On Noel's Stereo This Week...

My Week's Playlist
The View - Same jeans
"I've got the album at home and I'm yet to listen to it, but they've got that spirit and that touch of the people. I love 'Superstar Tradesman' and 'Wasted Little DJs' too" by Noel Gallagher
NME 28/2/07

Backstage at NME Awards Tour

An on the road documentary featuring Shockwaves NME Awards Tour stars The View, Klaxons The Horrors and CSS is due to air later this week.

The footage, which is part of an NME Awards season across Channel 4 and E4, will see your favourite rock and rave stars causing havoc across the country and is due to go out on Thursday (March 1) at 12.50am.

The documentary will be aired following this year's awards which goes out as live at 11pm on E4 on March 1.

An extended NME Awards featuring backstage gossip from Alex Zane and Peaches Geldof will also go out on Sunday (March 3)

The NME season is as follows:

The Shockwaves NME Awards 2007
E4 11pm March 1, C4 11.40pm, March 2

Shockwaves NME Awards Tour documentary
C4 12.50am March 1

T4 Awards Extra
C4 9.30am, March 3
E4 1.45pm and 2am, March 3

For all the news, gossip and latest updates on the Shockwaves NME Awards 2007, click back on NME.COM this Thursday (March 1).

thanks to Gang Of Ginq

Live Tracks from NME Tour

Colin Murray played ‘Skag Trendy’ and ‘Superstar Tradesman’ from the NME Rock Tour on BBC Radio 1.

Listen Back Here (Fast forward approx 1 hour)

Full tracklisting from show here

*UPDATE*

MP3's here (captured by TheGlobe)

NME Rock Tour Highlights

Wednesday 28th February - 21.00
Radio 1 presents the NME Rock Tour highlights
Artists on the show: The Automatic, The View, The Horrors and Mumm-Ra

One Last Push!

Only two days to go till the NME awards show there's still time to get more votes in for The View as Britains Best New Band

VOTE HERE NOW!!!

Win The View gig tickets

Carling has got over 30 tickets up for grabs for The Views sold out shows at Carling Academy Newcastle, Liverpool, Birmingham and Bristol. All tickets also include a few free pints of cold Carling at the venue.

Competition can be found here

(you have to register to enter the competition)

thanks to Nicolien

Downloads of The Week #5

Ride - BBC Live Session 26/2/90

Graham Coxon - Time For Hereos (Libetines Cover)

The Draytones - Keep Loving Me (Purchase Only)

Stereophonics - Morfa Stadium 31/7/99

Oasis - Listen Up, Unplugged 1996

Oasis - Whatever, Unplugged 1996

The View - Comin' Down (Video), The Doghouse 31/10/05

Kieren Recommends...

As featured in the NME here's Kierens recommendations of the best bands in Dundee.

The Law

Luva-Anna

Sergeant

Killer Angels

The Get Downs

NME 17/2/07

Same Jeans - Top of The Pops 2

Here's the performance of Same Jeans at Top of The Pops 2.

'The JD Set' Video

Here's Same Jeans, Skag Trendy, Wasted Little DJ's, Superstar Tradesman and an interview with Kieren and Crazy Mo recorded recently at The Cluny in Newcastle.

Download here

(Right click 'save as')

NME Tour ends in style

The last night of the Shockwaves NME Awards Indie Rock Tour thrilled London's Brixton Academy tonight (February 23).

The Automatic, The View, The Horrors and Mumm-Ra brought the tour to a suitably manic close, putting on a night involving masks, exclusive collaborations and football.

Emerging onstage just after 10pm, The Automatic ripped into album track 'By My Side', followed by single and crowd favourite 'Raoul'.

The Welsh rockers also performed 'Monster', 'You Shout You Shout You Shout You Shout', 'Lost At Home', dedicated to Mumm-Ra, and an untitled new song.

Joined onstage by their tour manager on lead vocals, The Automatic also unveiled their cover of Talking Head's 'Life During Wartime' towards the end of their set.

During the closing song, a version of the band's debut single 'Recover', the stage was invaded by Mumm-Ra, The Horrors and The View, who had an impromptu kick-around with a football.

Before The Automatic's set, The View charmed the crowd with songs including 'Wasted Little DJs', 'Skag Trendy' and opener 'Comin' Down'.

The band also performed their top ten hit 'Same Jeans' as well as early B-side 'Posh Boys', with singer Kyle Falconer dressed in a new suit to celebrate the final night of the tour.

The View ended their set with single 'Superstar Tradesman'.

Earlier in the evening, The Horrors treated Brixton to a set of their dark garage rock.

Singer Faris Rotter came onstage to perform opener 'Jack The Ripper' wearing a black cape and mask, and holding a bunch of black balloons tied to a staff, while guitarist Joshua Von Grimm's face was painted to resemble a skull.

Performing tracks from their forthcoming debut album 'Strange House', including 'Death At The Chapel' and 'Sheena Is A Parasite', the band ended with an extended version of recent single 'Gloves', during which Von Grimm took a powerdrill to his guitar before throwing the instrument out to the audience.

Mumm-Ra took to the stage at 7.30pm, performing tracks including 'Song E', single 'What Would Steve Do?' and opener 'Now Or Never'.

The band were obviously surprised with the audience turnout, as singer James Noo told the crowd: "I can't thank you enough for coming out early to see us!"

During final song 'Out Of The Question', Mumm-Ra were joined by The View's Kyle Falconer on guitar and backing vocals.

To find out more about the fall out from the two Shockwaves NME Awards Tours, get a copy of this week's NME, out now, and next week's issue, out February 28.

NME.com 24/2/07

NME Tour video

The View get to grips with a pair of scissors and The Horrors in our on-tour interview.

View here

Thanks to Gang Of Ginq

Edinburgh Castle Review

JOHN Lennon famously invited the habitues of the royal box to rattle their jewellery when the Beatles played the Royal Variety Performance more than 40 years ago, and Scotland's hottest rock tykes' explosive racket must have shaken the Scottish crown jewels in their secure casing.

The Dundonian quartet played the Queen Anne Room within the hallowed walls of Edinburgh Castle in the latest of T Mobile's Street Gigs, staged before a privileged audience of fewer than a hundred souls. "The View's on fire," hollered the appreciative select few, and indeed they were sufficiently incendiary to break two bass strings during the blistering opening salvo of Comin' Down and the big hit single, Same Jeans.

Months of touring have moulded the band into a fearsome live unit, inciting the compact and bijou crowd to such an extent that one fan had to be escorted from the throng to curb his enthusiasm, before being returned to continue in more muted fashion at the rear of the room. Gran's For Tea was enhanced by the presence of Mary, the gran in question, down at the front, but the high-speed ska romp through the foursome's cover of Squeeze's Up the Junction lacked the original's subtle nuances.

Last year these boys were barely able to drink legally in their local pub, the Doghouse - not that they have shown themselves to be hindered by such restrictions. On Wednesday they rocked Edinburgh Castle to its foundations with a devastating rendering of Wasted Little DJs that belied their youth.

