Pete Interview

The View were a big breakthrough band in 2006, with 'Same Jeans' leading the way for a number of roots-infused indie bands to emerge from the woodwork. Putting Dundee on the map, the band are entering the 'difficult second album' stage which has plagued many bands before them. Before their show at the Carling Academy last week, I met up with them to talk Kazoos, Digital and Aberdeen Jails...

My initial euphoria at getting to meet and interview Dundee’s finest is dispelled; I imagine the rowdy Scot lads doing lines of coke over my carefully written notes while I watch in the corner, trying to ask quietly how their sound has improved since their 2006 debut. We arrange to do the interview at the Carling Academy, where the band are to play tonight and, ever the punctual professional, I set off with plenty of time, ringing the manager, Ian, to ’assure’ him I’m on my way. "Hi Ian. Just to let you know I’ll be there in fifteen minutes," I remember wondering if Ian would be impressed by my attitude. "This Chris Mandle chap could go places; what an efficient bloke," I imagine him telling anyone who’d listen. Instead, he dryly explains the band are running late and they won’t be ready for ages, "so don’t come yet." This as my metro pulls away from the station. After killing as much time as possible I arrive at the Academy and can hear the band sound checking from the lobby. I’m told to wait there for some bizarre reason (I was hoping to catch the rehearsals, and in hindsight, could have easily got away with it but, well, you know...) and spent time looking at the bare walls and tour dates that are coming up. In the peak of desperation to look less socially inept, this budding journalist went through the cycle of checking his inbox, looking at sent messages, relishing in the things I’d told various people. As time ticked on, I alternated between my inbox and my sent messages, so I could better understand what conversations I’d had during the day like some bizarre sentence-tennis. Why was it so satisfying?

Eventually a man collected me and some other journalists who, it seems, did not have a habit of arriving unconventually early to everything. It was basic collection; no ‘hello, I’m ___’ and no oppertunity for me to practice my hand-shaking technique (the tip is to grip, but not squeeze. Thank me later). He had neither the friendliness or social skills to be working in such a profession, ushering us into a lift like he was herding sheep. He was indulging in a Twix like a forbidden lover as we went upstairs to The Academy 2 - a smaller, pokier venue about the size of The Cluny, if you’ve been. Unsure why The View were playing in such a small venue, I kept my thoughts to myself as the band finished playing ‘Shock Horror’, which Pete later tells me is his favourite song off the new album, scheduled for release in early 2009. They sounded great - lively, energetic, and there was a feeling of anticipation among them. It was easy to tell the band were glad to be touring again.

I looked at the band, wondering which one I’d get - the drill was that each group got a band member each to interview. Maybe I’d meet the dirty looking one? The singing one? The one knocking back Irn Bru like it was laced with LSD? In the end, I got Pete - he was the guitarist. We wandered to a staircase and perched, exchanging names and having a bit of a laugh along the way; sitting on the step, it felt like I’d dragged a mate from a dance floor to sit down and have a heart-to-heart about a text from my girlfriend. Or something.


Chris
: So what have The View been up then?


Pete
: Rehearsing mainly. We have the new album to promote, and all these new tracks. Oh, and sampling Newcastle a bit.


C
: You went out last night?


P
: Aye, we went to Digital

I take this time to explain to Pete Digital is the fifteenth best club in the world (something I try to tell most bands)…he is not that impressed, which surprises me. I also think it is extremely cool that they just go out on the town, and wondered if ‘Ian’ knew where they were. Maybe he was with them, stood at the bar murmuring ‘I hate this song’.


C
: So how is the new album different to the first?


P
: Well when we started out…we’re just a bunch of lads with instruments, you know. We wanted to tell people who we were, and see us for who we are as people, so we had this casual, stripped-back feel on [Hat’s Off To The Buskers]. It was just really simple and laid back. But with this album, we’ve become far more experimental, using strings, which we’d never tried before.


C
: So you think your initial success has given you the confidence to try things like that?


P
: Well yea…sorta, but it was never about confidence. Our plan was just to start simple, and then build on that. One thing we always considered was ‘could we do this live?’ with regards to some of the things we wanted to try. And now, we think if it can add to the song, then we won’t hold back.

I was surprised the band were anticipating the future. Do many bands these days anticipate say, a five-year plan with their careers? I soldiered on to a more interesting matter for the musician…regarding the rumours that the band spent a night in an Aberdeen jail and that they wrote a song about it.


C
: There’s a rumour going round...


P
: Oh?


C
:That your new track One Off Pretender" is based off a night spent in jail?


P
: *Laughs*
Aye, aye.


C
: Sounds like a good story...


P
: It’s a good ‘un


C
: Go on...


P
[laughs]: It’s true, aye. The song’s called ‘One Off Pretender’. When we were in Aberdeen Kieran got chucked in a cell and beat up by the police. That’s pretty much it. [The song] was like a middle finger up to the police, saying ‘this is for putting us in a cell!’


C
: What was Kieran put in jail for!?

Pete is wry with the answer, suggesting it was something ‘silly’ and ‘daft’, but decides not to elaborate. I decide not to probe further, wondering if I may squander the good reputation of Pulp. Pete told me that he’s listening to Creedance Clearwater Revival at the moment, but hasn’t heard a great deal of new music (I’ve found bands are a good way to hear new bands. Alas, not with Pete). We chatted a bit about The Mystery Jets and agreed ‘Two Doors Down’ is class. Unfortunately, despite my persistence, the guys didn’t cover it at their gig. I ask about their banter before and after a gig - there’s always that story about some bands chanting or praying or slaughtering a goat before they go on stage. Do The View do anything similar?

"Not really," shrugs Pete. "Just have a few tins, chill out."

And the same again after the gig, I guess? Pete nods. Throughout the interview there was this overwhelming sense of ease about Pete and the band in general; they’re not here for a crazy endorsement, or celebrity girlfriend; the five want to make good, honest music and are doing a cracking job – they don’t even seem too bothered that they’re not performing on the main stage. Hearing them live gives them so much more dimension than hearing Kyle, Kieran and the band on the radio – check them out if you can. New album ‘Witch Bitch’ emerges in January 2009, and from what I was able to hear last week, the band are moving up and up, and will tear apart anything in their way. Watch out.


Chris Mandle – Web Editor, Courier Student Magazine

Interview with NME

Pete's new Love

THE View's Pete Reilly has a new woman in his arms - with the blessing of his girlfriend.

But Scots guitarist isn't two-timing long-time love Hannah Wallace.

Pete has fallen in love with a buxom gal painted by legendary US tattoo artist, the late Norman Collins.

Pete was presented with the artwork before The View's gig at Barrowland in Glasgow on Friday.

He fell for the curvy girl at an exhibition of the artist's work in the city's King Tut's earlier this month.

And he was delighted when the organisers gave him the picture.

He said: "This picture - Rise And Shine - really caught my eye. It was the coolest one of the lot.

"My girlfriend Hannah is studying art at university and some of her work is based on pin-up girls.

"I thought it would be nice to get her the artwork for Christmas."

Pete - along with singer Kyle Falconer, bass player Kieren Webster and drummer Steven Morrison - is set to release The View's brilliant second studio album Which Bitch next year.

The disc features new single Shock Horror. They've also confirmed a gig at Edinburgh Picture House on February 12.

Ex-seaman Norman Collins was the inspiration behind Sailor Jerry rum. Now Pete is planning to have a tattoo of one of Norman's girls.

"I've already got a swallow tattoo on my hand so I'd like to get a pinup girl on my arm," he said.

"I really like Norman's work so it would be great to have one of his tattoos."

Kathy Roe of Sailor Jerry rum said: "The recent Art of Sailor Jerry exhibition in Glasgow was a great success so we are delighted to give The View this piece of iconic artwork.

"The group capture the same spirit of rebellion and originality as Norman Collins himself."

By Billy Sloan, Sunday Mail, November 30th 2008

On Tour - London Astoria

London Astoria

This was always going to be a stressful day but was made all the worse that when collecting the bands gear we discovered it was all covered in powder paint from yesterdays video shoot, so the first couple of hours of my day was wasted cleaning up that mess.

Got to Astoria about 2pm and Kyle, Reni and Mo have already arrived looking as fresh as I've seen them all tour. Kerien and Pete arrive soon after.

A fair few press arrive to do interviews with the boys keeping them busy and out of my hair for a couple of hours so I can get set up without all their daft questions!

Once set up and souncheck complete we all get together for a band and crew slap up meal. The band are quiet and look nervous, probably as it's the biggest show of the tour with a 2000+ sell out crowd to entertain.

Showtime and Holy Ghost get the crowd warmed up nicely with even their tour manager getting onstage and adding some vocals at one point before launching himself into the audience much to the delight and hilarity of everyone around.

