this song.

THE NOISETTES Wild Young Hearts mercury  Listening to The Noisettes second album ‘Wild Young Hearts’ reminds me of a bag of revels – you never know what flavour you’ll get next. From ‘Sometimes’ a mellow, feels like you’re sitting in the sunshine with an ice cold drink kind of track, to the energetic floor filler ‘Don’t upset the rhythm’, this album certainly keeps you on your toes. Shingai Shoniwa’s, make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up type voice, sings of first loves, messy breakups and all the emotions that go with having a ‘Wild Young Heart’, making this album sound scarily like extracts from the diary I kept as a teenager. ‘Saturday night’ stands out, offering buckets loads of attitude and with lyrics like “I waited for so long, put up with your shenanigans, I’m going to take you on and you won’t know the half of it”, I guarantee the volume on your ipod will be turned up. To unwind, ‘Atticus’ is perfect. Elegant, empathetic and strong, the track is based on Harper Lee’s ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ proving that this band is not just a pretty face.

rosemary lowne

Overall the album seems to have brass, funk and country influences with songs such as World War III, Hey Baby and Much Better employing trumpets and saxophones to round out the sound. There are also ballads a plenty, you can actually visualise the arms swaying in a female packed stadium on songs like Fly with Me and Turn Right. These boys are getting older so they are obviously going to change and mature their sound.

Unfortunately, aside from a few small flashes of gold, Lines, Vines and Trying Times is for the most part a swing and a miss.

the proclaimers Notes and Rhymes commercial marketing  The Proclaimers are back with more of their winning formula of country, pop, Celtic rock, love, satire and political opinion. The twins’ eighth studio album will not let fans of their hits down. Craig and Charlie Reid grew up on a diet of rockabilly and this comes across in Notes & Rhymes, particularly in the opening title track. The first single from the album, the uplifting ‘Love can move mountains’, is the highlight although songs like the homeward bound ‘Three more days’ and the bluesy ‘Wages of Sin’ also stand out. There’s anti-war sentiments ahoy, poignant ballads but of course their humorous satire is alive and well. A classic Reid brothers offering from the much-loved Scots.

anna gault

amy macbeath

30 | THE BANTER

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Send your answers by e-mail to info@thebanter.co.uk with the heading Competition: Gelaskin along with telling us your name, age, address and e-mail address.

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The PC Guardian Ezolution range of tamper-resistant cable locks are secured in seconds by simply inserting the locking head and pushing - the key is only required for unlocking.

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Send your answers by e-mail to info@thebanter.co.uk with the heading Competition: PC Guardian along with telling us your name, age, address and e-mail address.

Winners will then be chosen at random! Good luck, competition closes September 30th 2009.

THE BANTER | 31

32 | THE BANTER photo by Alice Hawkins

interview

Interview

PALOMA FAITH

Interview

How’s life treating Paloma Faith today?

I think it’s alright, I haven’t actually walked out of the front door yet so anything could happen once I do that.

can Scottish fans expect to see?

I have always have a structure to what I do and I hope, its more like going to see a show than it is going to see a gig.

With this being a phone interview we don’t have the pleasure of seeing what wonderful outfit you are wearing today, are you having a secretly lazy day and lounging around in jeans and a t-shirt?

I never wear just jeans and a t-shirt! I am wearing 40s suit trousers that has braces with buttons and a little shirt. I think I am sort of like doing a bit of Diane Keaton in men’s clothes.

Your new single “New York” is due out on 14th September, what can you tell us about this?

The song is about an ex boyfriend who went to work away in New York. He came back and said he wanted to live there and I couldn’t go because of my career so i think our relationship started deteriorating after that.

So what kind of fashion were you into in your teenage years?

When I was a teenager I used to wear Hip Hop clothes, like baggy jeans and boxer shorts coming up at the top and Puffa jackets and I had my nose pierced with a gold nose ring and I used to wear gold earrings.

You starred in St Trinians and more recently in Terry Gilliam’s ‘The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus’. How was it to work with Terry Gilliam?

When I went to the audition it was really cool, because when I went to the door he opened it and went “Oh my god, look at you. I need to put you in my movie!” and I was like that’s cool, he obviously appreciated it.

You have had a number of jobs over the years. An ex magician’s assistant, trained contemporary dancer, a performer in burlesque shows, and an actress, you like to keep busy don’t you?

I do believe in grafting. But if I am doing a job I will always try and make it something interesting.

You were also the singer of 50s rock-a-billy band, Paloma and the Penetrators, do you have any funny wedding stories?

Do you know what the best party that I ever did, its not really a funny story, but we went to this rich persons house to do covers for this persons 40th birthday and they had actually hired one of those bucking broncos bull in their garden and that was cool I went on that quite a few times, though I wasn’t very good at it.

Your videos always look amazing; do you come up with the concepts for them yourself?

I have a great creative team, but I come up with a lot of the ideas myself and then i trust the people working around about me to facilitate those ideas.

Do you ever think that some people don’t get Paloma Faith?

Everyone always tries to figure me out, but I don’t believe in life that you should do that, you should just live and let live and accept our differences and not try to make sense of anything because in life nothing has any sense to it anyway, Expect the unexpected.

You are coming to Scotland to play King Tuts in Glasgow, what

Do you ever get frustrated being compared to other artists currently in the charts?

Yes. Obviously people have been subjected in the media to Amy, to Adele, to Duffy and all those others and have overlooked all the artists coming out now were probably doing it at the same time but they just didn’t get put out first. But I think i think its a compliment to get compared to all those girls because they all have really good voices but I don’t think I am the same as them.

Your album “Do You Want The Truth Or Something Beautiful” is out on September 28th, what’s the story behind the name?

Do you feel the truth can be ugly?

