Attic Lights
Encyclopedia
Attic Lights are an indie rock
band
from Glasgow
, Scotland
, formed in 2005 by Kevin Sherry (vocals, guitar), Colin McArdle (vocals, bass) and Jamie Houston (guitar, keyboard, vocals), later joined by Tim Davidson (guitar, pedal steel) and Noel O'Donnell (drums, glockenspiel, vocals). The four-part harmonies in a number of their songs have led to frequent critical comparisons to Teenage Fanclub
.
A series of independent releases and live performances, including a well-received appearance at the 2007 T in the Park
festival, led to a bidding war between major labels. The band signed a five album deal with Island Records
, and released their debut album, Friday Night Lights, in October 2008.
. The video for the re-release of the single "God" featured Still Game
comedy actor Sanjeev Kohli
.
The 7" vinyl single version of "God" contained a cover
of Mental As Anything
's "Live It Up
". The CD single version of "Bring You Down" contained a cover of Sean Kingston
's "Beautiful Girls".
In June 2008, David Gest
(former husband of Liza Minnelli
) contributed a monologue to the song "Bring You Down", in which he delved into his split from Liza Minnelli. In one line, Gest says: "I never knew a woman could be so cold". "Bring You Down" featured remix
es by Mogwai
and Camera Obscura
.
In July 2008, Attic Lights had their Somerset House gig filmed and broadcast live on Channelbee
. In September 2008 the Scotland On Sunday offered a free album sampler for readers to apply for. This contained a cover of "They Don't Know" by Kirsty MacColl
. This was sung by Jamie Houston, which was a first for the band. In October 2008 the band began to tour with Paul Heaton
and Cerys Matthews
.
On 21 October 2008, Attic Lights invited fans via their MySpace
page to be in their music video
for their single "Late Night Sunshine".
With the relaunch of the new series of Minder
on Five, the band re-recorded the program's signature theme tune. This was previously sung by Dennis Waterman
(who starred in it as Terry McCann, the original 'minder').
The group recorded a cover of fellow Glaswegians Strawberry Switchblade
's "Since Yesterday" for a TV campaign advertising the STV Jobs website, which launched in January 2010 and is due to run throughout the year.
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
from Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, formed in 2005 by Kevin Sherry (vocals, guitar), Colin McArdle (vocals, bass) and Jamie Houston (guitar, keyboard, vocals), later joined by Tim Davidson (guitar, pedal steel) and Noel O'Donnell (drums, glockenspiel, vocals). The four-part harmonies in a number of their songs have led to frequent critical comparisons to Teenage Fanclub
Teenage Fanclub
Teenage Fanclub are an alternative rock band from Bellshill, Scotland. The band is composed of Norman Blake , Raymond McGinley , Gerard Love and Francis MacDonald , with songwriting duties shared equally among Blake, McGinley and Love...
.
A series of independent releases and live performances, including a well-received appearance at the 2007 T in the Park
T in the Park
T in the Park is a major British music festival that has been held annually since 1994. It is named after its main sponsor, the brewing company Tennents. It was originally held at Strathclyde Park, Lanarkshire but since 1997 has been held at a disused airfield in Balado, Kinross-shire...
festival, led to a bidding war between major labels. The band signed a five album deal with Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
, and released their debut album, Friday Night Lights, in October 2008.
History
In February 2008, they began touring with fellow labelmates The Rushes, with a tour in March with Scouting For GirlsScouting for Girls
Scouting for Girls are a Brit and Ivor Novello nominated band from London, formed in 2005 by Roy Stride, Greg Churchouse and Peter Ellard. Stride and Ellard met in the Cub Scouts and Churchouse met Stride on their first day at school. They have sold over 1.2 million albums and over 1.5 million...
. The video for the re-release of the single "God" featured Still Game
Still Game
Still Game is a Scottish sitcom, produced by The Comedy Unit with the BBC. It was created by Ford Kiernan and Greg Hemphill, who play the lead characters - two Glaswegian pensioners, named Jack Jarvis and Victor McDade respectively....
comedy actor Sanjeev Kohli
Sanjeev Kohli
Sanjeev Singh Kohli is a Scottish Asian comedian, writer and actor. He is most famous for his role as Navid Harrid in the sitcom Still Game and as Rajesh Majhu in the radio sitcom Fags, Mags and Bags.- Early life :...
.
The 7" vinyl single version of "God" contained a cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of Mental As Anything
Mental As Anything
Mental As Anything are an Australian New Wave–rock music band formed at an art school in Sydney in 1976. Their most popular line-up was Martin Plaza on vocals and guitar; Reg Mombassa on lead guitar and vocals; his brother Peter "Yoga Dog" O'Doherty on bass guitar and vocals; Wayne "Bird"...