10 minutes before The View were due to come on, the crowd were already belting out the famous chant of "The View Are On Fire" which the boys could hear from back stage ensuring that they are raring to go. It was the biggest crowd Reni had played to but he was looking surprisingly cool and calm. The boys enter the stage to huge cheers from the baying crowd. First song Glass Smash was adored by the audience with loads of crowd surfers. This was by far the best show of the tour with the crowd jumping, dancing and singing wildly to each song, even the new ones. The last three songs of Shock Horror, Same Jeans and Superstar Tradesman sent everyone wild, into scenes I've rarely seen anywhere.

The band were obviously hyper when coming off with Hi-Fives all round.

They along with friends and some record label staff including James Endeacott then all went to 12 Bar to party until the early hours and myself and Chris were left with the glamourous task of loading out.

Davey Dial Up x
www.myspace.com/dryburgh

Ziggy Stardust Cover

Kyle and Conor from Holy Ghost Revival perform a cover of Ziggy Stardust by David Bowie at York Duchess, 27th November 2008.
Backstage Rehearsal


On Stage Performance

Liverpool & Oxford Tour Blog

Firstly, I apologise for not updating the blog sooner but my laptop screen was shattered during one of the tour bus parties so I've had to borrow the tour mangers to do these.

Liverpool Barfly

We arrive at the home of The Beatles - a favourite band of all the boys but more so Kyle. He is first up and around and does his usual thing of going round the famous Beatles sites spending a fair few quid on lots of memorabilia and toys.

Pete sat in the tour bus in his boxer feeling sorry for himself as he was nursing a nasty hangover and had just found out he had to get himself ready to head through to Manchester for a radio session. For the first time ever Kyle is first ready and raring to go. Webby is rough as hell and isn't going to make it so just stays in bed leaving Mo, Pete and Kyle to head through to do the session.

The crew just do the usual setting up and finish early enough for a quick pint before the band arrive back from Manchester.

Barfly fills up early giving Holy Ghost Revival a good crowd to play to and getting a good response from them.

Scouse crowds are always good and this lot were no different. The crowd were bouncing even before The View came on stage with pints flying all over the place. First song to the last was really well received by the crowd with 5 Bex and Wasted Little DJ's getting the best receptions. At one point Andy the sound tech had the volume up so loud it caused the PA to blast and switch itself of but it didn't cause too much distruption and order was restored soon enough. The show continued with Shock Horror which is fast becoming the new favourite amongst fans.

Afterwards we all headed round to Heebie Jeebies until the wee small hours.

Davey Dial Up x


Oxford Zodiac

I wake up early morning with the bus already parked up in Oxford. It's a nice day so I decide to take in a few of the sites and do a bit of shopping. Unbelievably I bump into a certain lead singer who is also already up and around doing the same thing as myself. We take a wander down by the river looking at the boats and do the normal thing of walking round a graveyard seeing how old the dead people were. We then check out the shops spending a few bucks of our hard earned cash.

I get back to load in the gear and the boys all go for a well needed shower at the Zodiac which is great venue with great facilities. The Zodiac was created by members of Radiohead & Massive Attack a good few years ago but I think is now in new hands.

The band dont have too much to drink today - I think they may be starting to tire a little now.

Tonight's crowd is a mix of young and old but all thoroughly well up for it and enjoying the occasion. The best tunes of the evening were Face For The Radio for the mass sing-along and Temptation Dice which the crowd really take to.

Afterwards it was a quick drink and straight back on the bus to London. This was much to the disappointment of all but especially to one member of the crew (a cyber pint for anyone who can guess who the horny beast is) as we discover that the nightclub next door was voted No.1 easiest in Britain to get pull some hot posh totty by FHM.

Oxford may be seeing more of this crew in the very near future.

Next day is the video shoot for 'Shock Horror'

Mr Dial Up x

New Tour Dates Coming Soon

The View will announce new tour dates on Tuesday to coincide with February's release of Which Bitch?.

NME @ Astoria

NME Video hangs out backstage with The View, and joins them on their long walk to the stage at London's Astoria.

1st play of 'Shock Horror'

Last night Zane Lowe had the first play of 'Shock Horror', you can listen to it on the BBC iPlayer for the next 7 days... Fast forward 43min 30secs to hear...

Oasis Inspire The View

THE View used Oasis album Definitely Maybe for their inspiration while recording new material.

The Same Jeans hit-makers made their latest album with Owen Morris, who has famously produced for The Verve, Ash and The Paddingtons among others.

And he played the Oasis classic to the Dundee upstarts to remind them of the high standards they need to achieve to make sure they repeat their early success.

The four-piece made pop history when they became the first Scottish act to go straight to No.1 with debut Hats Off to the Buskers in 2007.

And the rockers are hoping to make it a double when they release their follow-up Which Bitch in January.

Kyle said: "We had a copy of Definitely Maybe in the studio and Owen would line it up for comparison.

"He threatened to sack the guy who was mastering it because he couldn't get it seven per cent louder."

But extra volume was the least of The View's concerns while laying down tracks in Welsh studioMonnow Valley.

The band had to contend with midnight river rafts and thrones made from speakers.

In his quest to take musicians - frontman Kyle Falconer, guitarist Pete Reilly, bassist Kieren Webster and drummer Steven Morrison - back to the top spot, Owen brought in crazy measures in his quest for perfection.

Paying tribute to the band's chosen album title, Owen superglued a witch's hat to his head for six days during the recording process.

The producer, who worked on Oasis hit albums Definitely Maybe, (What's the Story) Morning Glory? (1995) and Be Here Now, eventually removed the plastic hat with scissors.

Owen also has custom-made thrones made for singers Kyle and Kieren to sit on while singing their new tracks.

The band avoided a latenight dip when Owen lashed together a raft for the boys to venture down river on, before it came to a sticky end.

The rockers survived though and guitarist Pete told NME: "I'm an only child and, to me, the experience of being together with these people, this family, is worth more than the music."

The View are currently at the tail end of a mammoth 37-date UK tour and fans have been lucky enough to hear new tracks such as One-Off Pretender, 5 Rebbeccas, Glass Smash and Shock Horror.

Kieren said: "We put a lot more thought into the music. It's much more melodic.

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

By Beverley Lyons & Laura Sutherland, Daily Record, 27th November 2008

Leicester Review

I have to admit, before seeing The View live, I wasn’t a massive fan.

Sure, their debut album Hats Off To The Buskers is lurking around in my CD collection somewhere, but as I never really got into the phenomenon that was Same Jeans, arguably their best-known track, it never got near my top played list on the iPod.

But after seeing the Scots lads on stage at The Charlotte, I’ll definitely be giving it another chance.

To get the Mercury award-nominated act to the Leicester venue was a bit of a coup for the city, and a packed out audience showed their appreciation of an energetic and sweaty set with raucous chants of 'The View, The View, The View are on fire', and a spot of crowd surfing.

Wasted Little DJs, Skag Trendy and The Don, along with songs such as Glass Smash from their upcoming second album, were all a lot rougher and rockier than I was expecting, which is a good thing in my book.

With plenty of on-stage banter (although the fact I was squashed in at the back, combined with their ridiculously strong Dundee accents, meant I couldn’t understand a lot) The View proved the crowd had hit the nail on the head - they are definitely on fire.

By Gemma Peplow
thisisleicestershire.co.uk

Bristol Review

Saturday 22nd November 2008 @ Thekla, Bristol

“The View - The View - The View are on fire!” chant the crowd that have swollen Thekla’s floating belly as the Dundee foursome amble their way onstage, grinning and flicking their hair out of their eyes. A fire, on this particularly bitter night would not go amiss but The View’s catchy, summery indie anthems are warmth enough.

A very happy and varied crowd start dancing along to a set combining the best bits of 2007’s number one album Hats Off to the Buskers and previews from upcoming second album Which Bitch?. Starting off with Glass Smash, a punchy, raw number quite removed from the expectation of melodious guitar pop and quickly moving into indie floor filler Wasted Little DJs, the band work well together and play off the crowd. “Brrristol, you dirrrty bitch,” snarls curly-mopped front man Kyle Falconer, in his thick Scottish twang and the crowd lap it up.

A little growlier and rougher than expected, The View have perfected the rock’n’roll show swagger that we love to see in British bands and yet they hardly ever slip, with an energetic and tight performance and spot-on vocals from Falconer. Chart toppers might attract derision in certain circles, but it’s easy to see why The View have sold so many records – a clever combination of sing-along vocals and harmonies and just the right amount of guitar hooks and punchy drums to appeal to the masses.

