Xcerts
Encyclopedia
The Xcerts are a three piece "distorted pop" band originally formed in Aberdeen, Scotland.
After relocating to Brighton
to progress as a band in 2006, The Xcerts parted ways with their old drummer Ross. A replacement was found in Tom Heron, originally from Exeter
, who was living in Brighton with a mutual friend and had also become close friends with Murray and Jordan. With the newly formed trio created, the band began writing the songs that would start to spread the word of The Xcerts nationally.
The Xcerts then went on to release two singles through One Records in Glasgow. 'Breathtaking Fight', which was recorded at Ridge Farm with Ben Watkins, was then followed shortly after by 'My Book Laughs'. After the success of these two singles,
the band were headhunted by Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly
frontman, Sam Duckworth, via MySpace who subsequently released two further singles - 'Just Go Home' and 'Do You Feel Safe?' - through his label, Mannequin Republic.
Recorded at The Dog House by Adam Whittaker, 'Just Go Home' received regular airplay on MTV2
, and the band recorded three acoustic tracks for MTV
's 'Spanking New Sessions' series. The band have also recorded sessions for Tiscali
, BBC Radio 1
, BBC Radio Scotland
, XFM Scotland
and XFM London
. Cover versions of Radiohead
's 'All I Need' and The Pixies' 'Gigantic' featured in the XFM Scotland and XFM London sessions respectively.
'Do You Feel Safe?' was recorded with Dave Eringa
(Idlewild
, Manic Street Preachers
) and released in early 2008.
The Xcerts have toured with Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly
, Make Model
, Fighting With Wire
, Fightstar
and Twin Atlantic
, and performed at numerous festivals in 2008 including T in the Park
, RockNess, Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival, Zoo8, Offset and Connect Music Festival
.
In December 2008, The Xcerts completed a Scottish headline tour with support from Aberdeen band Right Hand Left.
On the 22nd January 2009, The Xcerts confirmed that their album, 'In The Cold Wind We Smile' will be released on the 23rd March 2009 through Xtra Mile (Reuben, Million Dead, Frank Turner) and King Tuts Recordings (The Dykeenies, Twin Atlantic). This date was however pushed back to the 30th.
They also confirmed that they will release single 'Crisis In The Slow Lane' on the 9th of March at the end of their tour with Copy Haho.
The Xcerts debut album, In The Cold Wind We Smile
, was released on 30 March 2009 through Xtra Mile.
It was produced by Dave Eringa
.
On 1 August 2009 they played at the inaugural Hevy Music Festival
held in Folkestone
, UK.
In 2010 they completed another headline tour, supported The Get Up Kids and played many festivals notably playing the main stage at Rockness. They will also be embarking on a tour With Get Cape Wear Cape Fly, as well as a September tour supporting Futures
.
The Xcerts announced on their facebook and myspace in July 2010 that their new album would be named "Scatterbrain" and released in October. This album was recorded by Mike Sapone in his home studio in America, The Xcerts are the first Scottish Band to work with Sapone
Former Members
Biography
The Xcerts were originally formed by 13 year olds Murray Macleod and Jordan Smith after meeting in the headmasters room at their school in Aberdeen. After Ross joined on drums The Xcerts went on to record two EPs at the local recording studio Captain Tom's.After relocating to Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
to progress as a band in 2006, The Xcerts parted ways with their old drummer Ross. A replacement was found in Tom Heron, originally from Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
, who was living in Brighton with a mutual friend and had also become close friends with Murray and Jordan. With the newly formed trio created, the band began writing the songs that would start to spread the word of The Xcerts nationally.
The Xcerts then went on to release two singles through One Records in Glasgow. 'Breathtaking Fight', which was recorded at Ridge Farm with Ben Watkins, was then followed shortly after by 'My Book Laughs'. After the success of these two singles,
the band were headhunted by Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly
Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly
Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly is the stage name of English artist Sam Duckworth and his band. He is sometimes referred to as Get Cape, Cape, GCWCF and Slam Dunkworth . According to Duckworth, his stage name comes from a ZX Spectrum magazine...
frontman, Sam Duckworth, via MySpace who subsequently released two further singles - 'Just Go Home' and 'Do You Feel Safe?' - through his label, Mannequin Republic.
Recorded at The Dog House by Adam Whittaker, 'Just Go Home' received regular airplay on MTV2
MTV2
MTV2 is a cable network that is widely available in the United States on digital cable and satellite television, and is progressively being added to analogue cable lineups across the nation...
, and the band recorded three acoustic tracks for MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
's 'Spanking New Sessions' series. The band have also recorded sessions for Tiscali
Tiscali
Tiscali may refer to:*Tiscali, an archaeological village of Nuragici people, in Sardinia, Italy, notable because it was completely inside a huge cavern*Tiscali SpA, a telecom company based in Italy*Tiscali TV , multiple uses...
, BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
, BBC Radio Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland is BBC Scotland's national English-language radio network. It broadcasts a wide variety of programming, including news, sport, light entertainment, music, the arts, comedy, drama, history and lifestyle...
, XFM Scotland
Galaxy Scotland
105-106 Capital is a regional radio station broadcasting to Scotland's Central Belt, an area surrounding the two cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh, and the kingdom of Fife...
and XFM London
Xfm London
Xfm London is a commercial radio station in the United Kingdom owned by Global Radio and broadcasts on 104.9 FM in London, on digital radio via 30 DAB multiplexes across the country, Sky, TalkTalk TV and Virgin Media....
. Cover versions of Radiohead
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
's 'All I Need' and The Pixies' 'Gigantic' featured in the XFM Scotland and XFM London sessions respectively.
'Do You Feel Safe?' was recorded with Dave Eringa
Dave Eringa
Dave Eringa is an English record producer from Essex who has engineered, mixed, produced, and played on albums by such bands as Manic Street Preachers, Ocean Colour Scene, Idlewild, 3 Colours Red, South and Johnny Boy...
(Idlewild
Idlewild (band)
Idlewild are a Scottish rock band, formed in Edinburgh, in 1995, comprising Roddy Woomble , Rod Jones , Colin Newton , Allan Stewart and Gareth Russell...
, Manic Street Preachers
Manic Street Preachers
Manic Street Preachers are a Welsh alternative rock band, formed in 1986. They are James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire, Richey Edwards and Sean Moore. The band are part of the Cardiff music scene, and were at their most prominent during the 1990s...
) and released in early 2008.
The Xcerts have toured with Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly
Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly
Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly is the stage name of English artist Sam Duckworth and his band. He is sometimes referred to as Get Cape, Cape, GCWCF and Slam Dunkworth . According to Duckworth, his stage name comes from a ZX Spectrum magazine...
, Make Model
Make Model
Make Model were a Scottish 6 piece indie band formed in Glasgow and formerly signed to EMI.They have released three singles to date and their debut album was due for release in 2008 but there are currently no plans to release it.- History :...
, Fighting With Wire
Fighting with Wire
Fighting with Wire are an alternative heavy rock and punk band hailing from Derry, Northern Ireland. They have toured with Biffy Clyro, Million Dead, Reuben, Twin Atlantic, yourcodenameis:milo, Kerbdog, Helmet, You Me At Six, Nomeansno, InMe, Brigade, Against Me! and Seafood...
, Fightstar
Fightstar
Fightstar are an English alternative rock band from London. They formed in 2003 and their lineup comprises lead vocalist, guitarist and keyboardist Charlie Simpson, guitarist and vocalist Alex Westaway, bass guitarist Dan Haigh and drummer Omar Abidi...
and Twin Atlantic
Twin Atlantic
Twin Atlantic are an alternative rock band from Glasgow, Scotland. The band is composed of Sam McTrusty , Barry McKenna , Ross McNae and Craig Kneale ....
, and performed at numerous festivals in 2008 including 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...
, RockNess, Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival, Zoo8, Offset and Connect Music Festival
Connect Music Festival
The Connect Music Festival was a music festival that took place in the grounds of Inveraray Castle, located on the banks of Loch Fyne in Argyll, Scotland. It was aimed at more mature music fans and recent headliners included the Beastie Boys, Björk and Franz Ferdinand. The inaugural festival was...
.
In December 2008, The Xcerts completed a Scottish headline tour with support from Aberdeen band Right Hand Left.
On the 22nd January 2009, The Xcerts confirmed that their album, 'In The Cold Wind We Smile' will be released on the 23rd March 2009 through Xtra Mile (Reuben, Million Dead, Frank Turner) and King Tuts Recordings (The Dykeenies, Twin Atlantic). This date was however pushed back to the 30th.
They also confirmed that they will release single 'Crisis In The Slow Lane' on the 9th of March at the end of their tour with Copy Haho.
The Xcerts debut album, In The Cold Wind We Smile
In the Cold Wind We Smile
In The Cold Wind We Smile is the debut album from Scottish band The Xcerts which was released 30 March 2009.-Overview:In The Cold Wind We Smile is the product of years of touring and hard work by The Xcerts...
, was released on 30 March 2009 through Xtra Mile.
It was produced by Dave Eringa
Dave Eringa
Dave Eringa is an English record producer from Essex who has engineered, mixed, produced, and played on albums by such bands as Manic Street Preachers, Ocean Colour Scene, Idlewild, 3 Colours Red, South and Johnny Boy...
.
