Friday, March 30, 2007

The View’s lyrics bring variety, flavor

Scottish band The View’s first release is a little like a Long Island iced tea: it’s a mixture of a lot of things that normally wouldn’t go together, and you can’t taste the alcohol but before you know it, it catches up with you and you’re drunk.

The quartet’s widely anticipated album, Hats off to the Buskers hit U.S. store shelves March 13, almost two months after it made its Jan. 22 U.K. debut.

“Comin’ Down’” opens the album with a barrage of cacophonous guitar feedback and messy drum beats, promptly followed by vocal near-screeching and a series of clipped-and-clean guitar chords. Yet somehow the band makes the sound work.

The harmonica interludes of “Same Jeans” add a Tom Petty-sounding element to a song that’s otherwise stage-suited pop-punk.

Fourth track, “Don’t Tell Me...,” has a sort of rockabilly feel to it, which is magnified by a blues guitar break toward the middle of the song.

Sad-and-slow “Face for the Radio” turns what should be, by all arguments, a humorous assertion into a melancholy peer observation (“He watches ‘Trainspotting’ 15 times a week thinking it makes him oh so unique”).

“The Don” is arguably the highlight, stand-out song of the 13-track album. It’s aggravatingly catchy with its xylophone tings and repetitive vocal chorus.

Lyrics like “So when you look in the mirror reflecting back at you someone that you don’t know” from “Same Jeans” are about as deep as it gets. There’s not much of an underlying psychological meaning to them; they’re straightforward and almost maddeningly oversimplified. For example, first single and fourth track “Wasted Little DJs” opens with the verse “They told me if I write this song for them that they would cut my hair for free but that’s not me no liberties.”

That’s okay — though. Half the time the listener can’t tell what lead singer Falconer is saying anyway. The other half, when words are decipherable, the listener can’t really tell what he’s talking about, thanks to his accent and the word usage differences between the U.S. and the U.K. (I still have no idea what a “busker” is).

The group from Dundee, Scotland has had no problems garnering national and European attention, making an appearance at No. 1 on the U.K. charts promptly upon the release of Hats off to the Buskers. Not to mention, tickets for its U.K. tour set to begin in April sold out within one hour. However, it has yet to make an appearance on the U.S. Billboard Top 100 chart, and its success in the states remains to be seen.

Adding to the difficulty of promoting itself in the U.S., the group’s tour that was scheduled for this month, a follow-up to its first trip to the states in January, was postponed because of visa problems — reportedly, lead singer Kyle Falconer’s arrest on a charge of cocaine possession this past summer caused the delay. The View is known for frequently opening shows for Babyshambles, and Pete Doherty’s influence expands to include recreational, as well as musical.

A reviewer for Jane magazine wrote of the album, “What’s up with all these U.K. buzz bands looking cuter and more stylish than they sound?”, but this assertion-in-the-form-of-a-question is ultimately one of genuine feminine ignorance and blatant superficiality. She also called the album a “generic mix of mainstream pop rock and Oasis-wannabe barroom sing-alongs,” which it absolutely is not.

The collaboration of Falconer, Kieren Webster, Peter Reilly and Steven Morrison makes for no generic mainstream U.K. pop rock buzz group. Albeit, given the sometimes-copycat-sounding instrumental and vocal techniques, the band’s combination of experimental Indie post-punk paired with an adherence to old and classic rock and roll undertones makes for a blissfully entertaining listen that’s never dull.

Hats off to the Buskers proves that a record doesn’t have to be groundbreaking to be good music. It’s four guys having fun doing what they love, and just happening to sound pretty good in the process.

Fans of The Shins, The Hives, The Sex Pistols, Babyshambles and Arctic Monkeys will love this album. Everyone else just won’t “get” it.

Lisa Lewis, Entertainment Writer, The Daily O'Collegian,
Oklahoma, USA, 30th March 2007

New Release News

While the band are taking a well earned holiday and preparing for the upcoming sold out tour, we bring you details of forthcoming Double A-side The Don & Skag Trendy. Out on April 23rd on Enhanced CD and 2 Coloured 7" Vinyls featuring exclusive new recordings, tracklistings are: -

ECD
1. The Don
2. Skag Trendy
3. I've Just Seen a Face
4. The Don (Video)
5. Skag Trendy (Video)

You get both videos on this format. They are f*%!!n brilliant too. (see details below for video exclusives). Also, you get 'I've Just Seen A Face' which is a Beatles cover exclusive to this cd.

7" (1) green vinyl
1. Skag Trendy
2. The Don (Live from London Astoria)

Green vinyl and the only 'Skag Trendy' A side format in existence. 'The Don' is taken from the brilliant Astoria show back in December.

7" (2) orange vinyl
1. The Don
2. Fireworks & Flowers (Live from The Royal Albert Hall)

Orange vinyl. Plus you get this genius b side, a track Kieren wrote as a birthday present for his girlfriend when he had no money. This track is not available as a download so you can only get it here. It was recorded at the Royal Albert Hall on 26th March when The View supported Noel Gallagher.
To pre-order click here.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Video Exclusives
The Don and Skag Tandy

On Monday 2nd April the video for 'The Don' will go up on theviewareonfire.co.uk so check it out. It features all the regular Dryburgh characters and friends of the band you have met before in the Superstar Tradesman video plus Gerard Kearns who plays Ian Gallagher in Shameless. It’s the story of The Don (a friend the band grew up with who plays himself in the video) and Skag Trendy (played by Gerard Kearns) who lives next door and its the first instalment in a 2 part story. Part 2 is the 'Skag Trendy' video which will be shown on 4th April on Channel at 00:05 (just after The F Word.) If you cant wait until then, a 1 min preview will be available at the following sites from Monday 2nd April:

4music
Shamless
E4 Skins

Then from 5th April, The View's very own embeddable player will have the Skag Trendy video. Don't have The View player? Get in on the action by clicking here.

