The Plimptons - Ocean Colour Resurrection

And then, almost right on cue, you've got the Plimptons's new single launch at The 13th Note in Glasgow. Its one of these ones where they give out the CD for free and there's a screen set up for the video.

Kind of like a Mighty Boosh skit, there's something odd about how the sound is mixed though.

The Plimptons - Could I be loved (2009 video)

The Plimptons - Could I Be Loved
Director - Jason Sweeney



Aye, so the Plimptons are this comedy rock band from Glasgow who've been going since last century, they're mostly Adam J Smith and Martin Smith and a who host of other people usually called Smith. I kind of managed them between 2004 and 2007 releasing their albums 'Songs of Ignorance and of Inexperience' and 'Pomp' and making countless (six) music videos.

I've barely seen those guys since I moved to London, and don't recognise many folk in the video, expect the bass player who looks terrifyingly like I used to look like.

Ahh, I remember when we thrashed Glasvegas in the demo competition. Every so often I realise that the reason The Plimptons aren't topping the album charts right now is cos I must have done something wrong as their manager, mistakes I must have made, and this is why I must never manage a band again.

The Plimptons, The Squid, The Murderburgers - 13th Note

We'd been watching Twin Peaks:Fire Walk With Me beforehand, me, Nat and Del with a few bowls of mousaka.

When we arrived at the 13th Note, unlike gigs in London, it was only £4 in and you get a free CD, there was already a band on stage, either The Murderburgers or The Squid. They were fast energetic and punky, whoever they are.

Robbie is here, he wasn't impressed. I don't think my comrades were really that into the band, with quotes along the lines of "erm... non-existant", "Really good - according to Jason's girlfriend, I didn't really see them myself", "Nice haircuts, they smelled nice, very fizzy."

There's a lot of people I recognise here. Its been almost a year since I moved away from Glasgow, but folks from bands are still folks from bands:-
Robbie from IoMoPS
Paul Puppet from Scunner
Man Down Door
Joe Kane
The Owsley Sunshine
The Drive Carefully Crew
Billy from The Electroluvs
Soares and Paul from The Original Plimptons
Brendan from Teenage Fanclub
Wee Man from NEDS Kru
Dave, Chris, Katie and that wee guy from The Just Joans
Sophie from The Second Hand Marching Band
Natalie and Holly from Red Rocket
Jason and Craig from The Getset Go
Del from Linospankdiamond and the Syphilitic Bananas

A screen and projector are set up and after a few technical difficulties ironed out and pre-spiel by the director, the new Plimptons video is shown

It completely blows away any Plimptons video I've ever made, and in the words of Robbie "They have a sure-fire hit on their hands". If he's convinced then it must be right. What do you think?

Plimptons hit the stage, old songs and new songs, drummer Rowan's finished her tenure with them and after a final run through of Banjology, she leaves the stage and is replaced by Tommy from Los Destructos.

Ooh, Jason videoed the whole show, I hope it ends up online.

Bands
The Plimptons
The Murderburgers
The Squid

The Plimptons Christmas EP

Whilst there's barely a music blog out there that isn't covering top Glasgow band The Martial Arts's retro-Happy-Days-esque style of music and their free album download (. . .)

Only the most cynical of Glasgow comedy rock band ex-managers would try the same sort of Christmas giveaway. So here it is, in its entirity The Plimptons Christmas EP in giftwrapped zipped download for you listening pleasure.

gies yersel a rightclick download

Featuring no less than seven festive songs, including some old favourites and new ones recorded especially for this release.

How, you may be asking, can they afford to give it away for free? What about recording costs, bandwidth, bandheight and bandweight? Worry you not, for it is the magic of the internet.

Pin Up Nights: The Plimptons - The Beat Club

The Plimptons - Post it Note videos

The video to The Plimptons Rock n Roll pt 3

Also known as Cupboard of Porn, this video is work safe, unlike my last go at it which was just porn. This one is based on a storyboard drawn by Adam J Smith, animated by myself. 75 individual post it notes frames of animation and a couple of recycled animated video clips.