With the crowd suitably limbered up, Falconer and guitarist Kieren Webster swap places, with Webster taking the vocal reins for a couple of songs; a smooth change, but hampered by technical problems mid-song. Webster humbly shrugs and just launches back into the song, shouting it out with even more energy than before. The View have to save themselves in these awkward few seconds and instead of letting it grind to a nasty halt, their passion for their music and fans is so clear that it is soon forgotten about.

After a few more tracks from the new album including single 5 Rebeccas, the band tone it down for a chilled, nearly acoustic version of hit Face for the Radio. After joking about their larger-lad indie counterparts (“Do you want to hear a joke? The Fratellis.”), The View then launch into their last song, their biggest hit to date, Same Jeans. The easy pop doesn’t fit with the edgier flavours of the new material which may have been why it is played twice as fast as the version released. Another reason might be that the band have become aware of the drawbacks of an unshakeable ‘trendy’ tag and the tricky combination of pleasing current fans and perhaps wanting to break away from the monotony of a certain music genre.

However, the large crowd were more than pleased with the hour long set, once again chanting an encore of; “The View - The View- The View are on fire!” Incredibly popular and deservedly so, The View’s strong and energetic style only looks set to grow. Which Bitch? will be released in early 2009 and The View will definitely not be going away.

Heather McKay
suityourselfmagazine.co.uk

Glass Smash @ Falmouth

Glasgow Aftershow

Not so fresh from the stage at the Barrlowlands The Law are playing a set for the Barfly. A smaller crowd than they can expect supporting The View we can make just as much noise. This is more than just an aftershow, it's a whole other gig. We're in it for the music not the name dropping, beware of unofficial "official" aftershows. This is the only official aftershow in town.

DJ Gillespie will be on hand to 3am to make this a night to remember.

Age: +18

Buy tickets here

King Tuts Photos

A great collection of photos at last weeks King Tuts gig by Colin at Two Thumbs Fresh.

View here

Middlesbrough Review

Despite it being a Sunday night, the Teesside crowd were certainly up for it. After all, it’s not every week you see a band who have been nominated for a Mercury Music Prize and have a No 1 album to their name playing the Cornerhouse.

Most of the crowd had jostled into position in time for support act HOLY GHOST REVIVAL.

The energetic performance from the Americans built up the anticipation for the Scots who bounded on stage and launched straight into action with what they simply referred to as “a new song”.

They immediately showed the kind of swagger and messiness which has come to be associated with them as they whizzed through their set, stopping briefly to interact with the audience.

The gig showcased six songs from their forthcoming album Which Bitch, which all received mixed reactions from the crowd.

It was the selection of songs from 2007 album Hats Off To The Buskers, though, which really got the crowd going.

After renditions of Wasted Little DJs, Skag Trendy and The Don, the band provoked a mass singalong with Face For The Radio.

Their final two songs, Same Jeans and Superstar Tradesman, really sent the crowd into a frenzy and by failing to reappear for an encore, the band went out on a high, leaving the crowd wanting more and hoping that Middlesbrough can continue to attract bands of this calibre.

By Chris Hole, Evening Gazette, 21st November 2008

Interview with Pet & Mo

Before performing to a sell-out crowd at The Social, Platform caught up with Scottish indie-terriers Pete Reilly and Steven Morrison of The View to talk second albums, male to female ratios and the current state of our class system. All in days work really…

You’ve made quite a name for yourselves as a festival band; do you enjoy the big stage or think it’s equally important to do smaller venues like The Social?

Pete: I like the intimacy of ones like this, that’s lovely. It’s always good to do that. I’d say we’re half and half, like last night was amazing, you just can’t create an atmosphere like that on the big stage. I probably like the smaller venues better to be honest. It’s because they’re right there, they’re right in your face.
Steven: It’s a different kind of buzz.
P: It’s because they’re just there, and you can see there faces. They can shout out at you, it’s really personal.

You’re just tackling the notoriously tricky second album, how are you feeling about it? Did you go all rock star and escape to a cabin somewhere?

S: No we went to Wales!

That’s not very glamorous…

P: We recorded in this valley where some of the best music ever has been recorded. Queen wrote Bohemian Rhapsody there, Oasis recorded What’s the Story Morning Glory? It’s a bit of a legendary studio but it was a walk in the park really. It wasn’t that tricky, it just came naturally. Some of the tunes we wrote when we were in the studio.
S: You’ve got the best equipment there as well.
P: It just came naturally.

Any tracks that you are especially proud of that we need to look out for?

P: I’d say Shock Horror. It’s a tune; it’s going to be our second single. Your favourite chops and changes though.
S: You need a bit of Shock Horror when you’re out with your mates.

Does the new album have a different kind of vibe or sound?

P: You can still tell it’s us, it’s just a bit more adventurous. If we needed piano or a wee bit of strings or whatever we had the freedom just do that. We weren’t held back. We could do what we wanted to do and that’s the best way to record for me.

What advice would you give to emerging bands? You made it pretty much on your own merit; do you think that’s the best way to go about it?

S: Don’t stop enjoying it.
P: Don’t stop believing.

For you was there a big defining moment where you thought “Yeah this is definitely going to happen for us”?

P: We’re still waiting to wake up from this big dream really.
S: I’d say it was the NME awards, our first red carpet. All these flashes going off and you just think; “Yeah this is pretty cool!” Yeah that was my moment!

The first album had a bit of a Libertines feel to it, how did it feel being signed to the same label as them? That must have been a pretty big moment.

P: It was cool man, it was good. We definitely signed to the right label. Even though they left us in the dark for the second album like! Fuck it; they were too busy looking after the fucking Metros! Don’t look after your band that’s had a fucking number one album, oh no keep going with your middle class South East London wankers!

We did a little feature about things in music that really annoy, any personal pet hates?

P: That’s really annoying! What really annoys me are The Metros!

Pet hates?

P: Fucking middle class shit! Anyway that’s enough Metro bashing.

So are they a shared pet hate?
S: Oh no I love them.

You did the 2007 NME tour here in Nottingham, how do you find our fair city?

P: We’ve pretty much been chasing our tails since then! Now we’re back playing here… We must be on the way down again. It’s the end for The View!

Nottingham is very much a student orientated city; do you get a different response from gigs in student cities?

P: Is it not like 7 women to one man here?

Yes, apparently so.

Support band: It’s only blondes on the guest list!

Is that why I’m on the guest list?

S: Yes.

So that’s the reason you like Nottingham, the women to men ratio?

P: It’s an all female gig tonight isn’t it?

So… are The View still on fire?

P: Smoking hot.

Interview By Lucy Knighton
PLATFORM : MUSIC

Latest from Tour

Middlesbrough
Well today is the first day back after our well deserved 3 day break which I literally spent in bed with the damn cold, always happens. So were playing Middlesbrough today and we all have to get to Newcastle for the bus to pick us up. So obviously being The View its not going to be as simple as just getting there. Im the first to get into Newcastle station followed shortly by Keiren, Mo, Reni, & swagman Steve as soon as we meet up we get informed that Pete, Kyle & Andy (our profesional man out front) are running slightly late as Peter has slept in. This said it turns out to be a good thing as we head over to get some food and discover the football is getting screened. Eventually we all assemble and set off only 2 hours late, which for us is not to shabby, a new personal best im thinking.

So we arrive at the venue get all the usual stuff done before forcing the lads into soundchecking for our peace of mind. After that we all head off some going to the pub and others for food, Im with the latter and head off for some Nando’s.

Showtime comes round and the venue is packed out with fans all chanting their hearts out quite happily, 3 songs in and there going mental for Wasted little DJ’s and

I just catch out the corner of my eye a familiar crowd surfer, its Connor the lead singer from The Holy ghost revival. The set goes off enormously with Coming down, One off pretender & Skag trendy getting a very large thumbs up from the crowd. This gig reminded me of View gigs from the past due to the absolute madness of the crowd even at one point the crowd safety barrier gave way, luckily no one was hurt.

Well another gig down everyone head’s to the bar for a small sherry to end another hectic day.


Leeds
Well on waking up today I come round to find half an empty bus. As our arrival into Leeds coincided with the chucking out time of a nearby club, so the lads got randomly get invited to a house party at 4am, some of the stories I hear back are very entertaining. So I fall out the bus only to be met with Ash, the best promoter I’ve had the pleasure of working with as not only did I get given Sudafed for my lingering cold but was taken into the venue and told I could get whatever food I wanted for mega cheap & just generally being treated like a King. So thank you very much. So today already getting off to a great start, the rest of the bus fast asleep the always happy and eager crew do all the setup and the rest of the prep work for the show, I just wish that today I had brought a crash helmet as the ceiling and lights are really low. So today is going to be pretty sore one for me.

