Reservoir Droogs in conversation with Ryan Hamilton

It gives us the distinct pleasure to feature Ryan and the Traitors (Again). Without gilding the lily we can hand on heart can say that he is one of our favourite artists.
One who jumped to the toppermost of the poppermost for us on hearing him midway through 2017. Embarrassingly so, we are a tad evangelical in spreading the word. Give us the slightest encouragement and we will drop his name into pretty much any music conversation we have.
If you haven't heard Ryan Hamilton & the Traitors, or any of his collaborations and solo work, then do something about that now. You will not be sorry.


It's not long until your UK dates with The Main Grains. Does it feel good to be getting back on the road? 

Ryan - Yeah it does! We've worked REALLY hard to gain our reputation as a great live band. It's important to me, and I LOVE playing shows and being on the road

We often hear that there's a different vibe to how audiences react depending on what country it is. How does the UK feel in comparisons to others? And do you feel there's even a difference across the UK too? 

People in the UK sing along louder, drink more... and just seem to have a better time! Haha. Seriously though. There's this extra cheerful, extra fun, extra "ohmygod we're at a concert!" thing that happens in the UK. I love it. The only difference is, some cities in the UK go even crazier than others. But it is ALWAYS a good time on tour in the UK. 

I love America, but it's way more chilled out to tour over here. 

You could be described as the new breed of artist. One who has taken the independence angle to heart. It's not that this is in itself a unique approach, but you self release, tour book, promote yourself, and in short cover as many of the bases as you possibly can that would have previously been the responsibility of a label/management team.

Tell us about the pros from your perspective, and the cons of working like this?

I could spend an hour talking about the cons of working with labels and managers... but I'll save you that hour. Haha. In today's world, we have the freedom, and the tools, to do what we want. Sky's the limit! You're really only limited by your work ethic and your imagination!... and money. That's the one place where the big, bad, major labels stay ahead of us independents. 

They have lots and lots of money to spend. 

People don't realize that all the radio play, all the magazine interviews and ads... it's all PAID FOR. So much money is spent on acts like Ed Sheeran etc... it's nearly impossible to compete. Somebody like that also has a huge team of people to pay, and take care of. They also have a long list of people to answer to and obey. It may sound crazy, but I prefer being a medium sized successful independent artist. I'm in it for the music. Not the money. 

Are you one of those people who believe that you make your own luck? From the outside some may consider that you are in an enviable position just now, but might not appreciate that you have committed so much time and effort to get this far. So what is considered luck is really a relentless drive to create, and get what you create out there. Is that possibly under appreciated?

This is what I believe. I believe you have to work as hard as you have to... relentlessly. You can absolutely get there with a talent, and A LOT of hard work... and any "luck" that happens is an added bonus. I will say though; it's usually some random, "lucky", out of nowhere thing that results in the extra big breaks. 

As we are now onto talking about the perception of luck do you want to let us in on how the album with Tony Wright came about? Pull back the curtain. Obviously it wasn't just luck.

I don't know if I would call it luck, but it was super coincidental. We were both working with super talented producer & friend, Dave Draper. Tony with Terrorvison and me with the Traitors. Really just through the buzz we have going on in the UK, and a couple of conversations with Dave, Tony decided to check us out. Before I knew it, we had emailed back and forth a few times, and were recording a song together. It's strange, actually. I can't remember exactly how we got from there to here. But I'm really glad we did. Love that dude. Got a feeling we're gonna be friends for a very long time. We made an amazing album together, too. 

Pretty much as an aside I've got to say that your cover of Wild Horses blew me away. Similar to how Johnny Cash took Hurt away from Trent Reznor I'd say the Stones should just accept it belongs to you now. That being said, what's the track on the album that you are most proud of?

Haha. Awww, man... that's very high praise. Thank you very much. I think the track I'm most proud of is Whiskey River. We tacked that tune differently than anyone ever has. It's so simple... but so pure. I love the whole vibe of that tune. 

Will there be any live dates to promote the album? 

There will, indeed. In June. That's all I can say, for now. 

Jumping away from the Grand Ol' Otley to go back to your Traitors material I had noticed that you had an offer from a label and decided to keep going as it is just now. Personally I would say you made the right decision, but what would they have to offer for you to be interested in signing on the dotted line?