The song is taken from their 2007 album Pomp, available on Amazon, and was named after Gary Glitter's Rock n Roll pt2

The Plimptons, Kunt and the Gang - The 13th Note

(Review courtesy of the lovely Claire Yvette as I didn't really want to review my own band even though we were AWESOME that night. Ahem)

The pairing of local band The Plimptons and London act Kunt and the Gang was either a stroke of genius or the line-up from hell, depending on your point of view, but either way, they definitely complemented each other. First the Plimptons, for whom Halloween doesn’t come round often enough, arrive on stage in an assortment of outfits. The keyboardist indulging in some eye make-up and a flamboyant scarf, the guitarist out-doing him with a dress and long black wig, and in between them what looks like a Victorian street urchin on vocals, which he shares with the other two. Behind them, a drummer and a bassist, who would have to be doing something pretty remarkable to steal any of the limelight, but look happy to be there nonetheless.

The band successfully play through their set of songs about a range of topics including affairs with ex-politicians, underage goth club patrons, and a whole lot of nineties nostalgia, while anarchically falling over, crawling about the floor, and the guitarist even lifting up his dress to reveal that the infamous “naked gig” at the QMU they played a few months ago hadn’t put him off full-frontal nudity. Even the holding up of cartoon sketches to accompany the Britpop-era based Rule Britannia turned into an enjoyable shambles, where the absence of a certain Mr Gilmour to do the job properly was felt. Along with the fact most of audience couldn’t make out the drawings, this is perhaps a sign that the Plimps should upgrade to a projector. Britpop makes another appearance, with the anthemic perhaps-pulp-inspired Impulse Records featuring a mysterious “Deborah“.

Having seen them on many occasion in the past few years, this was definitely the tightest and most enjoyable show so far, and they’re sure to have picked up a few new fans at this gig, including a terrifying middle-aged ever-so-slightly-drunken woman who spent much of the set dancing in front of the stage. Suppose beggars can’t be choosers.

Next on was the headliner, Kunt and the Gang, with his own brand of naughty euro-pop. If innuendo is like a strip-tease, then Kunt could be compared to hardcore bestiality. Most would choose the former, although the latter does have it’s fans. On first listen, the songs are shocking yet amusing, in a guilty sort of way, like toilet humour except much more abrasive. His live act echoes a kids TV programme, with dodgy hair, catchy songs, cheery side-stepping and even a puppet friend, Little Kunt. However, the novelty of songs such as Have A Wank (along with fake cock to simulate said title) and Carol Vorderman (in which he describes in vivid detail the effects his favourite daytime celebrity has on him) seemed to have worn off on me after one listen on myspace.

Due to it being a school night, I had to miss the second half of his set, which I can’t say I was too distraught about. He’s definitely doing something right though, despite me being unaware of exactly what that is. The 13th Note was the busiest I’ve seen it in a long time, the crowd are singing along, and seemed to be loving it.

The Plimptons - XFM

This site was always going to be a shameless promotional tool for bands wot I have interests in, the constant going to gigs was just a distraction. But now I think its time to cash it in a wee bit, and I don't mean by begging youse to click on the google adverts, no.

This week on XFM Scotland, where they have a sort of popularity contest for bands called XFM Uploaded, and The Plimptons are on it, just here. What I'd really like youse to do, is click on over there and have a listen to one or two of the songs. I'd recommend Impulse Records, its one of their best.

And if you like the sound of it you could also click on Vote for Us thing halfway down the left side. You don't have to fill in any forms or owt.

If the Plimps get enough votes they get one of their songs played on Thursday night, and it'd do wonders for the self-esteem of Marty Plimp.

The Plimptons - QMU

Aw man, we're in the pub down the way from the QMU, after the Plimptons have been thrown out for public nudity.

I was going to start off this review expressing my concerns about how many gigs I go to, maybe too many, but that's going to have to wait until another day.

Before the Plimps went on, some time after the soundcheck, one of the band told me Martin kept getting his cock out, and they hoped he wouldn't do it on stage.

So the place is empty, one of the largest venues of their career, the place is empty except for the other bands and their entourages.

It started so well, huge stage, all the band in their element, then Martin starts taking his shoes off, guitars strap failing as he struggles with the laces. That should have been a clear flag to informed observers.

Sometime during 'Nazi Army' Paul stands atop a speaker stack, waves his arms about in the new-rave style, and leaps off in iconic fashion, returning to his keyboard in time for the Nazi solo.

Martin had shed his trousers and t-shirt leaving just his boxer shorts by the set's halfway point.

