The GetDownsThese guys have a new single "Proper Music" out 23 June 2008, with a launch party @ Dexter's on 20 June.
I posed a few wee questions about the band, music, and Dundee...
Questions + Answers
Q1 - I've seen you guys play live, and was impressed by the energy on-stage: I get the feeling you enjoy music "raw"? What's your thoughts on that?
A - Raw is nice if you live in the wild. Dundee can be a bit like a concrete jungle at times so it suits the mood. I hope the industrial sounds of Dundee come through in our music; the gasworks, the factories, the dirt, summer in the city. Raw is honest as well. You can polish up and frame music nicely, but honesty is always appreciated more.
Q2 - Is there any story behind Proper Music, apart from what it says on the tin? [I'm hearing frustration at mass-produced pop/"indie"? - or maybe that's just me...]
A - Not really, it was written before the whole Indie-as-Pop-music thing took off, it was more meant as a cheeky poke at the Scottish alternative scene, where there's a healthy amount of snobbery and ridicule of musicians who play "raw" as you put it above. We actually really like a lot of alternative Scottish bands though, don't get us wrong, it's only a light-hearted tickle in the ribs really. It looks like "alternative" is the next "indie", so the song may be more relevant now than ever. The main message in the song though is that it's important to have a sense of humour when you make music.
Q3 - Our events archive shows you've been pretty active, playing at least 33 gigs in Dundee in the past 18 months, how has it been for you? The venues, the fans, other bands, etc, do you have anything to share...? :)
A - That's a lot of shows. We've changed alot in those 18 months. We've made a lot of good friends, everyone knows everyone in Dundee, we all help to looks after one another, there's no distinction between "bands" and "fans", we all love live music and that's that. There've been highs and lows so far, you've just got to keep on going for it, every show needs to be played as if it's your last. No matter how empty or full a venue is, the effort put into the show should be indentical.
Q4 - What's your current take on the Dundee live music scene? Some folk I speak to seem to think there's not much going on, but the last couple of years collating gig listings has opened my eyes!
A - It's good to roll out of bed and into the Doghouse at one o'clock in the summer, get cider and blackcurrent in the sunshine and chat to your friends, watch the bands rehearse upstairs, it's good to walk around town and say "hi" to loads of people you would never have known were it not for the music scene in Dundee. Those who moan about it (including myself) need to remember that at least we're not living in Darfur, shut up and do the twist.
Q5 - Gig venues: what do you prefer, small + intimate or larger with room to express yourself?
A - As I said before, every gig is just as important to us. Of course you end up with favourite venues, but that's more to so with the way musicians and customers are treated there rather than size. I would actually say that any time we've been on a big stage there's been far less room for expression as those shows we're always opening for a bigger act and have to play by the anal rules of the tour manager. Which is fair enough in that situation.
Q6 - Where's your aim right now? Beyond the single launch, where'd you like to be in the near-future + further ahead?
A - Near future - the pub down the road. Further ahead - pubs in England! With drums and everything.
Q7 - Looking rather swish in the new photo: is this a new direction - or just a wash + brush-up?
A - Based on a medical theme - it's to do with the yet-to-be-revealed picture disk art. All will become clear when you buy the record, Joe Public.
Q8 - On the same subject, how much do you think a band's appearance affects their performance? Has it changed for you?
A - I think Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder and Blind Willie McTell probably each put far more thought into their appearances than we do. Symmetry can be nice.
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