So on with the day and were all in good spirit as an old friend pops down to see us for the soundcheck, which doesn’t happen due to the fact there still all passed out on the bus. As the gig approaches the usual pre show traditions the lads enjoy the watching the support and are out mingling in the crowd.

The Faversham is rammed out with a great buzz in the room, the crowd letting you know where you are with the chant of YORKSHIRE!!!!. The room erupts when the guys play 5 rebeccas. The whole set was spurred on by the crowd as everyone in the room was right up for it and the whole crowd had there singing voices in fine tune for Face for the radio and Superstar Tradesman. After the gig everyone heads out to the aftershow at Oporto, really good night had by all and its always to see the good people of Leeds.

After tomorrows show in Oxford the band head down to London for the recording of the Shock Horror video - should be a blast!

Davey Dial Up x
The View's Myspace

Sheffield Plug Photos

Photos from the Plug in Sheffield on 10th November 2008.

View here

Who The Fuck is Davey Dial Up?

We've managed to track down the mystery man behind the bands terrific new MySpace tour blogs.

Send him your love at his MySpace link below.

Davey Dial Up MySpace

What A Great View

CRA-A-ACK! Sounding like it’s 50ft tall, Steven Morrison’s snare drum is pushing the speaker system to its absolute limits.

The volume is turned up so high that when Keiren Webster’s bassline kicks in, the windows of the tour bus begin to shake.

And when guitarist Pete Reilly plays his first power chord, they threaten to fly out of their frames completely.

Forget Led Zeppelin, My Bloody Valentine and even Mogwai.

When it comes to loud, even Motörhead’s Lemmy might quake at the sheer ear-splitting volume The View are coaxing from their on-board hi-fi.

“Shout it from the rooftops,” insists the colossal chorus...but we’re betting that, at these sound levels, that might not be necessary.

The View are playing their favourite new album — and, coincidentally, it’s their own.

Which Bitch is the follow-up to last year’s chart-topping Hats Off To The Buskers.

It’s not out until next year but the band treated A-Listed to a sensational sneak preview.

And the verdict? Frontman Kyle Falconer insisted: “It’s magical.”

Keiren, meanwhile, suggested: “It’s majestic.”

“It’s the bee’s knees,” grinned Pete.

But the truth is, it’s probably even BETTER than that.

Together with producer Owen Morris and string arranger Ollie Kraus, the four-piece from Dundee have pulled off the impossible and created a masterpiece.

The gutsy punk-rock thrills that made their debut so essential are all still present and correct.

Yet this time around there’s much more besides, including dazzling orchestral fantasies like the breathtaking Distant Doubloon, toe-tapping shanties (Typical Time 2), massed choirs (Glass Smash) and raw, celtic-infused rhythm and blues (Double Yellow Lines).

Those who’ve been content to dismiss them as Tayside tearaways with a well-deserved reputation for bad behaviour, mayhem and drunkenness might want to have a rethink because Which Bitch proves they’ve got lofty musical ambitions too.

“We’ve moved on,” explained Pete. “We’ve gone out of our way to put a bit of extra thought into the recordings this time round,” added Keiren. “Just to make things more interesting and a wee bit different.”

Partly, of course, that’s the result of the amazing success clocked up by their platinum-selling debut.

Kyle confided: “We’d say to Owen, ‘It’d be good to have an orchestra on this’ and whereas before he’d have said, ‘Well, we’ve not got the budget for that, you’ve already spent your tenner at the pub’ this time it was, ‘Well, you can do that if you want to’.”

Elements of the new album will be familiar to long-term fans — at least three songs, Jimmy’s Crazy Conspiracy, One-Off Pretender and recent single 5 Rebbeccas, have been in the band’s live set since last December. But the process of putting Which Bitch together really got under way when indie legend Owen — famous as the man who rescued the crisis-hit recording sessions for Oasis’s Definitely Maybe — flew up to Dundee in January to hear their new tunes.

Kyle explained: “He came up to Scotland and really kicked things into gear.

“He wanted to know what was going on with the album and more or less pushed everything forward. He was really a key part of it all.”

Work continued in February and March with a series of test recordings at Owen’s home in Wales.

To inspire themselves to push beyond the conventional indie format, they continuously blasted out hits by Fleetwood Mac.

The operation then moved to the world-famous Monnow Valley Studio, also in Wales, in May to begin recording work on the album proper.

But the sessions were nearly over before they’d even begun. After the band celebrated their reunion with Owen over a hearty liquid breakfast, 21-year-old Kyle decided to take a dip in the River Monnow, which runs alongside the studio.

One insider revealed: “It’s a beautiful, fast-flowing salmon river but the current is very strong.

“Kyle jumped in and was pulled under almost immediately. When he didn’t reappear, we really thought we’d lost him.

“He finally struggled to the surface 500 yards downstream and managed to grab onto a branch.

“He’d no clothes and he looked like a drowned rat. But, because he was a bit the worse for wear, it took him about an hour to scramble up the bank.”

It wasn’t the only time the singer got into trouble messing about on the river.

On another occasion he clambered into a dinghy, determined to sail down to the local pub.

But while the bar was four miles away as the crow flies, the winding river meant a journey of more than double that. As a result, the mop-haired frontman spent almost the entire day out on the water. Pete recalled: “We had a lot of fun there. We had a raft that we used to go out on as well. It’s a beautiful place so it was nice, now and again, to take a break and have a bit of a laugh.”

On another occasion, Steven — known to most band insiders by his nickname ‘Crazy Mo’ — took Owen on a pub crawl in nearby Monmouth that ended in a tattoo parlour.

Keiren laughed: “Now Owen’s got a View tattoo just like the ones we’ve all got. It will wind Liam and Noel up — he doesn’t have an Oasis one.”

Meanwhile in a series of gruelling all-night sessions, the ambitious structure of Which Bitch began to take shape.

Kyle and Keiren would frequently drag the producer out of bed to record song ideas.

But Realisation, one of the album’s highlights, emerged from one of those morning-after-the- night-before sessions when Kyle woke up the 22-year-old bassist to help with the lyrics, barking: “Come on, Webby. Words, words.”

And the basics of Which Bitch’s most breathtaking moment, Distant Doubloon, came together in a whirlwind four-hour stint that began at eight in the morning, straight after another all-night session.

As studio staff watched in amazement, Kyle scribbled lyrics (including the deliriously wacky classic “Don’t dwell upon your wooden leg, your limp is boring me”) and stuck them all around the studio walls.

But, despite his exhaustion, he mapped out the song’s incredibly original structure — a massive leap from the traditional verse-chorus, verse-chorus format — in his head.

Kyle admitted: “It was an on-the-spot thing but when you get an idea you’ve got to follow where it takes you.”

The result is an ambitious, widescreen sound that’s sure to confirm the band’s reputation as one of the indie scene’s most maverick talents.

Their capacity for springing surprises stretched throughout the recording sessions.

On one occasion, after finding out that their pal Paolo Nutini was recording nearby, they hopped onto motorbikes and zoomed up the road for a quick visit.

Kyle recalled: “There was a lot of rubbish about us having a feud with him that was just completely made up. I adore that guy.

“So we chapped on the window at his studio and asked him if he fancied coming to record one of our new songs.

“We’d already done it so he just sang his vocals on top of mine and we did a verse each.”

Pete added: “It was good to see them singing together in the studio. Really cool.”

They played the Paisley star almost every track they had completed, including Give Back The Sun and Realisation.

And practical joker Paolo was clearly taken with upbeat lyrics like “Why should we throw away a sunny day?”

Kyle beamed: “Paolo sang a wee song for me at T In The Park. He called it The Sun Can Kiss My A***. I was fair cheesered up, man.”

But while on Hats Off For The Buskers the beautifully-crafted ballad Face For The Radio showed off the band’s more sensitive side, this album’s most emotional moment is the heart-tugging Unexpected.

As Kyle softly sings “I always should have known” over a note-perfect backing, his voice is powerfully affecting.

And he delivers the line “Now my sun has gone to sleep” with spine-tingling intensity.

This soon-to-be classic song has its roots in a very personal tragedy — the loss of his father Ronnie, who succumbed to cancer when Kyle was just 16.

He recalled: “My dad worked in the Michelin tyre factory in Dundee but he loved films.”

Pete added: “He knew more about the movies than anyone else I’ve ever known.”

It’s clear that Kyle has inherited that same passion for storytelling. Which Bitch is full of adventures, cliffhangers and dramas.

And it looked like the storylines certainly grabbed the fans this week during their explosive gig at Glasgow’s King Tut’s.

It was their first headline show at the venue since we first tipped them for success back in April 2006 and new tracks like Shock Horror, Temptation Dice and Realisation went down a storm.