Columbia Records, 30th March 2007

The Don/Skag Trendy Cover Artwork



BBC Podcast

The View feature in this weeks BBC Radio 1's entertainment podcast.
  • Download here

  • BBC.co.uk 30th March 2007

    Video Shoot Pictures

    Pictures are now on the official website of The Don/Skag Trendy Video Shoot.
  • View here

  • www.theviewareonfire.com, 30th March 2007

    New Cover Artwork

    The View have again called on the services of top Dundee artist Ryan McPhail to design cover artwork for the forthcoming double A-Side The Don/Skag Trendy. Ryan's recent work includes the 'Hats Off To The Buskers' cover and video direction on the 'Wasted Little DJ's' video. As soon as the artwork is available we'll get it online.
    Keep checking back here and on Ryan's website for an exciting announcement.
  • View Ryan's Website here
  • Thursday, March 29, 2007

    Kieren & The Law

    Kieren joined another Dundee band 'The Law' onstage for their song 'Hot Rod' live at The Doghouse recently.

    Albert Hall Audio

    Listen to Superstar Tradesman and Same Jeans from the Royal Albert Hall
  • Download here
  • DOUBLE WHAMMY!!!

    We are delighted to bring you details of a double A-side release from The View - The Don & Skag Trendy will be released through 1965 records on 23rd April. This time round there will be an enhanced cd and TWO 7" Vinyls!!

    CD
    1. The Don
    2. Skag Trendy
    3. I've Just Seen a Face
    4. The Don (Video)
    5. Skag Trendy (Video)

    7" 1.
    1. Skag Trendy
    2. The Don (Live from London Astoria)

    7" 2.
    1. The Don
    2. Fireworks & Flowers (Live from Royal Albert Hall)

    www.theviewareonfire.com, 29th March 2007

    Wednesday, March 28, 2007

    Albet Hall Interview & Pictures

    Here's an interview with the band and some pictures from the TCT Royal Albert Hall gig.
  • Pictures
  • Interview
  • Albert Hall Videos

    Face For The Radio

  • Wasted Little DJ's


  • More to follow...

    British pop music is best

    Oasis mainman Noel Gallagher has praised UK music, proclaiming the pop music on these shores as the best around.

    The star was speaking around his two sold-out shows at the Royal Albert Hall in London for the Teenage Cancer Trust this week (March 26-27).

    "I don't think pop music will ever go away, the British Isles make the best pop music," Gallagher told Virgin Radio. "What's cool is that great pop music is being made with guitars, I guess Oasis opened the door for that. There's some really great pop music being played coming out of the pages of NME like Klaxons and Hot Chip, not necessarily guitar music. I think its pretty good actually."

    Gallagher added that he rated a host of bands around at the moment.

    "Arctic Monkeys, Kasabian, I love the Kings of Leon possibly nearly every band in Liverpool," he said of his current playlist. "Klaxons make great singles, Babyshambles maybe."

    Gallagher also praised The View, who supported him at last night's gig (March 26), but admitted said he had trouble understanding what they were saying to him.

    "I like them but I can't understand a word they are saying," he joked. "I'll bring my missus down later so she can do some interpreting for us because she is Scottish. I love their singles."

    NME.com, 28th March 2007

    The View admit they owe everything to Oasis

    The View have paid tribute to Oasis, admitting the band are one of their biggest inspirations.

    As previously reported the band supported Noel Gallagher at last night's (March 26) gig in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust.

    Asked what it felt like to share a stage with the Oasis guitarist, Peter Reilly said it was "special, really special, because we look up to Oasis so much, who are probably the reason we are in a band, so it's an absolute privilege".

    Frontman Kyle Falconer explained that his the band interrupted a month-long holiday just so they could support their idol.

    "(I told them) i'm not doing anything unless we're supporting Oasis," he declared.

    Reilly also revealed to Virgin Radio that they now plan to "get some decent time off the write the second album".

    NME.com, 28th March 2007

    Saturday, March 24, 2007

    Official German Website

    The View now have an official website in Germany
  • View it here
  • Cameo Appearance From Pete

    Pete joined The Underground Heroes on stage at the Westport in Dundee on Thurday Night.
    ..."After the ten second lager break the gig continues at pace ending with a cameo appearance from Peter Reilly (lead guitar with the View). Pete blasts on stage to join in with 'Punk Special' to send everyone home on a high. Catch the Underground Heroes on the rest of their UK tour in March or supporting the View on some of their English dates in April. Let's hope they return to get lost in Dundee some time soon."
    Full article and review of the gig click here
    egigs.co.uk 22nd March 2007

    The Real State

    Sheffield based underground arts & music magazine 'The Real State' features an outstanding five page interview with The View. The first edition of the magazine is now available buy countrywide including Ozzy's and Grouchos in Dundee. Highly involved in the production of the magazine was Dundee artist (designed Hats Off... cover among other things) and close friend of the band Ryan McPhail. Elsewhere in the magazine there's a review of other Dundee favourites The Law's gig at Barnsley Lucorum and an exclusive interview with the Wasted Little DJ's. For more information and where you can puchase the magazine check out their website at www.therealstate.co.uk

    Shame On View, Ian

    A scene from the 'Skag Trendy' was pictued in yesterdays Sun newspaper.
  • Download here

  • The Sun, 23rd March 2007

    Same Jeans at Edinburgh Castle

    Here's a live version of Same Jeans and an interview filmed by STV at Edinburgh Castle last month.
  • Download here
  • YouTube here

  • STV.co.uk 24th March 2007

    Friday, March 23, 2007

    Signed Guitar by The View for charity auction

    Grab yourself a piece of modern rock history!! This is a guitar autographed by all members of The View. (Very rare as they don't usually sign stuff.) Comes with pictures of the band signing it.

    This guitar was donated by the band to help raise funds for a local music charity. (Riptide Music Studios, Dundee). Every penny made from this auction will go to help young musicians develop their skills and give them somewhere to practice.

    So be the envy of your mates and get that warm fuzzy feeling you get when you know you've done a good thing!! :o)
  • Bid here
  • Superstar Tradesman live at the London Astoria

    This months Clash Magazine features 'Superstar Tradesman' live at the London Astoria. CD also includes The Rumble Strips, The Pigeon Detectives, Foals, Shitdisco, Findlay Brown, Popup, Josh Pyke, The Needles, Jo Mango, The Hedrons and Errors.
    Cheers Dek!