And some time before Realm O'Majik he lost his boxers too, concealing his shlong with his guitar. Rowan, our urstwhile drummer, had been summoned to the microphone for an unspecified reason, but took the opportunity to chuck some detritus off stage. It must have been then that the idea hit her, in the pre-amble to Realm, she starts throwing all the clothing she can find off the stage.
Adam had removed some clothes too, slower than Martin, taunting the audience with hoisting and lowering his usual high-mast trousers.

Now, for Realm O'Majik, Adam usually plays guitar and Martin frolicks about in the audience, so now naked, with clothes spread to the winds he alternately uses a beer bottle and microphone to hide his shlong.

Oh the howls of terror from the crowd and the gradual exceptance of the nekkid chap horsing aroundon all fours and eventual embracing of him.

His girlfriend must be so proud.

Early on in the set Paul had been having problems with the sound from his keyboard, the extensive checking of cables and connections had little help, thus freeing him from his shackles to leap around the stage and making some of the songs a little shakey.


So when during Realm O' the microphone cut out, Martin forraged for a different mic to carry on and when that failed, he forraged for another and another.

By the fifth mic fail they knew the venue management had their hand in , this neatly won over the audience in revolt.

Alas, The Mighty Plimps were denied the opportunity to play their usual set closer hoe-down, Banjology.

Martin escorted out by the manager woman, the rest of the band and entourage followed, thus taking half the audience from the other bands.

Sorry, I'm sure your sets were great.

Photies
here
here

Reviews
here
here

Video
here

The Owsley Sunshine, The Plimptons, Paisley Riot - The Cavern Bar - International Pop Overthrow

I popped into the Cavern half an hour ago, its free entry to the International Pop Overthrow festival now, back when I first came four years ago it was like a fiver, but now, free, lending it not the air of a ground-breaking cultural gathering, but a cramped pub with live music somewhere near the back.

The weather's great so I wander the streets trying to find Probe Records. Elsewhere the Plimptons and their entourage hurtle towards the city by train.

I'm having a cappucino in noshncoffee, foregoing my usual stack of burgers at BurgerKing and usual attempts to get school friends, now resident in Liverpool, to come out for a drink.

Two or so hours later, back at the Cavern, I've located one Plimpton and half of the Owsley Umbrella are here. Onstage are a mod/Merseybeat/pop band who sadly can now only be reviewed with a view through the stag night folk in red polo shirts who invaded their stage and outnumbered the rest of the crowd. Maybe "Kev's Stag Night" is a secret Scouse code name for the local learning disability centre. Is it really necessary to play air guitar on an inflatible sheep?

On the other stage, in the back room are a nameless band, the singer looks like a young Elvis Costello, Paul Plimpton says they sound a little like SilverSun, but Busted might be closer to the mark.

The crowd begins to thin by the time "The Owsley Sunshine" hit the stage, but McGazz, formerly of My Legendary Girlfriend, has joined us to watch the bands.

There seems to be only two member of The Owsleys here, Nick and Stephan, but they're doing a good approximation of Joe Kane's Mighty 'Sunch.

I'm struck by treasonous thoughts and concerns about the band being so interchanagble. Stipped down at the Cavern today, they sounds good, fewer instruments to get lost in the noise.

The rest of The Plimptons arrive with seconds to spare.

The hit the stage on fire. Perfectly in tune and stuff, and absolutely unbiased, I have to say it was their best ever Liverpool gig. A couple of new songs, starting off with the the album closer, "Impulse Records", arguably their most accessible song, mainly cos it sounds like Pulp.

I think they got the balance right between playing and between song banter, but maybe the commercial break in the middle could have been framed better. They have to sell albums to pay the bus fare, its no cheap.

Very concerned about Paisley Riot who were on next, the sound guy said he was going to turn the guitars down so they didn't drown the vocals and the band say NO.

TRUST THE SOUND MAN

Noisy and melodic. Some of their tunes rocked generic, but with no hook, nothing to cling onto. Despite the enthusiasm with which they introduce the songs I couldn't find any pulse.

In the back room is some Edinburgh band, possibly called The Snakes, they dressed like late '90s nu-metal, but sounded like I'm guessing Maroon 5 sound like if I'd ever listened to them.

Outside in the street, there's a drunk teenager called Kelly crying, and my BurgerKing has run out of Whoppers, this is how the universe ends.