Odd place for a street gig, though.

COLIN SOMERVILLE, The Herald 23/2/07

The Clock Is Ticking...

....Yes, all the live bands are booked (and what live bands they are! If you haven't heard, Primal Scream, Kaiser Chiefs, The Killers, Kasabian, The View and a secret, special, guaranteed-to-knock-your-socks-off surprise act are all going to perform on the night); yes, the guest presenters are all booked; and yes, we've got enough booze to float a flotilla of ships.

But this is the Shockwaves NME Awards, and something is bound to go off in the final week. It always does... Watch this space.

Tick, tock, tick, tock...

NME BLOG 23/2/07

THE VIEW ON TV

The View will be performing Same Jeans on TOTP2 - 24th February - BBC2

The View feature in a NME Tour Special on Popworld – 24th February.

PLUS various coverage of Primal Scream and The View performances, interviews and hopefully collecting awards at the NME Awards on Thursday 1st March on Channel 4 and E4.

The View will also be live on C4 tonight as part of the JD set.

theviewareonfire.com 23/2/07

Edinburgh Castle exclusive interview

Click here to watch The View interview (Windows Media)

STV spoke exclusively to The View at their one-off show with T-Mobile Street Gigs at Edinburgh Castle this week. Playing to a lucky 100 hundred prize-winning ticket-holders, the band were enthusiastic about being back in Scotland, and still delighted at the amazing success they've achieved (a top five single with Same Jeans, and the album Hats of to the Buskers straight in to number one).

They were also keen to dismiss the stories of them trashing Travelodges in rock n'roll style. Apparently it was all a misunderstanding...

Having been announced as headlining the King Tuts Tent at T in the Park (on an as-yet unconfirmed day), it's continuing to be a great year for The View.

stv.co.uk 23/2/07

On fire and still smoking

SCOTS chart-toppers The View became the lastest act to take part in a T-Mobile Street Gig, performing within the confines of the spectacular and historic Edinburgh Castle.

Edinburgh Castle, 21 February 2007
Frontman Kyle Falconer and members of the Dundee band The View brought their own unique blend of Dundee rock 'n' roll to Edinburgh Castle for 100 lucky Street Gig winners on February 21, 2007.

Only weeks after The View topped the album charts with their debut album Hats Off To The Buskers, the Dundonian band played one of their most unusual gigs yet.

Inside Edinburgh castle and with armed guards on duty at the Portculis, the band strolled onstage to just 100 lucky fans.
They delivered a red hot set of songs as if they were attempting to break the land speed record though bassist Kieran Webster complained they'd lost two strings within the first couple of numbers.

To chants of "The View are on fire", diminutive frontman Kyle Falconer belted his way through the band's hits such as Wasted Little DJs and Superstar Tradesman.

In the lyrics of the song Same Jeans, Falconer claims he's had the same jeans on for four days but from the look of the paint stained denims he wore at this gig, that was, in this case, a conservative estimate.

The song Grans For Tea couldn't have been more appropriate since it was dedicated to a couple of the band members' grandmothers who were down the front for the gig.

There was also a special treat as the group played their version of the Squeeze post-punk classic Up The Junction. This was a favourite with the Dryburgh contingent, who used to see the band in their local pub in Dundee before they made it big.
There's no doubt about it The View are hot right now. Whether The View are on fire may be open to debate but on this showing, they were definitely smokin'.

Photos here

streetgigs.co.uk

T-Mobile Street Gig Review

THE View probably thought that the days of playing in front of 100 fans were long gone.

Such has been their recent rise to fame, with them gaining a string of top ten hits, that they have been entitled to expect much bigger and rowdier gigs than last night's in the Castle's Queen Anne Room.

But their participation in Edinburgh's first T-Mobile Street Gig, one of a number taking place around the country, was a return to the smaller and more intimate nights that they used to enjoy before they became one of the country's hottest young bands.

The Dundee foursome have gained a number of friends in high places in recent months, including Babyshambles frontman Pete Doherty, and that rising fame made the 100 T-Mobile competition winners and invited guests rightfully believe that they were about to see something special in the somewhat grand setting.

The View didn't disappoint. They stormed quickly through the set of songs, all bar one of which were taken from debut album Hats Off To The Buskers. The only exception was a cover of Squeeze's Up The Junction and, ironically, it was the cover that provided the most insight into what they are capable of.

Rather than being another bunch of young Libertines wannabes, it proved that The View have a much edgier, jauntier side that draws on influences like Madness that we can perhaps look forward to them exploring further in future albums.

They finished off with the songs that the crowd were waiting for -Wasted Little DJs and Superstar Tradesman.

It was enough to get the audience of invited guests calling for more, although you couldn't help but feel that the hard-working band were just happy to be finished another night's work.

by MICHAEL BLACKLEY, The Scotsman 22/2/07

Bristol Academy Videos

A Few good videos from Bristol Academy on 20/2/07

Wasted Little DJs

Grans For Tea

Coming Down

All recorded by James Dobbs

Free Sampler CD (US Only)

Check out the list of US retailers by clicking below for more details.
Theres

View here

Tracklisling
1. Wasted Little DJs
2. Skag Trendy
3. Wasted Little DJs (video)

T In The Park Slot Confirmed

The View will headline the King Tuts tent on the Saturday at this years T in The Park festival.

T in the Park will run at Balado, near Kinross, in Perthshire from Friday July 6 to Sunday July 8.

For the first time in its history the festival arena will open to around 50,000 campers on Friday night when Brit Award winners Arctic Monkeys will headline the main stage.

Tickets for T in the Park 2007 go on sale at 9am on Saturday 24 February, with single day tickets costing £62.50, weekend tickets £120 and weekend with camping (you need these if you want to see the Friday line-up) at £140. Tickets can be got (if you're quick) by calling 0870 169 0100 (Ticketmaster) or going online to www.ticketmaster.co.uk, or the usual high street ticket outlets.

THE VIEW SECRET SHOW CANCELLED

With the greatest of regret The View will NOT be playing the secret show at the Metro tonight.
Kyle is ill with the flu.

He will be fine for the Brixton show tomorrow.

Really sorry to get your hopes up, and by way of bringing a bit of cheer to your day send us your address and we will send you a View sticker by return.

See you soon.

The View shop

The View are kings of the castle

The View from Edinburgh Castle., it’s a well-known tourist sight,. However, last night it was more about the Dundee band who were playing probably the most unusual gig of their young careers.

The show, in front of only 100 lucky prize winners of a competition run by mobile phone company T-Mobile, was described by drummer Steve Morrison as “the weirdest we’ve ever played.

“We thoroughly enjoyed it, though, playing the castle was brilliant and now we can say we’ve done it all.”

The band were booked to play one of the most exclusive and intimate shows in their calendar, part of a series called the T-Mobile Street Gigs which aims to bring top quality bands to a select number of fans.