    Limited Tickets For The View & Noel

    A limited amount of tickets have went back on sale for Monday's concert at The Royal Albert Hall.
  • Buy here

  • Thanks to brewsters_tangerine_army

    Sienna looks forward to The View

    SIENNA MILLER may be at Glasto this year. She told Radio 1’s EDITH BOWMAN: “I love Glastonbury. The ARCTIC MONKEYS are great and I’m interested in THE VIEW just because they are so young.” Sounds like a modern day Edie Sedgwick . . .

    The Sun, 23rd March 2007

    Thursday, March 22, 2007

    Downloads of The Week #6 (Oasis Special)

    With The View heading to The Royal Albert Hall to play support to Noel Gallagher and Friends on Monday I thought now would be a perfect time to upload some cracking rare live Oasis recordings to wet your appetite ever further.




    Here are 10 of the very best...

    1. Columbia (Knebworth Park, 1996)
    2. Stand By Me (Acoustic, Staffordshire, 1997)
    3. Live Forever (Acoustic, Maida Vale Studios 1994)
    4. Whatever (Acoustic VersionMaida Vale Studios 1994)
    5. Listen Up (Noel on vocals, MTV Unplugged, 1996)
    6. Supersonic (Acoustic 24/7/94)
    7. Slide Away (Europe '94)
    8. Wonderwall (Acoustic, Noel on vocals, Earls Court, 4/11/95)
    9. Hello (Live Denmark 30.6.95)
    10. Stay Young (Acoustic, Noel on vocals, 1998)
  • Download here
  • Playlouder Album Review

    Every now and then a guitar band comes along that steps out of the morass of a million struggling dreamers. They walk the walk they talk the talk and have the songs and the talent to back it up. And they come from Dundee. Which is cool.

    Apart from jam, some dusty old kids comics and two under-achieving football teams not much has ever come out of Dundee. That's what makes The View so cool. They are not the sound of big bold confident cities, they are the true sound of Britain, the bored kids on the endless estates and schemes that make up the real face of the UK, a million miles away from city centre cool, New Labour Islington or the hipster hangouts of London. They come from Dryburgh, the run down Dundee suburb that they celebrate in song, the real Britain that a million kids will instantly recognise.

    It's a neat trick, and the one that's served the Artic Monkeys so well, narrating life those faraway towns that wankers call 'provincial' like there is still some kind of empire, forgetting that these places have always been the powerhouse of British music.

    Another clue to where this is all coming from is the semi-legendary story of The View giving a demo tape to Pete Doherty on the night Babyshambles played Dundee. Doherty instantly gave them the support that night and whole of the following British tour in a cool act of inter band generosity that is a long way away from the boring tabloid image of the man. Mind you, he did introduce them to the tabloid infamy when drummer Steve got arrested with the itinerant Doherty driving down a one-way street in Birmingham.

    Also driving down a one-way street in rock & roll, The View are hardy traditionalists. However their scuffed denim, battered guitar take on the great Gallagher's Oasis is superb, simply because they know how to put a top sounding tune together.

    'Superstar Tradesman' or 'The Don' are great wonky gutter guitar street anthems that make you grin with the sheer effortless joy of trad rock & roll. They have that same good time swagger and cheeky leer that made early Oasis so attractive, but what's more they have the knack for a top tune that Noel Gallagher still has (controversial, I know but then I believe that Oasis are in the weird position of being the most underrated band in the country).

    Traditionalists to the man, The View are a study of all the essentials of British rock & roll. This could well be a recipe the kind of music that PlayLouder hates with a vitriolic vengeance, but The View transcend this and prove that a keen melodic touch and a wild spirit is as important in great music as being able to reinvent the wheel.

    No matter what the squabble sand arguments are over the ha ha ha 'future of rock' The View will just get on with it. Front-man Kyle Falconer has the charisma and the rolling 'r' righteousness in his vocals that will soundtrack a whole mass of Brit youth for the next few years as the band move quickly up the greasy pole of rock & roll and become one of the bands of the year. Perhaps even the generation defining zeitgeist band.

    JOHN ROBB, Playlouder, January 2007

    Another US Album Review

    Great Scotts! The View, an earthquaking gritty rock group from Scotland, is the most recent smoke signal hailing from the Scottish music wildfire. Filled with the passion of these young chaps from the northeastern town of Dundee, Scotland, it’s no wonder why they were red-carpeted and featured on 2007’s roster for James Endeacott’s freshly developed label, 1965 Records. The View, originally a cover band, took on a more serious guise and composed original music in the backroom of the Bayview Bar (which gave way to their name) in their hometown. This quartet has been tearing into the radio frequencies with their clangy anthems and folky floggings on their new release, Hats Off To The Buskers. Lets take a look at what these teenagers have shelled out on their debut record.

    “Comin’ Down” is the perfect way to start this pounding sonic delight. A punk rock clamor of guitar and a 70’s glam ego disaster blend well to power Kyle Falconer’s attitude-driven vocals. The next tune, “Superstar Tradesman” tugs my ears with a Euro-pop rock grip and I can’t help imagining myself singing along in the middle of a mob of people at one of their shows – well maybe not, but... “Same Jeans” and “The Don” bump along worthy of its single status and catchy swagger. From the Sixties honky tonk blues vibe “Don’t Tell Me” to the Ska shakes in “Skag Trendy,” it is apparent that Hats Off To The Buskers is quite a well-balanced listen. So… put your ear to the ground and await the vibrations.

    Tickets for the European tour sold out in under an hour and their upcoming ten-day tour in North America lays down the tracks for a promising delivery of music from these young Scots. The View was featured on the NME awards sharing a major festival with A-list heavy-hitters the Who and Keane. They have been creating quite a buzz with their single “Same Jeans” and made it to television on BBC2’s TOTP2. So get your 'arse down to the record store, nab the album and play that record like a Scotsman plays his bagpipe.

