Curators is a new Edinburgh based band featuring former members of Baillie & The Fault, Edinburgh rockers Deadenstereo and synthpop fourpiece To The Rescue, and current members of The Stantons and Those Flying*Machines.
The band have been writing, rehearsing and recording over the last few months and we've posted some live recordings and demos here. More to come!
--------------------
Praise for Curators' previous work:
"Melody is at the heart of everything…brilliant harmonies" The Big Issue
"Hard-edged, sometimes abrasive, but with a tender heart and a strong sense of purpose" Is This Music?
"Haunting guitar melodies with fragile vocals" Daily Record
"Powerful, emotive music with an intelligent message at its centre" Lofimusic.co.uk
Having AutoPlay on gives you the best media experience on Bebo. When you visit another user's profile, their Video Box will automatically start playing their current favorite video.
You can change your account settings at anytime here: account settings
Well, it's been a while since the last blog, so I thought a wee update was in order...
The last month has seen us finally get out of the rehearsal room and onto the stage. We started things off with an acoustic session on Fresh Air radio (two of the tracks are on the player) which was an unusual way to make our first steps into the world, but was a blast all the same. After we'd played our songs, we were challenged to do a covers medley for the programme to end on, so we knocked out the slightly unholy marriage of Weezer's "Island In The Sun" and Billy Bragg's "New England". I'd love to say that we were making an important point about globalisation and the new imperialism, but the main reason was that they both had a suitably placed "G"...not exactly Red Wedge, but hey ho.
The following day we did a short acoustic set at Bannermans in Edinburgh, complete with my incredibly sore throat. Our stage set-up may have made us look like we were trying to recreate a Queen video, but it was nice to have a relaxed gig before our first full band outings, and the crowd seemed to really like it.
After a few days off, we rolled onto our first proper band gig at The Greenside in Leslie. There was an element of Fear and Loathing in Glenrothes to the evening - we went for a kebab only to be confronted by a shaven headed Rangers fan asking us if we'd seen the fellow who's teeth he was trying to kick in. We probably should phoned ahead to Manchester there and then...
The gig itself was excellent, and Raegan (the promoter) couldn't have been any more helpful. We were obviously glad to finally be playing live and loud, but this was the acid test - would all of our rehearsing pay off? I'm glad to say it did, and although we flew through our set at a million miles an hour, we played better than I could have hoped and managed to inspire a small troupe of dancing girls down the front, which is always a good massage for any new band's ego.
Our next gig was our proper Edinburgh debut, supporting Chatham's Underground Heroes at the Ark. The venue was gratifyingly busy as we hit the stage and once again we dived headfirst into our set at breakneck pace, high from the confidence earned at the Greenside. We played even better than we had before, and seemed to win over a lot of people, including the Underground Heroes guitar tech who had some lovely things to say about us. Bless him.
Now, at this point we might have gone a bit Alan Cumming in Goldeneye - "I am eenveeeenceeeeeble!" - but, ever the realists, there was a nagging feeling that things had gone a bit too smoothly for us not to expect a hiccup sooner rather than later. And, lest we forget, a pessimist is never disappointed...
Roll on to our first Glasgow outing, playing Box on Sauchiehall Street. Now we didn't think when we booked it, but this was to be the same night as the Champions League final, so as it was we didn't get on stage until after 11, just as everyone was heading off after the exertions of the football. To make matters worse, one of the amps broke down before we'd even started to play and we lost a distortion pedal two songs into the set. The technical hitches put a bit of a downer on proceedings, but I can say with hindsight that we did see a reprise of the dancing girls, and we finished our set with a little more vitriol than befits a self confessed pop band...
At the same time as all of this, we had found time to nip into the studio to record drums for six songs. We'll be doing the rest at my home "studio" because we're all too poor for anything else, but we should be finished in the next couple of weeks. Keep your ears peeled, if such a thing is even possible.
Never thought I'd be quoting Yazz, but there you go...
