Latest from the tour blog

Swansea

We arrive in Swansea about 10am and park up next to the venue. The whole crew and even the bus driver head off to the nearby swimming baths to chill out and try and get the blood circulation moving again. We have a great time messing around with the wave and surf machines. Pete fancies a go at surfing but fails miserably - he gets wiped-out to the joy of us onlookers - if you ask him about it he will deny it but its true - totally wiped-out!

We cut around town for a bit just checking out the clothes and music shops. About 4 o'clock me and Chris left them to it as we had to load in. Already there were a few fans at the door - a few of them without tickets. Got the equipment set up and the boys for once arrived on time (and sober!) for the soundcheck. All goes well. It's The Law's second last night with us so they're making the most of it and are already propping up the bar.

First time I've been to Sin City and it's a good sized venue for a gig like this. About a 600 capacity I think.

Gig time and it's another sellout and the fans are well up for this one - atmosphere is electric. The band play the same setlist as they have done the previous 2 weeks. They play a blinder, interacting and shaking hands with the crowd throughout - its a really good show.

Afterwards we head to the Oceano which is highly recommended to us by locals. We get there and can't believe it - 2500 pissed up students all dancing around on a Monday night and many of them hot looking ladies. I bid you goodnight...

Davie Dial-Up x
Sound Tech

PS Wondering why I'm doing this now and not McPhail? Well, he simply left a note on the bus saying he's off to London. Cheers bud!

Shrewsbury

It's about 8.30am and just a half hour into our journey from Swansea to Shrewsbury when disaster strikes - our bus breaks down. I'm sure this lot are jinxed with these feckin things. It's the third time this has happened when I've worked with these boys. The driver has a look at the engine but there's not much he can do so has to call it in. There's not much we can do except head back to bed and catch a few zzz's

I wake up about noon and still no help has arrived. We're only about 3 hours away from venue so no one seems too worried. The band are all still sound asleep but Ian the tour manager is up and about trying to get done what work he can.

Mo and Webster are first of the band to rise and we get a mini tournament of FIFA 09 going on the 360. I go the mighty hoops, Mo - Real Madrid and Webster - Barcelona. That as always causes plenty of arguments but does kill a couple of hours. I wont tell you who won - it's the taking part that counts aint it?

With the bus now freezing help finally arrives about 3 o'clock and after and hour much to everyones relief we're back on the road and heading to Shrewsbury. When we get there there just time to run through a quick soundcheck before the doors open. It's the Laws last night with us until we're back up in Scotland and they are looking for a good send of so it's straight over to the pub for an hour and then back across to watch their full set. The rowdy crowd seem to enjoy them and reckon they have earned a fair few new fans not only tonight but all the dates they have played with us.

The View get through another sublime show. There a couple of guys near the front attempt to rile & antagonise Keiren throughout the set but he's big enough and ugly enough can take care of them himself. Nae bother there.

After the gig everyone meets up at a cool pub called the Nags Head till shutting time to say farewell to The Law. The View and crew go back to the bus and finish off whatever drink is left. Tomorrow we have a day off in Falmouth.

Davie Dial-Up x

Photos from V2008

View them here

www.gigjunkie.co.uk

5Rebbecca's Review

When the View recorded this great record with mad Welsh wizard Owen (Definitely Maybe/A Northern Soul) Morris they were said to have nailed a bench to the wall of the recording studio so that the singer Kyle could be at the correct height to deliver his vocals. But how high did they get? I would bet that it was pretty high. And will they ever come down? By the sound of this, probably not by the time the year 2050 comes along.

Andy Capper, The Gaurdian, 25th October 2008

5Rebbecca's Review

Rated 5/5

New single '5 Rebbecca’s’ from Dundonian rockers 'The View’ is released next week and is set to be the first single released from new album 'Which Bitch’. This catchy tune shows the View have not strayed from their unique and spirited pop songs that sent previous album 'Hats off to the Buskers’ to number one at the beginning of the year.

'5 Rebbecca’s’ documents the people they know from rough hometown Dryburgh. People outside the View’s fanbase might sniff upon the cheeky lyrics, but these local guys have the power to write about ordinary mundane life and transform it into a vivacious music style.

'5 Rebbecca’s’ is a great song to kick off the new album, and although it’s not a surprising sound to come from The View, it’s an all round great song to prove the View, as the slogan goes, are definitely on fire.

By Susan Ford, MusicNews.co.uk

Interview with Kyle & Kieren

The View shot to fame at the start of 2007 with their hit single 'Same Jeans'. We couldn't understand a word they said but that was fine.

They've had a bit of time off but now they're back with a new single '5Rebbeccas' and an album called 'Which Bitch'.

We still can't understand a word they say, but that's still fine.

Please watch The View explaining transvestism, spotting Dundee in computer games and remembering what it is they do for a living....

Watch here

Channel4.com

Belated review from Proud

The View have showcased three new tracks from their forthcoming second album at a one-off show in London.

The band played an acoustic show at Proud Galleries in support of their cover artist Ryan McPhail, who held an exhibition of his work at the venue.

The gig was also a warm-up for the Dundonian four-piece's 35 date tour of the UK which starts in Dunfermline on 16 October.

The band are due to release their comeback single 5Rebeccas a week later.
Singer Kyle Falconer kicked off the show performing a cover of The Beatles track I've Just Seen A Face on his own.

He was then joined by bassist Kieren Webster and guitarist Pete Reilly for the band's new single.

Drummer Steven Morrison watched the show from the sidelines.

In between songs from their debut, they also played two further tracks from their second album Which Bitch? including Temptation Dice.

The band went on to perform hit singles Wasted Little DJs and Superstar Tradesman while Same Jeans saw the crowd shouting their trademark chant, 'The View! The View! The View are on fire!'.

Elsewhere, Kieren also took over lead vocals for Skag Trendy during their hour long set.

Introducing Street Lights, Kyle then joked: "Have you all had a good look at the fabulous artwork next door?"

The View are due to release their new album in January 2009.

BBC.co.uk 15th October 2008

5Rebbecca's Rating

Rated 4/5

This taster in advance of The View's second album Which Bitch? shows Dundee's finest have lost none of their charm.

Daily Record, 31st October 2008

Skag Trendy/Posh Boys Acoustic

Skag Trendy, Posh Boys and Sit Down (James cover) live from the now infamous Nottingham show. Kieren assisted on vocals by Purvey from The Law.

SFTW catch up with The View

OUT on the road is where party-loving band The View feel most at home.
SFTW caught up with the the Dundee gang in Manchester, seven nights into a 35-date tour.

It is their first tour of the year as the lads have been in Wales recording their second album Which Bitch? — the follow-up to their colossal debut.

Not only did Hats Off To The Buskers fly straight in at No1 in the album charts in January last year, it also earned them a Mercury Music Prize nomination as well.

Mop-haired singer and guitarist Kyle Falconer, 21, says: “Touring’s the best bit. Just getting out there and seeing the fans. We had a good dose of the studio so we were itching to get out on the road.”

Some would think The View are mad to embark on such a mammoth tour with the album due next year, but the band — Kyle, bassist and vocalist Kieren Webster, guitarist Pete Reilly and drummer Steven Morrison — wanted to get back to their legendary on-tour blow-outs.

In the past, there’s been boozing, bans from pubs, the Travelodge hotel chain — and even a ban from America.

All of this is reflected on the new album. Kieren says: “Aye, it was great fun making this. We managed to get banned from all the local Monmow Valleys pubs in Wales so took the party back to the studio. All our mates were down with us and we had some fun.

One song on Which Bitch?, Double Yellow Line, is about having to drunkenly find your way home following road lines. Another, One Off Pretender is about the time Kyle and Kieren spent the night in an Aberdeen jail cell.

Kieren explains: “That song is about the injustice of what happened. We were DJing and tried to split up a fight on the dancefloor.

“Then when we were on the bus, this policeman arrested Kyle and me and chucked us in the nick.”

Kyle also landed himself in hot water when he left a bath running at a Travelodge hotel and fell asleep — causing £7,000-worth of damage.

Which Bitch? is more expansive than their debut and even features a collaboration with fellow Scot Paolo Nutini on the track Covers.

Kyle says: “Working with Paolo was a brilliant night. He really is a star.”

Kyle feels the band has unfinished business, particularly in America where he was refused entry following a conviction for cocaine possession last year. That forced the band to cancel a tour over there.

Kyle says: “I was stupid. We’re still trying to get back but it’s hard.

“I hope we get back there. I think we will — I’m hoping this album will open doors there.”


By JACQUI SWIFT, The Sun, 31st October 2008

5Rebbecca's Avatars

Here's some animated Avatars for Yahoo, MSN, AiM and Message Forums.

Download here

Photos from Shrewsbury

A few photos at the Buttermarket, Shrewsbury on 28th October.

View here

Photos by www.mikegalvin.co.uk

Kyle apologies...

THE View's frontman, Kyle Falconer, has apologised to fans for turning up to a gig so plastered he couldn't perform.