Yeah, it's been tough. We started getting some interest from "industry" types... and labels. I was excited at first, but it left a really bad taste in my mouth. If we ever partner with a label, I want to do exactly that, PARTNER. I don't wanna talk too much shit about the label folks. Because I know how lucky we are to even be in a position where people like that are paying attention. So, I'll just say this: Currently, we wouldn't change a thing. We are in control of our own destiny, and things couldn't be going any better :-) 

You've been honest on your podcast about being burnt before, and expressed a less than enthusiastic opinion on the music business in general. Have you got a once bitten, twice shy, attitude about that old style of approach to artists by labels and such?

Yeah I do! Haha. Again, as much as I'd like to, I don't wanna talk too much shit about labels or past experiences. I have definitely learned better. There's no way I would have rejected an offer 10 years ago. Very happy to be in a place now where I know when I'm getting screwed or manipulated. I try not to be jaded. But I'm a product of my own experience. 

And to tie that in with your equally honest revelations about your own mental health do you think the business side the mainstream labels promote are mentally unhealthy and just add an unjustifiable mental strain on artists?

100%. Can't tell you how many friends I've seen get pushed to their limits. It is SO unhealthy. Especially when you suffer from real Mental Health issues. It's an issue that is clearly very important to me. There's so much more that can be done to educate people on the issue. I will always do my part to do just that. That goes for the folks in this business of music too. Sometimes the most creative people suffer the most. 

On a lighter subject I heard you mention how you lived in a tiny home for a period. I love the whole idea of them, but I would need two. One for my record collection. What attracted you to living in one, and was it a positive experience?

Haha. I hear THAT! Holly (my wife) and I, our decision was primarily financially driven. We built our Tiny House on the base of an old travel trailer and lived in it for just over a year. I was essentially starting over in the music business, and need to find a way to survive financially WITHOUT going back and getting a "real job". I worked my ass off for the 8-10 months it took to build it. You learn A LOT living so minimally. Parts of it I loved, parts of it I really loathed. I am forever grateful though that Holly and I have that experience together. We now own about an acre of land, and have a new house we lovingly refer to as "The Medium House". The Tiny House has been converted into a studio... and sits just behind the new house. 

Back to the music now. You often speak about the authentic rock and rollers, and I think I recall you saying that you don't consider that they exist now. Or can't exist.

Now I'm happy for you to say I have got that wrong, but do you really think we won't see a Keith Richards, or the likes, again?

I'd say I know a few authentic rockers who just don't have a band, or any artistic talent, but they do tick the rest of the boxes. Swashbuckling heroes of the gutter. Even if that's only at the weekends. ;)

Isn't it maybe just a matter of the times, and not a paucity of rebel rousers?

You know, I wonder about that all the time. Are the last of the real rock n rollers gonna die and go away forever? It appears to be so. But, I'd be super happy to get proven wrong. For now though, it appears I am correct.

FACEBOOK WEBSITE UK-WEBSTORE TICKETS TRAITORS CLUB

OUT NOW - TRAITORS CLUB YEAR 1

Reservoir Droog, and you, interview Danny McCormack

Danny McCormack is without a shadow of a doubt a rock and roll warrior.

When you read about the lives of rock stars you can be assured that Danny has matched every high and low that you could care to mention.

Member of The Wildhearts, forming and fronting The Yo-Yos, a stint with Dogs D’Amour, currently forging forward with his band The Main Grains, and now in tandem with them he is back full circle to playing bass with The Wildhearts again.

He been here, there, and everywhere, and brought back the t-shirts to prove it.

So here we are in the calm before the storm that will be the Main Grains tour with Ryan Hamilton & TheTraitors, and his bass slinging with The Wildhearts on their Britrock Must Be Destroyed tour, and it gives us great pleasure to be able to bring you a fan based interview with the man himself.

It only leaves us to say thank you to Danny for being so gracious with his time, and thank you to everyone who participated by providing questions.

You’re all going to be stars in Japan.

And now jump in, and enjoy.

Reservoir Droogs - Hi Danny. As mentioned you have a busy schedule with the Main Grains tour with Ryan Hamilton & the Traitors leading into the Britrock Must Be Destroyed dates coming up. Jump back a few years and tell me, did you imagine that things would come full circle as they have and you would be back to gigging like this?

Danny - I didn’t know it would come full circle, but I’m sure glad it did. I’m enjoying music again and am getting a full on buzz about it all.

I took a long time out as I was suffering with being bipolar and I wasn’t on the right medication, but once I was diagnosed it was great that my illness had a name. I just thought I was nuts.

