Kowalskiy's Free Monthly 5-track Scottish EP #11

You missed me?  Well, I'm back... kinda... with EP #11.  As with the last one, I've given you lovely people out there the chance to design the cover art.  Once again, there's been some cracking entries but the winner is... drumroll please... Matthew Wills for that mesmerising piece above!  Take a bow Sir.  If you fancy following Matthew's own blog, then here's the link.

For this month's EP, I'm chuffed to say I've finally persuaded one of my favourite Scottish bands into contributing a track, as well as another band whose upcoming debut album will blow you away!  I'll leave you to work out who's who.  So without much further ado, here's the five brilliant acts appearing on EP #11 and what they had to say about their track.  Had I been better prepared, we'd be hearing from all 5 acts.  I wasn't though, but they'll be with you soon...

1. 4dayweekend - Demo 1 (A brand, spanking new live demo from Glasgow's Kowalskiy-approved, epic indie-rockers.)

"After a successful launch night and tour for our latest EP "Urban Lies & Rural Skies" in January, we found ourselves inching to write new material. So for the past few months we have been locked away in the studio, and from it came three new tracks. As we had only recently released new material we decided to video a live performance of all three tracks, which then posted on Youtube. This track is the first of the three and you can view all three videos as well as a short interview about the band at www.youtube.com/4dayweekendonline" - 4dayweekend

2. How Garbo Died - Newton's Third (The physicist in me is drawn to the title, every other part loves this brooding, dark, electro cracker.)

"Newton's Third originally appeared on the second of our home recorded batches (all available free at www.howgarbodied.bandcamp.com) and is actually part of a four song story cycle that appears over the first four batches (I'm not going to reveal what the other tracks are, I'll leave it for further investigation). The story concerns the love affair between a 14 year old schoolgirl and a 23 year old down syndrome sufferer. It's not exactly standard source material but I feel we've managed to bring out the beauty and the drama in the story as well as representing the specific characters without trivialising them. This version of the track was recorded at the start of March at Greendoor Studios, it allowed us to really build some textures into the song while maintaining the 'rough around the edges' feel that the subject matter requires." - Kevin Gilday (How Garbo Died)

3. Matt Norris & the Moon - First Light of Day (An Edinburgh, Mumford-esque, trumpetty-folk gem!  I defy you not to fall in love with it.)

We'll hear from Matt Norris soon too.

4. Laurence & the Slab Boys - Shareen (An exclusive track from the Berlin-based Scots whose debut album is shaping up to be something special.  Just you wait!)

"We recorded this last Thursday and it’s mostly live, but for some vocal and guitar overdubs. It might be too fast but we were running out of time. The song doesn’t sound like our other stuff, as we were just having a bit of fun with a song about the first lie that some of us are ever told. It sounds like the Devil is playing tambourine in the background but it’s really just our friend Ecki messing about." - Larry Reid (Laurence & the Slab Boys)

5. Woodenbox With A Fistful Of Fivers - She (Finally, after months of shameless pestering on my part, here's an amazing exclusive from one of Scotland's finest bands!)

"This track, which as far as I'm aware didn't really have a working title was recorded during the Home and the Wildhunt sessions in 2009, after the first rough mix of the album we decided to drop it, and then it just got forgotten about. Having dug it out and listened to it again after two years I kinda wish it had made it onto the album or a single or something..the trumpet arrangement towards the end is lovely. Hope you enjoy!  As for 2011 and beyond...after releasing Home and the Wildhunt last year, and gigging it throughout the country, we are back in our studio writing and rehearsing a whole new batch of new material, which will eventually make its way onto our second album." - Nick Dudman (Woodenbox With A Fistful Of Fivers)

The EP is now up for free download over on my bandcamp page, along with EPs #1-10 and a couple of extras.  Get downloading!

I leave you with bad news folks!  On June 16^th,  when you'll all be expecting me to mark a year of free EPs, I'll be sunning myself in some far-off land.  Not sure then, when EP #12 will see the cold light of day, but I'll keep you posted!  In the meantime, get your cover art entries in.  You've got a bit longer this time, so all you need to do is email me your entry before noon on the 20^th of June.  Same requirements as before... square, at least 350px wide, and pretty!  And as always, if any bands out there who fancy making my life that wee bit easier and want to volunteer a track for one of these EPs, then send me a wee email too.  Arrivederci!