Back at the batcave, in the other room, Blackout are on stage, they appear to be a trio of eleven or twelve year olds, lack of tits doesn't rule out the possibility that they're all girls. They rock quite a bit. Messy drums, could be a Ramones tribute act with a few modern influences thrown in, like the Pixies maybe.

Crikey, they're from Los Angeles, California, do their parents know where they are?

Ooh, Justin Timberlake is in the audience here. How many EyeSpy points do I get for him?

Hmph, I've lost the Plimptons, they're not quite where I left then sat next to the main stage, but there is a large heap of their detritus, obscene sketches of each other and rejected setlists. All their gear is gone too. They're not in any of the dressing rooms, maybe they followed me outside and are even now lost in this town's maze-like streets.

Frantic minutes pass and I find them onstage in the Cavern Pub on the other side of the street, halfway throughtheir set. This time they're in costume, Martin in girlfriend's dress and wig, Adam drinking spilled beer of the floor.

This time round they're even closer to the audience than they were earlier, and the crowd are terrified. Some people are dancing, and joining in with the choruses of the songs, but all the stops when Martin leaps forward and starts hurtling around on all fours licking people's faces and throwing CDs around.

I think they won over a few people, or at least left people scarred. We sold four CDs, which just about covers my petrol money.

Next on stage at the Cavern Pub were the band me and Paul saw earlier with Kev's Stag night, alas we have to leave. Its a long drive back to Glasgow.

So, over 150 bands playing over seven days, on four different stages, and I missed most of them. It was free though, so hey ho.

Photies
here
here

Reviews
here

Unknown Forces, The Plimptons, Les Enfant Bastard, The Just Joans, Catface - The Captain's Rest

Walked straight past the Captain's Rest, seeking out a free cash machine, the one outside the Shell/Sainsburys was nearest, but even then one of the buttons was broken, and we all got a free recipt.

Meanwhile at the venue, Adam's fretting. The downside of having half a dozen bands playing in a venue this size is that there's not quite enough room for paying customers, like myself. More significantly, this is the launch night for The Littlest Album 3. Twelve songs, under a minute long, by twelve bands, all on one 7" vinyl record, still at the pressing plant about 400 miles away.

It starts.

What is this glitchy noodly pish? Some quiet looking chap sat with his guitar plugged into a laptop. Hmm, I recognise this 200Hz sine wave, and despite the chap's enthusiastic smiling, its still pish. He did apologise to the audience, mind.

Bah, who am I trying to kid? I was listening to The KLF's seminal 1990 ambiant album, Chill Out earlier today and it sounds very much like this chap is just doing his own live remix. Live!! On Stage!!! For One Night Only!!

Plimptons slowly make their way to the stage, in dribs and drabs, painfully slowly, but the rest of the audience don't mind, it just lowers the bar I guess.

They start with Ocean Colour Ressurrection, a 90's/60's Britpop pastiche, tonight possibly missing several instruments and microphones due to them not being plugged in. This is why bands usually have soundchecks.

"I quite enjoyed it, I found it an exhilarating experience"
I dream that not just one day, Adam will remember to hold his microphone to his mouth when his singles and actually verbalise every line, but will do it every single time he's on stage.

"Aw, don't ask me man, I've seen the 10 times this year"

Playing Impulse Records, their Pulp-ish song at 3 time normal speed could have been a stroke of genius.

"It was good... brief..."

Les Enfant Bastards, a three piece tonight with Rowan Plimpton on drums, a cello and male singer with guitar and harmonica. Sounded like a male Joanan Newsom, maybe even like like Hefner, one of the band's top influences.

"I quite enjoyed it, found it an exhilarating experience.

Next up were the Just Joans, the audeince are drunk, and not so much restless, but they've been there for ages, and you know, things and stuff. Rowan's back on stage, playing drunks for the third band of the night and the fourth band of the past twenty four hours, (Tibi Lubin last night apparently).

Shame the crowd were talking loudly all through, these things happen, its a risk you take playing gentle quiet music about Motherwell.

"Do you think the Just Joans were putting on an accent?"

Row's drumming seemed to... slow it down a little, or maybe, it just punctuated the song, in a funny way.

Holly and her crew arrived in time to catch The Just Joans's final song.