The singer arrived on stage at Nottingham's Bodega Social club so out of it he could barely stand up, let alone hold a tune.

The lead singer from The View's support band then had to stand in for Kyle for most of show.

Last night, Kyle issued an apology to disappointed fans and promised he would not fail them again.

He said: "I'm really sorry to have let all our fans down. There's no excuses, I'm just really sorry I got so drunk and couldn't do the gig.

"We all love playing live, so I feel terrible I let the fans and the band down and couldn't put on our usual show. We'll be back in Nottingham in January. Tickets from the October show will be valid and I promise to keep out of the pub when we play."

The Dundonian was spotted at the bar before last Friday's gig, where he confessed to one fan that he was "in trouble because he was so battered he couldn't sing".

But the hell-raising musician later joined his bandmates Kieren Webster, Pete Reilly and Steven Morrison on stage and struggled to sing before storming off after a furious word from bassist Kieren.

Kyle then returned only to slump to the floor in a drunken stupor before exiting for good, leaving his fuming bandmates and singer Stuart Purvey from support band The Law, to cover for him.

Kieren confessed: "We are having what is known in the business as a nightmare." Among the songs they actually managed to play were tracks Skag Trendy and 5 Rebeccas.

Disappointed fans hit out on band forums, with some comparing Kyle to Pete Doherty.
One said: "Kyle was seeing more than 5 Rebeccas. Pretty sad gig, Kyle was a shambles."

Another fumed: "What a mess. I'm not sure I will have the heart to pay for anything they do again. Kudos for the rest of the band for staying on stage - but that's not enough in my opinion."

A third added: "It was like watching the break-up of The Libertines all over again, just swap Pete for Kyle and Carl for Kieren. I hope I'm wrong and Kyle learns his lesson."

But it's not the first time the singer has appeared on stage drunk.

He repeatedly forgot words to songs, fell into the drums, shouted abuse at the jeering crowd and even tried to start a fight with drummer Steven at another of the band's gigs at Edinburgh's Liquid Rooms last December.

Daily Record, 30th October 2008

Last Word - Kyle Falconer

Singer Kyle Falconer from Dundonian indie rock outfit The View waxes lyrical about boozing, Paul McCartney and Pulp Fiction

What was the first record you ever bought?
TLC's 'No Scrubs'. I still love it!

When was the last time you were chatted up?
I was chatted up last night by a fan.

First film you saw that really moved you?
Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction. It is still a landmark film in my opinion.

What was the last lie you told?
I told my Mum that I am gonna stop drinking.

What was the first movie you ever went on a date to?
I've never been on a date.

When was the last time you cried?
I cried last week.

What is the first thing you do when you've got time off work?
Get bevvied up. Doesn't everyone?

What was the last great meal you cooked?
That would have to be macaroni cheese; it is the best meal ever.

What was the last extravagant purchase you made?
A hot air balloon ride.

Who was your first crush?
Geri Halliwell. In that UK flag dress, obviously.

What was the last book you read?
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. One of our songs on the new album has elements of it...

What was the first great piece of advice you were given?
Don't do drugs.

When was the last time you were star struck?
When I met Paul McCartney. What a legend.

What is the first thing you would do if you ran the country?
I would legalise weed.

What would your last meal on earth be?
Macaroni cheese.

What is the first song you would sing at karaoke?
'Hotel California' by The Eagles.

When was the last time you exploited your position to get something?
VIP Oasis tickets. Our producer, Owen Morris, produced their best albums so we managed to blag free tickets.

When was the first time you realised you were famous?
When our assistant said it. I said 'Am I famous?'

When was the last time someone criticised your work?
I don't remember criticisms; they only bring you down.

What are the first three words your friends would use to describe you?
ADHD. OK, that's four words!

When was the last time you made an impulse buy and regretted it?
You should never regret!

What was the first concert you ever attended?
Ocean Colour Scene. That was a very long time ago.

When was the last time you bought someone flowers?
Last week for a special someone.

What's the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning?
The Beatles.

What is the last thing you think of before you go to sleep?
Getting married to Stevie Nicks in her prime.

The View play King Tut's Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow on Wed 12 Nov and are due to release their new album in January next year.

The List, 30th October 2008

The View to release road film

The View have shot an on the road documentary which is to be released with their new album.

The four-piece from Dundee have leaked clips of the forthcoming film Dryburgh on their YouTube channel.

The footage shows the band behind the scenes during their recording sessions and touring over the last few years.

Some of the clips appear in the video for their new single 5Rebbeccas which is out this week. Their second record Which Bitch? will follow in January.

Lead singer Kyle Falconer told Newsbeat: "It's basically us p****** about and playing good gigs.
"Its funny, it's kind of like the Three Stooges."

BBC.co.uk, 30th October 2008

More Edinburgh Videos

Glass Smash

5Rebbecca's

The Don

Jimmy's Crazy Conspiracy

One Off Pretender/Skag Trendy

Face For The Radio

Superstar Tradesman

Shock Horror

Recorded at Cabaret Voltaire Edinburgh, 19th October 2008

Tour blog continues...

Nottingham

Nottingham, oh Nottingham, how we love you and we are sorry for the state of oor wee Falconer last week. He's been having way too much fun on this tour so far, playing in packed venues in every nook and cranny of the UK. Especially with those Law boys along, we always have a laugh they're with us. We'd been in the pub all day. Everyone recognised Kyle and bought him drinks. There's no excuses here but it's not easy saying no either. We all know that.

We had a good day there, arrived early and went straight in the boozer with the boys from The Law and the rest of our crowd.

Ian (our tour manger) rounded everyone up about 9ish and we all staggered across the road.

So the boys took to the stage and Kyle struggled through the first couple of songs and just about got away with it but the next few after that are totally fucked up. It was a real mess and the rest of the band were raging.

The band agree that there's no point continuing the show with Kyle and they call on a couple of The Law boys to take his place. The Law know The View tunes almost as well as their own so its not a problem for them. They fire through Skag Trendy and a couple of covers and Kieren gets to play Cherry Girl for the first time on the tour - he's been dying to play it since the Proud show.

Set's over and we all head backstage. Kyle looks more focused and sincerely apologies to his bandmates - he's embarrassed as anyone.

Kyle's asked me to send his apologies to everyone who had a ticket for the show. The band have promised to come back to Nottingham as soon as possible to make up for it.


peace out

Ryan x


Wrexham

We had a good day off yesterday - we headed back to Manchester and met up with our mate Collette. She invited us all back to her place for a lovely 3 course meal. It was the first decent thing we've had to eat since hitting the road. Collette then took us round some pubs and clubs round her way. After a few hours about town we then went back to hers and continued the party there.

Next stop is Wrexham. The venue is an old train station - really good vibe. We're not too heavy on the drink today, we all mainly just stick to the beers. I spend most of the day on the bus going through some ideas for the album artwork - I've been given a deadline by the label so I need to get my head down and get on with it.

The boys bump into a guy called Andy we met the last time we were in this neck of the woods. He joins us for a drink and asks Kieren if he can play a wee support slot before The Law and Kieren kindly agrees.

The Law follow him and their set is going well. Purvey is getting cheek from some guy in the crowd for a while but he soon silences him with some quality Dundee throwbacks.

The View come on stage and look determined to make it a good one. They batter through their set without a note out of place. The crowd are loving it and so are the boys - normal service has resumed.

The security guy from the venue has organised us a wee place for an aftershow, taking us to nightclub close by. They have an area set us aside where we can just sit and chill and have a few drinks and a chat with the fans who were at the gig.


Ryan McPhail x

Doherty & Kyle Backstage

Pete Doherty and Kyle Falconer playing "Up The Junction" by Squeeze, backstage at Brixton Mass earlier in the year.

Video from Nottingham

The rarely perfromed B-Side 'Cherry Girl' and Libertines song 'Music When The Lights Go Out' live from Bodega, Nottingham 24th October 2008

Exclusive performance tomorrow

Tune in to '​Fresh​ly Squee​zed'​ on Chann​el 4 tomor​row morni​ng from 6.​55am to see an exclu​sive perfo​rmanc​e by The View.​

Documentary clips online

The View have unveiled a teaser of a documentary they've shot themselves.

The band have leaked a clip online – which you can see below – from 'Dryburgh Style', a film which will come on DVD with their next album.

The short clip shows the band mucking around with a dead fish, while other short teasers are entitled "guns", "vodka" and "soap", and can all be viewed on The View's YouTube channel.

The footage follows the band's recording sessions and touring from the last few years, with some of the footage being used in the video for new single '5Rebbeccas' (out today, October 27).

The band will release their second album, complete with film, early next year. The record is reportedly titled 'Which Bitch?'.

NME.com, 27th October 2008

5Rebbecca's now on iTunes

5Rebbecca's now on iTunes.

Download here

On Tour - Hull & Manchester...