2010's Top 10 Albums: #8 - Woodenbox With A Fistful Of Fivers

Before the release of their debut album Home and the Wild Hunt, I'd seen Woodenbox With A Fistful Of Fivers more times than I can remember, and could I find any tracks online??  Could I buggery!  So, it was safe to say that this was one of my most anticipated albums of the year... and it didn't disappoint!  You know the drill by now, here's two tracks to show you why they're in my top 10...

 

Fistful Of Fivers

Hang The Noose

The album can be bought from Amazon MP3, iTunes, or physical copies from Norman Records.  If you need more convincing then, once again, there's some live radio sessions here, or here from good ol' Mr. Peenko, including a cracking cover of Lady Gaga!

Here's a few upcoming gigs I pieced together from their MySpace and twitter pages...

10^th Dec - Westgarth Social Club, Middlesbrough

11^th Dec - Cluny 2, Newcastle

12^th Dec - The Arches, Glasgow

18^th Dec - O₂ ABC, Glasgow (supporting The Silencers)

30^th Jan - O₂ ABC, Glasgow

If you can't make it to their "very special Christmas show" at Middlesbrough's Westgarth Social Club tonight, then stay tuned to their Facebook for a live stream!  They're on at 10pm with support from, among others, the great Washington Irving.

Woodenbox With A Fistful Of Fivers On Tour

The blog title and the poster above say it all really... Woodenbox With A Fistful Of Fivers are about to set off on a 10-day tour of Scotland in October. Having seen them a lot over the last year or two, I can safely say their live shows never disappoint and are always memorable nights! If you've not already gotten your copy of their amazing debut album Home And The Wildhunt then you're missing out! Download it now over at iTunes or Amazon MP3.

Woodenbox With A Fistful Of Fivers - BBC Introducing at ABC2 (01/04/08)

Back in the Summer of '08, everyone's favourite Scottish radio DJ and champion of up-and-coming bands, Vic Galloway, hosted a series of BBC Introducing nights at the ABC2 in Glasgow. On April 1st, Woodenbox With A Fistful Of Fivers took centrestage. Here's two tracks which would eventually feature on this years debut album "Home And The Wild Hunt".

Download: Woodenbox With A Fistful Of Fivers - BBC Introducing at ABC2 (01/04/08)

Tracklisting
1. Fistful Of Fivers
2. Twisted Mile

Ten for 2010 Revisited... Woodenbox with a Fistful of Fivers

It's been just over a year since I was sat in Bedlam Theatre in Edinburgh mesmerised by Woodenbox with a Fistful of Fivers. Since then, I've lost track of how many times I've been at one of their gigs, engrossed in their infectious live show. If you then throw in their top-notch singles "Twisted Mile", "Hang The Noose" and "Draw A Line", it's no surprise they were one of my picks for 2010.

So far, Ali and the guys haven't disappointed. They've been up and down the country promoting their debut album, "Home and the Wild Hunt" with a host of cracking radio sessions (which can be found here, here, here and over on the good ship Peenko here and here) as well as a 'hairy' interview with Glasgow PodcART. I've been wracking my brain for a while now trying to think of what I could say to do the album justice. I'll let the music speak for itself though. It really is too good for words!

Immigrant

Woodenbox will be in session for the BBC with Ricky Ross tomorrow, then hitting the road again in the run-up to festival season. Here's the details:

Upcoming Gigs
2nd May - Get A Room @Brunswick Hotel, Glasgow
7th May - Stereo, Glasgow (solo) for The Kays Lavelle album launch
15th May - Platform, Easterhouse
19th May - The Lexington, London
11th June - King Tuts, Glasgow
18th June - Winterwell Festival, Gloustershire
19th June - The Insider Festival, Aviemore
27th June - Brel, Glasgow (West End Festival)
24th July - The Big Tent Festival, Falkland

If you fancy the album (and why wouldn't you!?!), you can get the mp3s at Amazon or eMusic, or for those of you, like me, who still need to have the CD, you can get a copy from Avalanche Records.

Woodenbox With A Fistful Of Fivers - BBC Tees Session (30/03/10)

Woodenbox With A Fistful Of Fivers continued plugging their upcoming debut album "Home and the Wildhunt" with a wee session for BBC Tees yesterday. Here's three songs they performed on Bob Fischer's show.

