Described as a breath of fresh air, both musically and in their approach to their audiences, the line-up of instrumentation they employ hints at the unusual sound they have harnessed – bazooki, mandolin, harmonium, double bass, autoharp – the list goes on. Folk, hip-hop, rock and country are not genre’s that are normally associated with just one band.
Since August 2011, they have been quietly refining their live set and preparing their eponymous debut album release. Recorded almost completely live in just three days, it is the first release mixed at the brand new Gardyne Studios in Dundee by Mike Brown.
Anderson, McGinty, Webster, Ward, and Fisher's eponymous album is out now.
There seems to be a bit of a scene going on in Dundee, can you tell us a bit about it?
There's always been a music scene in Dundee and our bands have always had a great habit of sticking together but I suppose in recent times its opened up a bit. People don't treat their band so much like a relationship anymore. Its become acceptable to be playing a gig and for someone to walk into the pub and just join in.
How did you get together as a band?
Pretty much the same thing. we were all doing separate gigs round town and it became quite common for a last minute phone call asking what you were doing in the next hour or so. I guess we just liked what each of us did with one another's songs so we decided to put on a show together.
Can you each list what you play/sing?
it kinda changes from gig to gig. There's guitars, mandolins, bouzoukis, banjo's double bass harmonium, piano, drums, trumpet, harmonica, kazoo, anything really, we all play and sing and some of us are better at some things than others but as long as your in tune and learn how to play the right three chords its doesn't really matter.
Are your songs driven by the varied instruments you all play?
Not at all, they become songs first and foremost and we play them the way we like to hear it at the time but that doesn't mean you cant rip it all up and make a dance track out of it. Does it?
With so many influences and tastes, how do you turn your ideas into songs, what's the system?
I don't think you can really work to a system. We're obviously influenced by the records we listen to but I think its subconscious, until your finished and someone says 'Hey that's got a bit of a (insert band) feel about it', then it becomes clearer.
Was it important to get a 'live' feel for your debut album?
Definitely, we try to keep everything we do as live as possible. Most of our favourite albums were recorded live too so I guess that's another influence thing.
Can you talk us through one of the songs on the album - where the idea came from, how it developed musically and lyrically and how you chose how it sounded?
The Pigeon Song was inspired by the story of Christopher McCandless. I liked the way he decided not to take anyone's word for granted, even guys like Walden whom he was obviously guided by, and I hoped more
people would free themselves from the laws of acceptance and find things out for themselves. I didn't really plan to make it sound like anything in particular when i started writing but i was happy with the way it turned out.
How are you going about getting your music heard?
Anywhere really, we try to play as often as possible but online and radio are great platforms these days. Its so easy to give new bands a listen and generally doesn't cost the listener a penny. Its not like it used to be when I was younger when you'd generally buy an album without hearing it. People tend to listen to it first and decide if they want to pay for it
If you could have a sixth member of the band (living or otherwise), who would it be - Anderson, McGinty, Webster, Ward, Fisher and...?
Anyone really who's up for it. As I mentioned before if we turned up at a show and someone was keen enough with a couple of spoons we'd more than likely have them onstage. If i had to choose one person though i'd probably say Tom Waits. I love his voice and I think I've impersonated him singing every track on our record at some point.
www.facebook.com/AndersonMcGintyWebsterWardandFisher
Since August 2011, they have been quietly refining their live set and preparing their eponymous debut album release. Recorded almost completely live in just three days, it is the first release mixed at the brand new Gardyne Studios in Dundee by Mike Brown.
Anderson, McGinty, Webster, Ward, and Fisher's eponymous album is out now.
There seems to be a bit of a scene going on in Dundee, can you tell us a bit about it?
There's always been a music scene in Dundee and our bands have always had a great habit of sticking together but I suppose in recent times its opened up a bit. People don't treat their band so much like a relationship anymore. Its become acceptable to be playing a gig and for someone to walk into the pub and just join in.
How did you get together as a band?
Pretty much the same thing. we were all doing separate gigs round town and it became quite common for a last minute phone call asking what you were doing in the next hour or so. I guess we just liked what each of us did with one another's songs so we decided to put on a show together.
Can you each list what you play/sing?
it kinda changes from gig to gig. There's guitars, mandolins, bouzoukis, banjo's double bass harmonium, piano, drums, trumpet, harmonica, kazoo, anything really, we all play and sing and some of us are better at some things than others but as long as your in tune and learn how to play the right three chords its doesn't really matter.
Are your songs driven by the varied instruments you all play?
Not at all, they become songs first and foremost and we play them the way we like to hear it at the time but that doesn't mean you cant rip it all up and make a dance track out of it. Does it?
With so many influences and tastes, how do you turn your ideas into songs, what's the system?
I don't think you can really work to a system. We're obviously influenced by the records we listen to but I think its subconscious, until your finished and someone says 'Hey that's got a bit of a (insert band) feel about it', then it becomes clearer.
Was it important to get a 'live' feel for your debut album?
Definitely, we try to keep everything we do as live as possible. Most of our favourite albums were recorded live too so I guess that's another influence thing.
Can you talk us through one of the songs on the album - where the idea came from, how it developed musically and lyrically and how you chose how it sounded?
The Pigeon Song was inspired by the story of Christopher McCandless. I liked the way he decided not to take anyone's word for granted, even guys like Walden whom he was obviously guided by, and I hoped more
people would free themselves from the laws of acceptance and find things out for themselves. I didn't really plan to make it sound like anything in particular when i started writing but i was happy with the way it turned out.
How are you going about getting your music heard?
Anywhere really, we try to play as often as possible but online and radio are great platforms these days. Its so easy to give new bands a listen and generally doesn't cost the listener a penny. Its not like it used to be when I was younger when you'd generally buy an album without hearing it. People tend to listen to it first and decide if they want to pay for it
If you could have a sixth member of the band (living or otherwise), who would it be - Anderson, McGinty, Webster, Ward, Fisher and...?
Anyone really who's up for it. As I mentioned before if we turned up at a show and someone was keen enough with a couple of spoons we'd more than likely have them onstage. If i had to choose one person though i'd probably say Tom Waits. I love his voice and I think I've impersonated him singing every track on our record at some point.
www.facebook.com/AndersonMcGintyWebsterWardandFisher