Well no the title had two meanings, on one hand its about contemporary culture, generally we don’t have any icons, I don’t think we are leaving anybody who is that iconic behind in history. What has happened is that we have unveiled so much about people they cannot be iconic and the reason why these people of the past were iconic was more because of what we didn’t know about them than what we do know about them and I think that’s something we should be careful of doing unveiling too much stuff because then we don’t have any mystery or escapism left because everything’s so real.

What can we expect from the album? More of the same?

Obviously the first and second singles are completely different and the rest is as well but there’s is obviously a massive cinematic and theatrical element to all of it. I would say it’s more like a score than it is an album; a soundtrack.

You have said yourself that your gigs are like shows and with you being a performer, do you worry at all that radio perhaps will not do your songs justice?

Well I hope the songs stand up alone, I know when I signed up to my label that was something that they really concentrated a lot on the quality of song standing alone than just concentrating on style over. So I hope on radio they are just as good.

“New York” is released on 14th September with the album “Do You Want The Truth Or Something Beautiful” released a fortnight later on the 28th September.

You can see Paloma live at King Tuts on September 14th.

THE BANTER | 33

Feature me following the kids that were smoking weed and drinking. I never caved to the peer pressure as I found my focus early, so it was a very positive thing for me.”

After leaving school Bigg Taj took some time out before returning to play his first proper gig in his hometown Paisley and fast earned him respect in the Hip Hop scene.

From supporting hip hop gods like Grand Master Flash to Redman and Method Man, Bigg Taj finds it impossible to choose his best gig: “Scratch from “The Roots” was my hero when growing up so when I got the chance to open his show in Dundee, it was amazing.

“Also,supporting the beatboxer Killa Kela and Jurrasic 5 at the Corn Exchange was out of this world.”

However, Bigg Taj does remember a time when it wasn’t all plain sailing. He said: “I used to perform in nightclubs around Glasgow and was booed off at one gig. It was the wrong atmosphere as the crowd just wanted to dance and the place was full of gangster wannabees. I learned from the experience though and I now know where’s best to perform.”

BIGG TAJ – Rosemary Lowne talks to Glasgow’s very own beatbox star about peer pressure, touring Europe and Britain’s Got Talent.

“Beatbox is the skill of using your voice to make drum beats, scratching sounds and loads of other beats-the rest is top secret” says Bigg Taj, a beatboxer from Paisley who’s voice is causing a stir. With his towering height, trademark hoodie and cutting edge trainers, Bigg Taj seems unaware of his head-turning impact as he strolls through Glasgow.

It all started off at an early age for Bigg Taj who is now hot property. He said:“My dad is a beatboxer so he taught me how to play an Indian instrument called the Tabla, the sound from which you can beatbox, so that’s how I initially learned beatbox.”

A young, passionate and determined, Bigg Taj practised “all the time”, mostly when walking through the streets. He added: “It’s like a bad habit , you keep doing it and you don’t realise.”

All his hard work paid off as Bigg Taj secured his first performance, at a Christmas gig in his high school. He said:“I was so nervous, I was beatboxing and my mates were rapping.

I was just standing there playing with my beard. “ I didn’t know what to do because it was our first gig and no-one was there to direct us. We did another performance during school and that went better as we had more confidence.”

Bigg Taj has alot to thank beatbox for as he believes that it kept him out of trouble at school. He said: “Beatbox stopped 34 | THE BANTER

Beatboxing has taken Bigg Taj not only around the UK but as far afield as Europe. He added: “I got the chance to go to Berlin and I loved it, I have to say that was another one of my favourite gigs. The hip hop scene in Germany is huge. I want to go and perform there again. I want to go everywhere with my beatboxing and see the world.”

Giving something back to the community is important to Bigg Taj as he holds youth workshops, teaching children the basics of beatbox and music software. He said: “The workshop is called Mad Skills and we use an ultrasound to show the way the vocal chords work, it’s like the science of beatbox and the kids love it. “The kids don’t always want to learn though and they give up because it’s hard.

It’s great if they can experience beatboxing then they can pursue it if they wish.”

In June this year, Bigg Taj made it through to the final of the UK beatbox Championships, held in London.

Competition was close and Bigg Taj came a close second place,making him one of the best, if not the best, beatboxers in the UK. In the future Bigg Taj would like beatbox to remain untouched as he says: “I don’t want to see it commercialized. I like the way it is just now as it’s still rare.

If everyone started beatboxing, it would get boring. I don’t want it mainstream but I don’t want it totally underground.”

So what next for Bigg Taj? “I don’t know. I’m going to keep beatboxing. I’d love to work more with kids and perhaps put on small events with them. I’m also going to give ‘Britain’s Got Talent’, a shot, why not. This will be my last shot at it.”

Television

DOLLHOUSE - season 1 15

DVD REVIEW

20th Century Fox Television

Joss Whedon has created several fictional worlds each different from the other but with characters and plot lines which all suck viewers in and leave them wanting to know more. Dollhouse is no different and like its predecessors Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which ran for seven seasons, and Firefly, which was cancelled after one, it bases the majority of its success on a main protagonist, Echo (Eliza Dushku) and a myriad of other, well developed, supporting characters.

The “Dollhouse” is a place where a select few have their memories and personalities wiped and are imprinted with others depending on what their client’s want. The series carries themes of morality and ethics as well as freedom and independence as Echo, one of the select few, starts to become self-aware. This sort of idea has been played around with before, human shells being used to fulfil fantasies, but when one of these dolls, Alpha, becomes homicidal after retaining an imprint, the show takes a darker road.

Whedon’s last foray into television was the aforementioned Firefly, a show that was also a well put together and exciting with and interesting world and characters. There were cries against Firefly’s cancellation and it flourished in DVD sales and spawned a feature length film yet ultimately viewers will never see into that world again.

