Thursday 9 September 2010

...Salute Mary!

This week saw the debut release from Edinburgh alt-rockers Salute Mary. It's fair to say it doesn't fill me with excitement when a press release cites Nirvana and The Smashing Pumpkins as a bands main influences. I'd always found the latter a bit 'hit-and-miss', while Nirvana to me was something the outcast at school had scrawled onto his bag with Tipp-Ex©.

I'm glad to say thought, that having had their Lonely Escapades EP for a while now, in that time it has really grown on me. Whether its the slow-burning, moody standout track Hanging From Trees or the scratchy, punk riff of Alibi, reminiscent of early Kings Of Leon, the EP is full to the brim with good ol' fashioned rock. Definitely one to be played loud!


Here's what they had to say for themselves...

Kowalskiy: Who are Salute Mary?
Salute Mary: Salute Mary are a four piece form Edinburgh that play hard hitting alternative rock music influenced by their appreciation for the pioneering musicians of the '80s and '90s. Singer/Guitarist Calum Haggerty started the band with friend Gavin Conn (guitar) at the end of 2008 and with the help of Gumtree added our rhythm section, Chris Sharples (Bass) and Steve Howorth (Drums). We played our first show in 2009 and spent the rest of that year gigging throughout Scotland. We started work on Lonely Escapades in 2010 and recorded it in June.

Kowalskiy: You have just released Lonely Escapades, your debut EP. What's the story behind it and what can we all expect from it?
Salute Mary: It was recorded almost completely live in analogue studio Green Door Studios CIC in Glasgow. No real story behind the EP. Probably best described in our press release:

"With an evolving approach and focused, streamlined sound, Lonely Escapades explores various styles from the darker, sombre realm of ‘Vivid Pale’ to the driving guitar work and unbridled emotion on display in ‘Alibi’. Lonely Escapades pounds with a weighty, dark alt-rock fervour that recalls Smashing Pumpkins’ heyday; at other times, the record buzzes with a frantic distortion and howling anger reminiscent of Nirvana.
Post-rock elements add depth to a broad and diverse direction for the band perhaps most evident on title track ‘Lonely Escapades’ which blends a burning bass groove, aching vocals and ambient guitar noise that intermittently, explodes from the speakers adopting a dynamic range and sense of urban noir indicative of post rock bands like Mogwai. With intertwining guitar work and streamlined dynamics courtesy of a haunting cello line; ‘Hanging from Trees’ is reminiscent of Sonic Youth's more reflective output which climaxes with an atmospheric yet furious bath of noise"
Kowalskiy: What does the future have in store for Salute Mary?
Salute Mary: Salute Mary will be starting a 10 day UK Tour in Nov/Dec playing London, Manchester, Liverpool, Cardiff, Newcastle, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen. The band have booked studio time in January and February in 2011 to record their next EP which will be released in April 2011. We the plan to tour that new EP extensively throughout Scotland and the rest of the UK. 2011 will be a big live year for the band after spending most on 2010 writing.

Keep your eyes peeled for the info on these tour dates. The Lonely Escapades EP can be bought now over on iTunes.

2 comments:

  1. I got the same press release and wasn't sure about them but this sounds promising, so I'll give it a blast!

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  2. Its not something I'd usually listen (on account of not been folky) to but it's really good, and a bit of a change. Think someone else called it 'ballsy rock' which is spot on!

    Hope you like!

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