Day 6 - Welly Club, Hull - Wed, 22nd Oct

On arrival in Hull, rough from last nights exploits we head to the pub for some tea's and coffees to blow the cobwebs away. We take a walk around town but nothing much to see to be honest, not the most exciting place I've ever been to.

We head to the venue of tonights gig, the Welly Club and the band run through their soundcheck with The Law and the alcohol and shenanigans are again in full flow. The people at the Welly club are as hospitable as always - a great bunch of folk

The Law take to the stage about 8'o'clock and are again well received by the sell out audience. Tonights audience is a good mix of both young and old and makes for a nice atmosphere.

The Law have warmed the crowd up nicely and when The View land on stage the place is rocking. Plenty of crowd surfers tonight, probably more here than the previous week's gigs put together. Again, some of the audience seem to know the words to unreleased songs on Which Bitch? cheeky buggers!

After the gig we have a few more beers, head to the aftershow which isn't up to much to head back to the comfort of the tour bus and have our own private party.

Ryan McPhail x



Day 7- Moho, Manchester - Thurs, 23rd Oct

We're now in Manchester. Manchester is like a home from home. Myself and the band have a lot of mates round here so always guaranteed a good day and night out. I hang around the tour bus most of the day painting and skribbling and the boys head into the centre of town to do some shopping.

Again soundcheck is around 5pm. The View get through there songs without a problem but The Law's soundcheck are littered with loads of technical hitches - sure they'll be ok for the show come tonight though.

Tonights venue is Moho, run by the nice chap from Embrace, Danny McNamara. Doors open 7.30 and the place fills up really, really quickly.
It's by far the biggest stage we've came across on the tour so far with really low ceilings. We met up earlier with our mate Dean Bailey (Deano) and persuaded him to go up and play a short set before The Law come on. He's shit hot. Next up The Law and there's no sign of the technical problems from earlier in the evening.

Half way through their set a familiar figure appears backstage - its Mani! and everyone heads to the dressing room for a pre View gig party. Mani's his usual jovial self and has everyone is stitches with his jokes and carry on. Its good to see him again.

Mani's only too happy to be offered the job of introducing the main act onstage, whipping the crowd into a frenzy before even a guitar chord is struck. The first song 'Glass Smash', even though its a new song, is difficult to hear over the noise of the crowd. This is gonna be a great gig. The band batter through all the familiar favourites with Same Jeans, Wasted Little DJ's getting the usual warm reception and the new ones are well received too. More was to come though, with the boys getting their heads together on stage and playing a surprise cover version of Oasis' classic Don't Look Back In Anger sending the already whooped up crowd into a mental frenzy. The last song of the night Shock Horror is the perfect way to end what was a perfect gig.

Afterwards the boys security guy Dave, who's from Manchester, takes us to one of his favourite hang-outs 'Big Hands' and we drink like all true scotsman do, into the wee small hours...

Ryan McPhail x

Official YouTube

The View's official YouTube is now in good hands and will be frequently updated will all the latest video clips from the band. All video teasers for documentary are now online.

The View's YouTube Channel

Dryburgh Style - Brolly

The second teaser clip from the forthcoming documentary.

Days 4 and 5 from the road

Day 4 - Caberet Voltaire - Sun 19th Oct

Arrived in Edinburgh then checked out the venue. Quite a small venue down some stairs in a cellar type room with dark looking vibe.

The gear got loaded in and the boys went for a wander around Edinburgh checking out art stores, clothes shops and buying some more toiletries because they're all starting to smell a bit.

The gig was really busy again, sold out. Hotter than the last hot gig. The bands parents came up to support their kids and a lot of friends from dundee came over too. The fans surprisingly knew all the words to a lot of the new songs and they liked all the songs. It was another storming set with Rennie almost off the stage, because it was so small he had to sit on the stairs.

The gig was good again, afterwards there was a VIP room for friends and family with a groovy catwalk in it. Everyone was doing the catwalk, showing off and stuff, it was great. After the VIP party we got on the bus and left for Newcastle.

Ryan McPhail x


Day 5 - Carling Academy 2 - Mon 21st Oct

Arrived at the venue in the bus as usual to see The Views name in lights on the front of the venue! We went to see the Newcastle v. Man City game on our day off 2-2 and amazing match, very exciting!

The dressing room was behind the big stage which the bands had played before. It was humbling for the lads to walk past the bigger stage to the smaller stage knowing they'd rocked it many times before.

The Law boys turned up for their first support gig on the tour with loads of fireworks with the intention of the night going with a bang.

The View boys and The Law sound checked feeling comfortable on stage and their surroundings.

When the fans started to come in we went to see the Celtic - ManU game in the pub across the road (3-0 ManU).

The Law went on half way through the game so we went to watch them.

They were brilliant, rocking out and warming up the crowd for the boys to go on. it was a great gig with everyone singing along.

The front row was full of kids loving the gig whereas the further they got back the adults were more critical checking out what the hype was about, but the band won them over in the end, as per!

We all ended up in Newcastle digital club.

Ryan McPhail x

Win a signed tour poster

To be in with a chance of winning one of three tour posters signed by The View, simply enter your details here.

Dryburgh Style - Fish

The first of eight teaser trailers for the forthcoming 'Dryburgh Style' documentary.

The View's Kyle on fire!

FRONTMAN Kyle Falconer wasn't quite match fit for the second date of THE VIEW's tour in Inverness, as the heat in the Raigmore took its toll.

Ironically, the following night in Forres, the venue was on the chillier side and the band had to encourage the crowd to jump around to warm up!

The sub-tropical temperature meant that it was a while before the crowd came up with the band's traditional "The View! The View! The View are on fire!" chant.

Maybe it just seemed too cruel when poor Kyle was so clearly burning in his own fires of hell.

"It's really hot, it's kind of like punishment, eh?" said Kyle, the sweat shining under his thick curls.

By Same Jeans near the end of the set, he was admitting "I feel as if I'm going to have a heart attack."

But he hung in there as the roadies flapped from the side of the stage with towels and some of the crowd threw the odd slurp of refreshing water on him. In return, the band offered the kind of value-for-money set any fan would kill to hear so close up.

After all, it's a long time in months – and in status – since The View were only up for filling tiny venues like the Raigmore.

But it was the band's choice to play the old familiar places so that showcasing the new material wouldn't seem so daunting in front of a much bigger crowd.

So packed was the place, that for anyone other than those who'd bagged their place right behind the barrier, it was a choice of 'Do you want to hear it properly and see nothing?' or 'Do you want to see Kyle's right ear and guitarist Pete's foot?'.

And yes, as usual, it was hard to hear the lyrics too clearly thanks to Kyle's stylised slur, but the atmosphere was electric.

And there was also the chance to catch Keiren Webster coming forward to perform the lead on his share of the band's faves.


The View – Kyle Falconer and Keiren Webster. Gary Anthony

New songs came quick and fast.

The set started with Glass Smash, straight into storming new single 5 Rebbeccas and through the set – as in tour opener Dunfermline the previous night – we got One-Off Pretender (about the band being banged up in Aberdeen and Kieren name-checked Grampian Police).

Plus there was Jimmy's Crazy Conspiracy, Realisation and possibly a couple of others that fitted in so well with the older hits that it was hard to see that the promised change of style for second album Which Bitch is going to be a huge shift.

Towards the end of the set, the crowd began to help out the worse-for-wear Kyle – one fan taking on vocals for Face For The Radio.

"This is one of the best songs we've ever done," Kyle introduced Shock Horror – and he might be right.

And by next song Same Jeans, he'd decided that the earlier crowd help would be appreciated here too. And the song turned into a brilliant pass-the-mike singathon with the front row pretty much word perfect.

Superstar Tradesman was the perfect ending – a big shouty thing with gritting their teeth through the steam to finish a set that may well be the last the venue'll see from Dundee's superstars-in-waiting.

By Margaret Chrystal, Highland News, 23rd October 2008

The new live line-up

Reni, Pete, Mo, Kyle & Kieren at Velocity, Dunfermline.
Photographs by Fraser Stephen

See links below for more photos of the The View and the support bands The Brogues & Beatnic Prestige.

fraserstephen.com

Carlisle Tickets

People who purchased tickets are advised by the promoter of this event that we will no longer be mailing out tickets but you will simply need take your order confirmation e-mail and ID to the venue. Doors open at 8pm.

The promoter is Allison Walter and she will have the complete list of Sandbag customers. Please make sure the box office staff are aware that you purchased the tickets through the fanclub pre sale.

Only the person whose name is on the order will be able to claim the tickets and we will refund the £2 postage that we charged you (it will go back onto the credit card used to place the order).

Please let us know if you have any questions.

Regards

Helen@sandbag

Newcastle Videos

Wasted Little DJ's

Same Jeans

Shock Horror

Recorded, Newcastle Academy 2, 21st October 2008.

Track Of The Week

NME, 18th October 2008

5Rebbecca's Review

Rated 8/10

All the way back in 2007, The View were an indie-rock ray of light, their debut album ‘Hats Off To The Buskers’ was something fresh, vibrant and extremely danceable. And now, the Dundonian four-piece are back. And not a moment too soon.

