Tim BENCH

we'll be there

It was fun. Not for us who had to work. Our silly boss thought it wouldn't be that busy so only put two of us on... boy were we swamped, poor amber had to deal with things alone whilst I did a quick set. Muchos fun had though. Lets do it again some time.

I thought Ideologies would be hit or miss. I sometimes question whether or not it fits together with the other songs. However othertimes I smile when I hear the sherrif. I agree it's different to the rest of the album but I think it deserves pride of place as track 2. (I'd be so embarrassed if I got the track number wrong.)

Wow. I've just come across this page. And there was me thinking for a while people didn't give constructive criticism on these websites... but this was a nice change from the all usual "bench suck ass!" posts etc. I know a lot of people who won't understand what we do and why. At the moment the band isn't no1 proirity for me esp. I'm doing a film making masters in dundee right now. We've just finished an album and for me that is a great achievement alone. I'm not saying I'm against getting signed and going for the big time. It's just not no1 Priority. I think there needs to be more contructive stuff like this. It's better to hear peopel like stuart maxwell tell you that "guitar tones are muddy" etc than some one say you blow goats or something like that. And as a shameless plug the album "Things We Long Forgot" is in 1 UP. If you want it go get it, it's 5 for 45 mins of music.

The Open Air CD is fuckin cool for what it is. I'm liking the vocals. It's a bit James Hetfield but not to the point where you'd think Gary was rippin him off. I'm a fan of wet vocals with maybe some delay or reverb, and this is what I thought would benefit these vocals. Although this is a personal prefrence and lots of people have very differing ideas on how vocals should sound. Guitar riffs are cool. Only thing I'd say is Gary needs another pedal for doing those more minimal instrumental parts. I know they're only a three peice and it is a live recording, but a delay pedal or something would make all the difference for those parts. It would add some atmosphere and create better listening. The Bass has a nice tone and I like the way it works along side guitar. As for drums... I was expecting some super shite drumming because of Chris' old SOLINUS days but he's come a long way and I can see him improving more and wouldn't be surprised if people started talking about him more on these threads in the months to come. I'm not that keen on the Led Zep cover (When a Blind Man Cries). Only because its one of my favourite songs and feel that the original sentiment is lost by making it heavier. It was a good idea though but I wish they'd picked a worse song to try and make better. If that makes any sense. All in all I think Mark has yet again done well with another budget demo and Open Air sound very tight and they've got some moments of inspiration but some moments where you tend to switch off. This may be corrected by a few more listens but the potential is there and I'd give it a good 8/10 Def gonna try and make it to their next outing.

Your right there. I love explosions in the sky, Mogwai and God Speed and listen to them most of all. I know Graham does too. But I'd say our stuff is a lot more orientated around strumming and chord playing. This is prob due to the fact that I can't sing and play guitar at the same time if it's not strumming. Its prob essential to use alot one minimal guitar some times just using one note and some delay to achieve a sound like E.I.T.S. Having said this there is a track we recorded on our "soon to be relesed album" (see what I did there? wink) just after that E.I.T.S gig. It has no vocals at the moment which is prob why it sounds very similar. It's not the laziest coparison we've got. Although on some web site for the lemon tree gig with Starfall and Cleartone we were said to "mix traditional drum and bass with DJ scratches infusing them together to get an original sound." Beats me?!

I agree Ben. These threads could so have easily turned into a trademark Aberdeen band Forum war with shitty comments made at each other... like "Yeah at least we aren't pig fuckers like your band!" and all that sorta shit.

I agree about the guitar sound by the way. Now... I've seen you guys before and your sound was beefy... but at the lemon tree your guitars at points sounded a bit like a wasp in a jam jar. I know listening back to our mini disk that my bow sound wasn't sounding too shit hot so it might have been down to the mixing or what have you. As for emotion, you guys maybe feeling it yourselves on stage but you don't seem to express it with your movements and I think that's what people are trying to say. I personally don't give two shits. I love sigur ros and enjoy watching them do nothing on stage. But you guys maybe in danger of looking like a streophonics toe tapping band. You know what I mean? When a band just play thier guitars on stage and and do that thing where thay tap they're heels on the stage making their knees do this bobbing thing... and some people while doing that pucker their lips (see dandy warhols). As long as you guys don't go down that road its fine. I was watching an old performance by Guns n Roses and it reminded me of you guys. You can tell they were having some fun on stage but weren't "rocking out" as it were. Just enjoying the experience. I think that's the Important part.

I listened to our mini disk back and your right the bow was sounding a little odd. I'm finding it hard to get the same sound I do in the studio as I do on stage. I'm in the middle of building an actual guitar/cello out of an old Pheonix. It was a shit guitar, a kinda fender copy. Th only problem I'm finding is sticking on a raised bridge. I'm hoping to fit it with a built in reverb and stick the fucker through a condenser. This all costs money so I'm off to sell my body on the street. Bids start at a quid!

I have video footage of a ver very very Pissed Martin Deadloss. I tried to ask him some really challenging questions about the local scene and all I got was jibberish and a member of wbl pouncing on him before my battery ran out.

After missing them in Lemon Tree Months Earlier... Sigur Ros at the Barowlands feb 03 was my fav. Every one in the crowd was hypnotised.

I think a few people would have some very oppossing views over that Bench blurb.

Yeah.. I'm pretty pissed off about that. I got a great interview with Leon From Eric Euan. He said winning an award would be cool but they've been together 9 years and not won anything and they turn up to fudge awards every year for the fun and banter. Would have been great if I got footage of them picking up the award. Documentary looks great. Wish I got Dave's speech it was pretty tear jerking. As a documentary though its pretty shit. I don't know what I'm trying to get across in it.

Speak to Andy Stewart. He's the bald sleazy one who does the KABUKI thing. He organises The Belmont cinema cafe gigs and the mon night acoustic sessions at henry j beans. his number for any one else wanting to do acoustic (because he's always looking. Its easier to find a band in aberdeen than it is a singer songwriter.) 07773496357

It was ace!! Just ruined by the crowd being a bunch of sissies standing in that "I'm protecting my girlfriend" stance. I thought the version of the nurse they did that was fan-fucking-tastic!!

A friend of mine is selling her TAMA jazz kit. It cost her over a grand and she's selling for around 800. Symbols included. She's willing to sell items seperatly, but would prefer not to split the kit up from each other. They might get a little lonely. Gimme an email if your interested. timcrazymofo@hotmail.com

I want Pete from Drakes to get the Punched, right in the kisser! WHOOPAH! He never lets me have the mic stand at the ridiculously stupid angle I want it at, then we argue over it loads. I would like Turning 13 to get best band. I would like EYE from Dundee to get best outta town band. But I know there aren't that many people who have come across them yet. They're kinda God speed like. If not please be SEA! Worst band... that's a toughy but my money is on PoO getting that hatrick.