Cougar Microbes

LightGuides released their mini-album ‘Samba Samba Samba‘ earlier this month on Alcopop Records. We caught up with drummer Dave to discuss the ‘veggie challenge’, the healthy state of Scottish music and that elusive Jay-Z and Beethoven collaboration. And it goes a little like this:

Cougar Microbes: What time did you wake up today? Was it out of choice or necessity?

LightGuides: I think around 9:30am? We crashed at Richie (Jumping Ships) house after our Hastings show, which was lovely. Rich is very hospitable, all the Ships boys are! Unfortunately we woke up out of necessity as it’s a fairly long drive from Brighton to Leeds and we wanted to make sure we had plenty of time to get to the Leeds show today.

CM: Describe LightGuides to the uninitiated?

LG: I think we have a touch of early 00s American pop-punk (The Starting Line, Blink 182, New Found Glory), a dash of early-mid 00s Brit post-hardcore (Hundred Reasons, Reuben, Biffy Clyro) topped off with a spot of more recent Scot rock (Twin Atlantic, The Xcerts).

CM: How have you been killing time on the road, hobbies?

LG: Well Martin (guitar) and myself have taken the “veggie challenge” on the road, so it’s been fun trying to find decent vegetarian food, we are completely hooked on falafel! A lot of the Southern dates on this tour we’ve never been to before, so it’s been great taking the camera out and going exploring. Going out for beers is always a great way to kill time; we had a lovely night on Brighton beach drinking copious amounts of beer and wine on Saturday. Mark (vocals, guitar) and I went for a swim in the sea, boy is that a great way to sober you up!

CM: What have been your favourite venues to play? Any Venues you hated?

LG: I think our favourite venue on this tour so far has been the Old Blue Last in London. It had everything; great bands, great venue, great crowd, and it was really nice to catch up with friends and also Jack (Alcopop! Records’ Big Boss Man). Although I know we’re all really looking forward to the album-release show at King Tuts in Glasgow, it’s the last day of the tour too so hopefully we can end it with a bang!

CM: Is there a song you are simply sick of playing? Do you think that will ever happen?

LG: I don’t think there is a song I’m sick of playing, I guess when you play a song live there are so many variable factors (the onstage sound, the crowd reaction, the venue itself) so there is always a kind of freshness to the track. The songs we’ve been playing live for over a year, maybe we’re a bit tired of practicing these at rehearsals but once onstage it’s as exciting playing the oldies as it is the newbies.

CM: What is the songwriting process like for LightGuides. Are you able to write on the road or do you do this in your off time?

LG: Usually the guys will allocate time in our practice studio to jam out some ideas, and once they’ve got a general structure and the foundations to a song I’ll come in and give my opinion, and we’ll usually tweak it here and there. Then I’ll figure out what drum patterns I’m going to use, and Mark will start thinking about vocal melodies and lyrics. We’ll then sit down and go through the melodies and cement down the lead and backing vocals. It’s easier for the guys to do this is the studio than on the road, they find it slightly more relaxing and peaceful jamming out there, when we’re on the road things are usually pretty manic!

CM: Favourite LightGuides track and why?

LG: My favourite track would have to be ‘The Arts Factory’, it’s just really fun to play but at the same time quite demanding to play live, it’s a nice challenge. I think we’re all agreed on this one, it’s Martin and Mark’s fave too.

CM: If you could record any cover what would it be?

LG: Whitney Houston’s ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’. That song just makes me want to have a good time, all of the time.

CM: Do your songs go through many revisions via demo recordings?

LG: Not really no, we spend a fair amount of time working on the songs at the time of writing and sometimes we’ll touch certain areas up once we’ve listened back to demo recordings, but the foundations of the songs never really change.

CM: What came first, the lyrics or the melody?

LG: THE MELODY. Usually we get all the instrumentation of the songs sorted, before figuring out melodies. Mark will start writing lyrics once he has a good idea of what the melody of the song is going to be.

CM: What are your views on auto tune?