Hopefully this will not happen to Dollhouse as the first season shows definite promise.

DVD Extras: The extras are extensive with twenty-three deleted scenes, the original un-aired pilot and five featurettes which provide an in-depth and entertaining insight into how the show was devised and created. The episode commentary from Whedon and Dushku is particularly entertaining as the two have previously worked together on both Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spin-off Angel. The result makes for interesting viewing and listening.

ANNA GAULT

ENTOURAGE - SEASON 5 18

DVD REVIEW HBO

Season five of the award winning HBO hit Entourage debuts on DVD this month, with the past four seasons charting the rise of actor Vincent Chase, played by Adrian Grenier, season five sees Vinny’s Hollywood stock fall dramatically after his latest film Medellin bombs with it going straight-to-DVD and making numerous worst-of-the-year lists.

Vince’s performance also comes under fire from critics, which leads to Vince doubting himself and his ability to act.

Season five isn’t all doom and gloom for the boys from Queens, Turtle manages to score himself an A-List girlfriend in the form of Jamie Lynn-Sigler, the first daughter of The Sopranos.

While Turtle is rubbing shoulders (and other body parts) with his new squeeze, the incomparable Johnny Drama’s TV career seems to be going from strength to strength for once...surely that won’t last long, knowing Drama as well as we all do!

E is still working on his “Murphy Group” company and manages to double his client list and score a TV pilot for his new client, played by Bow Wow (he’s not so Lil’ anymore).

All seems to be going well for his boys but Vince is struggling to find work and faces the indignity of possibly starring in the kid’s movie Benji (think Beethoven) but after a trip to Joshua Tree and a “trip”, provided by Eric Robert’s stash of magic mushrooms, while there Vince decides to pass on Benji and fight for a role in Ed Norton’s Smokejumpers.

As any avid viewer of Entourage knows, the show really belongs to one foul-mouthed, abrasive agent, the “lowly Harvard grad with a J.D./M.B.A. from the University of Michigan” Ari Gold.

The Emmy award-winning Jeremy Piven, who is once again gold (no-pun indented, actually it was indented) as the super agent, once again steals the show time and time again.

Season five sees Ari reignite his feud with Adam Davies in spectacular fashion and leads to one of the great moments in the Entourage series.

As it is Hollywood, there is a happy ending on the horizon for our boy Vince and it comes in the form of a helping hand from one of the greatest directors of all time.

Of course this wouldn’t be Entourage without some celebrity cameos and season five has them in spades including rap star T.I, Mark Wahlberg, Whoopi Goldberg, Olympic swimming god Michael Phelps and I’ll leave some as a surprise for you all.

Entourage S5 is released on DVD boxset by HBO on 14 September maxwell lynas

THE BANTER | 35

Television

GOSSIPGIRL: The Musical Side of Manhattan’s Elite

by Sean David

“Every Parent’s Nightmare”, “Mind-Blowingly Inappropriate” and “A Nasty Piece of Work” are just some of the critical responses to this show. So what is it this year that makes Gossip Girl arguably the most significant sixty minutes in not only US prime time television, but pop?

The series is best known for two things, and is arguably at the forefront of both, in fashion and music. The hour long exhibition of high-end designs just wouldn’t be complete without the appropriate soundtrack. Viewers have been introduced to acts like The Pierces and Oppenheimer, been reminded of Phantom Planet (best known for The OC theme, “California”). Some tracks are made especially for the show by duo The Transcenders, and one episode from this past season featured a collaboration between Jemina Pearl and Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore, with their cover of “Sheena is a 36 | THE BANTER

Punk Rocker”. No Doubt also appeared this season in an 80’s flashback as “Snowed Out”, suggesting the show may very well have become an outlet for major acts as well as up and comers. What haven’t been explored yet however, are the musical endeavours of the cast itself, with Leighton Meester and Taylor Momsen, best known as Blair Waldorf and Jenny Humphrey respectively, both set to release material of their own this year.

Only recently announced for the next season of the show is the addition of Hilary Duff. The former Lizzie McGuire actress famously transitioned from the kids TV hit to pop music in 2003, an approach often exercised by Disney to launch similar careers for Ashley Tisdale, and most successfully Miley Cyrus.

While Duff has since made several appearances on both small and silver screen, she has been largely absent from prime time

Television schedules until this new opportunity arose. Also ,three studio albums later, she has failed to attain pop stardom comparable to some others from the House of Mouse.

Whether or not the new television exposure will increase the popularity of her music or encourage her to continue the endeavour is yet to be determined, but should she choose to stay involved in music, she’s definitely not alone on the set of her new job.

Leighton Meester’s resume prior to Gossip Girl includes a recurring role in HBO’s hit Entourage as Justine Chapin, a pop sensation based on Britney Spears, and potential love interest for the show’s central character Vincent Chase. Last season she returned to the show, performing duets with Tony Bennett, having reinvented herself as a duets singer. However, it’s her current role as Manhattan’s “Queen Bee” Blair Waldorf which has gotten people talking, becoming “a predatory junior Joan Collins” in the opinion of Variety magazine with FHM Online’s belief being that she has “stolen the spotlight with her mind-blowing good looks and amazing performance”, making her their Hottest TV star of 2008.

Having conquered the hearts of prime time fans and critics alike, the next steps for Meester have included becoming the new face of Reebok, and in April this year, signing a recording contract with Universal Republic. Currently working with American Idol judge and songwriter extraordinaire Kara DioGuardi on her first record, Leighton has also contributed to the recent Cobra Starship single, “Good Girls Go Bad”. The single may be an indicator of what’s to come, having told MTV News “it totally is [her] sound too. Very edgy and cool.”