Edinburgh Castle seemed a strange choice; however, the small room was transformed with a massive PA and lighting system, creating the normal frenzied atmosphere of a View gig.

During the show lead singer Kyle Falconer said, “This is pretty weird for a bunch of boys from Dundee.”

Alan Wilson, The Courier 22/2/07

Thanks to TheGlobe

Rockness Monsters

ENTERING the UK charts at No.1 a few weeks ago was just the beginning for rag-tag Scottish rockers The View.

Or so guitarist Pete Reilly says.
"I'm ambitious. I want the band to be the biggest we can, the biggest band in the world. If you don't want that, you're never gonna get that."

And by "big" Reilly means . . .?

"Oasis, but even further than that. Do it right.

"We can see the steps, we know how to get there, it'll just be hard work. Even doing it in America, it's pretty intense, but we could do it if we wanted to."

The View's debut album, Hats Off to the Buskers, is No.11 on the UK charts this week, but is yet to dint the Australian charts.

The band -- all still under 21 years -- have had a string of Top 20 hits in the UK: Wasted Little DJs, Same Jeans and Superstar Tradesman. Reilly says the latter -- with lyrics about getting stuck in a small town, learning a trade, buying a guitar, but dreaming of more -- sums up the Dundee band's reason for being.

"That's what we're all about."

The View extend this blue-collar approach to everything they do, often calling themselves a "working-class" or "people's band".

"I hope people find it inspiring, just four normal lads," Reilly says. "People can look at that and say, 'If they can do it, I can do it'. I've had people say 'I'm gonna start a band 'cos of you'."

The View's rapid rise began when they loitered outside a Babyshambles gig and slipped tabloid-magnet frontman Pete Doherty a demo CD.

"Pete's beautiful, a beautiful guy. It's a shame that people write all this stuff," Reilly says of their troubled friend and mentor.

The View's drummer, Steve Morrison, was drawn into a Doherty scandal when he was caught in a car going the wrong way down a one-way street with the former Libertine at the wheel.

"Tabloids," says Reilly. "Tabloids could destroy you. You've got to be careful who you speak to. This paper misquoted me about Pete, got me saying we don't like Pete Doherty, we've not heard of him. If he read that, he'd think we were selfish, but I never said that."

Reilly won't, however, be mirroring Doherty's reaction to such stories.

"We've seen how Pete approaches it -- he just goes off, goes mental, shouting and stuff," he laughs.

Doherty isn't The View's only high-profile fan. Noel Gallagher loves the band ("It's absolutely ridiculous," says Reilly, who claims he picked up a guitar because of Gallagher), and Primal Scream are tight mates after a debauched tour with their fellow Scots.

Indeed, Reilly will play for the Scream when they team with Mick Jones to play a Clash song at the NME Awards in London on March 1.

Listening to Hats Off to the Buskers it's easy to see why The View are winning friends and influencing people. Their contagiously upbeat tunes just click.

"That's what's weird about us, everybody seemed to just get on it and like it. Not a lot of people have said they don't like it," Reilly says.

What's the secret?

"I wish I knew, I'd bottle it and make millions," he laughs.

But don't think The View haven't worked for their rapid rise.

"A couple of months ago, we'd done like 80 gigs in a month," Reilly says. "We're working hard as. All up and down the country."

Looking forward to a break, Reilly dreams of going somewhere hot. Australia is on that dream list. Unprompted, he declares the band's desire to play at the Big Day Out.

But for now, he'll take a couple of weeks off at home next month.

Will he put down his guitar?

"No, I'd pick up a guitar in my sleep," he laughs. "I'm addicted. If there's one there, it needs to be played, you know what I mean?"

Neala Johnson, Herald Sun, Australia 22/2/07

Wide Awake In America

Q Magazine reviewed The View's gig at Mercury Lounge, New York as well as some interviews in its March edition. You can now download the full review at the link below.

Download here

Q Magazine, March 2007 Edition

Japanese Album Release

The Japanese release of Hats off To The Buskers will include 3 bonus tracks; Posh Boys, Screamin' N Shoutin' And Cherry Girl.

Full Tracklisting is
1. COMIN' DOWN
2. SUPERSTAR TRADESMAN
3. SAME JEANS
4. DON'T TELL ME
5. SKAG TRENDY
6. DON,THE
7. FACE FOR RADIO,THE
8. WASTED LITTLE DJ'S
9. GRAN'S FOR TEA
10. DANCE INTO THE NIGHT
11. CLAUDIA
12. STREET LIGHTS
13. WASTELAND
14. TYPICAL TIME
15. POSH BOYS
16. SCREAMIN' N SHOUTIN'
17. CHERRY GIRL

Thanks to soulboy for info

Tennents Vital '06 to be broadcast

Viewers from the Ireland will be able to see some of The View's performance from this festival in Belfast last year on Sunday 25th of Feb at 10 O'Clock on BBC2.

Viewers from outside Ireland with Sky Digital will be able to view the programme on BBC 2 Northern Ireland.

Thanks to spuddastud

The View & Underground Hereos cover Libertines

Here's The View and Underground Hereos performing Libertines anthem 'Don't Look Back Into The Sun' Live from Tap N Tin, Chatham, Kent on 17/02/07

Thanks to pinkila

The children of the damned

When The View asked for Pete Doherty's blessing, they got it - and the rock'n'roll madness that goes with it. Luiza Sauma talks to four boys from Dundee caught in the headlights

The View's reputation precedes them. In the run up to meeting the biggest band to come out of Dundee since The Associates (ask your uncle), the warnings came thick and fast. "You're not going to understand a word of what they're saying," I'm told by all and sundry. "You should take a translator." "They're a bunch of rascals." "They hate journalists." One wily music writer managed to squeeze an entire feature out of a 10-minute interview, which was halted by hungover members of the band falling asleep. Another was interrupted by one of them throwing up on his own shoes. By the time I arrive at the Birmingham Academy - where I caught the band in the middle of the NME Indie Rock Tour with The Automatic, The Horrors and Mumm-ra - I'm expecting the worst.

What I'm faced with, are three sleepy-eyed young men, covered in mysterious scratches, scabs and bruises, milling about in their dressing room, surrounded by various hangers-on and crew members. One of the band says, "Aye, I remember you" to a blonde teenage girl, and she screeches gleefully, "You remember me!" One of their mates from home films the scene from the corner of the room, before knocking my dictaphone off a fridge, giggling guiltily and scurrying away. Drummer Steve Morrison has gone awol, but the other three each greet me with the kind of nonchalantly limp handshake a teenage boy would give to a particularly boring family friend. Which isn't surprising, since they're all aged 19 or 20. Then they proceed to ignore me, and cackle over a copy of the NME. Apart from pretty-boy bass player Kieren Webster, that is, who burns his arm with a lighter and scowls. A TV crew from Channel 4 are set up just outside the door. I ask frontman Kyle Falconer (the one with the bird's nest hair) how long the crew have been following them about and he grimaces, like he can't remember.

