elginavenuerecords

About me:

Never letting the dream die,that dream being to find a band I can finally after many years being in,out and around the music scene,help take to the top in this most treacherous of industries-the music buisness. Whether it be promoting or managing bands,music journalisim or whatever. The band I am currently involved in "co" managing Glasgows favourite sons The Merchants may well just be that band as they certainly have the potential to go all the way to the top all we need now is a little luck viz a viz publishing and major label record deals to inject the much needed cash it requires to take them to the next level,fistly national then international recognition and success. They have had not a bad week opening for no less than Mr Peter Doherty at Manchester Appollo and Glasgow Barrowlands,being exceptionally well recieved at both gigs with their heady mix of Pop-Punk-Ska music Barrowland being a particular highlight,lets hope the next time The Merchants return to Gallowgate they are headlining that legendary old venue. Their is a debut 6 track limited edition cd almost ready for release (TO SEE A PRE RELEASE PRESS REVIEW GO TO PAGE 38- www.bluesbunny.com),exact date to be arranged due to various minor delays but certainly before xmas as well as being available for download from iTunes,Rhapsody,Amazon,eMusic etc so keep posted to either this site as well as bigshetlandpony or the bands own site at www.myspace.com/ theglasgowmerchants. The E.P is entitled "This Has Been Us Since Yesterday" and features six excellent tracks. If you havent yet been fortunate enough to have seen The Merchants live then treat yourself by going over to YouTube.com/grahamcampbell75 where you can view 107 live videoes of 19 different songs at 8 different venues-top notch stuff that really will give you a flavour of what this brilliant band are all about. As well as 2 smashing gigs opening for Pete Doherty we also have confirmation from Pete that he wants us to join up with him again next month in Belfast and Dublin respectively then the following month support once again Mark E Smith and The Fall (after he showed up at the Appollo in Manchester) at their Renfrew Ferry gigs.Coincidently the dates either month are the same.In October its Belfast the 13th and Dublin the 14th,then in November the 2 Glasgow shows are also the 13th and 14th,new converts and old fans welcome at all 4 gigs as The Merchants after 2 years solid playing almost every Glasgow venue from McChuills Pivo Pivo and King Tuts to the Arches,O2 Academy and Barrowlands look like 2010 really could be the year big things happen for them. With one major already sniffing around,dont be at all surprised if several other big players enter the battle to sign them. Personally I cant think of a better live band since early The Clash or Manic Street Preachers with the same electric live show and stage presence. In those 2 years The Merchants have played alongside The Frattellis,The View,The Law and Glasvegas and believe me their time is very nearly here and when it comes watch them go,firstly though keep your eyes and ears open for that debut ep and support a great band on their way to success. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The wonder of words is such an amazing thing oh to have the ability to song write and sing. Blues and jazz folk songs rock n roll touching the nerves in your very soul there are so many greats its hard to know where to start but in all of its forms its the greatest of arts. Opera and painting sculptures the great tomes but its music that moves me right through to my bones. Punk rock with the Sex Pistols best of all were the Clash but what about that nutter called Grandmaster Flash. Billie Holliday mr Bragg and now its Oasis and a couple of 60's greats called The Kinks and Small Faces the cool ruler mr Isaccs Bob Marley and Jimmy Cliff Lee Perry the great toaster always toasting giant spliffs. Robert Johnson a blues genius an opinion I now tell Sam Cooke James Brown Otis Redding as well. There was Jerry Lee Lewis Little Richard and Elvis how the girls used to scream with just a whoop of that pelvis. Echo and the Bunnymen and the Waterboys too The Rolling Stones Aretha Franklin and of course The Who. Johnny Cash and Woodie Guthrie and good old boy Willie Nelson yes country music first began under Hank Williams stetson. Janis Joplin and Sid Vicious Jimmy Hendrix and Kieth Moon so many great names who all died far too soon. Beastie Boys and The Beatles big Hugh and Lou Reed Misty in Roots with more songs about weed Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder Roxy Musics Avalon apparantly to Hollywood is where Frankie has gone. Prince Simple Minds Beach Boys and The Cure Damon Alburns Blur I like other days Im not sure Burning Spear Primal Scream The Specials and The Beat I was there at Live Aid Geldofs greatest of feats. Linton Kwesi Johnson UB40 Aswad Human Leagues new romantics was the poorest of the fads The The Teenage Fanclub like a virgin was Madonna the bald shemale beauty of Sinead O'Connor. The Boomtown Rats had distaste but it wasnt for sundays Black Grape were spawned from Happier Mondays Costellos big specks and cool Armani suits lovers rock reggae with lots of roots. There have been over 30 albums that have came from The Fall you will have your own favourite but which 1 is it thats greatest of all your taste doesnt matter if you are a girl or a boy turn on tune in drop out and enjoy. Bjork is Icelandic shes not a Dane David Bowie was Ziggy but other days was Aladdin Zane Shane MacGowan and The Jam Mick Jones.. B.A.D. born to be wild Steppenwolf will set you free. U2 Van Morrison The Pogues and Thin Lizzy big Ella Fitzgerald made old Gillespie go Dizzy all the old scenes spruced up are back mods and punks and Burt Bacharach. I wonder who it was that had the first vision to create a New Order from the ashes of Joy Division its garage and house hard core and rave to dance for 12 hours your on Es or very brave. Pulp BB King Led Zepp Marvin Gaye I better finish off or Ill go on all day Iggy Pop the great chameleon and cheerie old Leonard Cohen I promise you now I really am going. With Kurt Cobains death ill close Jim Morrisons Doors the the tributes end here so now Ill finally close. (copyright david speirs). UPCOMING MERCHANTS GIGS ------------------------- FEBRUARY 2008 -------------- Feb 15th Glasgow:The Capitol Feb 29th Brixton:Jamm (supporting Alabama 3) MARCH 2008 -------------- Mar 1st Lewisham:Dirty South (supporting Alabama 3) Mar 30th Glasgow :Renfrew Ferry(supporting The Fall) APRIL 2008 -------------- Apr 16th Camden :The Dublin Castle Apr 18th Edinburgh:Whistlebinkies (with Orphan Boy) Apr 19th Aberdeen:Cafe Drummonds (with Orphan Boy) Apr 20th Glasgow :The Capitol (with Orphan Boy) Apr 30th Notting Hill:Atrs Centre (Death Disco) ----------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------