    Best Tracks: Wasted Little Dj’s, Wasteland, Comin’ Down

    By Mike Rudolph, Crave Online, 21st March 2007

    Skag Trendy Video

    Gerard Kearns who plays Ian Gallagher in cult Channel 4 show 'Shameless' is starring in new video 'Skag Trendy' currently being filmed in and around Dryburgh. 'Skag Trendy' is the Double A-Side to 'The Don' due out in the U.K in April.
  • More info on Gerard here
  • Wednesday, March 21, 2007

    Album Guitar Tab Book Out Now

    From the ramshackle pop nuggets like 'The Don' and 'Superstar Tradesman' to the razor-sharp melodies of the ska-inflected 'Skag Trendy', The View may be grounded in the gutters of Dundonian council estates but nonetheless gaze intently at the stars. Marrying the forked tongue wit and guttersnipe humor of The Libertines with the melodic nous of The Buzzcocks and Oasis, each one is a mini-anthem in waiting, and none more so than 'Superstar Tradesman's singalong tale of council-estate drudgery.

    All the songs from this debut album are, arranged for Guitar TAB, complete with lyrics.
  • Buy here
  • Fireworks and Flowers


    Heres Firework and Flowers performed by Kieren at a Party.
    Uploaded by willo103

    Different jeans—but same band

    The ‘mini View’ on location in Dryburgh—Christopher Snee (as Pete Reilly), Jake McGuire (as Kieren Webster), Cameron Fraser (as Steve Morrison) and Finlay Leadingham (as Kyle Falconer).

    DUNDEE’S UNPREDICTABLE weather may have made filming difficult for the professionals yesterday, but the young, amateur actors playing their parts in the new View video couldn’t have cared less.

    Sunshine, snow, rain and biting cold winds were the order of the day, making continuity difficult for film-maker Simon Poon Tip, whose production company PTE Media are filming The View’s latest promotional videos for double A side The Don and Skag Trendy.

    Despite the weather, around a dozen locals aged from seven to 10 enjoyed themselves immensely, mingling with Kyle, Pete, Steve and Kieren and generally having a ball.

    They also went down a storm with Simon, who said they had all acted perfectly and been extremely well behaved throughout the day.

    Simon added, “People in this business say never work with children or animals, I don’t know about animals but I think if you give children enough to do and make it fun there’s no problem.

    “They’ve all been terrific and we’ve had a really good time today—lots of fun.

    “The weather has been a bit of a problem, we’ve had all four seasons here today, which is causing us a bit of a problem for continuity, but we should be able to edit it okay.”

    Once again Dryburgh was a hive of activity as the film crew descended on the estate at 8am. They focused on Dryburgh Street, with the area becoming busy with fans flocking in search of a glimpse of their heroes.

    However, the grown-up band members were taking a back seat as around a dozen young lookalikes took centre stage to play them and their mates as seven-year-olds.

    Simon and his team have also enlisted the help of several Dundee adults who will play small roles in the film, and yesterday the band appeared at the Dryburgh shops to film their parts.

    Filming continues today with the emphasis again on the estate, with a phone box and a Dryburgh bus becoming crucial props.

    by By Alan Wilson, The Courier, Dundee 21 March 2007

    Thanks to Gang Of Ginq

    Silver Platters Album Review

    Hugely popular in its native U.K. by the time of this debut's early 2007 release, the View (not to be confused with the U.S. talk show) lived up to the hype by presenting an impressive set of edgy yet pop-savvy rock. Like a less-cheeky version of the Arctic Monkeys, the youthful Scottish group tempers its proudly unpolished approach with sharp melodic hooks, as best revealed on the surging "Superstar Tradesman" and the winsome "Same Jeans." Adding extra punch to the proceedings is revered producer Owen Morris, who worked with the Verve and Oasis and gives HATS OFF TO THE BUSKERS a full, unifying sound that easily marks it as one of the most noteworthy Britpop offerings of the year.

    Rolling Stone (p.70) - "HATS OFF TO THE BUSKERS proves the View can play; the sound is more flying-V than raining shrapnel."

Spin (p.99) - 3.5 stars out of 5 -- "These young Scotsmen have grime to spare, along with a belief in rock's power to rescue them..."

Q (p.105) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "'Wasted Little DJs', 'Skag Trendy' and 'Superstar Tradesman' suggest there's a reckless, restless something about The View."

Mojo (p.105) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "Packed with knock-kneed riffs, scowling us-against-the-world menace and radio-friendly rock hooks, HATS OFF TO THE BUSKERS burns with pop ambition."

Uncut (p.81) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "'Coming Down' rips from the speakers, while 'Wasted Little DJs' exhibits shades of Teenage Fanclub."

    silverplatters.com March 2007

    Monday, March 19, 2007

    XFM Winter Wonderland Video

    Here's the entire video from The View's performance at Carling Academy, Glasgow for XFM's Winter Wonderland back in December.
  • Download here
  • Reading/Leeds Festival Announcement

    The View will be headlining the Radio 1/NME Stage at the Reading and Leeds Fesitivals. They'll play Reading on Saturday 25th August then Leeds the following evening.
  • Tickets are on sale now
  • Sunday, March 18, 2007

    Riptide Music Studios Benefit Gig

    The View done their bit for charity at The Doghouse last night (17th March 2007) performing on behalf of the Riptide Music Studios in Dundee. Their set included new Webby penned song 'Fireworks and Flowers' as well as all the favourites.
  • Download 'Wasted Little DJ's' here
  • Download 'The Don' here
  • Download 'Coming Down' here

  • All 3 on Youtube Here

  • To find out more about Riptide visit their sites here and here

    Saturday, March 17, 2007

    Charity Auction for The View and Noel Tickets

    Noel Gallagher’s and The View's show later this month in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust at London’s Royal Albert Hall sold out in a matter of minutes when they went on sale in February. Fans who missed out now have a second chance to get tickets for both evenings of this special semi acoustic performance by participating in an on line auction for tickets held back from the original on sale. By visiting here you can bid for a pair of the 100 tickets available each night. The proceeds of the auction will go to Teenage Cancer

    Friday, March 16, 2007

    The Paddingtons to Support The View

    The Paddingtons will be supporting The View on their UK tour at the following venues;
    13 Apr - Carling Academy - Newcastle
    14 Apr - Leeds University - Leeds
    15 Apr - Carling Academy - Liverpool

    Thursday, March 15, 2007

    North American Support

    Support on the North American tour will come from the Eastern Conference Champions.
  • Listen to their tunes here

  • Thanks to Aitchy

    Wednesday, March 14, 2007

    The View feature in New Novel

    Shane had been driving taxis for a few years now and he thought he had his life all figured out. He lived for the nights out with his mates which consisted of drink, drugs and casual sex...until Kelly got into his car one day and he realised he wanted something different.