LG: I’d be a hypocrite if I said I didn’t agree with it as we’ve used it on our recordings, but only ever really to polish a vocal-pitch. What I would say is; in the recording process it’s really useful, but only in moderation. I’m not a huge fan of the current branch of pop-artists who rely heavily on auto-tune (so it sounds like their voice is half-human-half-keyboard), but I think it’s a bit of a fad and we probably won’t still be hearing that kind of pop music so much this time next year.

CM: Any other band/bands from your local scene we really should know about?

LG: There are some really great bands coming out of Scotland right now, here’s a little list : The Lafontaines, Fatherson, There Will Be Fireworks, Endor, Carnivores, Aerials Up, The Winter Tradition, Make Sparks, Pareto, He Slept on 57, French Wives. Sorry that little list ended up quite expansive! I highly recommend checking out any/all of these bands.

CM: Most flattering thing you’ve read about yourselves?

LG: To be honest if anyone says anything remotely nice about us we get really flattered! When people show an interest in the band it really brightens up our day. If I had to choose one though it would be the recent album review Rock Sound magazine gave us, were they stated ‘The Arts Factory’ is right up there with the best songs of the year. To hear that from a publication we ‘ve been reading for years and really respect is amazing to us.

CM: What was the first record/tape/cd you ever bought?

LG: I’m pretty sure it was ‘Crocodile Shoes’ by Jimmy Nail, and at the same time I bought Bon Jovi’s ‘Someday I’ll be Saturday Night’. Big Jon Bon uses an expletive in that song and I used to love screaming it as loud as I could: “My life’s a bargain basement, all the GOOD SHIT’S GONE”, haha.

CM: What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

LG: ‘Edith’ by Tellison. It’s always the 1st song on our playlist when we hit the road, great for perking you up for the drive. Also ‘Movers and Shakers’ by Jumping Ships, the boys have been opening their set with it and I’m pretty sure at any given moment someone in our band is singing it, albeit usually singing the wrong words!

CM: What was the last show you paid and queued up for?

LG: Endor at King Tuts in Glasgow, and coincidentally they’re the next band I’ve bought a ticket to go see. They are playing a 10-year anniversary show at The Captains Rest in Glasgow just after we finish tour, will be a great way to combat post-tour blues.

CM: If you had to bring on artist back from the dead in exchange for sending a living artist down ,which artists would it be and why?

LG: I’d probably say John Lennon. I don’t actually listen to the Beatles too often I just think it would be really interesting to see what they would be doing now, if they would still be together, if so what style of music would they be writing. Mark is driving beside me and his choice would be Beethoven, because he’d like to see his take on modern music. Can you imagine Beethoven guest-rapping on the next Jay-Z record? That would be sick!

LightGuides’ mini album ’Samba Samba Samba‘ is out now on Alcopop Records

TRACKS:

Old Bucket Seats – LightGuides

After reviewing Scoundrels a couple of months ago we caught up with Ned for a quick Q&A covering Tae Kwondo practices, Dr Dre covers and a unnatural dislike for Noah and the Whale.

Cougar Microbes: What time did you wake up today? Was it out of choice or necessity?

Scoundrels: Woke up at 5 am, went for a 10 mile jog, exfoliated for an hour, practised Tae Kwondo and perused the stock market for a while before donning my guitar and heading to the studio.

In an ideal world all of the above would’ve happened, sadly the truth of the matter is that I normally rise around half eight after an epic half hour battle with the “snooze” button on my phone.

Cougar Microbes: Describe Scoundrels to the uninitiated?

Scoundrels: We are a four piece rock n’ cruddy soul n’ blues band heavily influenced by music from South Louisiana. Our music is rooted in an old school sound but is performed in a contemporary way. Our live performances are sweaty, raucous affairs.

Cougar Microbes: How have you been killing time on the road, hobbies?