A common surprise - even to die-hard viewers on occasion – is the origin of Ed Westwick, who portrays arguably the best anti-hero on television currently as Chuck Bass. It was only 2006 when the actor was still right here in the UK, making his first television appearances on Doctors, Casualty and Afterlife before making a name for himself state side just one year later.

Now endorsing KSwiss sportswear, he has also began working in film with a role in Donnie Darko sequel S. Darko, and landing the role of Heathcliff in next year’s release of Wuthering Heights, opposite fellow Brit Gemma Arterton.

Westwick’s own quintet The Filthy Youth, hailing from his hometown of Stev re-directing to their MySpace page implies the band may simply be a hobby for the 22 year old. However, this is no surprise given the distance and schedule he now finds himself with.

Taylor Momsen may only turn sixteen this summer, but the girl who portrays Jenny Humphrey has been working professionally for thirteen of those years. Momsen’s first starring role in a television series came in 2002, but the sitcom “Misconceptions”, also starring Jane Leeves of Frasier fame, never even made the air. Five years later, the very same

network – currently known as The CW - commissioned Gossip Girl. Since then, Jenny Humphrey has become as popular on screen as the character did in the novel series, to the point where a spin-off series “The It Girl” was published. A much rumoured similar fate for the televised edition was unsurprising. Refuted by the actress and others, a spin-off was actually planned, but the direction shifted from the “It Girl” concept to the80s flashback series based on Rufus Humphrey and Lily Van Der Woodsen, culminating in a backdoor pilot titled “Valley Girls” last season. While not confirmed as a spin-off, the concept is apparently still considered for 2010.

Taylor remains solely on Gossip Girl for now, which leads one to wonder if next season will include any tracks from her new band, Pretty Reckless. Originally known as The Reckless before their live debut, Taylor and company have been touring with The Veronicas as of late, with one of their first live sets being posted on YouTube the following day. For those who are yet to hear the first single from the band, “Blender”, it’s a world apart from her cover of “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” on the “Schools Out! Christmas” soundtrack when she was 9.

With clear grunge and punk influences, as well as her claims of inspiration from Debbie Harry, Courtney Love and Joan Jett, the look and style of Pretty Reckless should go hand in hand with the upcoming movie The Runaways. The biopic about the band of the same name, formed by Joan Jett, Lita Ford and Cherie Currie in their teenage years is set for release next year, and along with Momsen’s act has every chance of starting a new trend for female fronted punk rock in the next twelve months.

Both Leighton Meester and Taylor Momsen have made the most of the Gossip Girl off-season with their musical pursuits this summer, and there’s every chance they may not be alone in their success. if Hilary Duff decides to record again. This autumn we will learn if the cast’s music will be introduced in the series, with the prospect certainly not out of the question given Jenny Humphrey is the daughter of a rock star, after all.

THE BANTER | 37

Interview

Your first album “Hand Built by Robots” was a fantastic success and your 2nd album which is due out 21st September –“Rebuilt by Humans”, what’s the story behind the name?

It’s based around an accident I had, where I basically broke my wrist on Boxing Day 5 days before I was meant to start recording the second album. So it was like a really proper, proper close call and they used a rather large metal plate. In fact they are using the x-ray as part of at the artwork, when you take the CD out of the case its going to be behind that.

You mention your accident with your wrist, how frustrating a time was this for you?

I had to move the album and move a whole tour but I think it gave me a lot more time to think about how I wanted the album to sound. In fact a lot of my favourite tracks were written in the time after Christmas and I think the album benefited from it.

What can we expect from the album?

I think this album actually goes further in every direction.

Just sonically its much bigger, when it goes, it really goes, especially with the electronic sounds. That was my one clear thought that I had for the initial conversations, with the producer Mike Spencer. I was saying if we are going to use electronic sounds can we make it really electronic and really there because I felt a lot of the stuff on the first album seemed almost like it was ashamed of its electronic-ness, there was a lot of subtle underpinning that sounded like it

38 | THE BANTER

was on my own but it wasn’t, I didn’t want to be that subtle, I kind of wanted everything to be a lot bolder. Also if it sounded like it was me on my own, I wanted it to be me on my own so we did some completely live stuff, we literally had a mic on my mouth and a mic on the guitar and just played the song. The amount of pressure trying to do that, you would think playing live all the time that it would be easy and you play it and if you get it right, you get it right and if you don’t, you don’t. The problem is trying to record a track for the album completely live was petrifying In October, Scottish fans will get to hear your new material live at your gig in the Glasgow O2 ABC; can we expect to see Spongebob Squarepants making an appearance?

Probably not, he hasn’t come out for quite a long time now I replaced him with Bohemian Rhapsody for a while, there isn’t a cover on this album, there isn’t an equivalent of “A Teardrop” but I’m always messing around with covers because its interesting. I really enjoyed the challenge to Bohemian Rhapsody; it was just really just really fun. I’m still looking at odd things now, trying to decide what I might have a look at next.

I believe you have some Scottish blood in you, with your dads’ side of the family being Scottish, you have played T in the Park and other gigs around Scotland, how do you find the Scottish fans?

Its my Dads side, I’m not quite sure to what degree. I didn’t know actually, I had no idea until my dads parents anniversary

Interview

and I was one of the people there not wearing a kilt and I was like “How the hell are all these guys!” I had no idea and thought it was the coolest thing in the world at the time. That was how I found out, it was wicked.

King Tuts was a really good one for me, I remember doing a headline tour and I had never been to Scotland at that point and they put me on headlining at a venue. I was like “shouldn’t we do a support slot, surely there’s no way anyone is going to have a clue who the fuck I am?” I went up and I was basically right and there were 10 people there, but it was brilliant and I gave them the most stadium show that I could possibly think of.