Res Droogs - As you mentioned your bipolar diagnosis, in hindsight to you think your drug use was an unconscious attempt to self medicate?

Danny - It was all about self medicating. When I was really low I took uppers and when I was too high it was downers. I just wish I had been diagnosed earlier and it would have saved a lot of total disparity. I was in a very bad place and it’s took its toll.

Jen Lambie (PowderKeg) - Hey Danny, is there anyone in the music industry that you'd love to work with one day that you haven't had the chance to yet?

Danny - There’s a band I’ve just got into called Cyanide Pills. I’d love to do something with them one day.

Reservoir Droogs - Cyanide Pills, Main Grains, Idol Dead, PowderKeg and Drama Club Rejects gig in Glasgow. Let's do it. 

Jen - OH YES PLEASE!

Danny - Have you heard of them Jen? If not check out the “Still Bored” album on YouTube. It’s killer.

Jen - I shall!

Pete Montador -  Will the Main Grains be playing any new material on the upcoming Ryan Hamilton tour?

Danny - Yeah if I can remember the words haha. We’ve got a new belter called “Unsung Heroes” in the set.

Jim McKellan - Is there any chance of engineering a Wildhearts/3 Colours Red supergroup? It'd be a beautiful noise. Just imagine I Wanna Go (With a Sixty Mile Smile)

Danny - I don’t think 3 Colours Red will do anything else. Especially after Keith dying.

Ray Townsend Jr - We know you love punk and rock n roll but who are your favourite metal bands if any?

Danny - AC/DC I think are great. A bit of Led Zeppelin too.

Ray - What about Manowar ha ha.

Danny - Er. No buddy.

Iain Smith - Do you have a favourite song or album from The Wildhearts that you didn't play on......and one's that you did play on?

Danny -  I love headfuck. Anything from earth vrs. Also the b sides. Mindslide especially.

Alan Greig - I love Mindslide. One of my favourite Wildhearts songs.

Colin Grainger - What's the best thing about being Danny McCormack?

Danny - The best thing about being me is my sense of humour.

Darren Quinn - Regrets...We've all had a few...What, if any, are your major regrets Danny?

Danny -  No major regrets. Life’s too short. Maybe my getting very heavily into drugs! I put it down to experience though and just get in with it.

Alan Greig - Danny, everyone has a guilty pleasure album that folks snigger at when you tell them. Mine is Abba's Super Trouper. What's your guilty pleasure album?

Danny -  ABBA. Good one. I’ve got no records in my collection that I’m ashamed of.

Adam Brearley - I've always loved, and still listen to Uppers and Downers. For me, it's as perfect an album as people say Appetite For Destruction is, and indeed, Earth Vs.

Is it album you're proud of? Also I'm thinking of having Sunshine Girl played at my wedding this year, good call?

Danny - That’s a great call mate. I’m so so proud of Uppers and Downers. Just a shame it didn’t make me rich haha. I still play it from time to time and I still love that record.

Colin Grainger - Uppers and Downers is the ultimate feelgood album. Which album do you go to if you need a bit of cheering up?

Danny - I go for “dig that groove baby” by the toy dolls. It’s a great way of picking yourself up.

William H Havers - Do you have a favourite tour story? I know you’ve had some long nights and long days. Also, Upper and Downers is one of my favourite records of all time.

Danny - My favourite tour story cannot be printed haha. Arrests would be made hahahaha. Normally drug fuelled madness.

I’m glad you like the Yo-Yos album mate.

Martin McCann - What’s your best, and worst gigs that you’ve played?

Danny - One of the best gigs was supporting the Sex Pistols in 96. The worst gigs are when I’m ill. Mental illness is real.

Roy Townsend Jr - Do you have hobbies and interests outside of music Danny? If so what? Do you like to collect anything?

Danny - It’s all about music and the dog for me. I’m a boring cunt.

Ben Wright - It’s great to see you back playing music again. And cheers for offering to answer a few questions from your fans. It’s also great that you and Ginger are on good terms again. How did it come to you guys burying the hatchet? Who broke the ice first? And what and where was that first face to face meeting like?

Danny - We made up at Camden Rocks and he asked for me to do his birthday bash and some Wildhearts support shows with the Main Grains. It was great seeing him again to be honest.

Tour Dates

Extra thanks and shout out to Pete Montador for manning the ship in choppy waters. yer a star.

Buzzbomb - Sixty Miles of Bad Road

Drop the bomb Trump. C’mon you deranged orange shit gibbon. I fuckin’ dare you. 