    This is a story about life, love, violence, revenge, driving taxis, Scotlands largest music festival, The View and the old cliche of sex, drugs and rock and roll.

  • UK Buyers Here
  • US Buyers Here
  • Xpress Magazine (Australia) Album Review

    Just to add to the list of regional rock bands painting a grimy picture of life in their home towns, here comes The View.
    Frontman, Kyle Falconer, makes little attempt to disguise his Scottish accent as he sings of nights out in Dundee (Streetlights), the dangers of heroin (Skag Trendy) and long queues in chip shops (Gran’s For Tea). The true highlight here, however, is Same Jeans, a wonderfully jangly punk-pop tune in the mould of The Only Ones. The fierce Superstar Tradesman displays the quartet’s boundless energy to full extent as they break the golden rule of punk rock by offering up big guitar solos and generally enjoying themselves. Needless to say, the rough and ready approach has been done to death, though the playful songwriting more than saves them from drifting into mediocrity.

    There’s a danger our relationship with The View won’t last as their raw indie-rock attitude hasn’t been given much room to grow on Hats Off To The Buskers. That said, with their charmingly rough edge in the vein of The Babyshambles (minus the 24 hour press coverage), it’s hard not be won over as they tackle each song in the shambolic spirit of a street busker. Hats off indeed.

    BY ROBERT PENNEY, X Press Magazine, Australia, March 14, 2007

    Tuesday, March 13, 2007

    Band seeks youths for music video

    Youngsters who look like members of chart-topping band The View are being offered the opportunity to experience five minutes of fame.

    The band will be returning to their home city of Dundee next week to shoot a music video and they want local youths to star in it.

    Tayscreen Scotland said they are looking for boys and girls aged between seven and 10 and 12 to 15-year-olds.

    The band will play a sell-out gig at Dundee's Caird Hall in April.

    Julie Craick, Tayscreen Scotland project manager, said: "If you're aged between seven and 10 or 12 and 15 you could be in it - especially if you look like Kyle, Kieran, Pete or Steve. Girls are needed too."

    Anyone who is interested should send an email with their name, photograph and a contact phone number to gaynor@tayscreenscotland.com by 1700 GMT on Thursday.

    Second gig

    Tickets went on sale for the Caird Hall gig on Monday and sold out within an hour, leaving many fans disappointed.

    Dundee City Council said it had asked promoters DF Concerts to consider putting on a second gig.

    But a DF Concerts spokesperson said there were currently no plans for a second concert.

    The news comes a week after it emerged the group's plans to tour America had been thrown into doubt after lead singer Kyle Falconer was convicted for cocaine possession at Dundee Sheriff Court.

    His conviction raised the question of whether he would be granted a visa.

    However, the group has now announced a tour of the US and Canada, which will take place in April and May.

    BBC 13th March 2007

    Click Below to see some info when Tayscreen recorded 'Same Jeans'
  • tayscreen.com
  • Win The View at TCT @ Royal Albert Hall

    Win tickets for The View and Noel Gallagher show at the Royal Albert Hall on Monday 26th March
  • Win here
  • Jock Up Your Daughters

    Ireland's top music magazine, Hot Press spoke with The View on their recent trip to the Emerald Isle. Look out for a mention of this blog in there also.
  • Download here
  • America Waits Two More Months For The View

    This week was going to a busy one for Scottish band The View. Their debut album Hats Off to the Buskers, which debuted at #1 in the UK upon its 1/29/07 release, was scheduled to be released tomorrow, March 13th, in the U.S. In addition, they had a March tour of the States planned, including some much-hyped dates at this week's South by Southwest music festival.

    It all sounded like a solid strategy to introduce America to their punky/poppy sound, which has already prompted the NY Daily News to pronounce them this year's Arctic Monkeys. That is, until the band encountered unforeseen visa and immigration issues. The pesky red tape caused The View to have to cancel their March tour and push back the U.S. release of Hats Off to the Buskers to May 8th.

    Soon, I trust, we'll be hearing plenty about The View on this side of the pond. Columbia Records is backing the album and compared to like-minded artists such as The Libertines and The Kooks, I'd give The View the edge for writing better, loose-but-hooky hits...based on what I've heard so far.

    Hopefully the band gets their visa and immigration issues sorted out and are able to tour the U.S. in conjunction with the scheduled May release of their debut.

    Dave Powers, Blog Critics US, 12th March 2007

    Album Review by Popmatters

    With their debut album barely in the shops, one feels that knives are being sharpened for the View. There are mutterings of a publicity and hype machine running out of control: a sense that the time lapse between a band forming, being discovered, and suddenly being lauded as the greatest thing since sliced bread has narrowed to a zero point. Even worse, the dread hand of perennial tabloid fixture Pete Doherty has anointed these Dundee urchins as inheritors of the Libertines flame: debauched, yet cherub-faced; urban poets, preaching a gospel of hedonism doused in beer and fag-ash, barely distinguishable from their fans in the mosh-pit. I would have thought that publicity leg-ups from such washed-up self-promoters would be best kept quiet; they can sometimes be the kiss of death.

    Further “celebrity” endorsements come from fellow Scotsman and super-fan Bobby Gillespie of Primal Scream whose last album—Riot City Blues, a laughable set of derivative ‘70s pub-rock tunes—was seemingly the product of a universe in which the only two bands that existed were the Faces and the Rolling Stones… not a very nice universe, at all. On the radio the other day, amongst the news headlines, was a story that the View had been banned from a certain hotel chain for comprehensively trashing their room. I wonder if they drove their Bentley into the swimming pool for an encore. It’s all very rock ‘n’ roll, huh? No, not really, it’s as tired and hackneyed as an unplugged set on MTV, which makes it even more surprising that the album is such a charming, melodic and mostly enjoyable debut. Guess those knives will have to be sheathed, for now. The hype, it would seem, is not entirely without foundation.

