The Graeme Mearns Band

Bio:

Graeme Mearns - gutter-poet, axeman par excellence and three-times winner of Scotland’s prestigious Best Dressed Hobo contest - was already a favourite on the Edinburgh singer/songwriter scene and had released two self-produced albums by the time he put together the (imaginatively titled) Graeme Mearns Band in the summer of 2005.

Boasting a rare arsenal of songs and a killer rhythm section, the band quickly assembled a distinctive set whose raw appeal was captured by The Skinny’s reviewer Ali Maloney:

“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... a superb set of eclectic sonics. ”

A string of energetic live shows around Scotland and a debut album, Some Kind of Bliss (available on i-Tunes), won the band a loyal following and further critical praise (see reviews below). Radio-play helped broaden their appeal and by the time of their Spectrum Festival appearance at Edinburgh’s Queen’s Hall (captured on film and viewable through these MySpace pages) in November 2007 they were well established as one of the Scottish capital’s best-loved underground acts.

The band are currently putting the finishing touches to a second album, expected in the summer.


REVIEWS

"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, LIVE REVIEW

"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.
MUSIC CONNECTION MAGAZINE, EARLY DEMO REVIEW

"Ferocious"
THE SCOTSMAN

"No matter the genre, this tight guitar/bass/drums combo display seemingly effortless musicianship and surely some of the most fiendish guitar solos to be heard in this nation since The Sensational Alex Harvey Band... damn fine music-makers."
THE SKINNY, "SOME KIND OF BLISS" ALBUM REVIEW

"Excellent riffage and razor-sharp sense of melody"
IS THIS MUSIC, LIVE REVIEW

"Like a funk-influenced Stooges... plenty of charisma from Mr Mearns himself, some impressive musicianship and, hell, some good songs. Make that good, FILTHY songs... Definately worth catching live"
MANIC POP THRILLS - WORDPRESS

"charismatic... refreshing... a revelation on the Edinburgh scene."****
ARTICLE 19 online review....

Member Since:

December 31, 2005

Members:

Graeme Mearns: guitar, vocals
Ali Murray: drums
Tony Makos: bass guitar, backing vocals

Influences:

Williams Red (‘beer of the gods’), Black Gold (‘stout of the gods’), Laphroig (‘killer of the gods’), Sailor Jerry ('rum of scabs'),Tequila (‘spawn of satan’); caffeine; Alka Seltzer; all those things I can’t tell my Mum about; decent books, trashy comics; only the finest mind-improving smut; and good music (we don’t mean Britney Spears or Girls Aloud...)

Sounds Like:

the bastard offspring of PJ Harvey and Nick Cave, taken at birth and raised by Mark E Smith, schooled by Primus and sharing a flat with Tom Waits...