After a year spent on every rock critic's "ones to watch" list, The View's moment has arrived - and they're quickly learning the pros and cons of being the band of the moment. No wonder they're looking so bedraggled. Two weeks ago, their sparky debut album Hats Off to the Buskers outdid everybody's expectations and hit the No 1 spot, something that their heroes The Libertines only managed with their second album. And you'll be familiar with their recent single "Same Jeans" (you know, the one that bears an uncanny resemblance to Cornershop's late-Nineties hit "Brimful of Asha") which peaked a few weeks ago at No 3 but still sits happily in the Top 10. Everybody wants a piece of The View. But The View aren't giving anything anyway.

After their PR has chased everyone out of the dressing room - apart from their friend from home, who returns to skulk around with his digital camera - I sit on a box and switch on the broken dictaphone. They stare forlornly from a sofa, like schoolboys in detention. The first few minutes are excruciating. I ask them how the tour is going. "S'all right." How does it feel to have a No 1 album? "Amazing." Did they expect it, so early in their career? Unfailingly polite guitarist Pete Reilly shrugs, "Just hoped, not expected." Was it the best time in the band's life? Kyle: "Pretty much."

If anything, their lack of media-friendliness is refreshing - it's part of their appeal, as it were. There's no starriness here, no media training. I ask them when the band became a serious career prospect, and Kieren says: "It's never become a serious thing. Other people want it to be serious, but we don't want it to be serious." And he's right - people are working overtime to turn The View into stars. And so far, it's working.

When I arrived at the venue at 5.30pm, a queue was already snaking its way down the street. The fever surrounding the band is understandable: they've re-ignited a tired indie scene dominated by precocious stage-school alumni. There's nothing learned about The View, nothing mannered. Most importantly, they've got the tunes - great tunes, that cross-fertilise the jangle-rock romance of The Libertines with the swagger of early Oasis. (No surprises there - Owen "Definitely Maybe" Morris produced their album.) It's not science, it's certainly not Sonic Youth, and it's not trying to be. But they mean it - and they wear that sentiment on their sleeves; in Kieren's case, on his skin. The name of his band is etched, Libertines-style, on his upper arm.

Ah, The Libertines. One mention of Pete Doherty and Carl Barat's short-lived wonder, and the band visibly soften. "I love them," says Kyle. "And we never even got to see them live..." adds a dreamy-eyed Kieren, who finally stops trying to himself alight. In many ways, The View are eternally indebted to Pete Doherty - and not just musically. Kyle admits: "It all started when we played with Babyshambles. That's when we started getting a lot of people on our MySpace and stuff..."

The support slot in question came about when Kyle approached the Babyshambles frontman with a demo; impressed by what he heard, Doherty asked them to open for his band that very night. A tour followed, James Endeacott (who "discovered" The Libertines) signed them to Sony BMG imprint 1965 Records - and the rest, as they say, is history. Including Pete Doherty, it seems. "He's a hard person to keep in contact with," admits Kyle. "We last saw him in Fabric at a Love Music, Hate Racism gig. And he went, 'Oh you boys have been busy'." And there was the small matter of Steve being arrested with everyone's favourite junkie, for driving the wrong way down a one-way street - but I never have the chance to ask him about it: after popping his head round the door and treating me to another limp handshake, he makes a swift exit, flanked by several friends.

Being bothered by broadsheet journalists and stalked by a TV crew, travelling around the world, having girls fall at their feet, hit records, being arrested with notorious rockstars - it's all a long way from the Dryburgh estate where all four members of The View grew up. I ask how long they've known each other, and they mumble "forever", "all our lives". They've been playing together for years, including a requisite dodgy covers stage. "We used to do that when we went to school," says Kyle. "We never had any intention of making money off it; we just did it because we enjoyed it. We used to play Oasis and the Beatles covers..." But The View were officially formed two years ago; they got their name from The Bayview Pub, where they held rehearsals. What kind of music did they play then? "Just what we play now," says Pete. "All the same songs we play now." "Aye," concurs Kieren. "We played 'Superstar Tradesman' [their Top 20 hit from last October] at our first gig."

At the time, success seemed unimaginable. Kyle says: "I was a brickie, Pete was a joiner... [Steve] was a butcher." Pete, in fact, was in the middle of a four-year joiner apprenticeship, which his parents were keen for him to complete. "They wanted me to have something to fall back on, but it doesn't work like that, really." But they've made everyone back home proud. "Everyone in Dundee's gone mental," says Kyle. "Dundee doesn't have success like that, not since The Associates."

But when I ask The View about their plans for the future, the band look positively mournful. "Make another album," says Kyle. "Going to America soon," mumbles Pete. "I feel bad about complaining about it sometimes," Kyle goes on, "but we work really hard. We want to see our girlfriends and stuff." "It's not just that," says Kieren. "We need to write more songs too."

An hour later, when The View take to the stage, it becomes clear that this was just a spot of tired despondency. I watch the band from the wings; their young fans are squashed together and wide-eyed with glee, shouting back every word of an album that has only been out for a couple of weeks. The slumped boys from backstage are nowhere to be seen. Kieren - the grumpiest interviewee of the lot - still in a wine-stained stripy T-shirt, prances around like a pixie; Pete struts at the front; Kyle sings with shuddering intensity. Steve is, well, there. And in between each song, the audience chant: "The View, The View, The View are on fire!" The View are no performing monkeys, but they're articulate where it counts: on stage. And they're having the time of their lives.

The Independant, 18 February 2007

Sounding Great

The View's sound technician Chris McCarron talks a bit about the sound desk he's been using on the NME tour.

View article here

lsionline.co.uk 16/2/07

The View - Unplugged

I've made some cover artwork for the best of the acoustic tracks the boys have performed over the last year. If your missing any of the tracks ask nicely on the official forum and I'm sure someone will help you out.

Artwork Here

Recognition from Official Site

The site got this nice wee mention on the official website (16/2/07).

"We have mentioned this blog before and why not mention it again it's THAT good! Click here to check it out and it's now in the community section on the site."

Community section

I must also mention everyone who's helped out with info, links and other things in particular, Undertow, Dek, orange pekoe, michael wallace, rrrichyrich, Bluetonic, Gang Of Ginq, TheGlobe, Shed Boy and many, many more!

The View Are On Fire!!!

Same Jeans Parody by Chris Moyles

BBC Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles, famous for his parody's has done this one of 'Same Jeans' called 'Baked Beans'.

Download here

Thanks to the people at chrismoyles.net

World Premiere of The View Documentary

World Premiere of Simon Poon Tip's documentary about Dryburgh sensations, The View.

Thursday 1st March 2007
The View On Fire
Venue: DCA Cinema 2, Dundee
Time: 3pm
Admission: Free

Thanks again to undertow for this

V is for The View

This weeks Special Tribute Issue of NME featuring Oasis included an A ro Z of the band. Letter V was all about The View.