's "Live It Up
Fundamental (Mental As Anything album)
Fundamental or Fundamental As Anything is the fifth studio album released by Australian rock/pop group Mental As Anything. The album, produced by Richard Gottehrer was released on Regular Records in March 1985, which peaked at #3 on the Australian Kent Music Report albums charts...
". The CD single version of "Bring You Down" contained a cover of Sean Kingston
Sean Kingston
Sean Kingston is a Jamaican-American singer. He pursued a music career and debuted in 2007 with the album Sean Kingston.-Early life:...
's "Beautiful Girls".
In June 2008, David Gest
David Gest
David Alan Gest is an American concert promoter and media personality, perhaps best known for his turbulent marriage to Liza Minnelli, friendship with The Jackson 5 and appearance on the 2006 series of the British reality television show I'm a Celebrity.....
(former husband of Liza Minnelli
Liza Minnelli
Liza May Minnelli is an American actress and singer. She is the daughter of singer and actress Judy Garland and film director Vincente Minnelli....
) contributed a monologue to the song "Bring You Down", in which he delved into his split from Liza Minnelli. In one line, Gest says: "I never knew a woman could be so cold". "Bring You Down" featured remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
es by Mogwai
Mogwai
The word mogwai is the transliteration of the Cantonese word 魔怪 meaning "monster", "evil spirit", "devil" or "demon".-Mogwai/Mogui in Chinese culture:...
and Camera Obscura
Camera Obscura (band)
Camera Obscura are an indie pop band from Glasgow, Scotland. The band formed in 1996 and have released four albums to date.-History:Camera Obscura were formed in 1996 by Tracyanne Campbell, John Henderson, and Gavin Dunbar. Several other members performed with the band before David Skirving joined...
.
In July 2008, Attic Lights had their Somerset House gig filmed and broadcast live on Channelbee
Channel Bee
ChannelBee was an internet television channel which launched on 5 July 2008.As from 20/11/09 Channelbee has ceased operating.ChannelBee is a new concept featuring new and topical content each day varying from comedy sketches to daily blogs and football...
. In September 2008 the Scotland On Sunday offered a free album sampler for readers to apply for. This contained a cover of "They Don't Know" by Kirsty MacColl
Kirsty MacColl
Kirsty Anna MacColl was an English singer-songwriter.MacColl scored several pop hits from the early 1980s to the early 1990s...
. This was sung by Jamie Houston, which was a first for the band. In October 2008 the band began to tour with Paul Heaton
Paul Heaton
Paul David Heaton is an English singer-songwriter. He was a member of The Housemartins, who disbanded in 1988, and a member of The Beautiful South, who disbanded in 2007. He is currently pursuing a solo career....
and Cerys Matthews
Cerys Matthews
Cerys Elizabeth Matthews is a Welsh singer and songwriter. She is known as the lead singer of the Welsh rock band Catatonia, her more recent bilingual solo career, and for a 1998 Christmas duet with Tom Jones.-Biography:...
.
On 21 October 2008, Attic Lights invited fans via their MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
page to be in their music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for their single "Late Night Sunshine".
With the relaunch of the new series of Minder
Minder (TV series)
Minder is a British comedy-drama about the London criminal underworld. Initially produced by Verity Lambert, it was made by Euston Films, a subsidiary of Thames Television and shown on ITV...
on Five, the band re-recorded the program's signature theme tune. This was previously sung by Dennis Waterman
Dennis Waterman
Dennis Waterman is a British actor and singer, best known for his tough-guy roles in television series including The Sweeney, Minder and New Tricks.-Early life:...
(who starred in it as Terry McCann, the original 'minder').
The group recorded a cover of fellow Glaswegians Strawberry Switchblade
Strawberry Switchblade
Strawberry Switchblade was a female pop rock band formed in Scotland in 1981 by Jill Bryson and Rose McDowall, best known for their song "Since Yesterday" in 1985.-Before being signed:...
's "Since Yesterday" for a TV campaign advertising the STV Jobs website, which launched in January 2010 and is due to run throughout the year.
Singles
- "Attic Lights" - (EP UK 2005)
- "Shiver the Trees" - (EP UK 2006)
- "Martin" - (7" UK 2006)
- "God" - (7" UK 2007)
- "Never Get Sick of the Sea" - (2008)
- "God" - (2008) (re-release)
- "Bring You Down" - (2008)
- "Wendy" - (2008)
- "Santa's Girlfriend" - (2008)
- "Late Night Sunshine" / Minder Theme Tune - "I Could Be So Good For You" - (2009)