Welcome to My First Show, where we
give bands a chance to talk about the first shows they ever attended --
no matter how uncool and embarrassing those tales may be.
If you were involved with a college radio station in the 1990s, or casually listened to "The Adventure Club" on KDGE-102.1 FM The Edge over the years, you've probably heard of Trashcan Sinatras.
Yes, there's an undeniable influence of The Smiths' in this Glasgow band. But there's also something heavenly sounding that Frank Reader and his bandmates deliver in their music. And, while longtime fans await a box set featuring their back catalog, there's a new live acoustic album called Brel to promote -- which brings the band to The Loft on Friday night on its promotional tour. In advance of that stop, we caught up with the band to ask them about their first show experiences.
Usually for this feature, we only interview one band member. But when the whole band wanted to chime in -- especially about seeing The Smiths, The Jam and The Police -- we weren't going to turn them down. Hit the jump to read their stories.
What was the first show you ever saw? Did your parents take you?
Stephen Douglas (percussion/vocals): The first show I ever saw would be
Aladdin at the Gaitey Theatre in Ayr. It was a kids Christmas pantomime
organized by Massey Ferguson, the company my dad used to work for. It
was great as, on the way home, everyone got a selection box of chocolate
(like alcohol for kids). Fantastic!
John Douglas (guitar/vocals): Gary Numan supported by OMD in 1979 at the
Glasgow Apollo. My friend's father took me to the show. It was 25
miles out of town and the train fare was out of my range.
Frank Reader (lead vocals/guitar): One Hogmanay, my big sister took me
to see The Police play in a hangar just outside of Edinburgh. I was
about 15, and the tradition in Scotland of celebrating the new year in
your own home with your immediate family was still strictly enforced by
my parents, so it was an act of rebellion to risk being out of the house
as the bells rang. (It's not often you get to associate Sting with
rebellion.) I hardly remember the gig, but I know I was puzzled and
surprised by the unimpressively weedy sound. There were many bass
guitar solos, much quick dinging on the ride cymbal and strange, puffy
guitar effects echoing around. Oh, and a lot of "Eeeeeyoyoyo." I do
vividly remember my dad -- who had been waiting for us outside the hall --
driving the 60 miles home at full pelt, darting the car through the
freezing fog with his mouth set tight, not saying a word. We made it
home in time, though, screeching up to the front door at a quarter to
midnight.
Do you remember the first show you saw with your own money?
Stephen Douglas:
First gig I paid to see was The Smiths at The Magnum in
Irvine in 1985. It's a big sports hall next to the harbor in my
hometown. I remember getting soaked by the sea rain with my pal Andy
when we bought our tickets at 8 a.m. the day they went on sale. The gig
itself was raucous, and I remember Morrissey being quite aloof. But apart
from that I don't remember too much. Like most gigs, it passed by in a
blur. I'm sure it was still a formative experience though.
Paul Livingston (lead guitar): It was The Smiths in Irvine, 1985. I was 14 and unbelievably excited. I was going to be in the same room as
The Smiths! And here they come! I remember thinking that it was very
loud. Johnny Marr was brilliant. Morrissey was funny. This was back when
the crowd at certain gigs would spit at the band (one of many bad
habits left over from punk -- seems strange to think of now, doesn't
it?). Anyway, still one of the best gigs I've ever been at.
John Douglas: The Clash in early 1980 on the London Calling tour, Glasgow Apollo.
Frank Reader: I plunked school to go to Glasgow and queue for tickets to
see The Jam. They cost about three quid. The gig was at the Apollo
Theatre, and, unlike The Police, this three-piece really rocked! The
bass was heavy, the guitars were biting and powerful and there was no
dinging on the ride cymbal. The crowd jumped up and down on the seats
for 90 minutes straight, shaking the whole place and singing every
word. I don't think I saw much of the band. I had one eye on the stage
and another on the prowling, scary bouncers, who were pulling people
down awfully roughly, I thought. I was too scared to stand on my seat
until maybe the end of the encore, when I made a series of quick step up
and down moves.
What do you remember about the first show you played with The Trashcan Sinatras?
Stephen Douglas:
We played with some "alternative" bands, including a
psychobilly band called The Stogbags. I was still at school and the gig
was in a hotel nearby. I played bass while wearing an overcoat (I
think?) and my pal Sooty from school thought we were pretty good...
despite the electronic plug-in drum kit.
Paul Livingston: It was in a sooty wee town called Kilwinning. I was
very young (16!), and I remember John told me he was 24 -- I
could not believe my ears! So old!! I told him if I hadn't made it by
the time I was that age, I'd give it up. Hahaha! Little did I know. Hazy memories. We played a Van Morrison song, the drummer played one of
those futuristic octagon drum kits (sounded pish, of course), my dad
drove the van... and that was it. A star is born! Ha!
John Douglas: I recall Frank showing me the chords to "Sweet Jane" by
The Velvet Underground at the side of the stage five minutes before show
time.
Frank Reader: I have a memory of a community centre, playing a bass
guitar very poorly, but thinking I was playing it very well. There was a
bunch of cover songs, starting with The Velvet Underground's "We're
Gonna Have A Real Good Time Together," onto "That's Alright, Mama."
There must have been more than that. Anyway, we struggled not to look
like we were trying to impress, and I think I stayed indoors for a month
afterward.