They’ll follow up with an eagerly-awaited gig at Glasgow’s Barrowland later this month.

And it’s obvious the band’s taste for getting high is still intact.

When they finished recording sessions at Monnow Valley they celebrated with a trip in a hot air balloon.

Pete, 22, laughed: “It’s not something you do every day. It was a totally one-off experience.”

After the band moved to London to complete recordings at Brixton’s The Dairy Studios — a favourite with a string of acts from Posh Spice to Babyshambles — Owen put the finishing touches to the album this week, with Kyle travelling south immediately after the Tut’s gig.

It’s due to be mastered tomorrow — the final stage in preparing it for release.

And Kyle confessed: “We can’t wait for people to hear it. We’re really proud of it and I think people will see there’s a bit more to us than they thought.”

By Tim Barr, News Of The World, 16th November 2008

The View at Barfly

SCOTTISH indie quartet The View may have made their name as The Libertines reborn, partying with Pete Doherty and getting on the wrong side of the law, but these rebels without a cause are quickly marking themselves out for their energy, brilliance and some mighty fine songs.

Four alarmingly young (average age: 20) friends from the Dryburgh area of Dundee, The View are Kyle Falconer (vocals / guitar), Pete Reilly (guitar), Keiren Webster (vocals / bass) & Steve Morrison (drums), formed from the ashes of an old covers band they created at school, playing everything from Squeeze to The Sex Pistols.

After deciding that their ambitions stretched further than hawking Up The Junction around the pubs and clubs of Dundee, they began writing and rehearsing their own songs in the backroom of their local, The Bayview Bar (hence the band's name).

When the band were thrown out of there they decamped to nearby venue The Doghouse, where they began living a Monkees-style existence sleeping, eating and rehearsing in one room. The songs slowly began to take shape.

They were brought to 1965 Records by James Endeacott, the man who signed The Libertines. They spent last summer recording their debut album, Hats Off to the Buskers, on a farm outside Scarborough with Oasis and The Verve producer Owen Morris, where their eyes were quickly opened to the excesses of rock n' roll.

After they'd got the strippers, champagne and stimulants out of the way, debut single Wasted Little DJs, reached number 15 and latest offering Same Jeans got to number three.

Their popularity has been quietly snowballing, with Bobby Gillespie recently declaring the lads his new favourite band after they'd supported Primal Scream on a handful of recent dates, and they won the Best Track award for Wasted Little DJs at the 2007 NME Awards.

“I feel like it’s just meant to happen for us right now,” says Peter. It seems he’s not wrong.

The View play Barfly on Tuesday.

BY JADE WRIGHT, LIVERPOOL ECHO, NOVEMBER 15th 2008

The View Boot Auction

These navy blue Hunter for WaterAid limited edition Wellington boots have been signed and customised by The View and Ryan McPhail for WaterAid, one of Glastonbury's official charities.

Both boots outsides are covered in urban style graffiti in pink and white marker with a massive 'The View' as the lead images and intricate graffiti ar surrounding the band's name. even the soles of the boots have been lined with light pink marker.

Band signatures on the inside of boot

Bid here

On Tour - Carlisle & Glasgow

Carlisle

Today we're in the lovely city of Carlisle, famous for being next to Scotland. On pouring myself out of my bunk I realise that I get to go home to my own bed this very evening. Now with a smug grin I drag myself through the bus avoiding the piles of discarded socks and someones Kebab from last night, well hopefully it was last nights eww!!!. On stepping into the back lounge of our bus all I can hear is a vast amount of snoring, so I look in and to my surprise I see Johnny, lead singer of Twisted Wheel passed out at one side of the lounge and Kyle at the other. Obviously he didn't want to get off tour either now that he'd been Kyle-napped. (it's happened before).

So yet again the hardest working touring crew of modern time go about what they do best and before you know it we have the stage ready for the lads to get sound checked. To their credit and for the second day in a row the boys get a sound check only this time to be cut short by the presence of a gigantic crash mat. In no time at all we have Crazy Mo somersaulting off the stage on to it. Not to be outdone the rest of the boys get involved and it turns into part gym class, part stuntman training as Kyle climbs the speaker stacks which are a good 12ft high and leaps off.

Tonight we have a new support band called The Holy Ghost Revival, these guys are label mates with The View so it'll good to see them after hearing so much about them. They take to stage and do not disappoint with a high energy set with some stage diving included. The View are up next but with a guest for the first song, Johnny & Kyle get up to do a little ditty that they perform on their Ukulele.

The gig goes off with the crowd going mad for Wasted little Dj's and new song One Off Pretender going down really well. The gig was great but it was sadly let down by the morons that thought it would be good idea to start throwing coins at the guys, one of which hit Pete. It's never a good thing.

Kyle adds a song at the end finishing the set himself by playing a cover of The Beatles 'I Just Seen A Face'.

It was then back to the dressing room for a drink or three. It was one of the best stocked fridges of the tour so far, so thank you Brickyard.


Glasgow

Its only a short hop up to Glasgow from Carlisle, so this meaning that I get to return to my adopted hometown of Paisley for a lovely night sleep in my own bed, the first time in over a month.

So the next day I turn up to King Tuts to find the everyone already up and in the venue and for the first time in i don't know how long, queueing to shower. So it's soon time for us to do the inevitable load in which today is relatively painless as we have some of the best local crew in Britain to help us with our heavy lifting. So were done in no time at all, but as we're in Glasgow there no sign of the Lads for a sound check as they've all ran out to see some of there friends & family that have came down for tonight's show.

It's been a pretty chilled build up to the show tonight with a few of us heading down to the bar in Tuts for some pre gig food and a quick drink to pass the time. We find Kieren is downstairs with a few mates, chatting to some fans and posing for photographs.

Before we know it's gig time and the crowd are chanting "The View are on fire". Tonight's gig has kicked off with Glass smash from the new album, the crowd singalong for 5 Rebbecca's, with that I seen the grins along the bands faces at the response from the crowd is obviously making them feel right at home. By the time Kieren steps to centre the fans are going wild for Skag Trendy with about 6 crowd surfers streaming over the stage barrier. Needless to say tonight's show was not disappointing and as pointed out by the lads that Glasgow is the best city for playing gig's but cheekily added only after Dundee. I obviously disagree, but I'm just a tad biased. For me the stand out songs of the set were new single Shock Horror (out January I think) and last song of the evening Superstar Tradesman.

Well the next time we're in Glasgow is for the Barrowland which I'm sure there is going to be some good surprises, so if your lucky enough to have tickets, your in for a treat.

We all have 3 days off now so time for some well earned rest. See you all soon.

Davey Dial Up
myspace.com/dryburgh

On Tour - Stoke, Norwich & Sheffield

Stoke

Hello all, well today were in lovely Stoke on Trent. Its a good atmosphere round the bus as Kyle's up and at em early with an early morning shopping trip to a the collectibles shop up the road. He returns with what looks like a set of really small gnomes, turns out its a Snow white & the 7 dwarfs collectibles set. He also gets a kick ass pair of red Doc Martin's which in turns causes a small debate as too if there Red or as our Swagman Steve says "Oxblood", can someone explain the difference. Also Kieren is sitting down the front of the bus swearing at this little printer that he's compiling a photo album with, seems pretty frustrated with it so i leave him to it.

So the rest of the crew assemble, sorry scrape themselves together and we go and do the ever enjoyable load in & setup.
Round about 5pm we shout the band for the sound check but as per usual they've scarpered leaving the crew to do all the work, no surprise there then.

As far as the gig went it was really good, the main factor in this that the crowd were great, really mad up for it. So the lads are over the moon about this and we can all head for our day off with a good vibe.

Also we were given some presents today from the Tour Manager Ian. He got everyone on the bus a Mr Man Book of who we resemble, Pete got Mr Good, Reni got Mr Daydream, Kieren got Mr Grumpy (only in the morning mate), Kyle got Mr Messy & I got the most appropriate, Mr Bump, apparently im Clumsy & Awkward!!!!.

Day off: London
Another day off for all of us again. Majority of us head to London to spend our well earned day off, whilst Reni, Kieren decided to stay north for the day off to see friends.

Good day off for Me & Swagman Steve we hit the streets of London pretty late on and decide to take in a west end show, yes very cultured for The View tour. Well almost we went to see Monty Pythons "Spamalot".


