Throughout the year I had numerous guests do sessions and interviews on The Punk Show: Anarchy In The Air3. It was a lot of fun doing the music with them and I had no idea that it would become any more serious than a couple of drunk Scottish guys with guitars yelling into the Air3 microphones.
Yet, I'm grateful that it has, and below is a summary of the songs that are on the album. This is a compilation of a few of the tracks that were recorded, and all proceeds go to the charity Boots On The Ground:
The Murderburgers - You'll Have No Fun Without Me
Fraser and Tom came down to the Air3 studio and did a whole bunch of songs, retaining the tongue-in-cheek vibe that they're known for. At least, if they're not known for that now, they soon should be. In a few month's time they'll have played venues from Glasgow to Gainesville.
The Walking Targets - Fault Lines
Max (guitar) and Ruaridh (normally drumming) are two young guys from Edinburgh but their music is mature and they've developed a distinctively gritty and energetic tone. They were great to talk to and their acoustic songs even better. Fault Lines is such a strong opening track to their 2012 album, Controlling The Motions. This is a band that will surely go on to achieve great things.
Loaded 45 - Joe
The harmonica here goes really well with the coarse vocals of Joshua, who came with the rest of Loaded 45. all the way from Colorado, USA to tour with Uniforms and record a couple of acoustic songs with Air3 Radio. They were a hell of a lot of fun and put on a great live show too.
Slackerville - Another Reason
This is grungy with an element of pop punk and the acoustic version adds to the somewhat melancholic sound of this song. Chris and Burny from Slackerville seemed to work really well together and it's reflected in their music as a whole.
Uniforms - Not Tonight
Uniforms are in their own words a group of “cow-punk roasters”, but really they're a hard working DIY outfit who love to tour and produce songs with emotion and energy. I had a lot of fun with them and Loaded 45. in the Air3 studio and this song reflects that, with Loaded 45. providing some talkative input in the background if you listen closely.
The Lemonaids - I Can't Surf (Without You)
Tom plays surf-tinged pop-punk with the Lemonaids, and it's such a welcome change from the awful Scottish climate. While he may not be able to surf at all, he can sing and play Ramones inspired pop punk pretty damn well. It's especially good considering that Fraser from The Murderburgers was distracting him the whole way through.
The Murderburgers - My Head Is Fucked Again
This is another great track from the Murderburgers, and the acoustic version brings out the content of the lyrics. It's a sad song but Fraser managed to keep it somewhat humorous, and this is a really solid track as a result.
The Walking Targets - Here's To The Thoughts We Hold
These guys sound like they've been singing for years and years, and their lyrics are thoughtful and well written too. A personal favourite from the album, their vocals work together so well here, and they add so much to the original version, which is well worth a listen.
Loaded 45 - Making Enemies Not Memories
A cover of their titular track from their 2012 album, this one captures the chemistry that Loaded 45. seem to just be able to emit. They're a bunch of guys who are friends as much as band-mates, and that's what makes them so good to see live too. Hopefully they return to Scotland soon!
Slackerville - Red Or Golden
Slackerville continue their attitude-filled, emotional rock and this is at a completely different end of the spectrum to the surf-pop-punk or gritty roaster cow-punk that can be heard on this album. This song shows the range of talent that we are lucky to have in the Scottish rock scene.
The Lemonaids - Summertime's Up
Summertime lasts about a day in Scotland, so I've come to the conclusion that Tom wrote this song whilst abroad. Lucky him. Or perhaps this track's not really about summer. Either way it's so refreshing to hear something like this, and it's great fun too. If only summer lasted longer here eh?
Uniforms - Schoolboy Errors
Derrick really gives it his all here, and maybe it's my fault that the microphone started to wilt under the force of his hardy Scottish vocals. Regardless, this track is soulful and full of emotion, qualities that Uniforms have exhibited throughout all of their songs and live performances.
The Walking Targets - Jack Of All Trades (HWM Cover)
This is a cover of a Hot Water Music song, and while that may seem ambitious to some, the Walking Targets do it justice here. It's reassuring that they're not only so young, but such solid singers and musicians. It really was an added treat having them cover this track.
The Murderburgers - It's Over Already
The track-listing really has set us up for a good and aptly-named ending here. The Murderburgers were slightly..merry here at Air3 Radio but they didn't really show it much. I had a cracking time having them over at the studio and they not only produce great music but a lot of laughs too, as is evident once or twice during this song!
"BOOTS ON THE GROUND (BOTG-NGO) is an international non-profit humanitarian aid and charitable organization dedicated to providing in-field emergency and primary medical care and other assistance required to sustain life, facilitate recovery, and to encourage and promote long-term development, stability, and peace in under-served areas of the world. We focus on developing nations, current conflict theatres, former military operational zones, and areas of extreme poverty, famine, or that have been affected by natural or man-made disasters.
We're on the ground in Moore, Oklahoma -- the site of the devastating tornado that left a mile-wide path of destruction in its wake. You can help today. 100% of your donation goes DIRECTLY to helping the survivors".
Derrick from Make That A Take Records helped put this out and you can download it athttp://makethatatakerecords.bandcamp.com/album/boots-on-the-ground-comp
More information about Boots On The Ground can be found at www.bootsontheground.org