‘5Rebeccas’ will be played to death at indie-discos up and down the country. But unlike the audio-shite we’re often given, this is something really, really good. A tale of drunken debauchery, Kyle Falconer rasps over a ‘…Morning Glory’ era Oasis riff about his “Five Rebeccas and none of them’s close to me…the one I love the most, has turned into a junkie”, before a pirate like singalong interlude- “Wasn’t for my treasure you’d be rich my dear” (it’s much, much better than it sounds), and finally a screaming, ramshackle singalong of a climax, that somehow manages to sound like absolute perfection. This is a joyous rampage that doesn’t quite match the brilliance of ‘Hats Off..’’s ‘Wasted Little DJs’, but doesn’t fall too far off the mark. The View are back - thank the indie Jesus.

by Matthew Handley, The Music Magazine, 19th October 2008

Dunfermline & Inverness Photos

Velocity, Dunfermline

Raigmore Motel, Inverness

Photos by Martin

McPhail/The View Photos from Proud

View here

Thanks to Martin for upload.

Which Bitch?

The View's second LP now looks likely to be released sometime in February.

Realisation live from Edinburgh

Possible future single release the superb 'Realisation' live from Cabaret Voltaire, Edinburgh, 19th October 2008

Update from 1965...

...Thursday was Dunfermline and the first night of the merry pranksters ride around Great Britain. The Dryburgh 4 have become The Dryburgh 5, welcome Rennie. Rennie was always there but he plays keys on some of the tunes too nowadays. Great gig in Velocity attended by the master of disaster and the Vig who got Falconered on the tour bus after.

Friday in Inverness was the hottest gig 65 has attended in some time. Curly mops stuck to faces. Wombles in leathers fainting from the heat. Tommy Cockles' number was on the front of the Daily Record. He couldn't believe his luck, all these sweaties calling him up, plenty of mugs to sell his moody electrical gear to. Shame they were nowhere near the Old Kent Road.

Forres was "the best show the view have played this year" - Kieren Webster

A ride south through the Cairngorms and we were back in Edinburgh for last nights show at Cabaret Voltaire. If 65 had it's chops as a scribe it would make some reference to Sheffield bleeps and bass again but we are hard of thinking today. Another top show, another set of sweatmonsters. The single is out next monday. Preorder it HERE!

A tour of duty so punishing it would make Chuck Norris cry like a baby, The Dryburgh 5 laugh in the face of such worries and are on top of the world. Hats off!

1965 Records.com

5Rebbecca's Acoustic & Interview

An Interview with the band plus an accoustic version of 5Rebbecca's.

Download here

Uploaded by Martin

The Law are recruiting

We're about to head out on an amazing tour with our mates The View, and need your help! We're looking for a pair of folks to help us out by getting the crowds to join The Law Force. We have one pair of tickets to give away for each of our dates below:-

OCTOBER
21 - Newcastle, Academy 2
22 - Hull, Welly
23 - Manchester, Moho Live
24 - Nottingham, Bodega
26 - Wrexham, Central Station
27 - Swansea, Sin City
28 - Shrewsbury, Buttermarket

NOVEMBER
27 - Aberdeen, The Lemon Tree
28 - Glasgow, Barrowlands
29 - Kirkcaldy, Ocean
30 - Dundee, Fat Sams

So here's the deal: we'll supply you with a clipboard and some sheets and you guys can use your silver tongues and persuasive skills to sign loads of people up to The Force (they even get a free track when they do!)

In exchange, we'll give you two tickets to the show and two amazing bands. How about that eh?

INTERESTED?

Let us know by visiting our website, at www.thelawmusic.com
Sign up to the force yourself and recieve your free track!

Love, The Law x

The View to a thrill

DUNDEE'S The View return this month with an extensive 'return-to-basics' 35-date tour which includes a date at the Princess Pavilion in Falmouth on Thursday, October 30, and a new single, 5Rebbeccas, which is set for release on Monday.

From the ramshackle pop nuggets like The Don, Superstar Tradesman and Same Jeans to the razor-sharp melodies of the ska-inflected Skag Trendy, they may be grounded in the gutters of Dundonian council estates but nonetheless gaze intently at the stars.

Marrying the guttersnipe humour of The Libertines with the melodic nous of The Buzzcocks and Oasis, each one is a mini-anthem in waiting.

Support on the night comes from the NME's number three in a Top 10 of Hopes for the Near Future, Twisted Wheel. Hailing from Oldham, the band have quickly become one of the country's most hotly tipped acts after supporting some of the biggest names in indie. If proof was needed then we can report that Twisted Wheel are currently out warming up for their Falmouth debut by touring with the mighty Oasis.

Their now sold-out limited edition debut 7" She's A Weapon picked up acclaim from the likes of Zane Lowe, NME and Q among others but it is in the live arena where Twisted Wheel have had tongues wagging with the likes of Artrocker reporting on their chaotic live show being 'one of the best around'.

Local support has been added in the form of San Pablo, quite possibly the most talked about local band since I Say Marvin began to grace the county's stages nearly three years ago. After a successful debut performance opening for indie darlings One Night Only a mere three weeks ago, San Pablo have already picked up a healthy reputation for their spiky indie 'adventure pop'. Hand chosen by The View to support them only goes to show that it's worth getting there early to check out our own home-grown future stars.

Tickets for the Princess Pavilion show are £12.50 in advance, from www.seetickets.com / 0871 2200260 or from the venue box office 01326 211222.

This Is Cornwall, Monday October 20th, 2008

MySpace blog update

Day 2 - Inverness Raigmore - Fri 17th Oct

It was a small pub type motel. We hung about for soundcheck and, oh went in to town had a couple of pints, went round the town, had a bite to eat, back for sound check. Great food again: steak pie, lasagne, macaroni cheese. The venue packed out really quickly with loads of people outside waiting to come in, it was chocka! The heat was immense even before the band came on, it was Charlenes birthday so the girls were up. We celebrated her birthday in the dressing room, just got pissed up and Ian the tour manager got her a cake and a drink.

Right through the songs the heat was unbelievable, the clothes were soaking wet, the boys were almost naked and nearly feinted because it was so hot! Loads of water was being handed out. The lads were pouring bottles of water over their heads. The gig kicked off again. Afterwards we retreated to the dressing room and loads of fans waited outside to meet and greet. In the dressing room the steam coming off the boys it was unbelievable. The vibe was very high, so thats 2 gigs under the belt! Then we went to the bus for another all night party!

Ryan McPhail x


Day 3 - Forres Loft - Sat 18th Oct

We woke up in the bunks to find ourselves on some sort of farm with barns, sheep, pigs, cats, like at a caravan site. There was like a quad biking place next to it and a shooting range but we never got to use any of them. The whole venue was freezing cold. We just had to hang around during the day. We went to have a few drinks but the radiator burst and was pissing water everywhere, the owner came and he wasn't too happy, he wasn't best pleased at all but we just wiped it up and pretended it never happened but he still found out later. Dundee solo artist Alan Turner was first support and he was amazing, he went down really well. The Brouges played another storming set too.

Onto the boys gig and the whole barn was full. People were squashed right up the front and the sides. Was the best gig of the tour so far, spirits were really high and the band were really happy. It was the tightest the band have been so far.

At the end of the gig everyone was backstage. There was a really old bicycle backstage and Reni jumped on the bike and rode right across stage into the crowd. The security had to fight for the bike off the crowd but Reni was ok! Afterwards we went back to the bus for a drink. We went back to a couple of chalet parties that some fans had rented out and then wepartied there all night!

Ryan McPhail x

The Brogues

Go check out the second finest band from Dundee, The Brogues. They supported The View on all shows on the Scottish leg of the tour.

Listen here

Kings Of Leon

The band have ask me to point out that the stories in the tabloids earlier in the week quoting Crazy Mo slating the Kings Of Leon new album were actually completely fabricated by the press.

5Rebbeccas Review

Rated 8/10

All the way back in 2007, The View were an indie-rock ray of light, their debut album ‘Hats Off To The Buskers’ was something fresh, vibrant and extremely danceable. And now, the Dundonian four-piece are back. And not a moment too soon.

‘5Rebeccas’ will be played to death at indie-discos up and down the country. But unlike the audio-shite we’re often given, this is something really, really good. A tale of drunken debauchery, Kyle Falconer rasps over a ‘…Morning Glory’ era Oasis riff about his “Five Rebeccas and none of them’s close to me…the one I love the most, has turned into a junkie”, before a pirate like singalong interlude- “Wasn’t for my treasure you’d be rich my dear” (it’s much, much better than it sounds), and finally a screaming, ramshackle singalong of a climax, that somehow manages to sound like absolute perfection. This is a joyous rampage that doesn’t quite match the brilliance of ‘Hats Off..’’s ‘Wasted Little DJs’, but doesn’t fall too far off the mark. The View are back - thank the indie Jesus.