Norwich

Well what is it with leaving London. We were all on the bus bright eyed and bushy tailed except for...... you guessed it Kyle. After 10 Min's cursing him for not showing up were informed he's had to be taken to the doctor, this wasn't looking too good. An hour and a half later he returns looking a bit grumpy only to tell us that he's got tonsillitis and has been given antibiotics, this doesn't sound to good now. We all sit down to see what were gonna do but Kyle is sure he can soldier on through it. Well we get to Norwich late and get ready for the show. Twisted wheel our lovely support band are there already there and seem to be in good form. Then we get onto our show, well its never easy saying this but it wasn't the best of gigs. I don't think Kyle knew what he was letting himself in for singing with his voice under a load of stress. In saying this the rest of the lad's rally round and sing up with Mo & Reni doing some great backing vocals.
A singing Drummer eh, He'll be dancing next. Oh and also to say hello to the the 2 stage invaders Josie & Georgina.


Sheffield

Well we arrive into Sheffield over night and wake up to a rain soaked Steel City. Seeing this from the window of my bunk there's nothing more than i wanna do is pull the covers over my head and hide. Again the crew fall out of bed coughing and spluttering as we go due to the the violent epidemic of Manflu that's going round the bus. We head off leaving the boys to catch up on well needed beauty sleep.

4 o'clock comes and to my Amazement all the boys are there wanting to sound check, it lasts 2 songs before there off stage. 2 songs is better than nothing. As the gig approaches there's a sudden realisation that its Twisted Wheel's last night on the tour so we all pile through to give them a good send off, yet again the play a superb set.

Its The View up now and as per usual with a Yorkshire crowd there chanting away, the boys are well up for it and go out and put on a great show with the crowd warming to the new songs especially Shock Horror being my standout song of the set. Kyle's voice tonight was miles better than last night but still not 100% but if tonight was anything to go by he'll be alright.

Davie Dial Up x
myspace.com/dryburgh

Norwich Arts Centre Photos

Norwich Arts Centre photos from 9th November 2008

View here

Thanks to Georgia

King Tuts Photos

A collection of photos from King Tuts.

View here

Thanks to Martin

Enjoying View from Dundee

SCOTTISH rockers THE VIEW, one of the UK’s hardest working bands, are back on the road doing what they do best after a well earned break.

The View recently enjoyed a solitary week off work and used the seven days to sun themselves in Mexico. So where’s the tans?

“Left them there!” says guitarist Pete Reilly. “We’re Scottish, we don’t do suntans. I was wearing factor 30 but I still got burnt really badly. I was walking about like Edward Scissorhands.”

The break also saw them drunkenly try to relax with a round of golf only for them to smash their buggy into a tree.

Thankfully they returned to their Dundee home in one piece and headed straight out on tour in support of latest single 5Rebbeccas.

Taken from the album sessions in Wales and produced by Owen Morris, the single features the B-sides Dun Deal, Mr Men Book and For You.

Their 35-date UK tour brings the track - and various others set to be included on the 2009 album release - to the Cornerhouse in Middlesbrough on Sunday.

The tour is already well underway and brought one riotously celebratory show in their home town.
“It was brilliant, a Dundee band playing Dundee’s hall with four Dundee bands supporting,” says Reilly. “Plus, The Beatles graced that stage!

“There’s never been a rock’n’roll band from Dundee, ever. But that’s what’s good about Dundee - there’s no pressure.
“All the bands are mates, they’ll all do anything to get their mates further or themselves further.

“In a lot of big cities, like probably Manchester or Glasgow but especially London, the bands are all jealous of each other if they get something good for themselves.

“But in Dundee if we got something good, all our mates would be like, ‘Oh yeah, that’s brilliant’.

“And we’re like that with other bands - check these lot out. Everybody’s in it together in the music scene there. The important thing is to push Dundee as a music scene rather than hold everybody else back.”

A little over two years ago Reilly, Kyle Falconer (vocals/guitar), Kieren Webster (vocals/bass) and Steve Morrison (drums) were four schoolmates from Dryburgh, a housing scheme on the southern outskirts of Scotland’s fourth city.

Barely out of their teens, they were enthusiastic players of covers in local pubs, notably Squeeze’s Up The Junction - now a firm fans’ favourite and regular in the band’s set.

Since summer 2006, though, The View have had a high old time supporting Primal Scream and Babyshambles, appearing on the NME Brats tour, and generally gaining a reputation as the hardest gigging band in Britain and beyond.

“But it just feels good that this is our own tour,” says Reilly. “With our own laminates and our own catering - and our own bus at last, rather than a transit van.”

THE VIEW and HOLY GHOST REVIVAL:
Cornerhouse, Middlesbrough Sunday. Entry: £12.50

By Andrew Pain, Evening Gazette, November 14th 2008

Velocity , Dunfermline Photos

Photos from the opening night of the tour at Velocity, Dunfermline

See full set here

Photos by Colin at TwoThumbsFresh

King Tuts Photos

Photos by Fiona Mckinlay

Update from The View HQ

As you know, The View are currently on the road and have been tearing up venues up and down the country. Check out their tour blog on MySpace and see for yourself, with more to follow... Here’s a little taster...

"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."

XFM Winter Wonderland
Xfm have invited Kyle and Kieren to join in with their festivities for Winter Wonderland, where they’ll be performing a special acoustic set. Manchester Academy will play host on 8th December, click here for more details.

Free download from tour support Holy Ghost Revival
Having returned Twisted Wheel home safely after sterling work over the last few shows, The View are set to welcome Holy Ghost Revival as main support from November 11th in Carlisle. NME told us "they're one of the most controversial, thrilling live bands on the planet" which puts them in good company with The View. So if you've got tickets to any of the shows, get there early to see them! Here's a free mp3 as a taster of what you can expect.

Until next time
The View HQ

More from Davie Dial Up

On Tour at Milton Keynes & Colchester

Milton Keynes

We wake up outside the Woughton Centre in Milton Keynes next morning. One of the weirdest places we've been to yet. It's not really the kind of place you'd expect to see a rock band play. It's a leisure centre with loads of kids running around doing gymnastics, playing football and swimming - we got a few funny looks that day walking around in the leisure centre in our leather jackets and jeans

The band spent most of the day in bed and we tried to wake them up for soundcheck but no one moves so we just have to make do with a line-check.

The show kicks off fine but after a few songs Pete starts to feel really ill and is sick behind one of the monitors, so has to take a break for a few minutes. One of the sound tech boys takes his place for 'Face For The Radio' and Pete comes back looking much, much better and manages to complete the rest of the setlist.

Afterwards we all head back to the bus - it's the quietest night I can remember on The View tour bus with most falling straight asleep.

Davie Dial Up x


Colchester

We get to Colchester around midday and head out for a wander just checking out some of the shops and a couple of the pubs where we meet up with Mr McPhail and his friend who have come along to see the gig.

We load in at the The Arts Centre about 4pm. The venue looks great. It's a converted church with a kind of gothic look. The stage itself is really long width wise and quite short from back to front so we need to set up the gear a bit differently.

Again the boys don't turn up for soundcheck. I can see this becoming the norm now for them.

The boys have a fine gig and the crowd are wild tonight with a few crowd surfers, although the security at the front aren't too chuffed with them.

We have a few drinks for an hour or so backstage then head back to the bus for some more...

Davie Dial Up x

The View MySpace

On Tour in Gloucester & Portsmouth

Gloucester

When arriving in Gloucester we meet up with the Twisted Wheel crew and invite them all into the tour bus. We spend much of the day drinking beers, playing XBOX and watching films.

We load into the venue about 3pm. The venue itself was a small village hall - should make for a good atmosphere when full.

Once we're done setting up we get hold of the two bands and head to an old pub round the corner called the 'New Inn' - the oldest pub in Gloucester and we all have a fair few scoops in there until show time.

The gig goes well and the crowd are well up for it singing all the Hats Off songs word for word.

Afterwards there's a crowded party afterwards in the dressing room with loads of members of the audience invited in and everyone has a really great time.


Portsmouth

We had a day off in London yesterday, chilling out during the day then went to a leaving party for a woman that was leaving the record label at night. We met up with McPhail when we arrived there. He was looking fresh - obviously a few days away from the madness of being on tour with The View had done him good.

Next day we plan on leaving early for Portsmouth but as often happened in the past we lose Kyle. We track him down after many phone calls around all his favourite haunts around the city. When we finally get hold of Kyle we get him on the bus and hit the road for Portsmouth about 5 hours behind schedule. We just have time to do a quick line-check before Twisted Wheel come on stage. They have one of their best nights with us and by the time The View come on stage the place is bouncing and the audience seem to love the new stuff, in particular 'Shock Horror' and 'One Off Pretender'.

No time for an after show tonight and It's straight back on the bus and off to Milton Keynes.

Pete, Kyle and Mo stay up all night parting while the rest of us get a good nights kip.

Davie Dial Up x

The View's MySpace

Face For The Radio @ Sugarmill

The View performing 'Face For The Radio' live at The Sugarmill, Stoke on November 7th 2008.

