The View take tips from the Jersey Boys

The View have rewound 50 years of pop history while recording tracks for their new album.

The Dundee rockers have revealed the unlikely inspiration for the CD was legendary US vocal act Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.

View frontman Kyle Falconer fell in love with the group after hearing classics December 1963 (Oh What A Night), Rag Doll and Walk Like A Man.

He's become such a fan he even went to see The Jersey Boys - the hit West End stage musical which tells their amazing story.

Now, Kyle says his band will introduce Four Seasons-style harmonies to their unique sound.

The View are working on the follow up to hit albums, Hats Off To The Buskers in 2007 and Which Bitch? which was released earlier this year.

Kyle told me: "Two years ago, I was given a copy of The Four Seasons' greatest hits and it lay around for ages before I actually listened to it.

"When I finally put it on I really got into the songs. The simple pop factor of their music is brilliant."

The US group were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.

They released their first record in 1961 - 26 years before Kyle was born.

Their string of Top 40 hits includes Beggin', Working My Way Back To You and Let's Hang On.

Their 1965 hit Bye Bye Baby was famously covered by The Bay City Rollers ...

while Andy Williams had a smash with their 1967 classic Can't Take My Eyes Off You.

Kyle said: "We're working on five-part vocal harmonies - it's something we've always wanted to do. We're not bad chanters when we put our minds to it."

The band have split from Oasis' producer Owen Morris. On the new album they plan to work with Youth, the man behind hits by Paul McCartney, U2 and Marilyn Manson.

On Friday, the group will attend the Nordoff Robbins (Scotland) Tartan Clef Awards at the SECC in Glasgow to receive the gong for Best Live Band.

The following night, they star at Homecoming Live alongside Deacon Blue, Lloyd Cole, Teenage Fanclub and Midge Ure at the same venue.

Kyle said: "It's always good to get an award and means much more to receive one on home soil.

By Billy Sloan, Sunday Mail, 22nd November 2009


Tickets for Homecoming Live are available from 0844 395 4000.

Homecoming Live

NEXT week, some of Scotland’s best loved acts will come together for Homecoming Live – The Final Fling.

Scots from all around the globe are expected to descend on Glasgow for a weekend of gigs by Scots acts.

On Saturday, November 28, at the Clyde Auditorium Midge Ure, Deacon Blue, Hue and Cry, The Bluebells and James Grant will remind you of some of Scotland’s best music while in Hall 2 the event has more contemporary acts including The View, Idlewild, King Creosote and Codeine Velvet Club.

Adding a classic vibe at the SECC’s Lomond Suite will be the fabulous Eddi Reader, Dougie MacLean, who gave us Caledonia, and virtuoso percussionist Evelyn Glennie.

As part of the Homecoming StAndrew’s celebratory weekend, which runs from next Thursday, November 26, to Monday November 30, there will also be gigs at King Tut’s with cult bands The Pastels and 1990s as well as up-and-coming hopefuls Sergeant and We Were Promised Jetpacks.

Given that the event is called Homecoming, we asked some of the stars what Scotland meant to them.

Kyle Falconer of The View: “We are proud to come from Scotland and always miss it when we’reaway, even if it’s just south of the border.

“The crowds at gigs in Scotland are better than anywhereelse in the world – they just get so into it. We always look forward to playing at home and to going to gigs here. There’s just nowhere like Scotland – the people, the banter, the music, the venues – it is the greatest place in the world.”

Daily Record, 20th November 2009

Tartan Clef Awards

The View, King Creosote and Mott the Hoople confirmed for The Homecoming Scotland Tartan Clef Awards plus EXCLUSIVE Lloyd Cole and the Commotions performance

Friday 27th November sees the Homecoming Scotland Tartan Clef Awards take to the stage at the SECC in Glasgow in what promises to be a fantastic evening of entertainment as well as a great chance to raise money for Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy in Scotland.

The sell out show features some fantastic performances, exclusive collaborations and as each year, a host of contributors to Scotland’s rich musical heritage will be honored on the night with a prestigious Tartan Clef presented by celebrities, sponsors and ambassadors of the charity.

2009’s eclectic line up will see Mott the Hoople perform as part of their 40th anniversary tour as Ian Hunter, originally from Hamilton, makes the trip home to Scotland to help celebrate the finale to Homecoming 2009.

Also coming home to Scotland for an exclusive Tartan Clef’s appearance are Glasgow’s own Lloyd Cole & the Commotions who are reuniting on stage especially for the show. Their seminal 1984 debut album Rattlesnakes has appeared in NME’s Top 100 Albums of All Time and is regularly quoted as an influence by artists as diverse as Tori Amos and the Manic Street Preachers: this performance is sure to be as important a landmark.
Young upstarts The View will take a break from recording their new album to perform alongside the celebrated King Creosote, with yet more special performances revealed on the night.

Previous Tartan Clef Award winners include the likes of Paolo Nutini, Biffy Clyro, Lulu, Franz Ferdinand, Craig Armstrong and Edwyn Collins and this year’s event promises to be bigger and better than ever before as it moves to a new venue.

Donald Macleod Chairman of the Fundraising Committee said: “We’re excited to have such a fantastic line-up for this year’s Homecoming Scotland Tartan Clef Awards. Last year’s awards raised £93,000 for Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy in Scotland and this year we hope to raise even more!”
Janet Halton, Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy Scotland adds:

"The money raised at the Tartan Clef Awards will ensure that Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy in Scotland can continue to develop and expand its work with hundreds of adults and children in need across the country. We are thrilled with the support we have received this year and look forward to the Awards ceremony on the 27th November, with so many exciting acts coming along on the night."

Michael Russell MSP, Minister for Culture, External Affairs and the Constitution said: “Our Year of Homecoming has been an exceptional year with over 400 events taking place the length and breadth of Scotland. Music has been a key ingredient in many of these events and it is fitting that Scotland's music is providing the soundtrack to the Homecoming Scotland Finale Celebrations. I am delighted that the Homecoming Tartan Clef Music Awards are part of those celebrations and I look forward to attending later this month.”

Scott Taylor, Chief Executive, Glasgow City Marketing Bureau said: “We’re very proud to continue our support of Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy in Scotland through the Tartan Clef Awards. Not only does the event help to raise money for a greatly-deserving cause which helps countless people throughout Scotland, it also reinforces Glasgow’s status as a UNESCO City of Music, profiling its cutting-edge style credentials.”

The Homecoming Scotland Tartan Clef Awards is the main fundraising event for the charity Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy in Scotland which works to support children and adults who have been affected by illness, disability and trauma. The charity works out of bases across Scotland including a new facility in the Angus area. Nordoff-Robbins receives no statutory funding so monies raised at this year’s awards and the other fundraising initiatives are hugely valued by the charity and those who benefit from the work they do. Last year’s awards raised £93,000 which goes direct to supporting the work of the charity in Scotland.

For more details visit www.tartanclef.org