There were bits of the show where I would get one half of the crowd doing one bit and one half of the crowd doing another bit. I did that and there was 5 people on one side and 5 on the other and I went all out. I came back not that much later, maybe three or four months and it was completely sold out, it was just one of those things of moving on.

It’s wicked; I love King Tuts, it’s such a cool place.

THE BANTER | 39

Interview

I have already mentioned you played T in the Park and you have played many of the big festivals including Glastonbury, but you have also played more intimate gigs in clubs and theatres and even a performance in a hot-air balloon. What have been your most memorable gigs to date?

There are loads of transitional points; one was the support gig in Cornwall for Donovan Frankenreiter that created a wave that just kind of going for two years. That was just really odd, that was the first time I felt people completely got it. The next one was at Union Chapel which was the first time I had really been on a bill, with serious people. I think Chris Martin was on just before me and Lily Allen was on just after me and no one knew who I was. I actually went up at the beginning and was like “Are you looking forward to Lily Allen?....Yeah”, and it went mental, “Are you looking forward to James Morrison?....yeah...do you have any idea who I am.....not a clue!”. Yeah that was kind of my starting point, it was really fun and went really well, I think that set the kind of starting point for my kind of thing.

Your new Single, “If This Is It” is out on September the 14th, what’s that song about?

Basically it’s about gigging, it can be applied to anything but for me personally its just about enjoying what I do, enjoying gigging. Its just about doing whatever you enjoy doing, it’s really nice to do live because it’s pretty much like talking to the crowd.

My favourite bit to do in front of people is at the end of the middle eight (sings) “Again, oh please come back again..”, there’s just something really nice about that moment because it is kind of just really talking right to them.

The song is also on your MySpace page at present too, early in your career videos of your performances and your website and MySpace were quite influential in your rise as a recording artist, do you think the internet is a key platform for today’s artists?

Yeah I think the internet is always going to have, it has done for 40 | THE BANTER

a couple of years now been a fairly instrumental part of things.

MySpace, I remember when it first appeared I thought is this going to last? But its definitely still very strong, even if it is just for music. I don’t think its quite the same for the social networking side, I think facebook has probably taken it over in that aspect. I am always really shocked when I meet a musician and I’m always like “have you got a MySpace or anything? You don’t have a MySpace, well you’re not a real musician are you?” It’s strange, its like having an online business card and a way of finding music.

What’s doing the rounds on your iPod at the moment?

Wait until I grab it, its here and will probably be easier me reading of it I will have a look at my most played, I’m a bit intrigued to see what it is actually. Top 25 most played, this is quite interesting actually. “Just One Of Those Things” – Frank Sinatra is apparently my most played song. The next one is Madeleine Peyroux – “You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome”, which is just brilliant. Then we have “Baltimore” – Nina Simone, “When she loved me” which is a Randy Newman instrumental and then another Randy Newman – “I Think Its Going to rain today, and then surprising Finlay Quay - “Even after all”.

It’s a Friday and the weekend is upon is, anything exciting planned for Newton Faulkner over the next couple of days?

For this weekend? Well I have moved out of my parents place, which I did 9 months ago but I need to go back and basically tidy up all my shit. Me and my brother both lived in the same room and we have both moved out but we left it in a complete state so we have to go back and fix it up a bit. That’s what I have to do tomorrow and then I have a regional radio tour all next week, which is just going to be driving a lot and playing “If This Is It” 20 times a day and then I fly to Australia, which is cool I love going to Australia it’s always fun. I am really looking forward to this next tour, I think there is some stuff happening that I don’t think anyone is going to expect.

Win!

WIN! Snowboarding lessons with SNO!zone

W SLEEPING WIN! AnBEAUTY Alcatel(12)Mobile Phone SONY PICTURES  ALCATEL Mobile Phones have teamed up with The Banter to offer one lucky reader the chance to win one of their cute pink and white ALCATEL OT-S211 mobiles, the hottest new release from ALCATEL mobile phones and sold exclusively from Superdrug.

This compact mobile also has 400 hours of battery life, and 5 hours’ talk time so you can literally talk for hours on the phone to mates without worrying about the battery going dead. And for all those music fans the OT-S211 features an FM Radio to keep you entertained whilst on the run. This lightweight and slim candybar phone is small and discreet, so it won’t get lost in your handbag, but don’t be fooled, you’ll never miss a call with its loud ring tones.

This white with a hot pink trim, OT-S211, is available from all Superdrug stores on Virgin Mobile PAYG and can be yours for only £14.99 from June.

For your chance to win an Alcatel Mobile Phone simply answer the following easy question: Which High Street stores are the Alcatel exclusively sold?

Send your answers by e-mail to info@thebanter.co.uk with the heading Competition: Alcatel Mobile along with telling us your name, age, address and e-mail address.

Winners will then be chosen at random! Good luck, competition closes September 30th 2009.

ALCATEL mobile phones are available on pay as you go tariffs. Please visit www.tctmobile.com for more information on the range of handsets available to the UK.

ith the winter Olympics just around the corner the world is expected to go ski and snowboard crazy so we have teamed up with SNO!zone Scotland to give you and a friend the opportunity to give winter sports a go on its real snow slope.

SNO!zone, in Braehead, is Scotland’s only real snow slope where it snows every night to provide the ideal conditions take part in skiing or snowboarding.

No experience is necessary as SNO!zone’s team of qualified instructors will teach you the basics on a dedicated beginners slope before you graduate onto the 200m long main slope.

And, if you are really confident, SNO!zone hosts weekly freestyle nights when you can try out some impressive jumps, tricks and stunts.

The fun also continues off the slope with regular music, comedy and club nights in the SNO!bar overlooking the slope.

We’ve got five SNO!zone vouchers to give away which will entitle you and a friend to an hour long skiing or snowboarding lesson, or if you reach SNO!zone’s minimum standard, you and a friend can enjoy two hours of slope time.

