If for whatever reason after this review you would still like to buy this song, here are the details.
Archeo is a 21 year old London based singer/song writer. You can check out his music, photos and general information on his official page (www.archeoofficial.com). The song ‘Glass Half Empty’ is out for download on the 6th of May.
Louise Shirley
2:54 are made up of two sisters; Colette and Hannah Thurlow, Alex Robins and Joel Porter. They have recently signed to Fat Possum Records in America. Other tracks by 2:54 that are also worth checking out are ‘Scarlet’ and ‘Got A Hold’. If you fancy checking out their music, photos or twitter you can find them on facebook (http://www.facebook.com/twofiftyfour) or their official website (http://www.twofiftyfour.net/). They are due to start a UK tour on the 2nd of April in Norwich and will be finishing at the Leeds Cockpit on the 14th of April if you want to see them live. They currently have an EP out called Scarlet which includes ‘Dawn’, ‘Got A Hold’, ‘Wait/Awake’ and ‘Scarlet’ and you can also buy their single ‘You’re Early’ off itunes now!
Louise Shirley
Thanks to Tesco Direct, we are offering a brand new iPod nano as first prize for the person who gets an ASR sticker in the best location. So, not only are you showing your love and support for your student radio station, but you are also getting the chance to win an awesome prize! The best location will be decided by the committee of ASR.
But don’t worry if you didn’t quite manage to get the top prize, we are offering a runner up prize! This is a voucher for a dinner for two at The Beautiful Mountain restaurant, Belmont Street.
The details!
To enter this competition you can either come into the station (which is in Butchart) to purchase a sticker from us directly, or you will spot us around the university campus. You will also see our smiley faces at various stalls in the hub and in Alfie’s Café over the next couple of weeks. Stickers cost £1 each, you can buy as many as you like. Just think: £1 for an iPod nano. Why wouldn’t you!
Once you’ve stuck our logo in the best place possible, take a picture of it and send it to facebook@aberdeenstudentradio.org!
The announcement of the winner and the prize-giving will be on the 16th of November at Club SNAFU where ASR are taking over with electro boutique. So make sure you’re there!
Check out the facebook page here!
Have fun!
Disclaimer: Aberdeen Student Radio and its affiliates bear no responsibility for the actions of those who take part in this competition. By entering this competition, the participants acknowledge that their actions do not represent Aberdeen Student Radio or its affiliates. Any action undertaken by participants is independent of Aberdeen Student Radio and its affiliates.
Josh Lee
Unfortunately I did not know that guitarist, John, who I interviewed down on the big red tour bus was a member of the already successful group the Fratelli’s. I thought he might stab me in the eye for this huge mistake, but fortunately, he was cool. Unfortunately however, this put my first question completely out the window, which would have been what experience have you had.
Codeine Velvet Club has been together since August and their tour ends back down south in Birmingham on December the seventh, after already beginning in Manchester and heading up north to Inverness they were on their way back stopping in Aberdeen. When I asked their musical influences the reply was, ‘same as always and can’t say the Beatles are that bad’ but a more affirmative answer was given with ‘music from around thirty forty years ago’. I asked about future plans and it was made clear America and Europe were on the horizon but like anything, you work hard and build your way to your goal and this is what their tour is trying to achieve now. I asked Lawler how he felt about performing on stage and he remained constant that it was about having fun and he didn’t get nerves, so fun isn’t out of fashion he seemed to feel fun had gone out of fashions for some musicians.
The members of the band are all Glaswegian minus the keyboard / guitarist Will Foster who is from London. I asked if the fact that the band had a strong Glaswegian element made any difference and it did not. Lawler said, ’it comes from American rock n roll so it’s not Scottish at all’. I also asked the old cliché about the bands lifestyle and if it consisted of sex, drugs as well as rock n roll. Lawler replied by showing off his wedding ring and that he couldn’t speak for the rest of the band because he might cause trouble. Ultimately they lead an exciting life. Lawler said ’there are not many exciting bands these days but we are one of them, other bands might thing they are exciting but don’t have the ears to tell the difference, the difference with us is that we do have ears to tell the difference.
Being on tour already with bands travelling is a big part of life which is something that John enjoys from this career path. He went onto say, ’you can’t have a completely well formed world opinion if you haven’t travelled and seen the world’. You could say he is well enlightened and has formed his own world view.
I asked what kind of following he was looking for the Codeine Velvet Club and it seemed he was aiming at a slightly older audience but happy for anybody to listen just don’t expect Codeine Velvet Club to fit into the popular scene.We talked about musical imagination; I said ’It’s hard to be original after so many notes have already been played’, ‘he assured me that they had enough musical imagination and there are still plenty of original notes to be found’. To be honest he was a fairly sound guy but I sensed if you pissed him off you might do well to expect a dramatic surprise.
When the press were mentioned he said, ’there is no difference between the tabloids and the broadsheets in fact the broadsheets are worst because they are always trying to prove their intellect.’ He said fame wasn’t a problem in Scotland because the Scottish don’t buy it unless you’re a footballer, making life in the pub a little easier.
Before I finished I asked if he thought the band would return to Aberdeen, he replied, if we do it will be a good thing because it means we are working as a band.
I went to check them out later that night and it was apparent they already had a following. The played a solid set and they were tight a band, some major guitar riffs were coming from Jon and Ross the Boss on the drums kept it banging. The vocal pair held well and there was a spiritual side to the band glowing, the Velvet Horns accentuated this essence. After their set ended an encore was demanded and they came back out to perform a few cover songs including, the Stone Rose’s I am the Resurrection.
Their gig was good and I personally enjoyed it. Codeine Velvet Club, have great potential for a band in their early stages. They’re already well professionally set up. Go see them if they’re in your area or just check them out on the tube.
The Band are:
Guitar/Vocal: John Lawler (Fratelli)
Vocals: Lou Hickey
Drums: Ross ‘the boss’ McFarlane
Bass: Lewis Gordon
Keyboards: Will Fosters
Horn players: Velvet Horns
This shows about some dude called Rex Roman, he likes Pink Floyd and plays air guitar. This is show is about the story of his life, told with the music of Pink Floyd as a backdrop. It’s a strange mixture of live acting and a live band as we meander through this actors tale. The band and are great, the actors are good too, it’s just a shame they decided to set it against what seems to be a pointless narrative that appears only to serve as an excuse to play some Pink Floyd covers. They’ve got great visuals and the Pink Floyd songs are cracking but I found the story side of it somewhat unnecessary.
Dave Craig
