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WHO: Jordan Shearer (vocals), Kevin Swanson(guitar), Jamie
Swanson (guitar), Calvin Wilson(bass), Liam Whittles (keyboard),
Darren Cogh-ill (drums)WHERE: John O’GroatsFOR FANS OF: The Coral,
The Stone Roses,The BeatlesJIM SAYS: Championed by NME, and with
NoelGallagher as a fan, Caithness band Neon Waltzcontinue to
impress.
I had no hesitation in making them one of my10 for 2015 acts.
With their major label debut setfor release on Monday, things are
starting totake off. First meeting at Wick High School,they’ve
played together since their early teens. Ifirst came across the
guys as Maydays. Laterthey became The Maginot Band, before
finally
settling on Neon Waltz. Singer Jordan told me:“We had loads of
names written down andbecause we’re a democracy, it took a while
tosettle on a name that we all liked. Neon Waltzjust seemed to fit
somehow.”
While some acts crave the bright lights, NeonWaltz holed
themselves up in a croft betweenWick and Thurso. It’s worked out
well for them.
Jordan added: “You have to travel at least 100miles to play in
Inverness, so we were neverunder any pressure to play loads of
gigs. Wewere able to just lock ourselves away and get itperfect.”
The band are co-managed by Howie
cus Russell, best known for managing Oasis.Now signed to the
legendary Atlantic Records,the first official release is First
Light.
Jordan said: “It’s just like a collector’s item forpeople who
dig the band really. It’s pretty muchstuff you’ve been able to
listen to online for thelast year. It’s a cool way of announcing
thatwe’re signed to Atlantic. The songs on FirstLight will probably
all be in the mix to be on thealbum, but none are finished
recordings.”
First Light is out on Monday as a limited 12invinyl and
download. Dates include the Brew AtThe Bog festival near Inverness
on May 2 andthe multi-venue Stag And Dagger presents Liveat Glasgow
on May 3.MORE: neonwaltz.comlJim presents Drivetime on XFM
Scotland, Monday to Fri-day 4-7pm. xfm.co.uk jimgellatly.com
By JIMGELLATLYNEWMUSICNEONWALTZWHO: Jordan Shearer (vocals),
Kevin Swanson
Payne, of Liverpool band the Stands, and Mar-cus Russell, best
known for managing Oasis.NEWMUSIC
Waltz take quick step to top
Something for the WeekendSomething 2ONE2
WATC
HBy
CHR
ISSW
EENEY
ONE 2 SEE
ONE 2 HEARTWIN sisters Miranda andElektra Kilbey-Jansson grew
upin Australia and Sweden.And that unusual mix is work-ing a treat
for them as dreampop duo Say Lou Lou.The girls are the daughters
ofSteve Kilbey, from Aussie bandThe Church and they’ve got alovely
blend of electro popgoing on in their debut albumLucid
Dreaming.It’s quirky but it still has amainstream edge. A
superbalbum to get the summerstarted.Check it out at
sayloulou.com.
GAMEOf Thrones is due backon our screens soon.And that is great
news for oneof its stars, Raleigh Ritchie,because it means he can
getback to making music.The singer —who plays GreyWorm in the
smash-hit show—hits Glasgow’s King Tut’s onApril 20.It is the start
of a UK tour andRaleigh— real name JacobAnderson— is also set
torelease new single The Great-est.Get all the info at
face-book.com/RaleighRitchie
DOOM popsters LonelyThe Brave have Scotsrockers Twin
Atlantic’scareers in their hands.
But they aren’t fazed —because they have already donethe same
job for rock legendBruce Springsteen.
The band are supportingTwin on their upcoming UKtour — one that
includes thebiggest gig of their lives, ahome-town show at
Glasgow’sSSE Hydro next month.
Lonely’s guitarist Mark Trot-ter said: “That Glasgow gig isgoing
to be incredible.
“We are always so welllooked after up there and getmind-blowing
support.
“And it’s an honour Twin aretaking us out. It’ll be us play-ing
to some of the biggestcrowds we’ve been in front of.
Our job is to geteverybody going
“We won’t do anything differ-ent. We do what we do and Iguess
that’s why those guyshave asked us to play.
“Our job is to get everyonegoing and we’re aware of that.
“So we’ll do our utmost toget everyone in the mood.”
But it should be like shellingpeas after they got drafted inby
superstar Springsteen.
Mark explained: “Playing withThe Boss was special.
“Our management phoned totell me it was happening and Ijust told
them to p*** off. Butthey were serious.
“Then there we were, liningup before he came out. Yougrow up
hearing his songs thenyou’re sharing a stage withhim.”
But the Cambridge bandaren’t just a side act. Their owncareer is
burning bright.
Debut album The Day’s War
struck a chord across Europe.Mark said: “We were just des-perate
for it to come out.
“We get messages from allover the world from peoplesaying the
songs got themthrough things — we’re proudthat people are so into
it.”
It’s proved so popular, nowthey’re releasing a Victory edi-
tion which sees the tracksredone. Mark revealed: “Thereare four
new songs on there.
“But we’ve also taken some ofthe tracks from the albumcompletely
apart and put themback together with differentinstruments and
structure.
“We’re keen for people tohear it as some of them sound
totally different.” The guys planto schedule more touring
andstart a new studio album in thecoming months.
Mark added: “It’s going to bea flat-out year just the way welike
it. If you don’t keep mov-ing, you’re going to get buried.”l Order
The Day’s War Victory Edi-tion at lonelythebrave.com.
struck a chord across Europe. tion which sees the tracks
We’llBoss itwiththeTwins