A bit of a tragedy unfolds as the final act of the evening, Alex Botten, of Thee Moths, Catface, Lipsick! and other, plays just a one minute set, a rendition of his track on the Littlest Album.

Adam assures me the records should be available at the next album launch night, next weekend at the 13th Note. I hope so.

Reviews
here
here

Glasgow Glam Bangers, Hugh Reed, The Plimptons - Nice n Sleazy

The Plimpies again, at Nice n Sleazy's, I do make CDs for them so I'm biased and crave their success.

First up are the Glasgow Glam Bangers, Magnus on guitar looks like the seventh cast member from Auf Wiedersen Pet and Paxton the singer looks splendid in make up and heels.

Holly's in the crowd tonight, there's a cold going round and she's ammassed a small collection of her own used tissues. They're all creased hapazardly, but one in particular is scrumpled small with phlegm.

Of the band, Alan Wolfknuckle says "They were as entertaining as I remember them"

Ooh, neat cover of Rebel Rebel, it suits them. They have less fuzz on the guitar than usual, making them come across more stripped down and less unrelenting than usual. But some would say 'Musically competant'.

Rowan Plimpton swears that Hugh Reed is a local hero and institution of sort, I think I saw him supporting Belle and Sebastian here a few years back. Holly and Katherine squeal there's a naked man at the side of the stage, but its just Hugh putting on his extensive costumes.

Its a bit of a mix of genres, Hugh on stage with backing tapes/mp3s. Some of his material falls flat and some of it works as a stand up routine. Katherine has the factoid that his MySpace page claims he toured with Blondie, chances are low, but who knows.

Before Shug hit the stage my favourite part of the night was when Adam Plimpton working the door was confronted by a pretty girl asking what bands were playing, he told her and she paid in looking scared "She gave me a crazy look, I thought it was the done thing, so I gave her one back."

I wasn't convinced by Hugh Reed until halfway through his set, and it was like that bit in Philadelphia where Tom Hanks is translating opera for Denzel Washington who suddenly all understands and melts and stuff. It was when Hugh uses an old TV screen as a frame for his mic then runs round the audience unreeling and wrapping the audience up a roll of sellotape.

Aw man, now a Scott Walker cover, and I'm wearing my KLF t-shirt. And next a Screamin' Jay Hawkins cover. This man is a god.

Plimptons hit the stage, Katherine say "Not as crap as last time I saw them", The sound guy's on the ball tonight.

A new song, sounds remarkably like Shane McGowan. The crowd seem to tolerate it. Do you ever get that surreal feeling when you hear a song, that it was written about you, that certain lines just strike a chord, and even though it couldn't possibly be, that song was written about you?

Some in the crowd noticed that the Plimps seem atighter than they used to. Although one wonders how many paying punters are here under duress.

Sure, they clap and holler after each song, but well, when the Plimps are playing, no one seems to look like they're enjoying it.

Futuro, The Plimptons - The Arches

I manage The Plimptons.

Arrived at the venue about three songs in and the band are on fire, in full costume. Marty (guitar and vocals) in dress and stacked wig, Neil (bass) in his girlfriend's dress, Paul (keyboards) in eyeliner, white shirt and red tie, Adam (vocals) in chimney sweep garb and Rowan (drums) nun.

Gotta be the biggest gig of their career and with the bestest sound engineer. Even when they cocked up the start of Ocean Colour Ressurrection it turned into a lesson in quality of service.

Half the guys in the crowd didn't have a clue, the other half, die-hard Plimptons fans. There were even cute girls dancing.

Photographers

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Being on stage, miles away from the punters meant they had to drop the usual visual aides for 'Rule Britannia' and Cal missed out on his Thatcher routine for 'John Major'. But they still won out.

Dressing room with a shower and fake booze in the fridge.

Graham PinUp is here, seems to be enjoying himself.

I think I'm rather in love with the girl who served me beer. A little Avril Lavigneish, but perky for that and she had the pixie/hair/ear thing going on. Young enough to be my daughter.

Futuro on stage. They have stardom in their sights. Ticking all the boxes.

Merely a three piece, but they have the thronging crowd enraptured.

Aw man, I broke my camera
I broke my camera bad

"Is this their new single or 'Darts of Pleasure'?"

Other reviews:-
here

Other photos:-
here
here