Wrexham show

On Sunday 26th October one of the biggest bands in the UK, The View, will be coming to Wrexham to play Central Station as part of their massive headline tour. Their new single ‘5Rebbeccas‘ will be released on Monday 27th October 2008 and is taken from their time locked away in a studio in the Welsh countryside.

The View released their debut album Hats Off to the Buskers on January 22, 2007, which entered the UK Album Chart at number one the following week.

Tickets are £12.50 each – if you want to go I would hurry – word on the street is that they are nearly sold out. You can get them online at www.seetickets.com or in person at Yales Café Bar, Wrexham

Dunfermline videos

5Rebbeccas

Face For The Radio

Jimmy's Conspiracy

Take a new look at The View

They may have been in a tizz about wearing the Same Jeans for four days, but The View should maybe address their terrible spelling as revealed by the title of their comeback single, 5Rebbecca's.

It appears that the frightfully young Dundonian scamps spent far too long listening to the likes of Ash and early Oasis when they should've been at school, but the time spent studying their immediate predecessors in the Britpop hierarchy has paid off.

Like much of their debut LP, Hats Off To The Buskers, 5Rebbecca's has the bounce and swagger of their influences, tied to an unashamedly catchy melody.

It certainly bodes well for the band's second album, especially as they had spoken recently about using strings and brass on the record, usually a sign of ambitious folly in a band so fresh. Another dose of fuzzed-up pop along the lines of Wasted Little DJs and Superstar Tradesman would be much more welcome.

This mammoth trek around the UK should be a good opportunity to check out exactly what else The View have up their sleeve other than the new single, while giving the band an opportunity to show why their live show attracts so much praise.

by AARON LAVERY, The Metro - Thursday, October 16, 2008

New Song - Andiamo

How I'd like to talk to you
Oh how I'm still so shy

Oh come on
Andiamo, come on

Who is that with the travelled face
The same from the one so shy

Oh come on andiamo, oh come on
Oh come on andiamo, oh come on

I sing a simple song, and I sing it all day long,
Andiamo,
I sing a simple song, and I sing it all day long,
Andiamo
I sing a simple song, and I sing it all day long,
Andiamo

I never been a one to travel ????
But I'd take a swim on you

Oh come on, andiamo, come on
So come on andiamo, come on

I sing a simple song, and I sing it all day long,
Andiamo,
I sing a simple song, and I sing it all day long,
Andiamo
I sing a simple song, and I sing it all day long,
Andiamo

Would you be my wife
I'm not a stallion
Would You be my love
Like I'm Italian

I sing a simple song, and I sing it all day long,
Andiamo,
I sing a simple song, and I sing it all day long,
Andiamo
I sing a simple song, and I sing it all day long,
Andiamo, andiamo,
Andiamo, andiamo,


Performed live at Ryan McPhail Exhibition, Proud Galleries, Camden on 14th October. This song has been written by Anto Dust and Ali Love and contributed to by Kyle Falconer.

MySpace Blog Day 1

We travelled up from london overnight to Dunfermline and then the gig was awesome, amazing, it was 900 capacity, the brouges played amazingly too, was a good gig. We had steak pie and chips and macaroni and cheese, it was ne bad, it was good! Rennis playing with them now, he had a great time, he wasnt nervous actually, he was quietly confident.

Owen Morris came down. He's thinking of working with Kyles brothers band The Brogues because he liked it so much. Everyone was there, the best of them, it was good to see all our friends again. And then we just went back to the bus for some sort of party and overnight travel to Rigmore and hopefully we'll have some better stories tonight.

The View put club Velocity back on the map!

hopefully they won't go trashing things and going on the rampage for better stories, though I know the stories will get better!

Ryan McPhail x

Free poster and Exclusive tour 7"

If you pick up the single at any of these indie stores, you'll get a free 5Rebbeccas poster. A few stores also have a few signed posters each so if you get in quick you might get lucky.

And if you're out seeing the band on the road this week, you can pick up an exclusive pink 7" which you can't get in stores.

If you can't get to a live date, or any of those stores, then head over to your local HMV, or pre-order it here.

The boys are back in town

IT'S not easy getting hold of The View these days. Cancelled interviews stretch back to September as the pace picked up around the making of the Dundee band's second album.

This week they were juggling rehearsals for the upcoming tour of their favourite small venues including the Raigmore, Inverness – where a likely rerun of the hottest, sweatiest, craziest gig of recent years is on the cards.

This week alone has seen rehearsals, interview and photo shoot for Q magazine, plus a couple of acoustic sets – one for their artwork man Ryan McPhail.

But just as the last deadline was slipping away, the phone rings and it's View guitarist Pete Reilly. And though these days the band's often hob-nobbing with the rich and famous, he doesn't seem much bothered by the thought he shared an event with Paris Hilton this week.

"We did acoustic covers of Gnarls Barkley and Babyshambles at the event, and yes, seemingly Paris Hilton was there."

He's more excited by the chance to get back out live on familiar territory to showcase the follow-up album to last year's staggeringly successful number one Hats Off To The Buskers.

"I'm really proud of this album. It's as strong, maybe even stronger than the last one. It's weird but once we had the songs and we'd demoed them, we knew we had cracked it again. It's not as stripped back as it was before, there are strings on it. I think it's a different style, and makes it sound nice. I don't think it would sound the same without it now."

Don't expect a string section on tour, though. The band plan to keep it simple.

"It was just an idea from our management because a few bands that were trying to do their second album released a single and did big gigs – and it never really happened. We just want it to be exciting again, doing these little shows. We'll get match fit and get the new songs broken in by the time we get up to the big, massive gigs."

V was the last big live gig Pete reckons the band played this summer, but it wasn't a favourite: "We did some of the new songs, but we were a bit subdued for us. I never really liked that crowd – they were into bands like Scouting For Cheese. But when we played Rock Ness, it was brilliant, it was good to play to our own fans again."

And Pete's been showing off the wonderful Highland landscape to his girlfriend.

"I've just got back from camping all the way around Scotland in a little red sports car with Hannah, because she's from London. So I was showing her all the beautiful parts of Scotland."

But it's not so likely the band will be getting out and about when they're up tomorrow (Friday).

"We'll probably stay on the bus most of the time nursing our hangovers!" laughed Pete.

Yes, The View are back.

By Margaret Chrystall, Highland News, 17th October 2008

View Looks Fine

ROCK fans who remember when months could pass without any decent bands visiting Inverness will be spoilt for choice over the next week.

First up are Dundee's The View, returning to the familiar territory of the Raigmore Motel this evening , though anyone without a ticket will be disappointed as the show quickly sold out.

Emerging from their home city in 2006, The View released debut album "Hats Off To The Buskers" early the following year, selling in excess of 300,000 copies.

A second album will be released in early 2009 but tonight's show could feature a taste of what is to come.

Inverness Courier, 17th October 2008

Peaks 'N' Troughs Kicks Off

The View kicked off their 37-date UK tour in Dunfermline last night (October 16) – previewing a number of songs from their forthcoming second album.

The Dundonians played four tracks set for inclusion on 'Which Bitch', including 'One-Off Pretender' and new single '5 Rebbeccas' as well as a selection from their acclaimed 2007 debut, 'Hats Off To The Buskers'.

Bounding on stage at the Kinema Ballroom, the band kicked off with new song 'Glass Smash', which sent the Fife crowd into a frenzy.

The four-piece were joined by a new keyboard player who played on a number of songs, including another new track, 'Shock Horror'.

The band finished with a trio of their hit singles – 'Face For The Radio', 'Superstar Tradesman' and UK Top Five hit 'Same Jeans'.

Speaking after the gig, frontman Kyle Falconer revealed to NME.COM that the new album will be released early next year.

He confirmed: "It's called 'Which Bitch', we are looking at the album coming out around January of next year, we are really proud of it."

NME.com, 17th October 2008

Rehearsal Video

The View rehearsing new track Glass Smash for Peaks 'N' Troughs tour at secret location in London on Sunday 17th October.

Photos from Proud

View here

"New Kings Of Leon Album Is Shit"

The View have described Kings of Leon's new album, 'Only By the Night', as “shit”.

The band's drummer Stephen Morrison told Gigwise that he thought Kings of Leon's music had suffered since frontman Caleb Followill had a haircut.

"That new Kings Of Leon album is shite. As soon as he cut his hair or something, he can get to fuck,” he said.

“It's fuckin bollocks man, average."

The View are due to release their as-yet-untitled second album next year. Stay tuned for a full interview with Morrison coming soon on Gigwise.

By Gavin Duffy, Gigwise, Thursday, October 16th 2008

The View's Kings blast

The View have blasted chart rivals Kings of Leon.

The 'Same Jeans' hitmakers say the American band's critically acclaimed new album 'Only by the Night' is "s***e" and they ruined their sound when frontman Caleb Followill changed his appearance.

The View's drummer Stephen Morrison said: "That new Kings Of Leon album is s***e. As soon as he cut his hair or something, he can get to f**k. It's f***ing b******s man, average".