Watch here

5Rebbecca's Review

Dirty jeans, drunkenness and an episode involving a duvet in a Travelodge: this is the extent of what most people know about the View. This is probably because baby-faced Kyle Falconer and co pride themselves on darkside living, singing knowingly about rough locals, junkies and various other Rebeccas who meet their acquaintance, all the while scaring hapless PR girls into keeping a firm grasp on their handbags. All of which is a great diversionary tactic for hiding the fact that their particular strand of indie rock is, while extremely catchy, also utterly innocuous.

The Guardian

5 Rebbecca's acoustic

The View performed an acoustic version of their new single '5 Rebbeccas' for E4. Taken from forthcoming album 'Which Bitch', released Feb '09.

The Don @ Falmouth

Recorded at the Princess Pavilion in Falmouth on 30th October 2008.

5Rebbecca's Review

The view are back with a new single, '5Rebbecca's' was released on October 27th, the first single off 'Which Bitch', the long awaited follow up to The View's first album 'Hats off to the buskers'.

Listen to carefully and you will hear a 'Status Quo' like opening but this oozes as much energy and bounce as the more chipper numbers, 'Wasted Little Dj's', 'Superstar Tradesman' and 'Dance Into The Night' off the last offering from the Dundee foursome.

Front man Kyle Falconer's voice still has the roughness and gravelly Scottish tone as before and still manages to sing somewhat unrecognisable lyrics!!, but this never seems to matter.

The View are back but are they still on fire?

The Tune Review, 7th November 2008

The View Put The Boot In

Newlywed KT Tunstall, right, Dundee indie boys The View and rockers The Fratellis hand-decorated the special boots at this year's Glastonbury Festival.

And they are going under the hammer later this month as part of an eBay auction.

The unique footwear will raise money for Water Aid, which provides clean water, sanitation and hygiene education in Africa and other parts of the developing world.

The Scots are part of a galaxy of stars taking part, including supermodel Kate Moss, Oasis star Noel Gallagher and hip hop legend Jay-Z.

But it was KT's boots, left, that were singled out for special praise because of their stunning design.

Naomi Irving, corporate development manager at Water Aid, said: "We are really excited about the Water Aid Celebrity Boot auction on eBay.

"We're so grateful to all the celebrities involved who have signed a pair of Hunter for Water Aid wellies, including KT Tunstall, The Fratellis and Noel Gallagher.

"KT's in particular are simply stunning, and she spent a lot of time and effort making them look so gorgeous.

"The boots decorated by The View look amazing as well, and the graffiti design is really different."

The eBay auction begins next Thursday, with all profits going towards the project.

Daily Record, 7th November 2008

Pete & Kyle Interview

Gerry McLaughlin from Channel M catches up with The View on their recent return to Manchester promoting their new single '5 Rebbecca's

Download here

www.channelm.co.uk

GigJunkie Book

A book by music photographer Sarah Thompson is now on sale. The book titled 'GigJunkie 1' contains several images taken of The View as well as many other top acts including Manic Street Preachers, The Charlatans, The Strokes, The Libertines, Kasabian and Morrissey. See a preview or purchase of the book here

Xfm's Winter Wonderland Tickets

Tickets for Xfm's Winter Wonderland featuring a special acoustic performance by The View go on sale tomorrow morning at 9am

Tickets are £20 and available from the Xfm X-change on 0871 222 1049 and www.xfm.co.uk. Gig goers must be aged 14 and over. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult. xfm.co.uk

or on sale NOW from seetickets.com

Nottingham tickets

As you will be aware The View concert held at Nottingham Bodega Social, Friday 24th October was unduly cut short leaving many of you disappointed.

But as promised and by way of apology, the band will perform a rescheduled show which will be held at Nottingham, Rescue Rooms on Saturday 24th January 2009.

For those who can attend the new date tickets will be issued early in the new year, however if you wish to obtain a refund please return your tickets to the point of purchase before the 30th November 2008.

Contact Music Interview

It's Friday night and the pubs are heaving. Contact are currently sat in one of them with guitarist Kieren Webster and bassist Pete Reilly from The View. Drummer Steven Morrison is playing the fruit machine by the bar with other members of their entourage and tour support The Law. Frontman Kyle Falconer however - who were promised an audience with initially - is nowhere to be seen. The reasons why become oh so apparent an hour or so later.

This evening they're headlining the 200-capacity Bodega Social in Nottingham, which is a marked difference from their last appearance here at Rock City, a venue that holds 1500 more. The band aren't exactly enamoured with their less than glamorous settings either, as we discover over the next thirty minutes.

Let's start with the venues you're playing on this tour. They're somewhat more intimate to say the least than your last trip around the UK.
Pete: Well this is definitely the worst venue we've played in so far, that's for sure. We decided we wanted to come back and do a wee rock and roll tour for the proper fans, sort of like a way of saying thanks for their support as well as giving us an opportunity to road test the new material.
Kieren: Aye, we wanted to do Nottingham Rescue Rooms but our management told us we had to do the Bodega instead..
Pete:.which as well as having a tiny stage, has also created problems for a lot of genuine fans getting tickets as it was sold out almost immediately.

It does seem a bizarre choice of venue bearing in mind your current status.
Kieren: It works sometimes when we play venues like this. I mean, Manchester last night for example, where the venue held about 800 and the sound system was perfect.
Pete: Manchester was always going to be legendary though after Mani came along and introduced himself to us!
Kieren: The thing with the Bodega is that the stage is just too small, and we've got a lot of equipment that we're not going to be able to use this evening.

Does it feel kind of weird though - almost like starting from scratch all over again - playing these smaller venues after the year you've just had?
Kieren: I like the idea of playing in a smaller venue where you can see people's faces and there's a sweaty atmosphere. I mean, that's where it all began for us and is where we got noticed in the first place, but we've grown as a band, as songwriters, and we're just more accustomed to playing on bigger stages.

What kind of reception have you been getting from your fans so far on this tour?
Kieren: High expectations, definitely. I think when we first started it was easier in some ways because people didn't know what to expect, but now we're seen as an established band they almost demand us to be on fire all the time.

Do you see The View as more of a live band than anything else?
Kieren: I think I prefer playing live to the whole recording process, definitely.
Pete: I just love everything about being in a band. There are a lot worse things any one of us could be doing then being in a fairly successful rock and roll band so we should be grateful for what we're doing and everything that goes with it.

What would you be doing if you weren't in a band?
Pete: I'd be a roadie, something, anything to do with music I guess.

Who for?
Pete: The Rolling Stones.

There seems to be a resurgence of new Scottish bands coming through at the moment, particularly from Glasgow. Do you see them as competition or is there a kinship between you all?
Pete: No we definitely don't see any of them as competition. If anything there's a sense of pride because it shows Scotland is booming again.
Kieren: I think there is a feeling that we should support our own in terms of the whole Scottish thing but at the same time we don't really feel a kinship with any of them. We sort of get on with most of the bands from the East Coast where we're from - The Law being a prime example - but we're not really that aware of everything that's going on in other parts of the country if I'm being honest.

Why do you think the music industry is currently focused on Scotland as opposed to, say, London or Manchester as in the past?
Kieren: I don't really think they are. I mean, who have you got that's really made it? There's us to an extent, The Fratellis, Glasvegas.I really rate what they're doing actually.but apart from that it's difficult to see many others that may have a similar impact.
Pete: I just think it's that whole northern thing that started with the Arctic Monkeys. They're just going as far north as they can now I guess.!

Your new single '5 Rebeccas' has had several positive reviews in the music press. Were you worried that they may turn against you?
Pete: You're always worried about stuff like that but it doesn't affect the way we write songs.
Kieren: I think they've come to realise that we are who we are, an energetic guitar band. I was more concerned that people might have forgotten about us. I mean, if a band who I liked disappeared for the best part of a year I'd probably have moved onto something else by now, so there was always that worry at the back of my mind that other people may think the same way.
Pete: The one thing we don't want people to think is that we've come back with more of the same that was on the first album only with less quality.

That's always a worry though in that both the media and the industry seem to create 'flash in the pan' bands and scenes only to discard them once the hysteria has died down.
Kieren: I think our second album ('Which Bitch', out early 2009) is better than our first album without a shadow of doubt.
Pete: The songs are better, the arrangements are better, even silly little things like the fact we are better at playing our instruments.
Kieren: I think we are tighter as a band and much more creative as well.

Do you feel that there is more pressure on you now though to deliver and ultimately sell your second album after the success of 'Hats Off To The Buskers'?
Kieren: No not really. The band has complete control over the record, not the label. I mean, its their job to promote it and sell it but if we weren't happy with the results ourselves then we wouldn't even let them anywhere near it. I mean, when all's said and done, we're the biggest selling act on our label (1965), so for them to put pressure on us would be unfair I think.

