Attic Lights are a lot of things—talented, interesting and engaging—and they are also one of the next big sounds to come from Scotland, or more specifically, Glasgow. But unlike many bands that are standing on the brink of stardom, they don't seem to know it. These guys from Glasgow – well two from Glasgow, one from Newcastle and one from Mallaig (somewhere north of Glasgow) – are easygoing, unassuming, and charming and they all have almost perfect teeth (and beards, for some reason).
Attic Lights have been playing together for around two years and in the last six months things have really started to take off for them. They appeared on Nochd Gun Chadal (A Scottish TV programme presented in Gaelic), and their music was featured on BBC2's The Culture Show as well as numerous radio and advertising spots. They have just recorded a song with Duglas Stewart of the BMX Bandits that has been released on the Bandits new album, My Chain.
Why all the fuss? Well, Attic Lights have created an original sound that is filled with melodious harmonies and intense, soulful, melancholy power and emotional depth. Their music is an eclectic combination of The Beach Boys, Granddaddy and The Eels with a bit of Neil Young thrown in and just a twist of twang; it's a good solid roots rock/country pop sound. Kev Sherry and Colin McArdle share lead vocalist duties and both have emotive, passionate voices. Sherry's voice is slightly deeper with honeyed tones which are a nice complement to McArdle's distinctive high pitched twang, and combined they are charismatic and enthralling and at the heart of Attic Lights' signature sound.
I was lucky enough to catch the guys (Colin McArdle - bass/vocals, Kev Sherry - acoustic/vocals, Tim Davidson - pedal steel guitar/electric, Jamie Huston - lead guitar and Noel O'Donnell - drums) after their performance at the Wickerman Festival in Dumfries, Scotland, for a quick interview in their van. When we met they were about to start a ten day tour of the Scottish Highlands with Dropkick and The Sundowns.
How did you start the Attic Lights?
Colin: Me and Kev started it. Then basically Tim, Noel, and Jamie came beggin'. (all laugh) No...No...We met Jamie in ASDA (superstore chain owned by Walmart). He was enjoying it quite a lot but then he thought that maybe rock and roll was the way forward.
Kev: He quit the ASDA.
Colin: So we started jammin' in my loft, or attic as it's called and we became Attic Lights. We started off using a drum machine which was a lot less hassle, to be honest, than having a drummer.
Jamie: You're speaking very loudly and clearly there Colin. (all laugh in agreement)
Colin: I know I don't want to be misquoted. So we decided after a few gigs that we needed a drummer because it just didn't have the same effect. And we found Noel at the Celtic (Glaswegian football/soccer team) European campaign. Celtic got to European Cup final.
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