Download: Woodenbox With A Fistful Of Fivers - BBC Tees Session (30/03/10)

Tracklisting
1. Twisted Mile
2. Draw A Line
3. Hang The Noose

The album is out on the 6th of April. Been looking forward to this one for ages now! If you get a chance pop along and see Ali and the guys live. You won't be disappointed.

Upcoming Gigs
4th April - Oxfam Shop on Byers Road, Glasgow
4th April - Mono, Glasgow (album release party)
6th April - Avalanche Records Store, Glasgow
22nd April - The Wee Red Bar, Edinburgh
23rd April - Mad Hatters, Inverness

Woodenbox With A Fistful Of Fivers - Off The Beaten Tracks Session

Here's the Woodenbox with a Fistful of Fivers session for the cracking Off The Beaten Tracks as part of Sick Kids Sunday. The videos, including two songs by Sparrow and the Workshop, can be found here!

Download: Woodenbox with a Fistful of Fivers - Off The Beaten Tracks session

Tracklisting
1. Draw A Line
2. Twisted Mile

And it's only 4 weeks 'til the album is out!

Ten for 2010... Woodenbox With A Fistful of Fivers!

Last but by no means least are the amazing Woodenbox With A Fistful Of Fivers. Had the pleasure of seeing Ali and the guys a few times this year and was blown away. In particular the first time I caught them live they threatened to steal the show at Bedlam Theatre in Edinburgh when they supported Broken Records.

Debut album "Home and the Wildhunt" is scheduled for release in February through Electric Honey Records and arrives on the back of acclaimed singles "Draw A Line", "Twisted Mile" and the cracking "Hang The Noose" which hits you like a runaway train straight out of the Wild West!


Hang The Noose

In the New Year they'll be hitting the road to promote their album as well as popping into BBC 6Music on the 5th January for a session with Marc Riley.

Tour Details
24th Jan - Burns Night at King Tuts, Glasgow (with Broken Records)
31st Jan - Sick Kids Sunday @ GRV, Edinburgh
3rd Feb - Doghouse, Dundee
5th Feb - Hootenannys, Inverness
6th Feb - Trentham Hotel, Dornoch
7th Feb - The Old Bridge Inn, Aviemore
4th Mar - COLOUR @ The Victoria, Birmingham
6th Mar - Westgarth SC, Middlesbrough

That's all from Kowalskiy for 2009. Thanks to anyone and everyone who has contributed or had a look at the blog. See you all next year and all the best for 2010!

W is for .....We Were Promised Jetpacks!

Only 4 to go! For "W" I was between We Were Promised Jetpacks, Wake The President and Woodenbox With A Fistful Of Fivers. In the end, their fantastic debut album "These Four Walls" persuaded me to opt for 'youngsters' WWPJ ("older than Ghostbuster 2, younger than Ghostbusters").

Catch them as part of Homecoming Live at King Tuts on the 29th November (well... maybe not. It's sold out) and on 5th December, Adam will be going-it-alone at The Bowery.

Somewhat predictably, here's a wee KEPX session from March this year.

Download: We Were Promised Jetpacks - KEPX Session (26/03/09)

Tracklisting
1. An Almighty Thud
2. Keeping Warm
3. Ships With Holes Will Sink
4. This Is My House, This Is My Home

...Woodenbox With A Fistful Of Fivers!

Woodenbox With A Fistful Of Fivers originally started life empty-handed as Ali Downer (the bearded one on the left hand side!) and released an album under the moniker Woodenbox. Since then he's had his hands full (too many hand puns??) and released a couple of singles, "Twisted Mile" and "Hang The Noose", the latter through the King Tuts Recordings label. Both are great examples of their self-proclaimed boot-stomping, beard-scratching style of music. It's good stuff! And like I've always said, any band with a trumpet has gotta be good!

At King Tuts last month they kindly gave out free copies of their amazing "Hang The Noose" single and recently recorded an extended version of typical set-closer "My Mule" for In The City - Unsigned 2009, packing in a harmony of ohhhhh's and a singing drummer as it builds up to an epic instrumental finale! Awesome!

Hands down, one of the most exciting new bands around!