    To be honest though, there is nothing wildly original on this album, nothing, in fact, remotely groundbreaking at all; but the View’s impish take on anthemic guitar pop is done with such brio that most of the time it doesn’t really matter. What is most vividly encapsulated is the pure wanton thrill of youth; the sense of your biggest worry being which party to crash next and how to drown the hangover afterwards. None of the band members have yet passed 21, and it sure sounds like it. The Arctic Monkeys cover some of the same ground, and are pretty much the same age, but lyrically they often sound older than their years, casting a dubious and cynical eye on the world around them. When it’s good, this album feels like a glorious guilt-free bender; even the Stooges-esque garage snarl of “Comin’ Down” sounds brashly unapologetic about the highs that proceeded its lows. Only “Skag Trendy” fully displays the arch “social realism” that dominated most of the Arctic Monkeys’ debut. Musically, the obvious touchstones here are early Oasis—Hats Off to the Buskers was produced by Owen Morris, who also helmed (What’s the Story) Morning Glory—and the Libertines. There are also strong echoes of the La’s eponymous album in its moments of wide-eyed urban romanticism, as well as the tautly addictive pop hooks of the Strokes’ Is This It?, while “Wasteland” references the frenzied ska of the Specials

    Mop haired singer Kyle Falconer’s engaging Scottish-accented vocals are the band’s strong point, even though it feels as though he has yet to really discover his true voice. “Comin’ Down” is blasted out with the intention of blistering paint from the walls; “Same Jeans” is sung sweetly to a tune sounding uncannily like Cornershop’s “Brimful of Asha”; and on “Skag Trendy” his bonkers off-key yelping is all over the place… in a good way. He is clearly a vocalist of energy and ability, capable of delicate yearning on the acoustic (and rather anaemic) “Face for the Radio”, as well as Liam Gallagher levels of rasping confidence on the Beatles-y “Don’t Tell Me”. When the tunes sag, which they do in the later half, his voice has enough effortless buoyancy to just about keep them afloat. He even acknowledges that he isn’t quite the finished article yet when he delivers the almost apologetic line, “My mind’s not perfect but it’s sincere / You’d be amazed at what you can achieve in a year”.

    On the downside, the album suffers from a “please all” mentality that sometimes dilutes the band’s obvious energy, as they move from the fast-paced punk-pop they do so well to the Oasis-by-numbers dirge of “Streetlights” and the listless and folksy “Face for the Radio”. The guitar fills too often seek out the obvious pastures grazed by Mr. N. Gallagher for well over a decade: obvious, earnest and dull. But hey, they’re all very young and are still learning their trade. That they have talent is undeniable; what direction that ultimately takes them in is still up for grabs. The two songwriters (Falconer and bassist Kieren Webster) display an instinctive gift for melody that should carry them far: just when you think it’s all becoming derivative a hook will arrive that genuinely surprises. It’s nowhere near as definitive a piece of work as the Arctic Monkeys’ debut—to which it will inevitably be compared—but neither is it an empty product fuelled by baseless industry hype. There is much to like here and, if they can rise above hoary rock and roll clichés and the white noise of media overkill, a bright future seems assured.

    by John Dover, popmatters.com

    Another new British invasion

    ...Here's a look at the 10 most promising Brit names hovering on the horizon....

    THE VIEW -- You'll find Brit-pop at its most brash on Hats Off to the Buskers, the debut CD from the View. Just out, this 14-song disc crackles with the most youthful music from the U.K. since, well ... last year, with the Arctic Monkeys...
  • Full article here
  • By Jim Farber, New York Daily News, March 13 2007

    HUGE QUEUE FOR THE VIEW

    CHART-TOPPERS The View could play a second gig in their home town of Dundee after the first sold out in just 50 minutes.

    Fans queued overnight in the rain to secure tickets for the gig at the Caird Hall on April 9.

    A spokesman for Dundee City Council confirmed they had approached promoters DF Concerts about another show to satisfy demand.

    He added: "It was an amazing response."

    Daily Record 13th March 2007

    Monday, March 12, 2007

    Frenzy leads to second concert plea

    Dundee chart toppers The View are being asked to put on another “homecoming” concert at the Caird Hall after the overwhelming response by fans this morning saw tickets for a gig in the city next month sell out in less than an hour.
    The tickets went within 50 minutes and the city council said this afternoon that promoters DF Concerts had been approached regarding staging show by the Dryburgh band.

    “Because of the amazing response — where tickets sold out at the box office by 9.50am and online on Ticketmaster by 9.07am — we have asked the promoters to consider putting on another gig at the Caird Hall,” a spokesman for Dundee City Council said.

    Devoted fans of the band queued in the biting cold and rain overnight to secure tickets for their gig on April 9. At its longest, the queue numbered around 300 people, reaching as far back as the Marryat Hall, before the City Square box office opened its doors at 9am.

    Many people had arrived last night to ensure they would be among the 2200 lucky ones going to the concert.

    The sell-out concert has sparked has caused such a stir that even children who were meant to be at school and people absent from work were waiting to get their hands on tickets.

    Yvonne Craib and Grace Watson were the first people to get their hands on tickets after waiting 12 long hours in the City Square.

    “My son is autistic and he loves The View so I waited since 9.15 last night for tickets,” Grace commented. “I’m just delighted to have got them.”

    Keren Rennie and Nicole Garland were also among the first to get briefs for the highly-anticipated event. Nicole said she had been a fan of The View for years as they had been at St John’s High School with her and would always demonstrate their musical genius at school talent shows.

    Heather Smith of St Mary’s was hoping for tickets for herself and her daughters, who were at college and had been waiting in the queue since midnight.

    “The View are really good,” she said. “It will be great to see them in the Caird Hall. It will be electric!”

    When asked if Kyle Falconer’s recent drugs case had influenced her thoughts about the band, she commented that it did not change her appreciation of them and their songs — “It’s up to them what they do — it’s their life.”

