Drew - Vocals, Guitar
Mark - Vocals. Lead Guitar
Stephan - Drums
Neil - Bass
Liam - Percussion, Vocals
Influences
The Byrds, The Jefferson Airplane, Love, The Kinks, The Who, The Zombies, Syd Barrett, Julian Cope, The Beach Boys, The Strawberry Alarmclock, Neil Young, The Beatles, Blur, Tim Buckley, The Stooges, The Velvet Underground, The Small Faces, Jimi Hendrix, Gene Clark, Buffalo Springfield, The Mamas and the Papas, The Beatles, Wohllebe, Supergrass, Moby Grape, The Monkees, Bob Dylan, Julie Driscoll, The Pretty Things, The Electric Prunes, The Hollies, The Left Banke, The Animals, Country Joe and the Fish, The Chocolate Watch Band, Crosby, Stills and Nash
Sounds Like
SOME QUOTES ON "THE MAGIC OPTICIAN" ALBUM
The Magic Optician's brand of modern psychedelia successfully captures the uncertain climate of today by putting beautiful harmonies and minor chords on a sonic collision course, while injecting a bit of humor to raise a wry smile...
''You'll love it the first time you listen, you'll still be hearing something different a thousand plays later...'' -Dominik Diamond, XFM
''Pretty cool'' - Jon ''Mojo'' Mills, Record Collector
''A great disc!!...Very flashback-y to the psychedelic 60's'' - Andy Olsen, Head of Programming, Radio Free Phoenix
''An early contender for the best album of 2007" - Goran Obradovic , Popism.com
''An intriguing mix of Barrett-era Pink Floyd, the Pretty Things psych-pop period and small dollops of 'Forever Changes' period Love...a fine debut" - Phil Suggitt, Shindig
''An authentic 60's sound with a bit of something 21st century in the mix'' -Martin Myers, London's Resonance 104.4FM / Vox FM
" I really dig The Fast Camels album - very cool" - DJ TigerBee, The Lollipop Shoppe, Dallas
''Classic psychedelia brought sharply into the now with cutting lyrics, eerie sound effects and edgy guitar riffs'' - Freak Emporium
"Got the album, love the cover and the music" - ~Ron Burd, CIUT FM, Toronto
"There's some great stuff on this album and I'll look forward to including some of the (tracks) on my show" - Rob Leighton, Radio Caroline
"If Glasgow's Fast Camels were a beverage, they'd be a cup of coffee laced with hallucinogens. Alternatively - at times, concurrently - ethereal and driving, their sound can hit you between the eyes and induce headbanging or take those same eyes, lift them towards the lights, and set the brain behind them whirling with swirling, psychedelic mélanges of vocals and instrumentation. In this well-produced debut, one can hear the compositional influence of early Pink Floyd, sweet Byrds-esque harmonies, elements of thematic vastness and darkness reminiscent of The Cure, and the crisp undertow of 60s surf-rock. Yet these are all like well-cited references; The Fast Camels have an original sound all of their own. The album's single, 'Like A Magic Optician' shows what the band can do in the studio. But 'The Hump', with its menacing vocals, tribal drums, incisory riffs and eye-of-the-storm chorus, is where they perhaps shine the most. Then again, the achievement of this cut is no mean feat considering the strength already proven elsewhere on the LP.
-Ben Howe, The Skinny
The Fast Camels explosive blend of 60's influenced psychedelia, freakbeat and classic power-pop has been turning heads on the live circuit in their native Glasgow since their formation in 2005. The band have already clocked up over 100 live appearances, highlights including several shows at Glasgow's premier live venues King Tut's Wah Wah Hut, The ABC and Classic Grand.
In the summer of 2006 the group recorded their superb debut album 'The Magic Optician', and before the end of the year the camels signed a one album deal with Neon Tetra Records. The album hit the shops in March 2007 accompanied by a wave of favourable reviews in the likes of Record Collector, Classic Rock, The Skinny, OMH, The List, Daily Record (largest daily in Scotland), Sunday Mail, Popism, Freak Emporium, and Shindig. This lead to live radio sessions in Glasgow's own XFM, BBC Radio Merseyside and Malcolm Dome's Total Rock Radio.
As the weeks went on their airplay intensified too, the Camels sound has been embraced by U.S. and Canadian College Radio clocking up hundreds of plays on the likes of Jeff Shelton's Power Pop Show, Radio Free Phoenix, UIC Chicago and University of Toronto Radio. The Fast Camels stateside success is made all the more impressive given that a licensing deal for the album in the U.S. is still in negotiation, the record only being available until now as an on-line purchase via the likes of Amazon and I-Tunes. Word of mouth regarding the band continues to spread like wildfire across the US and the Camels are currently being courted by several US based labels with a view to the licensing of the current album and future releases. TFC's have also been played in various European countries including Spain and Germany.
One of the band's proudest achievements was being chosen as the only British representative to play at the 40TH ANNIVERSARY MONTEREY POP FESTIVAL MAIN STAGE with bands such as the Doors and Jefferson Airplane.
This lead to more major press coverage all over the UK.
2009 and the Camels have started recording for their so far untitled 2nd album.
Myspace Backgrounds
Samples of our new Record Kicks single “I’m Sorry (Can I please come home)” & ”The Battle of Yoker” are now up on our Myspace for your delectation. Have a listen!
Hey Boys! Meet us at Waxy O'Connors at 4:00 this afternoon. Our time AFTER the show is VERY limited (20 min or so) so it would be a good time to hang out OK?? Spread the word!!
Hey, just watched some brilliant video of you guys backing us up on 'Tangle-Free World' at the Cluny -- what a great night that was!! I'd go on tour with you all anytime! I'll try & get it up on Youtube if I can figure out how....
I LOVE the Fast Camels! Thanks so much for making the drive to join us in Newcastle, and for jumping in at Glasgow too! You guys show the world what it means to rock. I'll bang a tambourine for you anytime! Anny
Just to let you know that you are featured in one of my Liverpool IPO internet radio programmes on MikeLive. The shows regularly play in rotation, so if you’ve missed one it won’t be too long before it’s repeated. Happy Listening! www.mikelive.co.uk
THE FIVE ACES ROCKIN’ DANCE PARTY. A night of rockin’ soul, rock n’ roll and rhythm & blues featuring live music from The Five Aces, The Bottleneckers and The Privates Hammond Orchestra. Mikey Collins will be DJing which makes this an unofficial pre club to the last night of the mod weekender. Tickets £5. Doors at 7pm, 1st band onstage at 7.45pm sharp Last band offstage by 10pm latest.
The Privates Hammond Orchestra will be appearing live and in person at our favourite boozer Blackfriars this Sunday 14th at 9pm. Private Duncan's chat will be even more inspired and sparkling than usual...
Hola Dudes...how's the second Fast Camels album coming along? I'm recording a new album soon....an acoustic album with no more than one harmony vocal on any track. You guys should check out early Kevin Ayers....you'll love him. Adios Amigos, D.
Online Now!