Scoundrels: We have various ways of passing the time on the road. The usual classics, “i spy”, “kumbaya m’lord” and “what am I thinking of?” will suffice but on occasion a game of “road cluedo” is the only thing that’ll get the juices flowing. “Professor Plum with the lead piping in the glove compartment“, that sort of thing.

Cougar Microbes: What have been your favourite venues to play? Any Venues you hated?

Scoundrels: We’ve played some great venues. King Tuts in Glasgow is a favourite. I recommend “Nice n Sleazies” a bar nearby too for post-gig fun. Also, we used to run nights at The Notting Hill Arts Club which is a fantastic night spot. A really eclectic mix of people, the night to go to there is “Sweet Memory Sounds“.

Cougar Microbes: Is there a song you are simply sick of playing?

Scoundrels: Not one actually, I think there’s an excitement that comes with getting to show people your music for the first time. Each song feels different with different crowds. I’m sure there’ll come a day though…

Cougar Microbes: What is the songwriting process like for Scoundrels. you able to write on the road or do you do this in your off time?

Scoundrels: Normally it happens away from the road. I guess normally I’ll have a riff and a chord structure and an idea of what the songs about. Then i’ll bring it into the studio and the lads’ll bring there own flavours to it and flesh it out, add in their bits and ideas to the mix and that’ll be it. It’s quite tough to write on the road as there’s so much going on all the time.

Cougar Microbes: Favourite Scoundrels track and why?

Scoundrels: On the album my favourite track is probably “Sniff It Up” as I felt we were on great form musically the day we recorded that track in Chicago. It’s got a killer riff that I’d love someone to do a remix of one day an grooves really well too.

Cougar Microbes: If you could record any cover what would it be?

Scoundrels: We’ve already covered Dr Dre‘s “Xxplosive” which was a tune we’d always loved. We may well cover some tunes from our new label’s (Blue Horizon) back catalogue too. Bands like Fleetwood Mac, Chicken Shack, Champion Jack Dupree.

Cougar Microbes: Do your songs go through many revisions via demo recordings?

Scoundrels: I always think the demos are the most true versions of the songs and to stray too far from those initial recordings is to lose the songs essence.

Cougar MicrobesWhat came first, the lyrics or the melody?

Scoundrels: Melody, always. I think it’s far more interesting to hear great vocal tunes and rhythms than to cram words in wherever they fit. Obviously there is Some compromise though as the words can’t be cruddy, although the occasional rhyming of “cat” and “bat” can be effective.

Cougar Microbes: What are your views on auto tune?

Scoundrels: Love it, dangerously so. We were gonna use it on one sentence in ‘Louisiana Song‘ but decided against it, much to Akon‘s disgust I’m sure. George can mimic auto-tune like no other.

Cougar Microbes: Any other band/bands from your local scene we really should know about?

Scoundrels: Givers were great friends of ours from our time living in Lafayette, Louisiana who are already set for a meteoric rise. Also if you get a chance, you have to check out Vadoinmessico, a Mexican, Italian, Austrian outfit who play a quirky, eccentric, melodic folk that is about as infectious as it gets.

Cougar Microbes: Most flattering thing you’ve read about yourselves?

Scoundrels: That we’re from Bideford. That we have “non descript looks“. Actually I was once told that I was “a sex god in the making“. It was an incredibly proud moment for me, I immedealty informed my parents that they had raised a “sex god“, needless to say they were incredibly proud. They told me that many of my teachers had foretold of such career developments from an early age.

Cougar Microbes: What was the first record/tape/cd you ever bought?

Scoundrels: Possibly a Spice Girls single or Bon Jovi‘s “Midnight In Chelsea“, an indication of what was to come.

Cougar Microbes: What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Scoundrels: Foals‘ “Red Socks Pugie“. What a song. Just saw them play at “Calvi On The Rocks” festival and they were incredible.

Cougar Microbes: What was the last show you paid and queued up for?

Scoundrels: Went to see George’s New Orleans covers band, The Dirty Gentlemen play at Ain’t Nothin’ But The Blues Bar the other day. They were fantastic.