On 1 August 2009 they played at the inaugural Hevy Music Festival
Hevy Music Festival
Hevy Music Festival is a rock festival that takes place annually near Folkestone in the UK. It was originally held on 1 August 2009 on Folkestone seafront as a one-day festival with Feeder, Gary Numan and Ash as headliners. In 2010 it moved to Port Lympne Wild Animal Park and grew to a weekend...
held in Folkestone
Folkestone
Folkestone is the principal town in the Shepway District of Kent, England. Its original site was in a valley in the sea cliffs and it developed through fishing and its closeness to the Continent as a landing place and trading port. The coming of the railways, the building of a ferry port, and its...
, UK.
In 2010 they completed another headline tour, supported The Get Up Kids and played many festivals notably playing the main stage at Rockness. They will also be embarking on a tour With Get Cape Wear Cape Fly, as well as a September tour supporting Futures
Futures
-Finance:*Futures contract, a tradable financial contract*Futures exchange, a financial market where futures contracts are traded*Futures , an American finance magazine-Music:*Futures , a 2004 release by Jimmy Eat World...
.
The Xcerts announced on their facebook and myspace in July 2010 that their new album would be named "Scatterbrain" and released in October. This album was recorded by Mike Sapone in his home studio in America, The Xcerts are the first Scottish Band to work with Sapone
Members
Current Members- Murray Macleod - Guitar & Lead Vocals
- Jordan Smith - Bass & Backing Vocals
- Tom Heron - Drums & Backing Vocals
Former Members
- Ross Mctaggart (Drums)
Singles
| Name | Label | B-side(s) | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Breathtaking Fight" | One Records | Stay The Same | 18 December 2006 |
| "My Book Laughs" | One Records | Weather Warning | 30 April 2007 |
| "Just Go Home" | Mannequin Republic | Aberdeen 1987 | 19 November 2007 |
| "Do You Feel Safe?" | Mannequin Republic | Listen, Don't Panic | 14 April 2008 |
| "Crisis In the Slow Lane" | Xtra Mile/King Tuts Recordings | Weather Warning | 9 March 2009 |
| "Young (Belane)" | Xtra Mile Recordings | I Am Home | 27 September 2010 |
EPs
| Name (label) | Tracks | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| "One Time Too Many" (N/A) | Why do you? Bad Times Had Enough One Time Too Many |
2001 |
| "The X-certs EP" (Fat Hippy) | Stay The Same Into The Silence Long Ago Boy Darker Ages |
2003 |
| "Stairs To Noise: The Scatterbrain EP" (Xtra Mile) | Scatterbrain Tear Me Down Say Yes (Elliott Smith cover) Let's Run Slackerpop (Alternate version) |
7/03/2011 |
| "Slackerpop" (Xtra Mile) | Slackerpop Gum (Alternative version) He Sinks, He Sleeps (Alternative version) Young (Alternative version) I See Things Differently (Alternate version) |
31/10/2011 |
Albums
| Name | Label | Tracks | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
| "In The Cold Wind We Smile In the Cold Wind We Smile In The Cold Wind We Smile is the debut album from Scottish band The Xcerts which was released 30 March 2009.-Overview:In The Cold Wind We Smile is the product of years of touring and hard work by The Xcerts... " |
Xtra Mile | In The Cold Wind We Smile Home Versus Home Nightschool Cool Ethan Lost But Not Alone Listen. Don't Panic Crisis In The Slow Lane Do You Feel Safe? Just Go Home Aberdeen 1987 I See Things Differently Hidden Track |
30 March 2009 |
| "Scatterbrain Scatterbrain (album) Scatterbrain is the second album from Scottish band The Xcerts which was released 4 October 2010.-Track listing:All songs written by The Xcerts# "Tar" - 1:00# "Scatterbrain" - 3:15# "Distant Memory" - 4:31# "Gum" - 3:19# "Slackerpop" - 3:23... " |
Xtra Mile | Tar Scatterbrain Distant Memory Gum Slackerpop I Scare Easy Young (Belane) He Sinks, He Sleeps Carnival Time Hurt With Me Lament |
4 October 2010 |
Live Albums
| Name | Label | Tracks | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Live At King Tut's" | Xtra Mile | Beige (live) Home Versus Home (live) Nightschool (live) Just Go Home (live) Aberdeen 1987 (live) Crisis In The Slow Lane (live) Do You Feel Safe? (live) I See Things Differently (live) |
(?) 2009 |
Other Appearances
- I Hate The Way You Dance - features on Fat Hippy Sampler Vol I, released 17/10/05
- Weather Warning - features on Fat Hippy Sampler Vol II, released 04/12/06
- Do You Feel Safe? - features on Fat Hippy Sampler Vol III, released 29/09/08
- I See Things Differently - features on Cider Smiles Vol III (Hide and Seek Records) released 01/07/10
Unreleased tracks
The following tracks have featured in live performances and/or been made available as demos online:- I Hate The Way You Dance
- Dark Paths
- Old Folks
- Pretty People
- Monkey Solves Puzzle
- Our Friend, The Tree Talker
- Ghost In The Water
- There Will Be No Miracles Here
- Growing Old
- Fragile Skin