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Grapevine - 11 September 2006
Features: Movie Reviews > Square Eyes > Activate > Soap Box > Page Turners
Alamos on tenderhooks
Dundee rockers Alamos are facing an anxious wait this week to discover whether or not their dreams of travelling to Chicago to work with famed producer Steve Albini will come true.

While the trio work relentlessly on writing and rehearsing new material for their second album, the band’s Chris Keiller told Grapevine their plans to record across the Atlantic with Albini — who boasts an extraordinary CV featuring artists such as The Pixies, Nirvana, PJ Harvey, Mogwai, Mclusky, The Breeders, and Fugazi — hinges on the Scottish Arts Council’s funding decision this Friday.

Faced with finding the cash to pay for recording time in the Windy City, Chris said the Dundee trio turned to the Arts Council’s creative development funding programme.

However, despite appearing tailor-made for criteria which state funds are for individuals/groups with a proven track record of at least two years in the music industry who wish to create, develop and/or record their work, Chris admits his personal experience of the funding process is very much hit or miss.

He said, “A lot of our friends who we felt deserved funding have not got any and others you hear of, who seem less rewarding have received money so you just never know. There’s money for bands to do things with and you’ve just got to prove you won’t waste it.”

The creative development fund offers successful applicants an award of between £500 and £5000 for recording costs, the top end of which would get Alamos recording time with Albini.

With their eponymous debut album offering a quality collection of post-punk tracks with whirlwind drumbeats, edgy guitar hooks and screaming vocals, the thought of Alamos entering the studio with such an esteemed figure as Albini is worthy of making you keel over in anticipation.

But any fears over a financial shortfall bringing an end to the Alamos second album can be banished with the news Chris, Mark and Fritz have plenty of other options in reserve when it comes to recording a second album.

And Mark admits with bass player Fritz coming onboard after the first album it’s a different Alamos who are currently writing new material.

“Nobody plays an instrument the same way so that means it’s already an entirely different proposition, but it’s working really well so far with everyone contributing to thesongwriting. Things are a lot more considered, a lot heavier, but there’s still the funk in places.”

With fingers crossed for a positive outcome, maybe October 7 when they play the Westport Bar, Alamos will be able to offer a sneak glimpse into their future, with a super producer on board too.

An Irish View …
FRESH from the exploits of filming the video for their second single “Superstar Tradesmen” The View wowed a capacity crowd at the Liquid Rooms in Edinburgh last Friday. Temperatures soared in the cavernous venue with hundreds of sweat-soaked fans ensuring frenzied activity all the way through their now to-be-expected energetic set.

However, Edinburgh and the Liquid Rooms were not quite ready for the Dryburgh foursome’s passionate following as a few revellers were met with some overzealous treatment from the venue’s bouncers, as well as the long arm of the law.

Besides a cracking set, personal highlights included a few posh boys, excuse the obvious pun, from Edinburgh who were overheard commenting upon hearing Kyle, Pete and Kieren’s between song banter that they didn’t realise The View were from Ireland. That’s the dulcet tones of Dundee for you! With fans already chomping at the bit for their second single news that the album looks set for a January release will ensure many fans are on tenterhooks waiting that long.

But with the news that their ever-increasing set of tour dates has grown further still there’s plenty of scope to see The View in action, just not in Dundee.

Latest dates have placed them on this year's bigger and badder MTV2 Gonzo Tour at The Barfly across the UK.

Hitting cities around England, Scotland and Wales, the band are also the subjects of a 'behind-the-scenes' documentary, which you'll be able to catch on MTV2.

You can catch The View playing alongside The Kooks, The Klaxons, The Young Knives, Jet, Razorlight and many others in October.

Visit www.barflyclub.com for ticket details.

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