Cougar Microbes: If you had to bring on artist back from the dead in exchange for sending a living artist down ,which artists would it be and why?

Scoundrels: I’d bring back Jimi Hendrix because I reckon he’d be the sort of guy that wouldn’t ruin his legacy with longevity. I feel he had a lot more tunes still in him and it would’ve been interesting to see how he’d change.

I’m not sure I’d be up for killing a modern day artist but if I could banish their music from these shores Noah and the Whale would be somewhere up there.

TRACKS:

Following on from the previous Belle and Sebastian post here is the video for the track ‘I Didn’t See It Coming‘ which completes the split single.

The clip is by Glasgow based artist Lesley Barnes and provides a suitably bright companion to the upbeat rendition of the track.

Enjoy this taste of B&S because after over 70 shows played to 300,000 eager people the 7-piece are retreating out of the public eye for a while to conentrate on writing as well as various solo projects.

TRACKS:

With just a handful of tracks in my possession I think it is fair to say Oscar Charlie have kept me guessing since I first heard them at the start of this year. Hailing from the Shetland Isles, but recently relocated to Glasgow, the band’s synth heavy songs weren’t what I was expecting when I first checked them out.

Sounding positively brooding and taking the quiet/loud mantle from their contemporaries the band  mix elements from Editors as well as fellow scots Copy Haho, Idlewild and Frightened Rabbit.

in just a few tracks Oscar Charlie display a load of promise and a tendency to build layer upon layer of melodious sound.With a single just released and an EP due at the start of June I would recommend keeping tabs on this lot.

TRACKS:

Oscar Charlie – Hello Chrono

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club burst onto the scene in 2000 with ‘B.R.M.C.‘, a rollicking, reverb-drenched, fuzz laden album of face punch rock. “Love Burns” from that LP still has the capacity to send chills down my forearms. Their follow up LP, “Take Them On, On Your Own” offered more of the same power that could steam-roll you flat if you weren’t bothering to pay attention, but offered little departure from ‘B.R.M.C.’ and fell flat for me.

And then along came ‘Howl‘, an album that if I hadn’t seen them perform live, I wouldn’t believe it was even the same band. How a band can go from the Jesus and Mary Chain to some back country gospel and blues in 2 years I will never know. It’s unabashed departure from their first two LP’s is so drastic that I’m very skeptical they could really mean any of it… an inside joke where they laugh a little on the inside when they coo “I will walk with Jesus, till I can’t go any more.” But that album is shit hot, inside joke or not.

‘Baby 81‘ offered a return to their original sound, but unfortunately the old sound resulted in an album of forgettable haze and noise, an average 90s throw-back album in modern day 2007. Enter ‘Live‘, a 2 DVD set with a bonus live CD. The CD covers three 2007 sold out shows in Berlin, Dublin and Glasgow and is basically just a random selection from the DVD, which is the real draw here (and which has been getting some solid reviews). Now, my idea of a solid live album is one that captures something that a studio version cannot: energy, showmanship, and a continuous stream of songs exactly as they appeared in concert, with the misplaced distortion, the occasional amplifier feedback, the short jokes between songs, the screams from the crowd, even the annoying chatter in the background.

But why an accomplished act, whose live shows happen to be their lifeblood, resort to a mixed bag of tunes from three different nights – three nights of varying emotion and vigor, of different weather, of different lunches, of different bus rides and fans – I will never know. A random assortment of songs with no intensity is the last attribute that should be attached to the term “live”. The songs that make up this album offer no heart and very few tracks should be repeated multiple times. If I want to hear the real BRMC, I’ll go back to the original studio cuts or to another live show.

My ideal BRMC album includes their trademark distorted melodies, with a heavy dose of their “Howl” inspired folk. Word on the street is that we’re going to get that from their March release ‘Beat the Devil’s Tattoo‘. I’m looking forward to the new album and hoping to forget ‘Live‘.

——

Review by Adam, Aka Simon & Cougarfunkel

——

TRACKS-

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club -Love Burns