Dundee’s answer to the Burnage boys.

The View cut their teeth playing Oasis covers in caravan parks. Here are their favourite songs to play...

Some Might Say
Kyle Falconer: “We loved playing this song. Even though we were young and we coudnae understand what they were speaking about, it just stabbed you through the heart.”

The Hindu Times
“I loved playing this tune ‘cos of the drumbeat, man. It’s unbelievable. I always remember when Pete first got the demo. We were really excited about it but it turned out to be a dodgy recording and we could hardy hear what they were saying.”

Live Forever
“We performed it at a talent show and we won, so we always included it in our set. It always went down brilliantly with the crowd, and this probably more than any other Oasis song inspired us to be in a band.”

NME 14/2/07

Sheffield NME Tour Videos

Wasted Little Dj's

Same Jeans

Wasteland and Typical Time

Recorded by rrrichyrich

For loads more videos click here

The Killers and The View to perform at NME Awards

The Killers, Kaiser Chiefs and Kasabian are set to perform live at this year's Shockwaves NME Awards on March 1.

The bands join Dundee four-piece The View and Godlike Geniuses Primal Scream taking to the stage during the ceremony at Hammersmith Palais in London.

As well as performing live on the night, The Killers will be vying for the Best Album and Best International Band titles alongside the likes of Arctic Monkeys, CSS and My Chemical Romance.

Kasabian, who will appear for one of the Palais' final ever shows tonight (February 13), are also in the running for Best Live Act and Best Album while the Kaisers Chiefs, who wrap up the Shockwaves NME Award Shows at Shepherds Bush Empire on March 2, will also play.

The View, who are currently tearing it up with The Horrors, The Automatic and Mumm-Ra on the Shockwaves NME Awards Indie Rock Tour, will battle it with the likes of Klaxons, The Kooks and The Horrors for the Best New Band in between their live appearance.

Finally Primal Scream will mark receiving the Godlike Genius award at this year's ceremony with a live set.

NME.com 13/2/07

Scottish band The View have a little scooter scandal

Formed three years ago in Dundee, Scotland, alternative rock quartet the View is named after the hometown pub where it initially rehearsed _ the Bayview Hotel. Sadly, the band`s been unwelcome there for some time, since singer Kyle Falconer rode a scooter along the bar. And it`s also barred from U.K. hotel chain Travelodge after causing $13,700 worth of damage at a Liverpool hotel in November 2006.

But the teenage outfit has found a safe home for its infectious, poppy rock in the hearts of U.K. record buyers, who sent its Jan. 22 debut 'Hats Off to the Buskers' (1965/Sony BMG) to No. 1 on the Official U.K. Chart Co.

The album was released Jan. 29 in Japan and Australia; a March 13 U.S. bow on Columbia coincides with an international rollout. "Japan, Australia and the U.S. are the three main territories for the View," Sony BMG U.K. international marketing manager Philippa Demonte says. "But we had so many requests from radio elsewhere, the international release had to come forward."

The View is on the four-band, 17-date Shockwaves NME Awards Indie Rock Tour in the United Kingdom (Jan. 29-Feb. 23) and will play its own March U.S. shows (*NOW CANCELED*)ahead of April U.K. shows. U.S. bookings are through Little Big Man; ITB handles international shows. Publishing is through Loog/Universal.

Steve Adams, monstersandcritics.com 13/2/07

March tour of North America Canceled

The View has been forced to cancel its March tour of North America, which was to include performances at the SxSW Festival in Austin, Texas, March 15-17, due to unforeseen visa and immigration issues. In addition, the group’s No. 1 U.K. hit, Hats Off to the Buskers, has seen its North American release date pushed back to May 8. The Scottish group is aiming to reschedule its dates as soon as possible in order to support its Columbia Records release…

groovevolt.com 13/2/07

Octagon, Sheffield Photos

Some top quality images from NME tour at The Octagon, Sheffield 11th Feb 2007

Pictures here

T-Mobile Street Gigs 2007 Head To Edinburgh

Get set to take in ‘The View’ as Scotland’s finest new band rock Edinburgh castle. Now in its third year, T-Mobile Street Gigs have already brought you unique gigs by some of the biggest and most exciting new artists.

Mika kicked off 2007 with a fabulously flamboyant circus in Berkeley Square, London, and now Scotland’s very own, The View, will bring T-Mobile Street Gigs back north of the border when they play Edinburgh Castle on 21st February.

Following their meteoric rise to fame, The View have undoubtedly made their mark on the music scene and now they’re ready to reign supreme at Scotland’s premier address!

With just 100 tickets up for grabs, this is going to be one of the most intimate and exclusive T-Mobile Street Gigs yet. So ditch those ‘Same Jeans,’ put on your finest attire and get ready to ‘Dance Into The Night!’

The View said: "There’s nothing we love more than getting back to our roots and playing intimate gigs with just a few fans. With the event coming from an amazing place like Edinburgh castle it feels like a proud moment of Scottish history for us already."

This will be the second arrival of T-Mobile Street Gigs on Scottish shores – last year saw Pharrell bring the house down at his exclusive gig at Glasgow’s Old Fruit Market. This time, it will be more a case of bringing the castle down and it’s all about The View, quite literally!

Set in a castle steeped in history and overlooking Scotland’s stunning capital, this unique T-Mobile Street Gig will combine the best of Scotland’s old, with the very best of Scotland’s new…The View!

Hats off to The View for going straight to the number one spot with their debut album ‘Hats Off To The Buskers,’ which was released on 22nd January and hats off to T-Mobile Street Gigs for offering fans the chance to get up-close and intimate with one of the hottest bands of the moment.

As with every T-Mobile Street Gig, there will be unexpected surprises all night long! The 15 unique T-Mobile Street Gigs last year included The Strokes performing amongst dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum, The Rakes in a Kebab Shop and a superb 3-day, underground carnival with a host of brilliant bands including Basement Jaxx to top it off.

2007 is set to be an incredible year for T-Mobile Street Gigs, not only will it be bigger and better than ever before but it will be visiting more cities across the country, so watch this space…

Tickets are strictly by invite only. To be in with a chance of getting on the guestlist, music fans must register online between 9am on February 9th and 5pm on February 15th at T-mobile.co.uk/streetgigs.

If you are not lucky enough to attend then you can tune into the new series of Transmission with T-Mobile on Channel 4 on 6th April to catch highlights of The View’s performance.

easier.com 12/2/07

Review: NME Rock Tour, Cardiff

The Horrors didn't even bother to turn up on Saturday night and with the standard set by the other bands across the weekend I understand why.

On Saturday night Mumm-Ra dodged the flying plastic pint glasses but won over the crowd with their swirling Killers-style synths, humour and classic pop echoes.

But Dundee sensations The View followed and opened with the energy it had taken Mumm-Ra an entire set to build.