Once the dust settles we will just come out and party in the rubble to Buzzbomb. These guys are punk rock survivors who are more than able to provide the soundtrack to a brave new post apocalyptic world.

So on you go and throw whatever you want at them. 

They will just keep coming back for more and that’s a promise and a fact rolled into one.

You just can’t keep them down.

Over the years they have outlived many of their heroes and peers, they have hung around as venues arrived with a bang and vanished with a whimper, and now here we are in the present and I would wager hard earned cash on them turning up battered and bruised as the house band for a post end of day’s party.

They are the sort of punk rock hooligans that are referred to as the real deal, and with Sixty Miles of Bad Road they have managed to take all those years of paying their dues and distilled it all down into a blast of modern sounding street punk par excellence .

It’s all killer and it shoves your filler where the sun doesn’t shine. There’s no slacking as the foot remains pressed hard down on the accelerator from start to finish. 

This is ultimately a refreshing release because it has no faux pretence to be anything other than a celebration of punk and roll in all its wide and varied forms. From the Clash to Social Destruction, to The Ramones to Dead Kennedys, from old school thrashing to pop punk melodies, the influences keep being signposted as we fly past them at a dangerously reckless speed.

It’s an exhilarating experience when you strap yourself in to listen to this one, and it sounds as if every gig that they have played, and every release that they have unleashed on the public, was simply building up to this moment.

It’s the climax of years of putting blood, sweat, and tears, into playing in a band. 

Not bad really. Not bad at all.

The Skids - King Tuts Wah Wah Hut - Glasgow (10/01/18)

Jump in a time machine and set course for 2008.

Now jump out and do a quick poll on who thinks the Skids would not just be back with a new album in 2018, but also touring to critical acclaim.

The results would be a shared laugh, a loud braying ‘get outta here’ laugh from everyone asked, but who would be laughing now?

The last album was way back in 1981, and for me it ended the band on a less than auspicious note. To be brutally honest I couldn’t find the joy in ‘Joy’, but then again sometimes alternative endings, or even new beginnings, are not to be sniffed at, and that seems to be the case with the current approval ratings for Jobson and co.

So with my less that glowing memories of the demise of The Skids mk1 left behind me, and giddy on the word of mouth praise from mates who had caught the dates at the tale end of 2017, there I was in King Tuts Wah Wah Hut with my mate Dennis to check them out myself.
Dennis was one of the many who had been singing the bands praises, and I have no problem in saying he was right. He hit the nail on the head with his unstinting praise. The Skids are, to use a time worn trope, on fire.

The gig was unofficially sold as an introduction to Burning Cities, but on the night the band only played three songs from their current release, and gifted the lions share of the set to blasts from the past.
A good call on their part.
It's doubtful anyone would have been complaining about the set lists as the new album wouldn't have been in the hands of the many at that point, and for those who did have it, they would still be in the bedding in period of listening to the new material.
So with that being the case it very obviously a no brainer to go for the recognisable songs.
In response the audience of mainly middle aged men, of which I am one, were unstinting in participating in a cardio vascular workout to show their appreciation.
Nostalgia sells hard. Possibly harder than an overdose of viagra.
Or maybe the exuberance was really in response to Jobsons trade marked out of time pin wheeling aerobic performance and the gig was just an expensive gym work out with a better than usual play list to sweat to.

Who cares! At the end of the day the band was painting smiles on lots of faces, and that’s what a good night out is all about.
A personal highlight was the updated version of TV Stars with the roll call of modern day media darlings. That moment is going to sit as the quality bar of the year so far. Now let's see how long that lasts. 

The album is now currently sitting a few feet away from me with the turntable beckoning. Reviews have been positive from the mainstream music press, but less so from fans who are claiming that the excellent production job helps cover a less than impressive lyrical content.

The jury is indeed out, but some thoughts will be shared soon on here.

That is the first gig of the year done and dusted, and plenty more to come. 2018 let’s be ‘avin you.

Damned if you do. Damned if you don't.

Click on image to enlarge.

Yesterday my partner in crime, life, mishaps and adventures, drew my attention to a Groupon offer for tickets to see the Damned play in Glasgow.

The tickets were virtually half price. So a great deal, a phantasmagorical deal for those who hadn't procured them already.

Trump would call it the biggest and best deal ever.

No better deal has ever been offered to punks anywhere.

Not so great if you were one of the good little fans who bought tickets weeks, or months, ago, as we did though.