The View are due to release their second album 'Which B***h?' next year.

Explaining the album's title, the band's singer Kyle Falconer said recently: "I called it that because it's an intriguing title. All the songs are about actual people on the LP. The title just means 'Which b***h am I singing about in which song?.' "

My Park Magazine, 17th October 2008

The View slate Kings of Leon

THE View have slated Kings of Leon's No.1 album Only By the Night.

The Dundee band were less than impressed by the US rockers' latest offering. And The View's drummer, Stephen Morrison, believed the band's music had suffered after frontman Caleb Followill had a haircut.

He told Gigwise: "That new Kings Of Leon album is s***. As soon as he cut his hair or something."

The View are due to release their second album next year.

By Beverley Lyons And Laura Sutherland, Daily Record, 17th October 2008

Rhythm And Booze

THE View's hell raising front man Kyle Falconer has rubbished the Scottish government's plans to raise the age limit for buying alcohol in stores and off licences to 21.

Alex Salmond is determined to push ahead with the plan and will debate it at the SNP conference this week.

But Kyle, who claims he enjoyed his first bottle of Alcopops when he was just 13, thinks the change in the law is unlikely to have an impact - because getting blitzed is a rite of passage for teenagers.

Even more shocking is his revelation that taking drugs is equally popular among teenagers for the same reason.

The singer, 21, said: "Raising the limit won't make any difference.

"The majority of people are normal and normal people have alcohol because they are inquisitive. When you are a teenager you don't know what is going to happen and your mind doesn't run that deep.

"So why would you not want to take alcohol?

Why would you not want to take drugs?

When you are that age, it is the prime time to be inquisitive. I can't understand why people question it, it happens. If you don't have a bevvy, fair enough. But you'll never see the likes of what we've seen. If you're not going to drink you'll never see it."

The View were banned from all 300 Travelodges in the UK after allegedly causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.

But the singer says he has no intention of cleaning up his act.

He said: "I'm 21 and I'll drink as much as I want. It's annoying sometimes when people tell me I shouldn't drink. People tell me I need to settle down, but what do they care about me. It sounds like I'm annoyed but I'm not."

Kyle said the longest he has been sober was a two week spell last summer.

"I was off the bevvy in Japan because I was in hospital," he explained. " I had blood poisoning. I had been travelling and hadn't got the shots I needed.

"I get it all the time. I got cellulitis two weeks ago. It's not pretty."

Scots fans will get the first chance to hear songs from their forthcoming album Which Bitch on the current tour.

The latest long player is the follow up to their debut album Hats Off To The Buskers, which shot straight to No.1 and earned the band a string of hit songs, such as chart-topper Same Jeans, Wasted Little DJs and Superstar Trademan.

The band are playing a series of intimate dates at Inverness Raigmore tonight, Forres The Loft on Saturday, Edinburgh Cabaret Voltaire on Sunday, to tie in with their new single 5 Rebeccas.

They return to Scotland as part of the return-to-basics 35-date tour for gigs at Glasgow's King Tut's on November 12, Aberdeen Lemon Tree on November 27, Glasgow's Barrowlands on November 28, Kirkcaldy Ocean Nightclub (29) and Dundee Fat Sams (30).

The band - Kyle, bassist Keiren Webster, guitarist Peter Reilly and drummer Steven Morrison - have been given security guards ahead of the dates, to protect them after a string of bust ups.

Peter said: "We've all had scraps. The security are there to protect us from ourselves. The first night we said we didn't need security, Kyle fell asleep on a pool table in a pub."

Kyle added: "When we first got security guards we were like, 'What is he doing here? What do we need them for?

He's not getting on the bus.' We got annoyed. We were busy trying to get our mates on the bus and getting into arguments with security over it. You don't understand why you need them until a giant Dutch boy tries to smack your puss and the security guy just takes the guy's fist in his hand and you're like, 'Sound'.

"And if I am too drunk, I can say, gie's acuddy back.' "All the time we get hassle. I have got the fear all the time.

"There is always somebody who will sit down and pretend they just want a wee chat and ask how you are doing. It happens that much that I can clock it from a mile away when somebody wants to come up and give me grief. It's ridiculous.

"We've all had narrow escapes. We have all been close to death many times.

"We're not afraid of it. I have been close to death many a time."

Kyle also feels the band's fame can be a pain when he is out and about getting in his stash of cigarettes and alcohol.

He said: "Even before we had a reception outside Dundee we were being plagued by Dundonians. The whole thing kicked off. We always had a massive fan base in Dundee right from the start.

"Dundonians appreciate good music.

"But you get loads of stupid people.

The majority of the time somebody wants to grab my hair. There's loads of p****s but once in a while somebody will be really interested.

"It's the nature of the business. I can get out of a taxi in Dundee and a guy will say, 'Alright Kyle. Going to your mum's house?' "That's a bit annoying. How does he know who I am and how does he know my address.

"I'll go to the supermarket to get fags and beer and somebody will say to me, 'Kyle. I thought you were supposed to be off the bevvy.'"

Kyle also admits the band have also come to blows with each other while out on the road.

He said: "Sometimes we're sick of the sound of each other or sick of the smell."

'Why would you not want to take alcohol? When you are a teenager it is the time to be inquisitive'

By John Dingwall, Daily Record 17th October 2008

BBC 6 Session

The band popped into George Lamb's BBC6 studio last week to for an interview and also played two new tracks 5Rebbecca's and Temptation Dice

Download here

Credit to orange pekoe for Upload.

New Promo Picture

New picture from the new set promotional photographs. More to follow soon.

5Rebbeccas Review

Everyone has a crucial point in their lives which they dread. For boys it could be the tangled web of love, females and the fast approaching car crash of hormonally charged puberty. For girls, perhaps it’s whose heart to break next, who knows? But for bands it would have to be the monumentally important second album. A decider in their musical career. And in many cases, the approach of a second album will be accompanied by a music critic pointing a fully loaded gun or slander themed adjectives right at the head of the musical mind behind either the monstrosity or the masterpiece…

In this case I feel that I am going to lower my cynical weapon of words doused in negative connotations for it is the return of everyone’s favourite Dundee vagabonds, The View. Although we are only at the first single stage I feel confident in these boys. The double-dutch foursome have returned from their smoke filled odyssey with around four minutes of anthemic, riff fuelled junkie drama.

New single, 5 Rebbeccas, begins like the illegitimate love child of Wasted Little DJ’s. It scurries down the well trodden path of overdosed distortion that the carnage causing Scot’s have taken before. And as they dip into the first verse, the melodically organised ramshackle becomes chaotically poetic as the problem-posing dialect of Kyle Falconer begins to flow from his tongue.

The mixture of grubby rock and roll and beautifully melodic pop is an insight into the hard work that has gone into making this tune. After around three years of touring and making their debut album, “Hats off to the buskers”, the boys have had a wee break and are to release their second album in January 2009, with the intriguing title, “Which bitch?”

According to Falconer and guitarist Pete Reilly, the new album is “darker” and more “experimental”, a step away from their successful pop charged debut, which leaves me wondering…If “5 Rebbeccas” is a taster of things to come, well then we are in for quite a treat.

It’s a drug inspired snippet of rock angst, depicting the trials and tribulations of a young female, “Rebbecca”, apparently based on a real person. Nonetheless, “5 Rebbeccas” is not only caked in a new found musical maturity, but also a cluster of chant worthy lyrics, which like the debut, are sure to engrave themselves into the long list of View lyrics that already echo the towns past played. Dark and Experimental seems to have paid off, and believe me, The View are still very much “On Fire!”

By Daniel Jones, A Daily Musical Feed, 16th October 2008

5Rebbeccas review

The echoing chants of 'The View, The View are on fire' drifting down from Dundee can only mean one thing: The View are back. And what a comeback. The raucous '5Rebbeccas' captures the spirit of every single one of the bands live shows in just three quick fire minutes.

Gigwise.com

The View at V Festival

NME, September 2008

Thanks to Leonie for emailing this in.

Proud Gallery Show

The View played a storming acoustic show at Proud Galleries yesterday evening. Kyle Falconer entered the stage first for a solo version of The Beatles classic "I've Just Seen a Face". Falconer then called his friend Anto up to perform a duet of a song penned only the night before.

Kieren and Pete then joined their bandmate for a blistering show including new tracks 5Rebbeccas, Temptation Dice, One Off Pretender and older favourites Wasted Little DJs, Same Jeans, Face For The Radio, Skag Trendy, The Don, Streetlights and Typical Time.

The band were in fine fettle, interacting with the audience throughout their set even singing "Happy Birthday" to a member of the crowd and added three songs to the planned set.

Their last minute show was in support of street artist friend Ryan McPhail who had a gallery coinciding with the bands sold out show.