For your chance to win simply answer the following easy question: How long is SNO!zone’s main snow slope? a) 20m b) 200m c) 2 miles Send your answers by e-mail to info@thebanter.co.uk with the heading Competition: SNO!zone along with telling us your name, age, address and e-mail address.

Winners will then be chosen at random! Good luck, competition closes September 30th 2009.

For more information about SNO!zone Scotland visit www. snozoneuk.com or call 0871 222 5672 T&Cs Five prizes are available of a voucher which entitles the winner to an hour skiing or snowboarding lesson for two people or two hours slope time for two people. Those wishing to use the voucher for slope time must reach SNO!zone’s minimum recreational standard – for more information visit www.snozoneuk.com The prize does not include clothing hire or travel expenses

THE BANTER | 41

Feature

METRIC

interview

I

n the lift up to the backstage area at Oran Mor in Glasgow’s West End, a stressed looking Lana Mauro – Metric’s tour manager – tells me she is doing three people’s jobs at once.

The top-hatted blonde takes me up to the third floor and introduces me to Josh Winstead, the Canadian band’s bass player, who is sat at a black upright piano in the lavish, beautifully decorated backstage rooms – complete with a rider fit for a world tour by the well-established New Wave/indie rockers.

The band formed in 1998, winning critical praise and Juno Award nominations for their first three albums released between 2003 and 2007 and built up a cult following after their song “Grow Up and Blow Away” was used in an American Polaroid television commercial in August 2001.

In the band’s native Canada, they have scored two top ten hits, but in the US and UK, they have only managed to chart at 33 and 55 respectively in singles charts. Is the elusiveness of chart success frustrating for Metric?

Winstead says: “It would be a fun story to say ‘oh, we released this and then all over the world we’re huge!’ but it’s not frustrating 42 | THE BANTER

Interview by David Russell because it’s always fun to have a challenge – which might be looking on the bright side, I don’t know!

“It was only that one commercial that really did anything for us, but besides that, I think the following came from us constantly touring.”

For a musician who has been on the road for the past four years – since the release of Metric’s 2005 album Live It Out – Winstead is composed, relaxed and well rested. He takes the band’s hectic touring schedule in his stride.

I ask how the band prepares for each gig and Winstead tells me: “We’ve been preparing for gigs for years, you know what I mean?

“The only thing we really do right before a show is make everyone else go away and we try to pull together as four people and try to connect - sometimes even have the same meal!”

While the band, composed of singer Emily Haines, guitarist James Shaw and drummer Joules Scott-Key, may have compatible culinary palettes, their musical influences are wide – at times bringing in contrasting styles of music which sound strange on paper, which somehow mesh together into the Metric sound. Be it jazz vocal lines and trip-hop drum beats, this band are never

Feature straightforward rock and roll.

“I think these influences come from us not having different tastes from each other by expansive tastes in music - we’ll listen to classic music all the way to orchestral, then we’ll go to Neil Young and then we’ll listen to No Age, all the way to hardcore stuff.

“I think influences come from the whole world: trying to define something that’s going on within your mind at the moment.

If you make it too eclectic, it’s not enjoyable to anyone – even ourselves. So you simmer it down, remove the fat and get rid of things that are not working and after a while it becomes its own thing.

Winstead thinks the wide eclecticism of Metric’s sound is down to “the magic of bringing four people together”. Working with a group of such creative musicians helps the writing process.

He says: “When a band really works, the weirdest things happen: you get to enjoy that spontaneity. Sometimes it’s like: ‘oh, I never would have put that with this!’ and someone else will say ‘hey, I can hear this beat under there!’ and that’s the exciting part of working with other people – otherwise you just work on your own and you don’t ever surprise yourself.”

anecdote from when he discovered music for himself at the age of two or three.

“I grew up in Boston and I was walking with my mom at a market. I remember I stopped and wouldn’t move away from someone playing violin out in the street – I wouldn’t leave. She tried to pull me away and I threw a fit, so she was like ‘fine, we’ll hang out’, and I sat there with that guy for like two hours. From then on she knew: this kid likes music.

“It was always in there. I couldn’t say a certain musician influenced me to want to be a musician. I think Jimi Hendrix made me want to play guitar, or something like that, but besides that, it was nothing – it was always in there.”

But this early inspiration was not the driving force behind joining Metric – as a veteran in local bands, Winstead was looking for that special something in a group of musicians.

“Before I joined Metric, I had been in a lot of other bands. I wasn’t done, but I was kind of done with bands. I kept playing with all these people who would self-sabotage. I’ve played with a lot of great musicians in my life but one thing kept happening – things would start to get good and for some reason they put some-

“I think influences come from the whole world: trying to define something that’s going on within your mind at the moment. If you make it too eclectic, it’s not enjoyable to anyone – even ourselves.”

This is exactly how Metric worked on just-released album Fantasies. Winstead described the creation of the song “Twilight Galaxies”: “Emily and I were working on it and trying to find a new way to do it – she just started playing this keyboard line over it and I said ‘that’s it – don’t change a thing!’. It was a surprise to us that came out of the session.”

Each member of the band gives their input when it comes to writing the songs, but lyrics are all written by singer Haines.

“Who knows where she gets them from? She has an amazing mind – I’m not joking – she is an amazing lady, an interesting and talented woman.

“We have a lot of dialogue about what she is going to talk about [in a song]. She asks us ‘do you feel this represents you guys?’ a lot – and we tell her. I’m not sure we would veto anything, but she takes that responsibility upon herself to make sure she speaks for all four of us, which is really nice.”

Fantasies is the first self-produced album by the band – free of record label constraints and demands.

