Filed under: Press | Tags: Concert, Gig, Nescafe, Nescafe Yamaha Band Explosion, Nestle, NME Magazine, Press, Trashcan Sinatras
I’ll have Cake please.
The Nescafe/Yamaha Band Explosion was a unique event with 12 bands, yet to make the Top 40, playing live over three nights at London’s Marquee Club with the added bonus of being broadcast nationwide on BBC Radio 1.
Band Explosion originated in Japan as a means of supporting new pop talent and steadily grew to become one of the largest music events in the world. Around 22,000 groups have participated worldwide, each getting around 30 minutes exposure and was a great chance for bands that might otherwise not get one.
In September 1990, the Trashcans were chosen to participate along with others such as Swervedriver, The High, India and Everyday People. A great opportunity for a band – who were already signed to Go! Discs – you would think to get some much needed publicity. But when the band found out that Nescafe were sponsoring the event, they pulled the plug on the gig and got some publicity of a different kind altogether.
Here’s the guide which was given away free with the NME…
Programme text:
SCOTTISH FLAVOUR of the month the Trash Can Sinatras had the major labels on their tail before they’d hardly stepped out of hometown Irvine.
Naturally, they told them they weren’t ready for the albatross of a major deal round their necks, but persistant man that he is, Andy McDonald for Go! Discs “nipped round the back of the defence” and secured their signature from underneath the noses of the Big Boys.
He won, for his trouble, a subtly colourful five-piece whose potential is still to be fully realised. With a self-deprecating streak as long as a Highland river, the Trash Cans are one of the most unassuming bands playing in the Pop Game at the present time, harking back (albeit unintentionally) to the charm and refreshing brisk guitar sound of the early ’80s Postcard era.
‘Obscurity Knocks’, their first, lyrically picturesque and plaintive single, interrupted the polluted wash of the downstream Top 100, while its follow-up ‘Only Tongue Can Tell’ went a few fathoms deeper with its strummy, shiny melody – not totally unlike the more reflective songs of your Roddys and Edwyn Orange Juices.
Some rare live appearances headlining on their own, and supporting They Might Be Giants earlier in the year, raised their profile before the release of their debut LP ‘Cake’ in July.
Its matured jangliness and poetically pointed lyrics tied up in a (too?) clean production that found itself ‘out of time’ in many quarters, but raved over in others. For this we should be perversely grateful.
The Trash Cans aren’t an easy band to dismiss, but they’re a hard one to place, with their cute and cynical outlook for the ’90s so often at odds with the pundit’s perceptions of latter-day pop.
Rest assured though, they’re outsiders worth backing.
NME 1990 September(ish)
Filed under: Press | Tags: Concert, Gig, Music, NME Magazine, Trashcan Sinatras
…and eat it.
Here’s a review of an early gig from NME’s Andrew Collins, which took place in Minneapolis along with Buffalo Tom.
9 March 1991 NME Magazine
Small flyer from the Trashcan’s 2010 gig at the Magic Stick in Detroit supported by the The Candles – a solo project by former Lemonheads bass player Josh Lattanzi.
The Magic Stick – better known in years gone by for spinning bowling balls and billiards – is now recognised as one of Detroit’s top live music venues.
Thanks to Roger Brennan from MusicManiacs in Canada for the flyer and photos.
8 June 2010 (US)
When the Trashcans announced the dates for their 2010 ‘In The Music’ tour one location – Portland, Oregon – didn’t appear on the list.
Superfan Mike Chandler and his friend Keith Monaghan have been following the Trashcans for years and were disappointed when this news was announced. So with that well known saying, “if the mountain will not come to Muhammad, then Muhammad must go to the mountain”, spinning in his head, Mike hatched a plan which would see the band play his home town.
Mike asked the band if they would be willing to play at his house (yes, you read right – his house!) and after weeks of to-ing and fro-ing between himself, the band and their management, his idea came to fruition when they agreed to play this unique and intimate show. So with the ball well and truly rolling Mike put out an open invitation for 50 fans to join him for a quite different ‘house party’.
The band flew in from Scotland and Hollywood (but of course), for the show on Sunday 30 June. A quick tune-up and they were off and running, playing a bumper 3-hour set.
I could tell you a lot more, but you can read the rest here and here.
Anyway, back to the real point of this post.
One of the lucky 50 fans in attendance that night was regular Trashcan forum dweller and friend of FHJ, Shane Locke. A graphic designer by day, Shane offered his services to help advertise the show and produced this wonderful poster. A nice touch, in my opinion, was the inclusion of the names of all in attendance around the border.
Limited to a run of just 75, it’s a bit of a collectors item and Shane was kind enough to send over a copy. He’s told me there are still a few left, so why not drop him an email and add it to your collection.
Sofa, so good Shane!
Some posters, if not all, were signed by the band.
Mike’s living room…Photo credit ©Brent Wojahn/The Oregonian
30 May 2010 (US)
Filed under: Press | Tags: Concert, Gig, Magazine, Music, Press, Sounds Magazine, Trashcan Sinatras
Ladbroke Grove Subterania is now a bar/club specialising in dance and hip hop music. In a previous incarnation, however, it was a hip and happening live music venue.
Situated in London’s Notting Hill, the venue played host to number of bands from the surrounding area. Psychedelic rock band Hawkwind formed here in 1969. The Deviants and Pink Fairies were groups out of the Ladbroke Grove UK underground movement, from which a number of bands would later emerge. The most famous of these being punk group The Clash who formed locally in 1976. The Westway – which is mentioned in their song ‘London’s Burning’ – runs across Ladbroke Grove Road.
In 1990, the Trashcans – fresh from their summer tour with labelmates The La’s – had the pleasure of playing the venue supporting The Perfect Disaster – an alternative rock band from London. Formed by Phil Parfitt in 1980, they released four albums before splitting up in 1991, with other members going on to form or join bands such as Fields of the Nephilim, The Breeders, and Ultra Vivid Scene.
Here’s what Andy Stout from Sounds had to say…
17 February 1990 Sounds Magazine
Five Hungry Joes - A pictorial archive of the Trashcan Sinatras. Legendary Scottish Band 