What musical influences - apart from being more technically proficient as a band - have helped create 'Which Bitch'?
Kieren: We've been listening to a lot of Clash stuff, and there's a bit of Fleetwood Mac in places too.
Pete: We take a lot of inspiration from different walks of life as well. It doesn't necessarily have to be just music. It's like sometimes you can watch a film and it just takes over your attention span to the point where you can't stop thinking, and then eventually writing about it.
Kieren: I think this record will surprise a lot of people. I'd say its quite challenging in places.

Take me through the songwriting process.
Pete: Usually it just starts on acoustic guitars, then Kyle (Falconer) and Kieren tend to come up with the lyrics together. They'll then bring them back to the band and occasionally me and Steve (Morrison) will add a rhythm section that might change its whole direction.
Kieren: More often than not though the original riff that me and Kyle jam will form the basis of the song and then everything just stems from there. Lyrically I guess a lot of the themes come from personal experiences, people we know.just that kind of thing. For example, 'The Don' is about a real person. He was chuffed to bits when he first heard it.
Pete: He ended up being in the video!
Kieren: '5 Rebeccas' on the other hand is probably the most personal song Kyle's ever written. It's about the five women he most admires.
Pete: None are called Rebecca though!

Do you set out to specifically write radio friendly pop songs?
Kieren: No, definitely not. There's a few songs on 'Which Bitch' that will surprise a few people, definitely.
Pete: '5 Rebeccas' was picked as a single because it is the most radio friendly of the new material, but there are several songs on there that we'll probably never be able to recreate live, or not as a four-piece anyway.
Kieren: We've got one song that sounds like The Beatles' 'A Day In The Life'. All key and structural changes when you least expect them as well as an orchestra.. The next single, 'Shock, Horror' is different again. It's got this big Faces riff and loads of keys on it.

There's been a lot of focus heaped on The View's aftershow activities, shall we say? Would you say that the main reason you're doing this is for the music or the lifestyle?
Kieren: Obviously we're here because of the music.
Pete: I'd say both, because without one we wouldn't be able to enjoy the other.

And then came the show.or at least that's what should have happened. Unfortunately, singer/guitarist Kyle Falconer was in no fit state to stand up let alone play, and three songs in he left the stage to bemused looks from his fellow bandmates and the audience. The agitation of the crowd, now at boiling point, was only quelled by the promoter announcing that all ticket holders would receive a refund, and at one point, Falconer even attempted to return, ironically for a cover of his hero Pete Doherty's 'Music When The Lights Go Out', which he just about managed to finish before clambering off again. Despite the gallant efforts of his three colleagues to continue and finish the show, tonight will be remembered as being eventful, but sadly for all the wrong reasons.

By Dom Gourlay, Contact Music, 4th November 2008

Pete & Mo Interview

Chart bothering Scots return with a 'dark' secomnd album and talk Lily Allen, the Illuminati and the freedom success brings.

The patented Prince ‘Controversy-o-meter’ clicks a little faster as Subba Cultcha settles down into the surrounds of the posh north London Hotel currently acting as a pitstop for Scottish myth makers The View. Controversy is no stranger to the band who only formed 3 short years ago in the wilds of Dundee, whether being denied access to their former practice rooms for driving scooters across the top of a bar or being denied entry to entire countries, a result of singer Kyle Falconer attempted to take up the Gallaghers Columbian Marching Powder mantle now the manc mavericks have grown into family men, The View are never lacking commitment to the cause.

Today we find drummer Steven Morrison and guitarist Pete Reilly in engaging mood, indulging in the delights of a London press day and taking stock of the bands meteoric rise following their 2007 Mercury Music Prize nominated debut, ‘Hats Off to the Buskers’ and enthusing about the bands progression on their vital follow up. ‘We’re just in a much stronger position to do a record now and we’re much tighter as a band, you can really hear that now in the difference from the first album to this album. I mean we’re, well certainly I feel I am, just a hell of a lot better now’, states Reilly with an effusively disarming honesty that’s wholly refreshing from a band whose debut album hit number one in the album charts. Following up such a successful debut can often be like trying to make lightening strike the same place twice, and you can end up looking quite foolish walking around in thunderstorms with a giant metal rod held above your head. The View though seem to have had no qualms about taking on the challenges that their success has laid out. ‘We took it more seriously yes, but I think that was just a natural thing anyway you know, with the first album it was just “let’s go mad2, with this album every sound was thought about a lot more,’ continues Reilly, ‘the first album was a lot more hearts on our sleeves and the second album is the more experimental, not experimental in the sense of deliberately weird, it’s just with this album we could do anything. If we wanted strings we could have strings, if we wanted to put a fucking kazoo on there we could you know. It was good to experiment on this album, because on our first album we were a bit set inour ways really and it was just punk rock, just stripped back you know, and this album is just a lot more fuller.’ Not that fans should be overly concerned that the band have descended into meandering, self indulged behemoth, first single ‘5 Rebeccas’ is an indie sugar pill laced with the dark arsnic undercoat of a harrowing tale of addiction. It’s clearly a subject close toFalconers heart and is proof positive that the band have lost none of their zeal or inspiration following the success of ‘...Buskers’, they will not be growing fat off the land just yet. The themes on the new record include musings on subjects as disparate as Aberdeen jail time and the hidden meanings behind the New World Order. ‘He (Kyle) just writes about what interests him but we have discussions about them, really stoned discussion, ‘no I don’t think that, aye I agree with that’, like the song ‘Jimmys Crazy Conspiracy’ the verses are an arguement with themselves about the Illuminati, so it’s an arguement about the Illuminati, which I guess you could see as pretty dark, but we have mad conversations about the songs,’ informs Reilly when questioned if the themes of ‘Which Bitch’ are darker than it’s predecessor.

Kicking off a major UK tour in support of the record the band undertook a warm up show at London’s Proud Gallery in support of ‘Which Bitch’s cover artist and band cohort Ryan McPhail. ‘He’s just our best mate’, notes Morrison before Reilly continues, ‘Aye he’s just ur best mate from school and he’s an aspiring artist, he’s done all the art work for this album and the single so he just thought as he was doing a show in London it would be great to get his mates up on there with him. We’ve only played a handful of gigs actually so far, we’ve just been playing fetsival dates but the new stuff, it seems to be going down better with the new stuff, but we haven’t actually played to our real fans yet so we can’t wait to get out there and hear what they think you know.’ Live the advent of a second album usually marks a defining liberation in a bands live performances, no longer constricted by lack of material and having to juggle that age old conundrum of short sets or playing every song we know, second album tours often see band sin a state of flux that creates some of the rawest and most explosive shows of their careers. ‘It’s pretty cool actually,’ concurs Reilly, ‘when we look at set lists these days and you write down all the songs and think, ‘oh that runs over’, so it’s good that way. We think we’re going to be doing half and half on this tour, so playing the singles off the first record and then the more upbeat moments of the new record. ‘ Following on from their UK tour the band are keen to finally get a crack at the States, their previous sell out tour having been cancelled due to Falconers visa being rejected due to a prosecution for cocaine. ‘They’ve just started the process agin now of applying so we have to wait and see,’ states Morrison. ‘ You know the singles getting on college radio and we had a sell out tour and maybe they’ll look at this time and think maybe we can let them in...they let that bitch Lily Allen in and she’s beating somebody up you know what I mean. You know the bigger you are, if you’re making them money then they’ll let you in.’

For those wanting to get an idea of what catching The View might hold this winter you could do worse than watching the new video for ‘5 Rebeccas’ and then timesing that by 100. ‘If it was up to us the video would have been mental, we had to tone it down a bit, ‘ suggests Reilly before Morrison cracks a huge grin, ‘we just wanted to break shit!’ You have been warned.

The view have released a bunch of teasers from a documentary 'Dryburgh Style', that will be included on the special edition of their new album in the new year: http://uk.youtube.com/user/v1ew06

Their single 5Rebeccas is out now on 1965 Records; http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=IM25965LbTw

Taken from the album sessions in Wales and produced by Owen Morris, the single will be available on 7” and CD and feature the B-sides Dun Deal, Mr Men Book & For You. There will also be a limited pink vinyl 7” with etched B-side which will be made available to those who pre-order tickets for the tour via the band’s website, www.theviewareonfire.com.

ByJonathan Sebire, www.subba-cultcha.com

5Rebbecca's Review

Congratulations to the Dundee band for the most unusual song title of the year – and they just about carry it off with crash bang wallop rock. In yer face big style.

Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 3rd November 2008