“For the band it meant a lot more risk and a lot more of a gamble. It also meant we got to have complete control, be it artistic, who we work with or how it’s distributed and presented, so a lot more control and a lot more risk. If it didn’t work, we were going to lose everything we made from the last album.”

So has this risk been worth it?

“Absolutely. Even if it tanked now, absolutely!”

Winstead tells me about his early influences – in particular, an

thing on the plate that you’d not want to eat anymore.”

Winstead was the last member to join Metric in 2001, invited by his old friend Joules Scott-Key. “It was a tentative thing at first, but instantly when I flew out and played with them, I realised: one, they are great musicians; and two, they were serious and they weren’t going to sabotage the band just because they were afraid.”

Since then, the band has played as a solid unit. Winstead says every member feels comfortable on stage and in the studio – and just as well: Winstead says all that is on the horizon for the band is touring, touring and more touring.

Fast forward three hours, two beers and one DJ set later – I get to see Metric in action.

The band is surprisingly tight – even for a band who have been “preparing for gigs for years”. Haines manages to play synthesizers while jumping and dancing, playing a selection of songs from the new album – particular highlights were “Gimme Sympathy”, “Twilight Galaxy” and “Stadium Love” – alongside classic Metric hits, while still-top-hatted Lana Mauro ran between the stage and the sound control booth.

The majority of the crowd were dressed like New York indie-hipsters and could sing every lyric – even from the new songs.

Judging from the Canadian accents that could be heard discussing the gig after it had finished, the cult appeal of Metric means their Toronto fans will follow them anywhere.

And that’s the power of good advertising!

THE BANTER | 43

Gaming

Games To Watch Out For

Our pick of the hottest videogame releases coming your way soon

PES 2010

Due 23/10/09 PES 2010 title benefits from the most exhaustive raft of new features in the series’ history, with every aspect of the game adjusted with key improvements.

FIFA 10

WWE SMACKDOWN V RAW 2010

LEGO ROCK BAND

FORZA MOTORSPORT 3

HALO 3: ODST

FOOTBALL MANAGER 2010

Due 02/10/09 On the heels of winning 25 international gaming awards with FIFA 09, the top-selling football franchise from EA Sports is surpassed with FIFA 10

Due 13/11/09 Become the biggest rock band in the universe! LEGO style and humor take LEGO Rock Band to an all-new level. Fun for the family on a wild journey to rock stardom

Due 22/09/09 The year is 2552. You are an Orbital Drop Shock Trooper.

Your orders: stay alive, meet up with your scattered squad, and escape the embattled city.

44 | THE BANTER

Due 23/10/09 The best-selling fighting videogame franchise returns to the virtual ring with the most authentic, entertaining and compelling simulation of WWE programming to date.

Due 27/10/09 Forza Motorsport 3 rises above the distinction between simulation and arcade games.

Using cutting-edge driving and gameplay, Forza 3 delivers the ultimate driving experience.

Due 30/10/09 Following the debut of a 3D Match View in Football Manager 2009, this year’s release sees a revamp creating an even more realistic match experience.

Gaming

LEFT 4 DEAD 2ASGOW Left 4 Dead 2 is the sequel to the best-selling and critically-acclaimed co-operative multiplayer smash from Valve.

The title adds melee combat to the award-winning L4D style of play, with items such as a chainsaw, frying pan, axe, baseball bat, and more.

WIN a copy of marvel ultimate allience 2 MARVEL ULTIMATE ALLIANCE 2 To celebrate the release of the highly anticipated Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 video game, Activision, and The Banter have teamed up to offer 5 lucky winner/s the chance to win an XBOX 360 copy of the game.

Based on the Marvel Civil War storyline, players must assemble a superhero dream team from more than 20 of Marvel’s most dynamic heroes including Spider-Man, Wolverine, Hulk, Iron Man, Juggernaught and Thor. Combine the powers of these fearsome characters to unlock over 250 astonishing new fusion attacks.

If you didn’t win, don’t despair, the Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 game is available on Xbox 360, PS3 PS2, PSP, Wii and Nintendo DS from 25th September.

The setting is at roughly the same time as the original - just after the outbreak that turned most of the population into various zombie mutants.

Players assume the role of 4 new “Survivors,” each with their own personality and new dialog.

The game leads these Survivors through the south-eastern region of the US - from Savannah, Georgia thru the bayou country, and climaxing in New Orleans’ French Quarter.

Left 4 Dead 2 offers a much larger game than the original with more co-operative campaigns, more Versus campaigns, maps for Survival Mode at launch, and more...

Q: Which of these characters do not appear in the game? a) Hulk b) Spiderman c) Winnie the Pooh Send your answers by e-mail to info@thebanter.co.uk with the heading Competition: Ice Age along with telling us your name, age, address and e-mail address.

Winners will then be chosen at random! Good luck, competition closes September 30th 2009.

THE BANTER | 45

Interview

Interview by Rosemary Lowne I must admit, I was slightly nervous about interviewing Soft Toy Emergency. Having watched videos of their wild gigs, I wasn’t sure what to expect. But no they didn’t eat me alive, quite the opposite .......

Have to say, I love your name, who was the genius behind it?

Jen: I decided to call it a day with my boyfriend at the time. He then turned up at my door with this teddy bear in a last ditch attempt to rekindle things. So I just thought, this is a soft toy emergency.

So you’re playing Glasgow tonight, what a great way to start the tour, you must be excited?

Jen: Aww we love Glasgow. We’ve had some of our best nights up here. I think this is the fourth time we’ve played here.

George: It’s our second time at this venue (King Tuts).

Andy : Yeah we always go out after our gigs.

George: Last time we were up here, I went to the Cathouse, I had a great time.

You met while studying at Liverpool University – how did that come about?

Jen: We were all students there and we knew each other from playing in various bands. So we got together and decided to give it go and here we are.

