Elba Sessions

It’s been a hectic old year for The Elvis Suicide. As well as sharing stages with Black Lips, Crystal Antlers and Shy Child, the Glasgow based band were also named ‘the best support band by far on their UK tour’ by Patrick of Titus Andronicus. Throw in an almost complete line up change and you can’t quite figure out how they managed it all. Oh, and did I mention they also released 7 track EP ‘Sweethearts’. Lead singer Chris Devotion answered some of our deep and meaningful questions and it’s here that the Elba Annual 2009 begins…

Album of The Year – The Reigning Sound – Love and Curses (most people haven’t heard of this band, most people need to sort it out and buy all their records)

Hopes for 2010/Things You’re Looking Forward To -We shall be embarking on a tour and getting into the studio to unleash the new line up on the MP3 players of the nation, this will once again prove that the The Elvis Suicide are fucking champions. But I am probably more than anything looking forward to the new Doctor Who series.

Chris Devotion plays a solo acoustic set full of depressing country songs at Elba Sessions Presents…(Three) at The Liquid Ship, Glasgow on Friday 4th December.

The Elvis Suicide’s critially acclaimed EP Sweethearts is out now on all major download sites.

As I sit here writing this on a Sunday morning, I now realise that there is every chance that my day may go in a completely different direction than I had intended. Yesterday a lazy Sunday sounded perfect and even as I woke up this morning and sleepily turned on my laptop this was the only option. However, as I give Cuddly Shark’s eponymous debut album another listen, I realise that I’m now fully awake and ready to get out the traps like a greyhound waiting to chase the hare.

Cuddly Shark are a band (two guys, one girl) hailing from Elgin in the north of Scotland, Elgin-ites if you will. After moving to ‘the’ hot bed of music that is Glasgow, things seem to be going rather grand for the Shark. Several good live reviews and well received singles later, they’ve turned themselves to making an album. Recorded by Ross McGowan (Dananananaykroyd, We Are the Physics) and Scott Maple (Le Reno Amps), the pedigree is certainly impressive and the album doesn’t disappoint.

‘Bowl of Cherries‘ kicks of the album and is the perfect opener, catchy riff and screaming vocals, it pretty much sets the tone for the next 34 minutes. Hurtling on through singles ‘Woody Woodpecker‘ and ‘The Punisher of IV30‘ (referring to the postcode where the band grew up), the album takes a sinister twist with the soft then loud, but always sinister, ‘Mannybix‘. Indeed, the album only partially lets up for ol’ travelling tune ‘Whiteoaks‘ and the toe tapping cover of Hoyt Axton’s ‘Boney Fingers‘ before it is launched back into Shark-ville with the riff heavy ‘12 Months‘, a nice ditty about abstention. This is followed by a 51 second rant aimed at those (well, one person in particular) who really should have stuck to acting, well maybe not even that, ‘Jamie Foxx On Jools Holland‘. I’d tell you the one and only lyric in the song but that might spoil it for you. The album closes with one of my album standouts ‘Instru-Mentalist‘ and a song that people who get bees in their bonnets could have a field day with, ‘Shakey Baby‘. It carries the unforgettable singalong chorus “see the lady with the baby, grab the baby, hold the baby, shake the baby, jelly baby, got me a syndrome!”.

It’s a breakneck, pedal-to-the-metal 34 minutes but well worth the listen, or several listens in my case. Cuddly Shark are uncategorisable, flitting from the pop punk sensibilities of Weezer, through the brash sound of Fugazi and even taking a jaunt through hillbilly rock, Cuddly Shark take you to a point where you just can’t really make comparisons, they are truly a one off and a one off that it is worth taking the time to enjoy.

The album is out NOW on cool new Scottish indie label Armellodie.

Cuddly Shark play Captain’s Rest (Glasgow) tommorrow (16th Nov) for their album launch party where they will be joined by the fantastic Palace Ballet and The Elvis Suicide. Doors 8pm, £4.

For more news and info on January’s mini Scottish tour check out www.cuddlyshark.co.uk

Al Nero proclaimed that most of the cool alternative kids were probably at Stereo to see Fuck Buttons (review here by Club Hott) but there was still a good turnout for a stellar line up at the 13th Note.

First up were the ‘new look’ Elvis Suicide complete with a new bass player, drummer and guitarist, powered along by Chris Devotion. I’m pleased to say that they still play their own brand of breakneck, riotous rock n roll which makes them such a good live band. Next up were Peter Parker who were then followed by the fabulous Super Adventure Club. It was the first time I’d seen them and I was totally impressed by them. Finishing off the evening was Le Reno Amps, promoting their new EP ‘The Stand Off’. No strangers to Elba, Le Reno played a set of newies, oldies and all goodies and had a right good hoe-down!

It was a grand way to start the weekend early!!

*Le Reno Amps will play an acoustic set for us at The Liquid Ship on October 8th.