    Kerry Reilly of Stobswell said, “I’ve been in the queue since midnight. I like The View so much because they’re from Dundee and have become famous. They’re brilliant.”

    Some tickets for the gig have been up for auction on ebay since the end of last week. By late morning the highest bid for two tickets was £92, despite having a face value of £12.50 each.

    The View, who went to No. 1 with their debut album Hats Off to the Buskers, have been anxious to play the Caird Hall since their debut single Wasted Little DJs hit No. 15 and propelled them to celebrity status last year.

    Earlier this month, lead singer Kyle Falconer was fined £1000 at Dundee Sheriff Court for drugs possession. This led to the cancellation of their US tour, although manager Grant Dickson said the tour has now been saved, with visa problems owing to Kyle’s court case expected to be overcome.

    Evening Telegraph 12th March 2007

    German Video Interview

    Japan Tour 2007

    The View will be touring again in Japan. Dates detailed below.

    2007 MAY 28 Mon - TOKYO : SHIBUYA CLUB QUATTRO
    2007 MAY 29 Tue - TOKYO : SHIBUYA CLUB QUATTRO
    2007 MAY 30 Wed - NAGOYA : NAGOYA CLUB QUATTRO
    2007 MAY 31 Thu - OSAKA : SHINSAIBASHI CLUB QUATTRO

    BMG Japan 12th March 2007

    Saturday, March 10, 2007

    What Today's Bands Owe Carl and Pete

    After The Libertines: What today's bands owe Carl and Pete

    ...James Endeacott of 1965 records, who signed The View, believes The Libertines were the impetus behind his band. "The View say that Oasis made them want to be in a band. The Libertines made them realise that it was possible," he says....
  • Full story here

  • Belfast Telegraph 10th March 2007

    Friday, March 09, 2007

    Across The Line

    BBC Northern Ireland music show 'Across The Line' had a chat with Dundee whippersnappers The View about, amongst other things, having a number one album whilst looking like you would be refused cigarettes in a newsagents. Take in the banter in the link below.
  • Video here

  • BBC Northern Ireland, Friday 9th March 2007

    Edinburgh Castle Videos

    Videos are now online from the The View gig at Edinburgh Castle.
  • View here
  • You need to be logged in to watch the videos.

    Hometown Showdown

    Fresh from their victory at the NME awards The View are delighted to announce they will be playing Dundee's very own Caird Hall on Monday 9th April!! After the UK tour sold out in under an hour, the band were keen to arrange a homecoming gig for all their local fans! Confirmed support so far are The Law and Luva Anna. Tickets will go on general sale on Monday.

    Huge Interview with Music Mart

    A fantastic interview with the band in Music Mart UK's March edition.
  • Download it here
  • You'll need Acrobat to view the PDF.

    Thumbs up for The View from Chas and Dave

    DUNDEE MUSIC heroes The View have been given a glowing endorsement from an unlikely source—the cockney duo Chas and Dave.

    As unmistakeably cockney as jellied eels and pie and mash, Chas and Dave are gearing up to embark on a Scottish tour, stopping off at Dundee and Dunfermline on the six-date knees up.

    As well as the witty lyrics of hits like Rabbit, Gertcha, Ain’t No Pleasing You, and Margate, Chas and Dave’s trademark is they sing songs in their own accent and write about things they know.

    It’s a characteristic they share with The View, whose songs include references to their provincial upbringing, writing about their parents’ aspirations of having a “house in the Ferry,” the experience of meeting “a girl in the Campbeltown Bar” and going to “gran’s for tea.”

    Chas Hodges gave The View’s musical philosophy the thumbs-up when speaking to The Courier about this month’s forthcoming gigs in Dundee and Dunfermline.

    “What we set out to do when we got together was to write songs—which we’d never seriously done before —and to write songs about things that we knew and sing them in our own accents.

    “It doesn’t matter where you come from, you should always sing in your own accent—that’s our feeling and that’s what we did. You’ve just got to be yourself and write about what you know.”

    Over 30 years since they first appeared on the scene, Chas Hodges and Dave Peacock are more popular than at almost any time in their career and are now playing to younger audiences.

    Chas is looking forward to returning to Dundee, which was where they played one of their first gigs.

    “We were on tour in Scotland with 10cc at the time and we had a couple of days off and a student from Dundee Technical College said, ‘Could you do a gig?’ and we slotted one in for them,” said Chas.

    “A couple of years ago we did research. This young bloke came in and said, ‘We’ve been researching where your records sell the most and you’ll never guess where,’ and it was Scotland.

    “When Dave and I started we were rock n’ roll based, serious about our fun music, prided ourselves on being good musicians—but to be honest in London we were misinterpreted a lot.

    “I remember we used to get write-ups from Scotland and they got us in one. They said, ‘These boys are great, they play good, they entertain well,’ and I thought, ‘They see what we’re doing in Scotland more than they do down south.’...
  • Full Story here

  • Thanks to michael wallace

    Thursday, March 08, 2007

    German Interview with Pete

    Soundmag in Germany interviewed Pete during the bands recent trip to Germany. Unfortunately the interview is in German but here it is anyway. View here



    Meanwhile here are some videos clips from the German trip here.
    1 2 3
    Thanks to kerstin for videos

    The View follow their UK with new single

    Band lift another track from chart-topping LP

    The View have announced details of a new single to follow on from their forthcoming UK tour.

    The band will release 'The Don' on April 23. It's the fourth track to be lifted from their Number One debut album 'Hats Off To The Buskers' , after the success of 'Wasted Little DJs', 'Superstar Tradesman' and 'Same Jeans'.

    As previously announced, The View hit the road in April for a UK tour.

    NME.COM 8th March 2007

    XFM at The NME Awards

    We asked newly convicted The View about on their non stop working schedule, which they were happty to chat about, but when we asked them why they’ve been banned from going to the US, things got a little frosty… “We’ve got colds…” Listen here
    XFM.co.uk 8th March 2008

    US Tour Announced

    4/30 Cambridge MA - T.T. The Bears
    5/01 New York NY - Bowery Ballroom
    5/02 Brooklyn NY - Luna Lounge
    5/03 OFF
    5/04 Toronto ON - Lee's Palace
    5/05 OFF
    5/06 Chicago IL - Schuba's Tavern
    5/07 OFF (fly to LA)
    5/08 West Hollywood CA - Troubadour
    5/09 OFF
    5/10 San Francisco CA - Slim's
    5/11 OFF
    5/12 Vancouver BC - Plaza Club
    5/13 Seattle WA - Crocodile Cafe
    5/14 OFF
    5/15 Portland OR - Doug Fir Lounge

    Awaiting on ticket links from promoters.