It's happy hour again

The View have managed their usual share of rabble-rousing while recording in rural Wales, and they're ready to put the party on the road again, they tell Chitra Ramaswamy

THE sleepy scene is a valley in South Wales dominated by rolling hills, studded with sheep. Into this bucolic idyll step – or more likely stumble – Dundee's indie-rock rabble-rousers: The View. This is where the band made their second album, Which Bitch, over the summer (though it won't be released until next year), and I'm discovering why it's likely they won't be allowed back. "We got banned from a couple of pubs," admits bassist Kieran Webster. He can't

And it's hard to keep up with them as Webster motors on to a story about a witch's hat and some persistent superglue. In fact, Morrison's reflection on the sessions in Wales as being "absolutely mental – a pure rollercoaster" works just as well as a description for interviewing The View. So, the witch's hat? "That was my birthday present from Owen," explains Webster. "He glued it to his head and then couldn't get it off for six days." What did they do? "We went to the pub," he shrugs. The happy ending came when a tattooist eventually removed it.

The best night of the sessions was working on a track called 'Covers' that Webster felt sounded "a bit like a Paolo Nutini song". Unbelievably, a certain Paisley singer-songwriter happened to be in Wales, also recording his second album. "When we found out Paolo was along the road we went and got him and asked him to do the vocals," says Webster. "He was more than willing. He's a really good sport, is Paolo, and his band came along as well. It had only been us for weeks, so it was good to have some fresh faces… really funny, a good laugh."

The rock'n'roll rampaging of this foursome from Dundee's Dryburgh, who shot to fame last year after Pete Doherty took a fancy to their raucous post-punk sound, is already legendary. The band have been refused entry to the US after frontman Kyle Falconer was convicted of cocaine possession, they've broken numerous bones in drunken brawls and falls, flooded two floors of a hotel after leaving a bath running overnight, and are rumoured to fill their water bottles on stage with neat vodka. "I like to have a vodka and orange before a gig, but just one," says Webster, then adds: "Well, sometimes more."

"My Uncle Mark says they must have put something in the water in Dryburgh when we were all born because all our mates are party animals as well," he continues. "We just do what we've always done but it's just that we get put in the papers because we're in a band. Nothing has changed."

Next up is a 35-date UK tour, their first outing on the road this year. They are itching to get back on the tour bus, having spent all of last year gigging. For the past fortnight they've been back in Dundee, which I presume must be comforting after so much time away. Actually, they've been bored. "It's hard to come back down to earth," says Falconer, who moved to London last year, though he avoids his flat and stays with friends because "it's a shithole; there are tomatoes that have been in the fridge for like a year". "We need to go on the road to keep it together," says Webster. "It's great playing gigs back to back, day in day out, doing what you're good at every day. It keeps you on the ball."

Run through the tracks on the new album and more salubrious stories show their dirty faces. There are songs about post-pub rows in the street, following double yellow lines to find your way home, and one in which Falconer re-imagines Dundee's population as a gang of pirates in Treasure Island, inspired by Mahler and described to me as a mini musical in the spirit of Fantasia. "It's good we've moved on and not been scared to put things like pianos in," says Falconer, who also penned a song for the album, 'Unexpected', about the death of his father.

"We were nervous in the sense that we had all these songs but the record company was saying they wanted to get more," says Webster. "We were saying 'We'll just go in the studio' and they were saying 'No!'. They didn't think we had any tunes but they take it back now, big-style."

Then there's the song about ending up in an Aberdeen jail for the night, 'One Off Pretender'. "We were doing a DJ gig and everyone was shouting and throwing bottles at us," recalls Webster. "A big mob of guys who were there to cause trouble started fighting our mates, so me and Kyle jumped over the decks and started fighting with them. On the way back to Dundee, they (the police] stopped the bus and arrested me and Kyle."

For a band who packed Hats Off To The Buskers with infectious, Libertines-esque anthems about poor hygiene ('Same Jeans'), living on a scheme ('Gran's For Tea') and hairdressers in Dundee ('Wasted Little DJs') – and all this a year before label-mates Glasvegas – their second offering doesn't sound like it's going to disappoint.

Still, though, there is the small problem of not being allowed back into the States, where The View have had to cancel two sold-out tours. "We tried twice to apply for working visas and got advised to leave it and get on with our careers," says Webster. "We've left it over a year now and done another record and not been in trouble so… we're really hoping to get back. It's pretty rubbish. Some people seem to get into America who have done a lot worse." Have they really been on their best behaviour, I wonder, thinking of the witch's hat, Aberdeen, the pubs in rural Wales… To which Webster protests: "Well, we've not been caught for anything."

• The View's tour opens at Velocity, Dunfermline, on Thursday. The new single '5 Rebeccas' is released on October 27

Scotland On Sunday, 15th October 2008

View play London Diesel gig

Mark Ronson, Supergrass, The View, Babyshambles' Drew McConnell and Patrick Wolf were among those who performed collaborations last night (October 11) at the London Matter venue as part of the Diesel xXx series of gigs.

The clothing company organised one-off gigs featuring collaborations in cities all over the world. Footage from the gigs was broadcast live at Diesel.com.

The London event attracted a host of famous faces. Paris Hilton brought a large entourage to the gig. She was followed by cameramen around the venue, filming for a reality TV show.

The evening's musical action kicked off at 10pm (BST) with a short set from Friendly Fires, who were joined by Ebony Bones then The Cocknbullkid.

Pete Doherty had been scheduled to perform live with Florence And The Machine, but did not show up to the gig.

Instead Mark Ronson and Doherty's Babyshambles bandmate Drew McConnell stepped in to perform with the London-based singer/songwriter.

McConnell apologised for Doherty's absence, performing a cover of Kelly Clarkson's 'Since You’ve Been Gone' with Ronson and Florence And The Machine.

The bassist then welcomed on The View for his next collaboration. He and the Dundee band played a cover of Gnarls Barkley's 'Crazy' then Babyshambles' 'Fuck Forever'.

McConnell's final collaboration came next, when he played guitar to accompany Lethal Bizzle, backed by The Noisettes' drummer Jamie Morrison.

The trio played Bizzle's song 'Police On My Back', before the rapper performed 'Pow!', earning the loudest cheers of the night.

Later on in the evening Supergrass were joined by Ed Harcourt on guitar on vocals for a short set that included their hit 'Pumping On Your Stereo'.

Patrick Wolf followed the Oxford band, playing a new song, 'Battle', backed by These New Puritans. He then played 'Tristan' and 'Accident And Emergency' with Mark Ronson.

The night ended with a series of DJ sets from the likes of Ronson and Sonny J, with Plastic Little playing a live set in the venue's second room.

Meanwhile, the New York leg boasted sets from the likes of Franz Ferdinand, Hot Chip and MIA.

The View name 'boozy' second LP

The View have revealed the working title for their second album.

The Dundee four-piece have named their new record Which Bitch? after recently completing recording sessions in Wales with Oasis producer Owen Morris.

"I called it that because it's an intriguing title", explained frontman Kyle Falconer.

"All the songs are about actual people on the LP. The title just means 'Which bitch am I singing about in which song?'"

The Dundonian upstarts returned to the scene of their first album, Monnow Valley Recording Studios, to record the follow up to their Number One debut Hats Off To The Buskers.

The last one was a bit poppier but this is moodier, darker and a bit more experimental

It was there they stumbled across fellow Scottish singer song-writer Paolo Nutini who was also working on his own material at the nearby Rockfield Studios.

"I remember thinking when I first wrote this track Covers, which is about not being able to sleep and pulling the covers off my girlfriend in the middle of the night, that Paolo Nutini would sound f****g s*** hot singing on this," Kyle enthused.

"We'd already recorded it and finished it as a band but he was next door. I said, 'Man come and have a bash it'. We did a verse each and he recreated what I'd done. It was perfect."

The band also pulled in Babyshambles bassist Drew McConnell for the track Jimmy's Crazy Conspiracy while Give Back The Sun even saw Kyle's sister getting in on the act.

"My sister is an English teacher but she's been a wedding singer all her life. She has quite a unique voice people probably wouldn't associate with our music but weirdly, it worked," he said.

"She came in for a couple of days and she was brilliant man. It's like an Abba song. "

We never recorded anything for about a week because we got wasted with our producer

Guitarist Pete Reilly added: "Yeah but it's also kind of going for the Gimme Shelter vibe because it has a high vocal."
The band's forthcoming single 5Rebeccas is smattered with the same melodic, upbeat gritty rock and roll sound as hit singles Superstar Tradesman and Same Jeans from their first album.

But the band warned fans not to expect more of the same on the next record.

"The last one was a bit poppier but this is moodier, darker and a bit more experimental," Pete revealed.

"Hats Off was all drums, guitars and vocals and that's it but with this album anything goes."

Kyle went on: "On the first album we were bang into the Clash and Oasis. It's just the way we were at the time so it was good going into this album with an open mind.

"We were like 'Yes man let's do it, no ties, no limits, lets put tons of harmonies on it'."
Booze fuelled

Like their debut though, their producer ensured the band's recording sessions were booze fuelled before they went into the studio.