46 | THE BANTER

How long have you been together?

Probably about a year and a half.

How would you describe Soft Toy Emergency in 5 words?

Andy: Sexy Jen: Energetic George: Wicked (erupts into laughter) Jen: Wicked, oh dear. Fun and Passionate.

I must admit, listening to you has really brought out my inner robot!

Andy: Good, that’s what we try to achieve. I love getting the crowd going.

George: Yeah, it’s a lot of fun, especially when we were in Nottingham, we had this guy on the stage. He got a bit embarrassed after about three songs but wouldn’t get off the stage.

Jen: Yeah, then the security guard tried to chuck him off stage, but I was like “leave him, he’s fine”.

You must witness some mental dance moves?

George: Oh yeah. For some reason there’s always a really old guy at our gigs. When we were in Leeds at a festival there was this seventy year-old man standing in front of the stage going nuts.

From watching some of your videos, the energy you bring to

Interview the stage is immense, how do you do it?

Jen: Ever since we started, our live show is what it’s all about.

We want to make it special and I think that the nervous energy before we go on stage really helps. We always make-sure we’re having a good time on stage, as that’s the most important thing.

Andy: Definitely, if your’re having a good time on stage then people want to be part of that. So instead of watching a band standing there just playing their instruments, the crowd wants to see them getting involved and having a good time.

Have you always been into electro-pop?

Jen: Yeah, I think so. Coming out of Liverpool, it’s hard not to get tied into the whole Beatles thing. Fortunately for us, Liverpool has a massive dance culture, clubs like Cream, all started in Liverpool and there’s still some amazing club nights going on.

Whilst we were all students we used to go to these clubs regularly, so that’s what influenced us. We also love a bit of pop.

Andy: Yeah pop isn’t a bad thing.

Who were your musical heroes when growing up?

Jen: Loads really. As a band we’re all into different music.

George is a grunge rocker for a start.

Andy: Yeah I used to love rubbish pop rock and then got into seventies disco.

George: Now we all listen to the same stuff. We love a lot of the pop stuff out just now, like La Roux.

Jen: There are loads of good female pop out there at the moment. On the more rocky side, I love Karen O. As a band we have a collective taste that works.

What was it that made you think, I wanna do this for a living?

Jen: Once you get a taste of it, especially in the last year when we’ve been consistently touring around the UK, you just think, oh my god, I don’t actually wanna do anything else. When we first started, I thought, it would be good if the band worked out, whereas now, I’m like, the band has to work out. We’re just having a really great time and no-one really knows who we are still but I could carry on doing what we’re doing just now for years.

George: We’re constantly busy, we don’t just sit at home doing nothing so we’re always doing something to do with the band.

Jen: Yeah it’s kind of taken over our lives.

You’ve performed with the likes of CSS, that must’ve been brilliant?

Jen: We did one gig with CSS in Sheffield.

George: We got a phone call about three in the afternoon asking if we would do it and they said you need to get here like now, so we legged it there.

Jen: We got there just in time to do a sound check.

Andy: Recently we’ve been supporting the same bands over and over again as recently we played with Dan Black, three times and also performed with Little Boots, twice in two days.

Is there any artists you’d like to perform with in the future?

Andy: Any band that wants to have fun really Jen: Yeah, at the end of the day you just want to get on with them, you might admire their music but you have to get on with

them. You’re on tour every day and everyone’s knackered, it’s so important to get on with people.

What would you say has been your best gig so far?

George: It’s the really random ones, the ones we never really expect to be any good.

Jen: Also, our launch night in Liverpool. It was the best night of our lives really.

Andy: It was sold out and there were about 200 people outside trying to get in. It was the weirdest feeling, people queuing to see you.

Jen: Doing gigs in places where people don’t know you is always good especially when you get a positive reaction. It was like that the last time we played King Tuts. We also played a gig in Guilford, it was a Monday night and we thought it was going to be really bad, but it turned out to be one of the best gigs we’ve ever done.

And the worst gig?

Andy: My worst gig was in London on my 21st birthday and there was a power cut. We were left on stage in darkness.

Jen: We’ve definitely had our fair share of bad gigs.

Andy: I think everyone has them and you learn from them.

What track do you never tire of performing?

Jen: For me, it has to be Circles. It’s one of our oldest tracks and we play it last in the set so it’s like ‘Right come on’ one final burst of energy.

Andy: Critical and White Lights.

You release your singles on vinyls, love the old skool style Jen: We wanted to do something different and something that is collectable instead of the usual download. I think seeing the vinyl is special.

Are you fans of giving music away for free?

Jen: Right from the start we didn’t sell our CD’s and we still give them away for free. Any money we make goes straight into making these free CD’s. We’d rather people went away from the gig with our music than without it.

Andy: That’s where I’ve been for the past week, burning CD’s. I don’t mind though, I get to watch a bit of day time TV, Cash in the Attic is my favourite, Dickenson’s Real Deal, I love them all.

How do you see yourselves in a years’ time?

Jen: Back in Glasgow. Hopefully by early next year we’ll have an album out. We really wanna play T in the Park, we’re just a bit too small to play it this year but hopefully by next year we’ll get the chance.

Do you have a soft toy mascot?

Jen: Funnily enough, we did an interview at a build the Bear Factory and got to make our own bear. We can’t fit the bear in the car though but as soon as we get a tour bus, he’s coming with us.

To find out more on Soft Toy Emergency visit their myspace at www.myspace.com/softtoyemergency

THE BANTER | 47

The new Young Scot NEC card.

It’ll get you all sorts of stuff.

Your free Young Scot NEC card can get you: s cheaper travel on buses, trains and ferries s discounts in hundreds of shops s local leisure and library services s and acts as proof of your age

To apply, freephone 0808 801 or go to youngscot.org/nec

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