SCHNAPPS - CROSSDRESSER

Involuntary movement inducing single Crossdresser by Schnapps is a steer away from the Tuesday trend of romances gone bad. This toe tappin’, head boppin’ delight is the debut single (release date - 5th April) from the four piece that formed just one year ago. Pulling talent from the four corners of Scotland, and settling in Glasgow to make up a garage/indie/rock troupe, described by The List as, “…looking part art-school, part old-school rockers…” the sound is not a stones throw from Iggy and the Stooges with a smattering of Travelling Wilburys.

With backing from Vic Galloway and NYLON magazine as the ones to watch in 2010, Schnapps are burning bright and with a handful of live shows coming up, you’d be daft to miss them.

Have a listen and for more info, check out MySpace and Facebook.

SWIZZLESTICK by LIGHTGUIDES

It seems that every man and his dog’s making music these days. And that’s not even a euphemism, look…

Anyway, the point is, it’s hard to get a sound that sounds different and cuts through the noise. These guys aren’t radically different, but they’ve drawn a well placed line between indie and a harder edged almost emo type thing, that should appeal to fans of both. They seem to have a knack for carving out catchy-as-hell songs that get right in yer lug’ole and stay there. Check them out (and for god’s sake sign them if you have the power to do such things) at http://www.myspace.com/lightguides

BLUNDERGROUND by TANGO IN THE ATTIC

On a first listen, you’d be forgiven for thinking that these young chaps were peddling their wares from the distant indie garage hotbed of New York. Well we wouldn’t forgive you, we’d send you to bed without any dinner, because you’d clearly not been listening to a word we said when we told you they were from Glenrothes. Yes, Glenrothes. Home of Fife’s largest indoor shopping centre, and now a band who’ve got the singalong appeal of The Vampire Weekend and the edginess of The Strokes at their finest. Point an ear in their direction at http://www.myspace.com/tangointheattic

DISCONNECTED, I KNOW by PAPER PLANES

Paper Planes provide a little Weegie action, with a smattering of East Coast America.  Disconnected, I Know is cleaner than their previous offerings, but the dirge is found in the lyrics, one of which sets the scene of annoying neighbours with unruly decibels.  Jennifer Paley’s vocals are likened to Karen O all too often, but there is a sweetness and depth akin to Tilly and the Wall’s Kianna Alarid that lends a true pop element to the track.  There’s a lot of excitement surrounding this handsome quartet and it’s evident why…

Paper Planes launch double A side Disconnected, I Know/The Sway at a wee shindig in Mono, Glasgow on the 25^th of February.  Find out more at Myspace and Facebook.

SMOKE & MIRRORS by THE 10:04s (@the1004s)

This’ll pick up your Wednesday pm, a tasty slice of indie punk injection from the 10:04s.

Somebody somewhere probably said they’re a band to watch for 2010. And if they haven’t, you heard it here first.

Get stuck in to some pogo, wherever you may be.

And make sure you check em out live and on MySpace, Facebook and Twatter.

BABY WHEN I SEE YOUR EYES by A BAND CALLED QUINN (@ABCQuinn)

Legend has it that A Band Called Quinn was formed when singer/songwriter Louise Quinn met drummer Bal Cooke whilst busking on the streets of Toulouse after running away from convent school. With Bal, she produced music using computer and pieces of bark. The line up of the band was completed by bassist Steven Westwater, a promising footballer whose career at Preston North End was tragically cut short by a cartilage shortcoming; and trumpetist Robert Henderson - heir to the family forune of a well-known Scottish confectionery company; whose independent means have allowed him to devote his life to studying bebop and growing facial hair.

They’ve got a beautifully, rich sound that’ll carry you out of deepest, darkest winter on a magic carpet headed for warmer climes. Enjoy more over at their Myspace page.

—-

Generously submitted by Claire Wood.

Submit your track at http://leithrecords.com/submit

DON’T LOSE YOUR MIND by THE BANANA SESSIONS (@bananasessions)

Everyone else is doing it, so why shouldn’t we? Yes, our first ever Christmas track featured on Leith Records. Cue sleigh bells, jingling and indigestion. The Pogues, eat your heart out!

And this track does the gravity of the occasion justice. Imagine Alice walking into Wonderland and slotting a coin into the jukebox, and you’re almost there when it comes to describing The Banana Sessions’ musical style. This gypsy-jazz-folk band (with a hint of comedy thrown in for good measure) take their audiences and listeners on an adventure courtesy of their musical tales of tea-swilling, swimming through rivers of Buckfast, swashbuckling with rum-addled pirates and chasing pesky rabbits. And as if that wasn’t enough, there’s the treat of hearing ’90s techno classics being performed in the style of a medley featuring a flute and a tuba.

This Edinburgh-based five-piece enjoyed a sizzling and successful summer playing all over the UK at various festivals such as Wickerman, Knockengorroch and Beatherder. The last Edinburgh gig they played was a sell-out at The Jazz Bar on Chambers Street, and they now return with an intimate gig at the unique Bowery venue on December 10th as well as being invited to see in 2010 onstage at Departure Lounge Hogmanay.

Forthcoming gigs include:

Thursday 10th December, The Bowery, 2 Roxburgh Place, Edinburgh. 7-11pm, £5.

Thursday 31st December - Departure Lounge Hogmanay, The Caves, Edinburgh. 10pm-5am. Tix £24.

Follow them in all the usual places: MySpace, Twitter

DARK CORNERS by THREE BLIND WOLVES

As my blackened, frostbitten fingers type this, I’m thinking that winter has truly arrived. The land of chunky knits, even chunkier soup, steaming, sweaty buses and the odd frozen pavement wipeout.

Well, officially added to the list of winter warmers are these young chaps. They’re currently hauling their curious style of folky indie bluegrass around the better known venues of the Glasgow and Edinburgh scene, as well as supporting and touring with buddies Frightened Rabbit.

Check them out at www.myspace.com/threeblindwolves

LIGHTNING DECIDER by MUST BE SOMETHING

With influences like the Foo Fighters and Idlewild these guys are crafting an exciting original sound. The 4 piece alternative rock group have impressed audiences around Scotland with their explosive live performances and recent airplay on Jim Gellatly’s XFM show had him saying they are “one of the finest things to come out of Scotland recently”.

Check them out at www.myspace.com/mustbesomething

CARDIGAN KIDS by TIE FOR JACK

Fresh faced, charmingly ramshackle, boy-girl vocals. This is a band of assured sunshine indie pop brilliance.

Tie For Jack are a young 6 piece from Edinburgh and have recently released their debut EP ‘Chapter One’. Their influences are a little unusual, including sunny days, spooning, Irn-Bru and even Mean Girls (yeah the movie), which should give you more than enough intrigue to check them out.

Their twinned up boy/girl vocals and mesmerising melodies will give you goose bumps, get you moving and make you smile. A nice way to round off the week.

Check them out at www.myspace.com/tieforjack

Or see them live at King Tuts in Glasgow on Sunday 18th October.