Graeme Mearns: guitar, vocals
Ali Murray: drums
Tony Makos: bass guitar, backing vocals
Influences
Lots of things. Lots of books, lots of films, lots of people. Lots of records. Some of our favourites, in no particular order, are by: Primus, The Stooges, Frank Zappa, The Pixies, The Kinks, Tom Waits, Miles Davis, Mr Bungle, PJ Harvey, Swelling Meg, The Smiths, Leonard Cohen, Anthrax, Muddy Waters, Kraftwerk and the list could go on. But why bother? There's a lot of stuff out there...
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...
The Graeme Mearns Band is an Edinburgh-based three-piece that likes to play and record a wide range of original music. We've been playing around Scotland for two or three years and think we're pretty good at it (well, we would, wouldn't we) but you can make up your own mind by listening to the selection of tunes and videos we've put up on these MySpace pages.
If you like it, come and see us live sometime - we'll post the dates as and when they're booked - or you can even buy our album. It's called 'Some Kind of Bliss' and is available to download on i-Tunes. There are also some independent music stores selling it in the old-fashioned CD format. It features artwork from the gifted Scottish artist, Julia Douglas, so it not only sounds great, it looks pretty good too.
Currently, we're writing and recording quite intensely, which is taking up a lot of time (and affecting our mental health). The early mixes are just starting to emerge now and we'll upload them as soon as they're ready.
In the meantime, here's what some other people have said about us...
"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....
Hi there, we've uploaded a couple of tracks from our new EP. Check them out and spread the word if you like them! Also if you are local to us we are launching the E.P. this Saturday at Cabaret Voltaire in Edinburgh. If you buy a ticket for the show we'll give you a free copy of the cd!
Thanks for the friendship! Hope you have a great weekend! Both my full album "Rise Above" and my EP "Out of the Dirt" are on Snocap.com for under $5 ("Out of the Dirt" is only $3.99) so if you have a chance, check it out and show some support for an independent artist. Thanks!!
Hope all you gorgeous people are remembering Frantic Chant, Delta Mainline and White Heath this Saturday 6th June at The Granary in sunny Leith. Doors open 7.30pm, tickets available from www.leithfestival.com or take your chances and pay at the door.
Summer is approaching and cruel winter is banished for another year. To celebrate, Big Hand would like to invite you to an extra special night of cosmic ska craziness...
Get your skanking shoes on and join us at Cabaret Voltaire this Sunday - 24th May (its a bank holiday, so no excuses)...
Just a quick comment to say we have 2 gigs this weekend, one on Friday at Sneaky pete's about 8ish and then on Sunday at Cab Vol with Big Hand, both should be belters. If any of you guys are about then get yerselves along.
ARE YOU A YOUNG BAND AGE 18-25 READY TO RECORD A THREE SONG DEMO BUT LACKING THE FUNDS TO DO SO? The Green Door Studio is offering five bands five days each in the studio to develope material and record a three song demo at no cost, sponosred by the Scottish Arts Council if interested visit our myspace and send us a message to book a place on our open day Sat 9th May.
Hey Graeme, we're finally launching our cd next week (the one Chris Brown played on). Would be great to see you there. BROKEN SWORD LAUNCH GIG, WEE RED BAR, THURS APRIL 23, DOORS AT 7, £3/£2 ENTRY, SUPPORT FROM MUTANT LODGE AND MANY DAYS WAITING - Darren
So I had a word with Bukkake Birthday Party and after a LOT of persuasion, mainly cos I might be their number one fan, they've agreed to let you support them er I mean play with them in a band off so I can make my final decision. So what say ye GMB? Are you up for the challenge? :) And remember, it's not the size of the instrument it's what you do with it that counts...
