See the new Graeme Mearns Band Video here:
http://www.colinusher.co.uk/graeme_mearns_band_video_is_here
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************CONTACT: [email protected]**********************
Imagine the bastard offspring of PJ Harvey and Nick Cave taken at birth by Mark E. Smith, schooled by Primus and sharing a flat with Tom Waits. Imagine he plays guitar like a post-punk Chet Atkins, with Jaco Pastorius on bass and John Bonham on drums...
By the time he'd put together the (imaginatively titled) Graeme Mearns Band in the summer of 2005, Graeme Mearns was already renowned on the Edinburgh acoustic music scene, with two self-produced solo albums, a clutch of songwriting awards and a solid local following firmly under his belt.
Since moving to the capital from sunny Dundee to work on a soon-aborted degree in Journalism, he'd been signed to Khaya's original record label, Koala Music, collaborated with folk starlet, Karine Polwart, and enjoyed moderate local success (along with Jason "Nobody Jones" Pillay) as one half of acoustic duo, The Jones Brothers, before embarking on his latest band project.
Although there were already high expectations, few - not even the songwriter himself - were prepared for the sheer ferocity of the new outfit.
Originally set up to promote his latest album, 'Real Life Cinderella' (on which he'd played nearly all the instruments himself, with a little help from his friends), the three-piece quickly took on a life of its own, transforming Mearns' folk and jazz tinged offerings into a kind of alt/rock explosion with a sound, in his own words: "something like Django Reinhardt getting drunk with the Stooges." It's a unique combination, some of the power of which is captured on the recordings herein. But the best way to experience the band in full effect remains to see them live.
With lifelong friend and bass-player extraordinaire, John Need, throbbing the low notes and former Calvin drummer/producer, Ali Murray, beating the skins with eclectic precision, Mearns' new band quickly built up a strong word-of-mouth reputation around Edinburgh's musical underground, scoring rave reviews in their stride (see below).
The GMB have just finished work on their debut album and are set to take their unique brand of vintage rock and roll further afeild in the coming months. Now represented by veteran music promoter, Peter Michael Rowan, with management from Colin Usher (www.colinusher.co.uk), the Graeme Mearns Band are one underground Scottish outfit that simply can't be ignored. Watch this space!.
***************************************************REVIEWS
http://www.skinnymag.co.uk/content/view/2385/
"Sorry, pseudo-rockers, but Hells lounge has its bandstand reserved for when the Graeme Mearns Band *ahem* retire. Playing both kinds of music - "noisy AND offensive" - these guys are a revelation, kicking out swing'n'roll that is suave and demonic in exactly the right proportions. Smoking wah-wah pedals swirl around perfectly blended vocals that sound like Lounge crossed with Placebo, albeit without the angst laden androgyny. Stabs of funk bass and proto-stadium metal drumming drift in and out of focus; making for a superb set of eclectic sonics."*****THE SKINNY....
"These Scots work some wonderfully weird mojo as Mearns’ eccentric vocals and the band’s studied raggedness makes “I Can’t Believe I Fell In Love With You†a Black Keys-ish winner. “Dancefloor†showcases the GMB’s superior musicianship, with monster fuzz guitar and Hendrix licks galore. “N2U†steals the show, however, as the song seamlessly morphs from straightahead rocker, to Peter Gabrielian passages, to a Psychedelic Furs-type finale. This band is a find for any U.S. alt-label.
Production: 8
Lyrics: 7
Music: 7
Vocals: 8
Musicianship: 8"
MUSIC CONNECTION MAGAZINE - DEMO CRITIQUE
MAY 2007
"Edinburgh's tightest rhythm section... effervescent" WINDMILL SOUND....
"charismatic... refreshing... a revelation on the Edinburgh scene." ****ARTICLE 19....
"Held the rowdy audience spellbound" EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS....
"This was party time with edge and the audience loved every minute" EDINBURGH GUIDE