    Tuesday, March 06, 2007

    NME Awards DVD

    The View's appearance at the NME Awards last week is set to feature in an 'Access All Areas' DVD free with 13th March edition of NME.
  • Click Here for sneak preview
  • The Don confirmed as next single

    'The Don' has been confirmed as fourth single to be released in the U.K from Number 1 album Hats Off To The Buskers.

    The Brits are coming again

    Here's a look at the 10 most promising Brit names hovering on the horizon
    ...3. THE VIEW You'll find Brit-pop at its most brash on "Hats Off to the Buskers," the debut CD from the View. Just out, this 14-song disk crackles with the most youthful music from the U.K. since, well ... last year, with the Arctic Monkeys...
  • Full article here

  • By JIM FARBER, New York Daily News, 6th March 2007

    Monday, March 05, 2007

    Album Review by Aced Magazine

    Hailing from Dundee, Scotland (land of The Average White Band) this band's members are young; ambitious and quite talented. Thier debut album, Hats Off To The Buskers, manages to be refreshingly fun and energetic while at the same time sending a message clear as day about where they're coming from. The View are the buskers, and our collective hats are off.

    Shamefully, I had to look up the word Buskers before I could write this review. Or busking, rather. Busking is "...the practice of doing live performances in public places to entertain people, usually to solicit donations and tips. Those engaging in this practice are called buskers. Busking is a British term. In the United States the term busking is almost unknown; buskers in the USA are called street performers or street musicians."

    Thanks to The View and their phenomenal debut album, this American now knows what the British would call that guy who plays the guitar and the harmonica at the Delancey St. stop off the F line around my way. I appreciate that little lesson, along with the other droplets of surprising accidental wisdom sprinkled throughout Hats Off.

    Penning catchy, quirky anthems on image with tracks like "Same Jeans", along with statements on the ambitious search for happiness through monetary security in "Superstar Tradesman" and infusing them with tunes that get you dancing, the members of The View run the gamut of thoughts and feelings on this album, but never bog you down in tiresome ‘reflections'. Lyrically, they are uniquely profound in the way they share the lives they live using the simplest language.

    Perhaps it's because they're still in their teens that they manage to avoid coming off as preachy or full of themselves. They are as straightforward as kids their age tend to be; the songs they write tell you how they see it from their end. Strangely enough, you can relate. It's not hard to connect to the narratives of a group of ordinary young lads from Scotland while listening to "Gran's For Tea". You understand what's going on with the guy who is so tired of dealing with fake people that he longs for a simple cup of tea with his grandmother because you've been there, in some form or other. Maybe in a different land or time of life; but you've been there just the same.

    The album comprises a mix of alternative rock, pop and ska that make for a great diversity in sound from track to track. While crooning on "Don't Tell Me" and "Skag Trendy" to name a couple, the lead singer sounds a tad like Pete Doherty. That's not a bad thing, unless he wants to avoid comparisons like the plague. In any case, it won't matter all that much because The View are their own band. They aren't duplicates of another, though their influences are clear in the music that they make. Hats Off To The Buskers is enjoyable from beginning to end. Effectively, The View no longer has anything to prove.

    by Kenya Jones, Aced Magazine US, February 2007

    Sunday, March 04, 2007

    In The Land Of The Rising Sun

    Interviews with all the band during their recent tour of Japan.
  • View them all here

  • Another nice find by orange pekoe

    The View 'Rewind' Video

    The View pay hommage to their countrymate and fellow musician Paulo Nutini on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge, hosted by Jo Whiley and recorded at Maida Vale Studio's in London. Playing their own version of Paulo's single 'Rewind'

    Saturday, March 03, 2007

    Pete performs with Primal Scream & Mick Jones

    Pete joined Primal Scream and The Clash legend Mick Jones on stage at the NME Awards for a rendition of classic Scream track 'Rocks'
  • Download Video here
  • View on YouTube here
  • 1965 Records - YouTube channel

    Check out The View's record label's YouTube channel by clicking here.

    Advice for Britney

    The band give Britney Spears some heartfelt advice after NME awards.
  • Download video here

  • Link from Gang Of Ginq

    Friday, March 02, 2007

    Face For The Radio @ NME Awards

    Crazy Mo at NME Awards

    Here's Crazy Mo with Donny Tourette from Towers of London at the NME Awards
    NME.com

    Thursday, March 01, 2007

    More news from NME Awards...

    The View have won the Shockwaves NME Award for Best Track at this year's ceremony.

    The Dundee four-piece earlier tonight (March 1) performed an acoustic version of album track 'Face For The Radio' at the London Hammersmith Palais.

    They were rewarded for a great year by 'Popworld' presenter Alexa Chung and last year's NME Award casualty, (who was presented a first aid kit on the night by host Laverne), Cribs star Ryan Jarman, for first hit single 'Wasted Little DJs'.

    The other nominees were:

    Dirty Pretty Things - 'Bang Bang You're Dead'
    The Killers - 'When You Were Young'
    Klaxons - 'Atlantis To Interzone'
    Muse - 'Supermassive Black Hole'

    Kyle, Kieren and co came up to the podium to collect the Best Track Award.

    NME.com 1/03/07

    Superstar Tradesman @ Cardiff

    Here's Superstar Tradesman recorded on the NME tour at Cardiff University 10/2/07
  • Download here
  • The View are Victorious at NME Awards

    Best Track of 2006
    example The View - Wasted Little DJs

    The View have just been awarded Best Track at Shockwaves NME Awards for 'Wasted Little DJ's'

    Berlin Photographs

    Here's some photographs from The View's performance at Postbahnhof, Berlin on 25.02.07
  • View here
  • Photos by Meadowlake