Album of the Year? Call The Doctor - Hands Will Shake

We've featured Call The Doctor a fair few times on this blog in the past and now they've put down on vinyl (or download depending on your age) their work over the years. As their record sleeve says "Hands Will Shake is the product of 4 recording sessions with 5 producers over 2 years...". It really is an album that shows their range and how they've matured as a band. The album nods to the past with live favourites such as For Your Leisure which has a real home recording feel to it and progresses to what I feel is the clear stand out track in Stood Beside Her. This track surely shows that a lot has happened since the band formed with a real emotional element to the track.

I strongly recommend you buy the album, in fact I implore you to buy the album. Back the little guys that are out there making awesome music. Schonberg rated this as his favourite album of the year so far not so long ago - and he's met Steve Lamacq don't you know!

Buy download, buy hard copy.

Bristol v Sheffield - Two Bands Of Tomorrow?

Just over a year ago I got a couple of golden ticket "pass-outs" from my then pregnant wife to see two bands I really wanted to see, Kalenko and Call The Doctor. They were playing in their local city of residence music festival in Sheffield (Tramlines) and Bristol (Harbour Festival) respectively. In fact on the bottom photo of Kalenko you can me and Schonberg if you look closely. Anyway a year has passed, my wife gave birth to a beautiful girl, the bands have both been working hard and as they have just played the festivals I thought it was time to catch up with them and see how it's going. You'll have to excuse Rob's (CTD) sense of humour it's obviously a defence mechanism against Elliott's good looks.

Hit play and listen to these tracks as you read the interview below:

MP3: Lights Out - Kalenko
MP3: For Your Leisure - Call The Doctor

You’ve just played Tramlines / Harbour one year on since I last saw you, how’s the last year been for you?

Kal:
The last year has been steadily progressive. We've worked hard at our sound and set list. We consciously aimed for a more instantaneous live show; the key to converting an audience into a fan base is the first few songs. Last year, our first few songs would set the atmosphere, which is great if you have 45 minutes. But with the standard 30 minute sets we get asked to play, it is paramount that we capture peoples attention early on and hold it throughout.


CTD:
ITS BEEN GREAT, SINCE WE LAST PLAYED WE RECORDED A MINI-ALBUM, DID A COUPLE OF TOURS, PLAYED WITH BAND OF SKULLS, FOXY SHAZAM AT THE BARFLY, AND SHONEN KNIFE AT THE THEKLA, SORTED A DISTRIBUTION DEAL FOR THE RECORD WITH GLASSTONE, RELEASED IT, PLAYED MORE GIGS AND THEN LAST FEW MONTHS WE'VE BEEN STARTING THE SONGWRITING PROCESS AGAIN. WE JUST GOT BOOKED AS MAIN SUPPORT FOR OASIS' REFORMATION TOUR IN 2012



How was the festival compared to last year? Do you think the festival as a whole has improved?

Kal:
I think Tramlines is the best thing Sheffield has to offer. The buzz on the city streets in incredible, and it's important for the local venues to keep supporting the local talent. We see it as the one chance of a&r coming to us, instead of us travelling down to them.


CTD:
THERES MORE GOING ON THIS YEAR, ITS EXPANDED TO CASTLE PARK. WE PLAYED THE SAME VENUE BUT MUCH HIGHER UP THE BILL AND HAD A REALLY GOOD AUDIENCE, THERE WERE ROUGHLY 13,024 PEOPLE WATCHING US IN THE LOUISIANA - 1 IN, 1 OUT. GOOD TIMES.


What’s been your best moment from the last twelve months?


Kal:
Our best moment was being picked up by Tom Robinson on BBC 6Music. We got played as unsigned band of the week, which really boosted us to push things forward. We had some interest following that, and plan to chase that up in the coming months, with our first single release.


CTD:
I THINK GAINING A FEW GENUINE FANS FROM PLACES AS FAR FLUNG AS MEXICO, SWEDEN AND AUSTRIA. PEOPLE THAT WE DONT KNOW CHOOSING TO BUY OUR MUSIC IS THE GREATEST COMPLIMENT YOU CAN HAVE. WE HAD ONE GUY


You’ve written a few tunes in the last twelve months, how has your music progressed?


Kal:
Generally, i think we have refined our sound. It is satisfying to know that our earlier songs still stand up to the new material. We feel that our early songs seem more like the album tracks - a little more experimental. The latest material seems much more upbeat, without losing that sinister nature for which we have become known.