By the time second track Wasted Little DJs hit the aggressively excitable crowd the gig felt like an event.

It was a hard act to follow and I wondered if homeboys The Automatic had it in them, but when the band launched into By My Side they channelled so much power it was as if they had been charging on the mains backstage.


Raoul and On The Campaign Trail showed developed musical muscle but the whole set was powered by crazed keys player Pennie, exuding dangerous electricity levels.

It was disappointing they only played one new track and one new cover version in a short set but what The Automatic proved is they are primed and ready to step up to the next level.

Gavin Allen, South Wales Echo, 12/2/07

Album Competition (Australia Only)

They're a the hot new Scottish band whose debut album entered the UK charts at No. 1.

We've got a bunch of cool The View prizes to give away. One major prize winner will score a pair of limited edition vinyl records ( a Wasted Little DJ’s single and a Superstar Tradesman single) and a copy of The View's hot new album Hats off to the Buskers. The vinyl singles cannot be bought in Australia.

Ten runners-up will each receive a copy of Hats off to the Buskers.
For a chance to win, click here.

Don’t forget to include your name, address and a daytime phone number. Please note that this contest is only open to residents of Australia and closes at midnight on Thursday, February 15, 2007. Good luck!

Superstar Tradesman @ NME Tour, Cardiff

Vote for The View on BBC Radio1/NME

Who was the best new band of 2006?

Once again Radio 1 is joining forces with the NME in the build up to their annual awards do in March.

Click on the link below to vote for The View (only takes 2 seconds!)

Vote here

NME Tour Radio Broadcast

Radio 1 has been taking its trucks out on the road to bring you the best bits from the NME Awards Tour.

Jo Whiley's In Live Music We Trust will broadcast 2 shows:

Wednesday 14th February - 21.00
Radio 1 presents the NME Indie Rave Tour highlights
Artists on the show: The Automatic, The View, The Horrors and Mumm-Ra

BBC.co.uk

Mika covers Same Jeans

Current number 1 in the singles chart Mika last week covered The View's 'Same Jeans' on Jo Whiley's Radio 1 Live Lounge.

Download here

Tour of Japan announced plus Kyle & Pete talk Japenese

A new mini tour of Japan have just been annouced. Dates ae below.
Shibuya, Tokyo 28/05/07
Shibuya, Tokyo 29/05/07
Nagoya 30/05/07
Sinsai Bridge, Osaka 31/05/07

Also if you thought it was difficult enough to understand Kyle in Dundonian get a look at this.

Watch Here

The View To Play Edinburgh Castle

The View have announced details of a very special show in their native Scotland.

The band play Edinburgh castle on February 21 as part of the T Mobiles Street gig series.

Limited to just 100 tickets, T Moblile customers can vie for their chance to go to the gig by registering here www.t-mobile.co.uk/streetgigs

The band said: "There’s nothing we love more than getting back to our roots and playing intimate gigs with just a few fans.

“With the event coming from an amazing place like Edinburgh castle it feels like a proud moment of Scottish history for us already."

by Scott Colothan, Gigwise.com on 09/02/2007

Kings of The Castle

The View become kings of Edinburgh Castle for a T-Mobile street gig on Februrary 21. Register at t-mobile.co.uk/streetgigs for a chance to get one of 100 tickets. C4 will show the gig on April 6.

NME Audience Video's From Birmingham

Superstar Tradesman

Wasted Little DJ's

South by Southwest festival reveals line-up

The View, The Stooges heading for Texas

The View, Bloc Party and The Stooges are among the bands confirmed to play this year's South by Southwest festival in Texas.

The 21st edition of the bash takes place between March 14 and 18 on over 60 stages in downtown Austin.

Other acts set to appear are Kings of Leon, The Automatic and Lily Allen.

Over 7,800 bands applied and over 1,000 bands are scheduled to perform so far.

You can see the full list of major acts on NME.COM now.

For more details go to sxsw.com.

NME.com 8/2/07

Onstage Video from NME Tour at Glasgow Academy

The excellent short video clip below was recorded by Tommy (Mumm-Ra Keyboard Player).

Here's also what he had to say about his two nights in Glasgow with The View.
"The second Glasgow night was nothing short of legendary. The Automatic, being the very nice chaps that they are, let The View headline so as they could play to their home crowd. The set they played was quite possibly one of the maddest things I've ever seen. Seeing a band at their peak playing to such a devoted audience was just amazing. I have never seen a crowd reaction like it, I mean, it was just something really really special. The following is a cheeky little video I took of the end of Same Jeans, so see for yourself what I mean...."

The end of Same Jeans at the Glasgow Academy, Second Night.

Visit Tommy's blog here

KNOWSLEY HALL MUSIC FESTIVAL TICKET INFO

Tickets go on sale at 9am on Monday 12th February
Ticket Price: Weekend Tickets: £70+BF
Saturday: Standard: £42.50+BF / Gold Circle: 60+BF / Hospitality: £99+BF
Sunday: Standard: £37.50+BF / Gold Circle: £55+BF / Hospitality: £99+BF
Ticket Outlets: Piccadilly Ticketline: 0871 424 8000 / See Tickets: 0871 220 0260 / Ticketmaster : 0870 169 0109
Online Tickets:
www.ticketline.co.uk
www.seetickets.com
LINK TEXT Information Tel: 0151 707 1309 Website: www.knowsleyhallmusicfestival.co.uk
THIS IS A NON-CAMPING FESTIVAL, HOWEVER FOR INFORMATION ON ACCOMMODATION AND TRAVEL PLEASE GO TO www.visitliverpool.com

Full Details here

The Who and The View set for new festival

Coral and Zutons will also play Knowsley Hall bash.

The Who and Keane have been confirmed to headline a new festival in Liverpool.

The bands will play the Knowsley Hall bash, which takes place between June 23 and 24. It will be the first event taking place at the stately home, the ancestral seat of the Earls Of Derby.

The Who headline the Saturday night (23) while The Coral, The View and Pete Wylie And The Mighty Wah have been confirmed for that day too.

Keane top the bill on the second night (24), with The Zutons also confirmed.

More names are expected to be announced soon. See Knowsleyhallmusicfestival.co.uk for more information.

NME.com 8/2/07

Knowsley Hall Music Festival

ROCK legends The Who are returning to Merseyside to headline the region’s biggest ever outdoor concert.

They will headline the Knowsley Hall Music Festival along with Keane, The Coral and The View.

The two outdoor festivals will take place over a weekend in June with the aim of attracting 40,000 people each night...

...Jim King, MD of Loud Sound, said: “Getting The Who to take part is a real coup.

“I know they are really excited about coming back to Liverpool and they had a tremendous time at the Summer Pops last year.

“The Coral are an amazing local band and The View are by far the most exciting new band in the country.

The concerts will take place in the grounds of Knowsley Hall on June 23 and 24 and are expected to attract more than 40,000 people on each night.

