Albert Hammond Jnr / Rey Pila (Broadcast 7th December) + Rey Pila Interview

The people of glasgow I can tell are pretty passionate and thats cool. Same kind of vibe we have in Mexico. Glasgow looks like it has a lot of happy people.

Glasgow tonight had a sparkle about it, something special. Maybe it was the approach to Christmas, maybe it was the fact that things were just a wee bit different.
Earlier on in a night out pre gig, we went to a popup bar behind blacked out windows with only a couple of ? shapes to look through to check it was open. Through the glass we were welcomed to an assortment of cocktails and strange food concoctions that had the mouth watering, Finnieston an ever evolving area that isnt scared to be different.


We got chatting about bands playing after midnight, really good bands, Come one, its Albert Hammond Jnr from The Strokes!!! At half past midnight on Sauchiehall Street! This is something to be embraced. Could this be us catching up with New york, London and Manchester in terms of when entertainment is on? I like sitting in a late night pub as opposed to going to a club, however maybe going to see some quality live entertainment could be a brilliant new addition to an already burgeoning nightlife.


On arrival at the venue there was a definite buzz in the air, crowds of people inside and outside were already excited. A few had had a bit to drink, however this only aided to the feeling inside the venue. This was new for a lot of us.


Rey Pila were on stage, Julian Casablancas new signings. A band if you had told me came from Glasgow or the 80s indie Scene, I would have believed you. An energetic performance from a band who have a bright future and a great backing. Very much listenable and kept attention of a lot of the crowd who were catching up with pals they hadnt seen since their last pair of Converse.


Albert Hammond Junior took to the stage somewhere between 1230 and 1am, he played for the best part of 90 minutes through a set list from his new EP and his back catalogue. Set highlight for me was Everyone Gets a Star a previous fixture in various DJ sets of mine from days gone by.
There was a lot of singing along with AHJ as he stood at the front almost in the crowd, it will have been a long time since The Strokes guitarist will have been this close to his Audience and he looked like he enjoyed every minute of it.


I do sense a negative culture in Glasgow at times when it comes to gigs and venues. Broadcast is a fairly new venue operated by PCL and born from the remnants of an old pool hall. The recent addition of the 3am licence is great for patrons on Sauchiehall Street looking for accessible indie/electro/rock with a non commercial feel.
The fact that Artists from stadium filling rock bands can come play intimate shows after midnight should be seen as a huge positive.
I spoke to Broadcasts owner and he was telling me how people still moan about the size of the stage and how warm the venue is. Its a small intimate venue, it doesnt try to be anything else. Wake up and smell the fucking Coffee (if its not too hot) and lets just have fun.

Lets all have fun in 2014. Lets do things a wee bit differently.


Craig from Glasgowmusic chats to Diego of the band Rey Pila

After being on a stag do, tonights interview was conducted in a back lane just off Sauchiehall Street.

GM - I was at the gig tonight, you put on a very energetic performance. How was it for you and how has the tour being going?

DRP - We are enjoying the tour, Its great to be in paris on tour with Albert Hammond Jnr.
Paris was interesting, Glasgow and Paris have been the best shows for me, its a short sharp tour and we are heading to Manchester, Amsterdam, Brighton, Leeds and London.
The people of glasgow I can tell are pretty passionate and thats cool. Same kind of vibe we have in Mexico.
Glasgow looks like it has a lot of happy people.



GM - What have you heard about Glasgow before? What were your preconceptions?

DRP – I heard its a very passionate city...I know Celtic is a.....GM – Thats my team - Pointing at my mate who was there too - he’s a Partick Thistle fan, have you ever heard of Partick Thistle? DRP No...GM They have a mexican defender!
DRP We like the The Jesus and Mary Chain, they are from Glasgow?
GM - I picked up on an 80s indie sound, are the JAMC a big influence on yourselves?
DRP - They made a huge impression on the world to a guitar sound. Pretty amazing inspired guitar player. Bobby Gillespie is another genius from that band, hes in Primal Scream now? I love Screamadelica, it made an impression on me.


GM Do you still stay in Mexico? Whats the music scene like back home?
DRP - Big and weird and good...Huge Goth punk scene there. Depeche Mode play to 60000 people 2 nights in a row. Interpol are massive. There is also a big punk scene, Matador Records have lots of cool Mexican punk bands. There are lots of festivals. I saw Franz Ferdinand there this year.

Youre on Julian Casablancas label, how did that come about?
We toured a lot in Canada & the US. We have to play all the time, we were playing to 1 or 2 people per night and 1 night on tour in New York in the Mercury Lounge and a friend of mine came up to me after the show. Hey JC is interested in your band after playing a month of playing to 2 people I was like fuck don’t tell me that
My pal emailed me to tell It was an accident, I was super blasting one of your songs that Casablancas who was walking down the hall at the time heard and asked about the band. After that Julian sent an email and we started talking and it went from there


GM - What are Rey Pilas plans for 2014?
DRP - Touring extensively and releasing the album. Hoping it will be out Feb / March in time for SXSW? Noisepop is booked and hoping to do a california tour Not got many more booked yet.

GM (at time of interview) It is coming up for Christmas, what is your favourite Christmas song?

DRP The Ramones made a christmas song, I cant remember the name of it though.
GM - I was playing Mistress for Christmas earlier whilst putting up the tree...We then entered into a chat about a Spinal Tap song for Christmas and much more hilarity about Christmas songs before heading back to watch AHJ finish his set.

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