In fact it's a bit of a kick in the teeth to be honest.

Here's your reward for a bit of fan based loyalty and support. You can pay the premium price while the johnny come lately types and the casual fan gets a sterling offer of a money saving deal.

So thank you. Thank you very much. This feels great.

Of course none of us are blind to the harsh world of economics. We understand the reasoning behind the offer, and most of us can rationalize the benefits.

More people attending an event ensures that it takes place, and the increased volume of traffic maintains the gig economy.

Both are positives, but it still feels wrong on a personal level, on an emotional level.

I can't be alone in thinking this.

Here is a band that I have seen so often that I have lost count long ago, a band that I own every studio release of, a band that I have thrown cash at over the years for merchandise, and a band that I have paid virtually double to see in comparison to a chunk of those who will ultimately attend the gig.

Again, thank you. My heart is bursting with joy as I typed that out.

Of course I used the handy link the site provided and shared the offer with everyone that I thought would have a passing interest in the gig.

I'm not a cnut.

Keeping it a secret would have been churlish.

Just because we lost out on a deal doesn't mean we shouldn't get the word out, but this isn't a situation that has put a smile on my face.

My wallet is of course extremely unhappy with the offer too.

It's not as if my finances are in rude health. I'm sure others will commiserate.

Anyway, hopefully this doesn't set a precedent in punk circles. That's the bigger picture problem.

For the positives mentioned there are also negatives.

The main one being that punk music lovers start to hang about until the last minute before committing to a gig in the hope that they get a better deal.

With this then resulting in gigs being pulled due to the perception that there is a lack of interest in the show.

Not so great when you think about that is it?

Basically I don't consider live gigs to be the same as a lastminute.com offer on a hotel room, or a cheap seat in the back row of a play in a theatre. Maybe that is just me. My perception of it all.

I would argue that club level diy gigs by independent promoters definitely can't follow this example and survive though.

So there is a lot to think about here. Is it a good move, or a bad one?

Still a fan, and still looking forward to the gig, and the free preshow sets from Fire Exit, Shock and Awe, The Media Whores, The Threats and The Red Eyes in Audio, but I'm not going to pretend that I am fine with this.

I'm not fine at all. I just can't be happy today.

Damned pre show event.

So what have the Droogs been up to? Pretty much f**k all mate, but that's changing.

Here's Dave. He wants you to go and see The Damned.
It would be rude not to. So we will.

It's time to get the nose back to the grindstone isn't it?

So as from tomorrow we are back. We have even made a list.

And here it is.

Some podcast recommendations.
Live reviews - Skids (King Tuts - Glasgow)
Reviews of releases - Buzzbomb, Steve Conte, Eureka Machines, Skids.
Updates - Scott Sorry benefits.

That will be enough to be getting on with.

After that the updates will be a bit haphazard as life at the moment isn't allowing for a commitment to posting to a time frame. You gets what you gets.

So until tomorrow here are some songs to be going on with.

First up is Ryan Hamilton & the Traitors with their latest single.
Tour dates are out there and will be listed in the next few days with some further information on what Ryan is up to.



And as Kelly and I have sorted out tickets for Sparks, and I am rather excited about that, here is the lead single from Hippopotamus.



...and last, but never least, is this blast from the past from Crazyhead. We shall be making a road trip to London to see these guys later in the year. It's one of those if the mountain doesn't come to Mohammed deals.

Dixie Fried – On Sunburst and Thump

Game Changer! 

Listening to On Sunburst and Thump and that’s the two words that keep pushing their way to the front of the line. 

If the second album is the difficult one, and the third is when a band set out to prove they have that longevity gene, then this is Dixie Fried placing their cards down on the table and committing to being in this game for the long haul. 

Damn they could have just called this one Game Changer without being accused of arrogant self aggrandisement, or maybe ironically dubbed it We aint going anywhere, and no one would have batted an eyelid at that either. 

Bands are supposed to take one steady step at a time when climbing the career ladder, but here we have the duo reaching high and getting a solid grip on a rung that is usually reserved for acts who have been around the block far more times than they have. 

It has been said, and said often, that Scotland isn’t short of the good and the great when it comes to blues bands that understand how to rock, and it’s not unusual for them to be referred to as punching above their weight, but if anyone is at all unsure of the fact of that statement then this is the album that can be waved in their face as proof of it. 

Cue up the blues festival appearances for 2018 and by this time next year no self respecting fan of the genre will be unaware of who they are. The boys did good.

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