So, things are moving along really rather splendidly in the Curators camp. We welcome the hard-hitting and just generally excellent Mr Rich Baty to the drum stool - two practices in and we already sound like we mean business. Ask anyone, you're only as good as your drummer and now we're GOOD. Oh yes.
Gary and I recorded four acoustic demos this week, mainly to practice our harmonies (think Abba on crack) and they turned out to be so damn charming that I've posted them here. Have a listen - it's like being in the womb.
We're starting to put together our set. Thanks to everyone who's offered us gigs so far - we're really grateful and once we feel match fit, we're there.
The bottom line is that it's fucking great to fall back in love with music - that is, after all, why we're doing this. And true love waits, doesn't it?...
Steph X
Perfect! Il keep my eye open for that then!
2 day ago
Steph X
Oh rite thats wierd! I put my profile onto private randomly for a few hrs maybe sumthn to do with that, altho im a fan so thot it wudnt be. Great thts magic news like, wud love to hear uz live! Will any dates be posted on ur myspace or any chance u can keep me posted on that? x
4 day ago
Curators
For some reason it wouldn't let me reply to you! Aye, we'll hopefully be up in Aberdeen soon. Glad you like the songs!
4 day ago
Steph X
No problem, heard u guys stuff on myspace thot u were really gd, espcially the lead singers voice wow!
Would u guys be playing any gigs anywhere up near aberdeen or are u more just down in edinburgh at the mo? X
Lesley Mc Intyre
Hey there-
I was just wondering about that photo you told me about in Bannermans?????? You have got me intrigued……I wonder if a couple of aliens kidnapped me and took me to……eeemm was it Leeds?
We got lost leaving Edinburgh on Sunday night and got flashed at by a speed camera – not impressed and shitting myself in case a fine and a couple of points are going to be coming through my door…….oh no!!!
Say hi to Cat for me……I hear she was caught in a shoe avalanche.....best type of avalanche if you ask me…actually no....a dolly mixture avalanche would be pretty special…….
(I am procrastinating from writing my 100000000000000000000wor
ds that have to be handed in on Monday – so don’t mind the crap chat).
Lx
1 week ago
Electric Bay
can you guys send us an email address please.
cheers
1 week ago
Euan Wright
just got my time machine working....in 2015 you become a world famous phil collins tribute band...enjoy the journey!
16 week ago
Euan Wright
get giging yesterday....once my time machine comes together i will be cheering along untill the last song...get the delorian started doc!
Brian Forrest
we have just started to write music but we will be recording it all soon but we will start gigin around soon as lol so where do u work now i started to work in argos lol
30 week ago
Andrew Mitchell
Oooh ooh is the present the new version of 'lights??Brilliant!Whats that 3 versions now?Ill listen to it when i get home, after i have watched my team in Europe(its a competition that teams who do well in the league get to enter, its alot of fun)
31 week ago
Andrew Mitchell
I am also going to add Robbie Winters and Lee Miller to my favourite Dons list, they both did realy well for us after we rescued them from oblivion...(doo wop ba ba do wop)
31 week ago
Andrew Mitchell
Haha nah rangers didnt want us to have him anymore and they needed someone Dutch for their bench, hence the move. Although i have blocked that out, ill never forget the good times...never
31 week ago
Dunk McLachlan
If it's a choice between him and the dog faced gremlin (billy davies) even a die hard Arab would choose Levein!
31 week ago
Iain Hogg
Im a sexy guy. Im not sure, i will need to get my drums at some point though ive been saying that for a wee while now. Would be good to go for a night out and get the drums, ill keep you posted.
31 week ago
Mike Soave
nice ! im liking ur songs ! where u get ur 8track from, thinkin about purchasing me 1. does that do all the distorion effects for u ?
32 week ago
Mike Soave
alrite mate, how goes things? what do use to record music into your pc?
32 week ago
Duke Groovy
Good god no! Local shitty venues only please...plus I'd have to bring someone to sing!
I will, however, be making a one-night only appearance in Edinburgh in two weeks time. No gigging, just swigging.