CTD:
WELL ITS GOING TWO WAYS AT PRESENT, WITH SOME POPPIER SONGS (THAT STILL ROCK) AS WELL AS SOME TRACKS THAT DONT FOLLOW THE TRADITIONAL VERSE-CHORUS-VERSE-CHORUS-BRIDGE-DOUBLE CHROUS SONG STRUCTURE. GOT SOME DRUM AND BASS AND DUBSTEP REMIXES IN THE BAG TOO. OUR DRUMMER IS REALLY INTO DISNEY SO WE ARE GONNA BE INCORPORATING SOME FAIRY TALE MAGIC INTO THE NEXT ALBUM IF HE GETS HIS WAY


If you were signed by a major label tomorrow would the whole band be up for it, would you quit your jobs?

Kal:
That's what we're in it for. Unfortunately, the way the industry is heading, it looks more and more like bands have to fund themselves while writing, recording & touring. If someone offered us something that enabled us to quit our jobs, then I would envisage a big leap forward in the calibre of product we create.


CTD:
HELL YES.

Talking of jobs, what are you doing to pay the large costs of being in a band?

Kal:
All of us have office jobs. Our Jonny (drums) used to work in a bar, but we convinced to get rid of that to make time for the band.


CTD:
WE'RE ALL DOCTORS OF SORTS. WASN'T THAT OBVIOUS ALREADY? (A vet's not a proper Doctor is it now Rob, I don't want you to come running if they shout "Is There a doctor on board?" - Jal)

You’ve built up a good following, what now, what will get you that break through?


Kal:
It was unnerving when our uni friends slowly migrated elsewhere. Conversely, it feels good when we win over new fans now - we've progressed past the 'friends and family' fanbase...although not exclusively. Our following is still growing, and we look to really push things over the next few months, to gather a bit of steam. It is important not to forget the brand away from the music - 'Sheffield's best Russian band' is something we hope people will remember.


CTD:
THIS INTERVIEW I HOPE


For bands who are trying to make it, what have you learnt along the way?


Kal:
Do something different; Unfortunately, it isn't all about the music.


CTD:
BUY ONE GET ONE FREE JAEGER-BOMBS ARE NEVER A GOOD IDEA BEFORE YOU PLAY.


Finally, what do you predict for your band in the next twelve months?


Kal:
Continued record label interest would be nice, and a few more high profile shows. We intend to move things down to the capital for a few weekends, as we've yet to explore the sights and sounds of London. All in all, continued support from people like yourself, (flattery always helps - Jal) and eventually people in high places will come around to Kalenko's way of doing things.


CTD:
MORE TUNES, MORE GIGS, MORE FESTIVALS, MORE DISNEY AND MORE BUY ONE GET ONE FREE J-BOMBS OF COURSE




So there you have it. Kalenko plan to release a single in October so we'll be getting behind that nearer the time. Call The Doctor's mini album is available from HMV.com

Coming At You Tonight - Quick Tip

The Ultimate Battle of the Bands

Well that's what Legion of Many are calling Sky 1's new show Must Be The Music. Then again they would, they're on it tonight. Not only that but playing bass for them is none other than Pete "Mighty Rufus" Atkinson. To prove the point, the American based band are playing Pete's abode, Bristol next Friday 20th. Hope it goes well tonight Pete.

Fieldview Festival / OST - Promises

I've been contacted by OST (Old School Tie), terrible name, can't think why they abbreviate it. Anyway, they grew up not far from Bristol and they run their own festival called Fieldview Festival. So if you're at a loose end this weekend you could pop over and see the band. They've given me Promises to stream and the b-side "Wasteland" for a free download.

"Wasteland" is a strong track for a b-side and shows the band have potential as a middle of the road guitar band. "Promises" adds to that sound, bringing an 'ambient dance' vibe to their music (their words not mine) and it works. It takes them from pub band to something more advanced, I wait with interest to hear what more they've got.

MP3: Wasteland - OST

Coming Up In Bristol...

Ever since I moved to Bristol from Reading I have been pleasantly surprised by the number of gigs in the area. Working in storage in Bristol I look forward to my evenings and weekends! The 9s record company Atomic Records got in touch to let me know they will be playing in Bristol on the 4th. Not only that but they have a single out called Empire Strikes Back. A sure fire way to make me check them out. I think American rock with a slight EMO twist might give you an idea of how they sound but you can check them out for yourselves by visiting their bandcamp site where you can download some tracks for free as well as buy the Star Wars named single.

Who else? Only La Folie! Yes the Sheffield band who have featured on here before are performing at The Cooler on the 3rd June. Thanks to Rob of Call The Doctor for the tip off and a hand in bringing them down to this neck of the woods. Anyone fancy going to the gig with me?

It's our birthday

The blog is two years old today, don't worry it's not the end. I've now got broadband and 637 unread emails waiting for my attention. what I did notice pop in to my inbox was the news that Call The Doctor are giving their single away. It was played on 6 Music (see my last post) and the Bristol based band were unsigned band of the day. Head on over to their MySpace to gather up that free tune. Normal service will return soon, I promise.