Full Story Here

by Mike Hornby, Liverpool Echo 8/2/07

Thanks to Bluetonic for the heads up.

Carling Academy Islington Review

IN the short time these Dundonian scamps - average age 18 - have been terrorising the nation's airwaves with their rag'n'bone rock, The View have released three searing singles and a number-one selling album that has catapulted them into the limelight.

Tonight's show, for lucky competition winners in the intimate Academy, was fizzing with anticipation, erupting with applause when the mop-haired foursome emerged through the smoke.

Their set might have been short, but it was 45 minutes of top-drawer British rock.

An electric version of Wasted Little DJs saw the night's first crowdsurfers, beer sent flying all over the shop while lead singer Kyle Falconer's strained voice was every bit as raspy as a thrashed moped.

The pace of memorable riffs, barked lyrics and excellent bass barely let up, reaching a height on the blistering amphetamine-fuelled ska of Wasteland.

For anyone even remotely plugged in to mainstream radio, they will already know the joys of Same Jeans and Superstar Tradesman, both of which trigger a manic moshpit and litres more spilt beer.

Then in a flash, they were gone, their exit capped off with the now-compulsory crowd chant, "The View! The View! The View are on fire!"

Hot stuff indeed, but only time will tell if they can develop their own identity in a crowded post-Arctic Monkeys world.

STEPHEN MOORE, Islington Gazette 6/2/07

Band rubbish Doherty fall out

Scottish rockers THE VIEW have hit back at reports they have fallen out with PETE DOHERTY because their wild ways were a bad influence on the troubled singer. The SAME JEANS hitmakers, who were recently banned from a British hotel chain after trashing several hotel rooms before attempting to run out on the £7,000 ($13,650) bill, have supported Doherty's band BABYSHAMBLES on a string of dates in the UK. But it's been claimed The View are banned from touring with Babyshambles again in case they lead struggling addict Doherty astray as he tries to quit drugs. But 19-year-old bassist KIEREN WENSTER fumes, "I want to set it straight, we are mates. Some people are trying to stir up trouble and I don't know why."

PR-Inside.com (Pressemitteilung), Austria 7/2/07

Limited Edition Tour Canvas

As expected bidding was high for the stunning Canvas created by "The View's" official artist Ryan McPhail.
Keep checking back for more exclusive designs from Ryan in the coming weeks and months.

View Canvas in more detail

The View's great

Last Monday night I checked out the NME tour at the Ulster Hall, and The View were absolutely brilliant.

Having seen them on TV, I knew they were quite hard to make out the lyrics.

At the gig they proved that to be true - I didn't understand a word they sang, but their music rocked big time.

They are such talented musicians and had the crowd in the Ulster Hall in the palm of their hands.

What was also good was the fact the band were on a high following the previous day's album chart - they were sitting proudly at the top with debut Hats Off To The Buskers.

By Pete Snodden, Belfast Telegraph 4/2/07

X-clusive: The View On 'Hats Off To The Buskers'

Band members Kerien and Kyle give their exclusive commentary on the countries current biggest album. Listen to it here.

Much has already been written about The View since they first emerged with a limted EP a little over a year ago.

In that year they've seen three singles go top twenty in the charts, played to thousands of fans around the country and been tipped by the likes of Primal Scream and Pete Doherty to make huge waves in 2007 and they certainly are already doing that.

In anticipation of the release of their long awaited debut album 'Hats Off To The Buskers' members Keiran and Kyle spoke to exclusively to John Kennedy about how they formed, covers bands and the hectic two week schedule of recording with the legendary producer Owen Morris.

Listen/View here

Link Courtesy of Dek

Critical Eye

A nice feature on The View on the US version of Yahoo! Includes a live performance of Wasted Little DJ's and and interview.

View here

NME Video Interview

One of the hottest new bands of 2007, The View’s bittersweet anthems have seen them lauded everywhere – rest assured that next time they tour, it won’t be in venues this size.

Watch The View video interview

NME.com

Almost famous

Keep an eye and ear out for these artists in 2007

Some of them haven't even released their first albums yet - not in this country, anyway. But that hasn't stopped the world's early adapters from murmuring their names with awe. Below we bring you those singers and musicians, poised to splash down on our shores, each graced and cursed with the charge of advance buzz. Consider them music's new faces of '07.

Sound: Brisk and catchy snot-nosed punk-pop, fired by the singer's blatant Scottish brogue. Even their ballads have kick as well as melodic flair.

Background: The four high-spirited lads (average age: 18) grew up in Dundee, Scotland, where they played Sex Pistols and Squeeze covers. Their own songs land in the garage-punk zone of the Undertones or Libertines (they were signed by the same guy who discovered that scrappy band).

Prognosis: If the world comes to its senses, the View will become the Arctic Monkeys of '07.

BY JIM FARBER, NEW YORK DAILY NEWS, February 5, 2007

Late Night With Conan O'Brien

Scottish rockers the View will be traveling across the States in March for their first American headlining tour. The trek will begin March 3 at New York’s Luna Lounge, and includes stops at this years SXSW festival and a performance on Late Night With Conan O'Brien. The band's album Hats Off To The Buskers debuted at No. 1 in the UK with over 100,000 albums sold.

The View Tour Dates:
03/03 - New York, NY - Luna Lounge
03/05 - Toronto, ON - Lee's Palace
03/07 - Chicago, IL - Schuba's Tavern
03/09 - Seattle, WA - Crocodile Café
03/11 - San Francisco, CA - Slim's
03/13 - Hollywood, CA - Troubadour
03/15 - Austin, TX - SXSW-details TBA
03/16 - Austin, TX - SXSW-details TBA
03/17 - Austin, TX - SXSW-details TBA
03/20 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
03/22 - Cambridge, MA - T.T. The Bears

Tom Duffy, CMJ

Same Jeans on Chart Show

Koko, London.

Carling Academy 1/2/07 Videos

Superstar Tradesman

Skag Trendy

Posh Boys

Grans For Tea

Same Jeans

Wasted Little DJ's

'Contact Music' Album Review

'Hats off to the buskers' is the first much anticipated album of 2007 and the anticipation is with just cause. Fans and music industry types alike already knew about and praised singles: 'Superstar tradesmen', 'Wasted little DJ's' and 'Same Jeans' all setting high hopes for the Scottish group, but what about the rest of the album?

Well the rest of the album isn't let down by the hype. Although the early singles are quite fast in temp the interlacing of a range of slower tracks shows the reason why the hype is justified and the album is strong in strength and depth. Softer, satirical ridden tracks such as 'Face for the radio' and 'Claudia' (A love song masking the identity of the girl with a dogs name they know.) all add to the musical version of Dundee's tourist board advert. Proud of their home town they show a range of emotions; both praise and castigation as they sing candidly about the area and people who live there.

