Ryan Hamilton & The Traitors - The Main Grains (Stereo - Glasgow 18/03/18)

Last year it was The Main Grains with the Drama Club Rejects that rolled into town. Between them they tattooed an indelible memory in my head.

And now on this outing they are back to open for another band that similarly impressed when I seen them on the Edinburgh date of their Heavy Heart tour in 2017. They would be the mighty Ryan Hamilton and his Traitors.

It was a cold day in Glasgow, but these two acts could easily heat up a cold day in hell on a solo jaunt, so we gleefully went in with high expectations for the show they were doing together, and we were not disappointed.

The Main Grains.

The Main Grains are heavily tapping into something that gets the primal blood pumping hot and fast through the veins.
It's difficult to put your finger on what it is though. When you break things down you might find yourself with all the parts, but in the process lose sight of why it all works so well.
The best bands, or the best in my opinion, all had this sum of its parts element. The Ramones, The Cramps, The Damned, AC/DC, The Rolling Stones, Motorhead, The Stooges etcetera.
You don't look too closely at it what's going on with them. Instead you simply stand back and let yourself be swept away with what they can do.
Thrashing drums, guitars chugging, or howling away, the bass underpinning it all. They are all creators of an aural drug that is highly addictive. And now so are The Main Grains.

Guitar rock and roll crack anybody?

What do we want to call it though? Good time rock and roll?
Is that enough?
I suppose it will have to do. It falls short, underplays the power, the passion, but what else fits?
They can certainly offer the soundtrack for a party. Not a cheese and wine gathering. The sort of party where casual nudity and vomiting in the bathtub will probably feature, or in short the best sort of parties that we all remember from misspent youth years.
It’s not a stretch to say that as a whole the band have positioned themselves to be ready to accept the baton from legends such as The Ramones, Stiff Little Fingers, and such and run with it.

Not a bad place to be really.
This is the third Main Grains show I've attended, and the best. They aren't content with getting incrementally better. They want to, need to, make the huge leaps, and they are doing just that with style.
My only concern is that with a tour of the UK and Australia coming up for Danny with The Wildhearts that it will possibly slow the momentum that the Main Grains are garnering, but apparently there are plans afoot to ensure that we don't forget about them.
I'm looking forward to these plans being revealed.

Ryan Hamilton & The Traitors.

Last year Ryan Hamilton rocketed to the top of my "new favourite artist" list, and then stayed there.
Late to the party I might have been, but damn I'm enjoying playing catch up.
From his solo releases, to that with The Traitors, to his recent country collaboration with Tony Wright of Terrorvision, I don't think there's been one misstep made.
In fact I'd go as far as to say that I've yet to hear one song from him that I would consider falls below a quality bar that he has set very high for himself.
How many artists could you say that about? Not one weak song!
Even his podcast "Lost the plotcast" is in my opinion essential listening.
You just have to get on board with everything he is doing.

On stage is where everything Ryan does makes complete sense though.
He, and his band, are born to perform. The live environment is where it's at.
There's something familial about the experience. We are all in it together from the first note to the last, and that's a good feeling to spread about.
It's the sort of foundation that great things can be built on. You could imagine him a few years down the line playing a larger venue and reminiscing about playing club venues in Glasgow, and pretty much everyone who was there in Stereo would be standing front and centre and reliving the memory with him.
Like the Marines, Ryan probably isn't going to leave anyone behind.
There's something special about that, but I guess you had to be there to understand what I’m trying to convey.

Thankfully the upside is that you can be the next time he is in town.

It's not an exclusive party. Everyone is invited. So if you like your rock with a country twang, like your power pop bands too, then Ryan has his pen in hand and will tick all those boxes for you.

Highlight of the set wasn’t actually one of his songs, but a cover of Tom Petty that ended the night on a high. Similar to what was said about the Main Grains being positioned to take ownership of a baton Ryan is equally standing there with his hand out and ready to run too.

If you want to get in early and be able to crow about seeing these guys in clubs before everyone else picks up on them then now is the time.

Previous interviews with The Main Grains and Ryan Hamilton & The Traitors.
Ryan Hamilton & The Traitors.
The Main Grains. 

The friday interview with The Main Grains

There’s no point hammering away at the keys to interview bands that you have no affinity for.

So it’s good news that we bloody love the Main Grains isn't it?,

After seeing the guys supporting The Wildhearts last year, and then working with them on their Glasgow date, it is our distinct pleasure to feature a chat with them here, and we most certainly look forward to getting reacquainted again sometime down the line.

The drinks are on JJ.

So read on McDuff.    