"It was the same again with Owen because that's how he works. Only it was even more intense this time. We never recorded anything for about a week because we got wasted with him," Kyle recalls. "Then we thought, 'S*** man we need to get a move on'."

Pete added: "I remember when we were recording it got to one stage where we'd been up all night, it was 8 o'clock in the morning and the sun was coming up.

"There was this lake at the bottom of the garden and Owen had this big litre of vodka in one hand and a fag in the other.

"He just jumped straight in the lake. We jumped in too and the current took us right down the stream but he was just defying it."

During the build up to their debut, the Dundee four-piece often found themselves facing tribal chants of 'The View! The View! The View! are on fire!' as their fanbase swelled.

And the band are expecting more of the same when they return for a mammoth UK tour on 16 October.

"We've played a few gigs recently which haven't really been our crowd so it's going to be good to go back and here them chanting 'The View! The View! The View are on fire again," Pete said.

"We're playing every single rock and roll hole in Britain so we'll probably be a lot skinnier the next time you see us."

Which Bitch? is set to be released in January.

By Damian Jones, BBC

Ryan McPhail exhibition update

Ryan's gallery will now kick off at 4pm tomorwow and will be open until 10pm.

Acoustic show guestlist

We have guestlist spaces available for tomorrows show at Proud. Email me and I will add you on.

The View surprise acoustic show

The View have announced that they will play an acoustic show at the London Proud Galleries on Tuesday (October 14).

According to the band's MySpace page, Dundee band will play a support slot for Ryan McPhail at the Camden venue. Tickets for the show are on sale now, click below to order.

Two days after the one-off date the band will kick off a 35-date fully plugged-in tour in Dunfermline.

The band release their comeback single, '5Rebeccas', on October 27.

The View will play:

Dunfermline Velocity (October 16)
Inverness Raigmore (17)
Forres The Loft (18)
Edinburgh Cabaret Voltaire (19)
Newcastle Academy 2 (21)
Hull Welly Club (22)
Manchester Moho Live (23)
Nottingham Bodega (24)
Wrexham Central Station (26)
Swansea Sin City (27)
Shrewsbury Buttermarket (28)
Falmouth Princess Pavilion (30)
Brighton Old Market (31)
Reading After Dark (November 1)
Gloucester Guildhall (2)
Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms (4)
Milton Keynes Woughton Centre (5)
Colchester Arts Centre (6)
Stoke Sugarmill (7)
Norwich Arts Centre (9)
Sheffield Plug (10)
Carlisle Brickyard (11)
Glasgow King Tuts (12)
Middlesbrough Cornerhouse (16)
Leeds Faversham (17)
Liverpool Barfly (18)
Oxford Academy (19)
London Astoria (21)
Bristol Thekla (22)
Cardiff The Point (23)
Leicester Charlotte (24)
York Duchess (26)
Aberdeen Lemon Tree (27)
Kirkcaldy Ocean (29)
Dundee Fat Sams (30)

To check the availability of The View tickets and get all the latest listings, go here now, or call 0871 230 1094

NME.com, 9th October 2008

Live at the Astoria

Full live performance on video from London Astoria. Recorded 10th December 2007

Watch here

Documentary Update

The new video for The View '5 Rebbecas' directed by Dan and Julian at PTE Media is a window into the last 18 months with the band on tour. It's a preview into the documentary which is set to be released next year, more adventures with the Dryburgh 4 to follow...

Dryburgh Style preview

5Rebbecca's Promo

Live Session on Big City Network

Tune into The Big City Radio network across Scotland on 15th Oct at 7pm to hear the band perform a live In Demand session.

Band talk to Billy Sloan

When The View get excited that's normally a cue to batten down the hatches and stick on the crash helmets.

But lead singer Kyle Falconer claims the volatile Scots rockers have turned over a new leaf.

Believe that and you'll believe anything.

For there's never a dull moment with the group who hit No.1 with debut album Hats Off To The Buskers in 2007.

Kyle has moved from his native Dundee to London to live with his girlfriend.

The singer revealed pressure of life in his home city had become too much.

He said: "I want to be in a band but I don't like being a pop star. I get hassle constantly. Being famous is not really my cup of tea.

"I'll be in a pub and loads of great people will come up for a chat or say they appreciate our music.

"But there's always somebody who'll start pulling my hair or being annoying.

I can't bear it. There are too many idiots around.

"It was hard to move from Dundee. I'm a bit of a cagey guy. I hate being alone.

That's my biggest fear on the planet I can't spend any time on my own."

The View - Kyle, guitarist Pete Reilly, bassist Kieren Webster and drummer Steven Morrison - release outstanding single 5Rebeccas on October 27.

It should follow Wasted Little DJs, Superstar Tradesman and Same Jeans into the UK charts.

The song paves the way for their eagerly-awaited second album Which Bitch, recorded again with Oasis producer Owen Morris.

The View hope it will crack the lucrative American market but they are banned from performing in the States.

Last year Kyle was fined £1000 for having cocaine in Dundee and the fall-out was devastating. The group had to cancel a US tour when immigration authorities refused to grant them visas.

Kyle said: "I'm really sad we still can't get into America. There are no drugs now.

I've become a bit more mature. I wouldn't change for anyone except my girlfriend.

"But I don't think we've ever really been that wild. Hopefully it will all be resolved."

Kieren added: "We're still working on the American problem. It's a bit of a touchy subject but we've been told we should get in with the new album.

"Kyle and I were recently awarded a prestigious songwriting award in America and that could help us get in.

"It's frustrating we can't play there but we've not been in trouble since.

"There are no drug problems in the band. Kyle got caught with drugs but that was ages ago.

"We didn't shout and bawl at him. The shamed look on his face was enough."

The View's colourful escapades have frequently hit the headlines. Drummer Steve was arrested for a driving offence.

It was claimed the group's management banned them from chic K-West Hotel in London after they were caught drinking in a Jacuzzi at 6am.

They were also banned by the Travelodge chain after causing £7000 of damage when they flooded a hotel room in Liverpool.

Kieren said: "Now we're trying to behave. We were just like any other 18-year-olds. It just so happened that we got a record deal and tour bus at the same time and went off our heads."

It's clear that the lads from the Dryburgh area of Dundee weren't quite prepared for life in rock's fast lane.

Kieren admitted: "We weren't ready for success. I did a lot of learning on the way.

I was just trying to keep my head straight and take everything as it came.

"It's easy to get stressed but if you're in this job you really can't complain.

"It annoyed me when Kyle got slated in the papers. Some sections of the press tried to make him out to be an a******* when that's the last thing he was." On October 16, The View kick off their UK tour with a gig at Velocity in Dunfermline.

The schedule includes dates at Cabaret Voltaire in Edinburgh on October 19 and King Tut's in Glasgow on November 12.
Kyle revealed the inspiration for 5Rebeccas. He said: "I've got a niece and few mates called Rebecca.

"I put all my random childhood memories together to create this fake character. The lyric says, 'The one I love the most has turned into a junkie'. But it's just a made-up character.

"The album also has a lot of songs about our girlfriends and other girls we know." Kieren added: "My girlfriend has already featured in some of our tracks - including Wasted Little DJs - so she's cool with it."

The View recorded Which Bitch at Monnow Valley Studio in Wales where Led Zeppelin, The Stone Roses, Iggy Pop and Queen made their biggest hits.

Kieren says it is a big step forward from their debut. He told me: "We put a lot more thought into the music. It's much more melodic.

"On Hats Off, we'd already written the songs and played them - week in, week out - for a year.

"This time, we only had a couple of tracks completed and did a lot more writing in the studio. It was a new experience for us and we came out with a few absolute crackers."

For the first time the band incorporated lavish strings on the tracks.

Kieren said: "We used strings on six songs including a great new track called Distant Doubloon.

"Owen knew a musical arranger in New York, so we'd email him a track, he'd do orchestral string parts and send it back.

"With the time difference between Wales and New York we'd sit until 7am and wait for him to email the tracks.

"It was cool to hear The View with an orchestra. It really adds to our tunes some sound like Sergeant Pepper."

The band got their big break when they handed a demo to Pete Doherty before a gig in Dundee.

He recommended them to his mate, label boss James Endeacott of 1965 Records, who offered them a deal.

Debut single Wasted Little DJs was voted Track of the Year at the 2007 NME Awards.

The View made pop history when they became the first Scottish act to shoot straight to No.1 with a debut album.

Kieren said: "One minute we're on the dole the next we're top of the charts.

"We lived on a tour bus for a year and that cemented our friendship.

"Now we've got some money when we didn't have any before. I'm not fabulously rich just yet, so I've not gone mental.

"I bought an old-fashioned Mini - I'd always wanted one. I've not bought a house yet I'm still living in a rented flat in Dundee.

"It's a good time for The View now recording the album is off our shoulders.

We're raring to get back to playing live."

Fame is not my cup of tea..there is always some idiot coming and pulling my hair

By Billy Sloan, Sunday Mail, October 5 2008