Derisive true to life songs about getting jumped, antisocial behaviour and hanging around shops all regale the listener with a depiction of the bands lives in Dundee over the last few years. Speedy indie guitar rifs, drum work and sing-a-long catchy lyrics bolster the assortment of the indie disco tracks on the album and contrast nicely between the lighter tracks.

The album is solid, fresh and musically differing but there is a locality and themed sound to the album; the differing tempos and interchanging between singers really helps tie the album together and adds to the music. It's not a bad thing, the sound can be similar enough to enjoy but not too similar that I have to bring out horrible inbred jokes about the familiarity of each track.

What will be interesting is to see how living out of a suitcase affects their influences and sound for future releases. The album is rangy within their limits and shows great potential for future releases and further development. But I guess only time will tell how the limelight will affect them and their music.

Adam Adshead, Contactmusic.com 2/2/07

The View swap places on the Shockwaves NME Indie tour

They change places with The Automatic

Last night (February 2) The View swapped billing with The Automatic at the Carling Academy in Glasgow.

This meant the Dundee rockers headlined above the 'Monster' stars on the Shockwaves NME Indie Rock tour. The View's debut album 'Hats Off To The Buskers' entered the album chart at Number One last Sunday (January 28).

In a statement, The View said: "The View have such a loyal and vocal support up in Scotland, it was decided to swap billing with The Automatic. As it's the first time they've been back to Scotland since reaching Number One, the idea was to let them celebrate in style with their home country crowd."

The tour, which also features The Horrors and Mumm-Ra, continues tonight (February 3) at Manchester Academy. Also tonight, the Shockwaves NME Awards Indie Rave Tour featuring Klaxons, CSS, New Young Pony Club and The Sunshine Underground, begins at the Ambassador in Dublin.

NME.com 3/2/07

NME Tour YouTube Clips

Wasted Little Djs - Belfast
Same Jeans - Belfast
Skag Trendy - Belfast

You're looking at trouble with The View

They may have had the same jeans on for four days, but it seems the View's personal hygiene is not putting off the fans.

Already, the Scottish four-piece, who are signed to A&R guru James Endeacott's new label, 1965 records, have gathered a glittering array of showbiz followers including Jo Whiley, Pete Doherty and Primal Scream's Bobby Gillespie.

And this week, following hot on the heels on three top 20 singles including the irresistibly catchy Same Jeans, the band's debut album Hats off to the Buskers entered the album chart at number one, shifting 100,000 copies.

The boys from Dundee have also secured a prestigious slot of the NME Indie Rock Tour 2007, synonymous with showcasing the hottest new bands, which calls at Norwich UEA on Thursday, February 8. But as fast as they earn glowing praise, they are also earning a reputation as the new bad boys of rock.

As well as being barred from their local boozer, the band have recently been banned from every Travelodge in the UK for causing more than £7,000 of damage to a hotel room, during an post-gig bender in Liverpool.

But, according to guitarist Pete Reilly, they're not really troublemakers, just a group of friends who like a drink. “We're not really bad,” he says. “We are just a bit louder than most bands. We are four guys who like a good party and a good drink. We're sort of insane, but in a playful way.”

The band, Reilly, Kyle Falconer, Keiren Webster and Steven Morrison, met growing up in the Dryburgh area of Dundee.

In their early teens they formed a covers band, going on to pen their own material and turning Kyle's cousin's pub, the Bayview Bar, their unofficial HQ. It was to be a relationship that was short-lived. After just two gigs and claiming the bar's abbreviated name - the View - as their own, they were barred for allegedly riding a scooter down the bar.

“The whole thing about the scooter has been blown out of proportion,” Reilly explains. “It was just a microscooter and we were just messing about. It wasn't on the bar, either. It was on a table.

“Besides, the real reason we got thrown out was because we used to use the function room to practise in and one time after a party they left the booze down there so we drank it.”

The band quickly decamped to Dundee's music hotspot The Doghouse, spending up to 12 hours a day practising before hanging around for all-night drinking session.

“We had a great time,” recalls Reilly. “We had sofas and a TV, it just felt like we lived there. We were living in each other's pockets, but we're used to that.

“We have all known each other since we were five so we know how to deal with each other. We can shout till we are blue in the face, calling each other really bad things. Then, the next day, we just say sorry and that's it. It's quite nice really.”

But the band's major break came after Keiren managed to wangle his way onto Babyshamble's tour bus before a gig in Dundee.

“Keiren knocked on the door of the bus with a demo CD and Pete Doherty answered and invited him in,” says Reilly.

“I don't know what he said, but somehow we managed to get a slot on the bill that night.

“After that, Pete, or one of the touring party, must have handed the demo CD to James Endeacott because a short time later he asked us to come and play in London, then signed us.

“Keiren has got a lot of front, but at the end of the day what did we have to lose?”

Now a year into their deal with Endeacott's 1965 label, the band have already played well over a 100 shows in the UK and are also in the process of signing recording deals in both America and Japan.

BY LYNETTE ALCOCK, EDP24.co.uk

Dublin NME Tour Review

GIVING young bands a shot at the mass market is ostensibly the purpose of the annual NME tour. But what if a band is perfectly capable of wooing the public all on its own?

This became a problem on last year's tour, when one of the opening acts, the Arctic Monkeys, thoroughly overshadowed the rest of the bill. Twelve months later, the line-up may have changed yet the scenario feels suspiciously familiar: support group The View have just released a number one album and would probably have packed the Ambassador on their own.

Watching The View romp through their raggedly uplifting set, it's easy to understand the fuss. Four Dundee ragamuffins, none aged a day over 20, the quartet got their first break by pressing a demo tape into Pete Doherty's hand and have acquired an influential cheerleader in Noel Gallagher.

Not surprisingly, then, their music charts a course between The Libertines and Oasis. And, as with the best Oasis songs, The View's skewed singalongs transmit a palpable yearning, no matter that the band are apparently more interested in necking pints of beer than venting any sort of inner pain.

Ludicrous

Towards the end, guitar player Pete Reilly climbs a speaker and strikes a ludicrous rock-god pose. He should look ridiculous. Instead, he looks iconic.

How to follow such a display? At first, The Automatic, Welsh indie-poppers with a synth-laced sound, appear stuck for an answer.

Then, an idiot from the crowd mounts an amp and tries to light a cigarette. Clambering in pursuit, Automatic keyboardist Alex Pennie makes to stuff the cigarette down the interloper's throat. Scuffles ensue - for one frightening moment it seems the pair might plunge into the audience below. If only The Automatic's stop-start brit rock was half as thrilling.

ED POWER, unison.ie

THE VIEW TOUR CANVAS

This is a 12 x 9 inch Canvas done by "The View's" Official artist Ryan McPhail, (see Hats Off To The Buskers sleeve notes) this canvas was created on the first night of the NME Tour.

This is a Paint and ink canvas, Phrases, Lyrics and Poems from all The View and their Entourage. Certain Parts Also Glow In The Dark!

This is a Limited Edition Piece.

Quite fancy this for myself so you better bid high!

Bid Here