You have made a bit of a splash with the debut, the support tour with The Wildhearts and a run of headlining shows yourself. Especially considering that they have all been played while there have been some health issues that would floor most.

You must be rather pleased with yourselves. Is the reaction expected?

Danny - It was a great tour all round and was a great way to play in front of thousands of people. We went down a storm and we all loved it. We did well for a seven legged rock and roll band.

Ginna - I think once we got the band started we knew with Danny being in the band it wasn’t going to be the same as any new band starting out due to his back catalogue of material,

With his past reputation we knew we'd have a lot of support with his fans wishing him well but the reaction has been fantastic and we're all blown away by it.

Ben - What Ginna said! We expected a bit of support initially but it could have gone either way. The continued support throughout everything that's happened this last year has been amazing.

JJ - I can't really add to these two answers. It’s been brilliant, and beyond expectations

Do you already have new material ready to go for the studio, or are you thinking about a bit of a break after the run of current dates?

JJ - No rest for the wicked! We have three new songs currently in the set, and a handful more being worked on. Not rushing it though, since we set a standard with the first record that we need/want to exceed on the next one. We want people to go "wow" when they hear the next one

Danny – Yeah there’s a few new songs on the boil and we want to record a couple of these before recording a full album.

Ben - Yeah it’s been good we're working on stuff for the next release. We want every track to be good enough to be a single. There are a lot of ear worms on the go!

As you are joking about your leg Danny, how are things coming along, and how was the touring for you all with the obvious limitations that would arise such as poor access for wheelchairs?

Has it opened your eyes to mobility issues for people?

Danny - I'm starting physio soon, and should have my new leg soon as well. All positive things!

JJ – It wasn’t so much problematic, but it does take a little extra planning, making sure we stay in the right places, and some venues definitely have access issues and don't seem to cater for people with mobility issues, but a lot are older buildings.

For me, I think the four of us, and the guys in the crew, know what needs to be done and all just get on with things as it's become second nature.

We look out for each other, and admire the fact he is basically refusing to let this stop him, or even slow him down.

Ben - It's not always been a walk in the park. But like JJ says, we all look out for each other, and the guys who help us out do too.

Danny - It was hard sometimes getting about. I almost fell a few times but I just had to get on with it.

With touring you are all in the unique position of being able to check out bands from all over the country.

I noticed that you were all watching Drama Club Rejects and PowderKeg who were with you in Glasgow.

Who were the ones that you each thought stood out from all the touring you have been doing?

JJ - Both Drama Club Rejects and PowderKeg stood out in different ways for me on the Scottish dates.

There's of course some combined history with us and DCR, which made it fun, and, I thought PowderKeg were a breath of fresh air these days, just proper rock n roll.

Also, we tried to pick bands we like, personally and musically, and, also make sure they had enough time to do their thing as well (not 20-30 min sets that are over and done) so that all the bands could have a good time and then hopefully that translates over to the audience too.

Ben - Well they're the only bands we played with in Scotland. Both of them were with us in Edinburgh and just DCR in Aberdeen. Those guys are both awesome live!

If they're playing near you soon you definitely need to check them out.

Danny - I really enjoyed The Idol Dead. I loved Fireroad too. They were awesome live as well.

JJ - Extending my answer to cover everywhere else and talking about bands on the same bills as us, then I have to include Idol Dead and Fireroad like Danny says, and, Blacklist Saints, Doomsday Outlaw, Midnight Dogs. Black Rose Cadillac were great as well.

Ginna - It's really important to have great bands on any bill with you. It helps push you even more and there’s nothing worse than going to a show where the support bands are a complete mismatch or really boring. All the bands we’ve played with this last year or so have been great in their own right.

No complaint on the quality of shared bills from us.

So Camden Rocks is this weekend.

Are you all looking forward to it? It’s the rock calendar event of the year for many.

What makes it so special for you?

Ginna- Yeah Camden Rocks is ace!  Can't wait!! So many cool bands on and the vibe is fantastic.

That’s what makes it special.

Danny – I agree with Ginna. You get to see a great mix of new and old bands. The atmosphere is a party one and I'm always bumping into fans old and new. It’s great.

Ben - of course!! The atmosphere is amazing! It’s a big party. We love it.

So with Camden out of the way, what’s next? Are you guys planning on coming back up North soon?

Ginna - We're currently looking at booking dates so watch this space!

Danny – Yeah, we have nothing set in stone but I'm sure it won't be long before we're up again.

JJ – All will be revealed. The information will be shared on the website and facebook so in time honoured tradition watch this space.

Also playing Camden Rocks - Duncan Reid and the Big Heads interview.