| The View | |
|---|---|
The View onstage at the Glasgow SECC, 17 November 2006 |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Dundee, Scotland |
| Genres | Indie rock Post-punk revival |
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Labels | Current 1965 Records (Sony BMG/Columbia) Former Two Thumbs |
| Website | www.theviewareonfire.com |
| Members | |
| Kyle Falconer Kieren Webster Pete Reilly Steven Morrison |
|
The View are a Scottish indie rock band. They incorporate various styles such as punk, pop, alternative rock, pop punk, powerpop, folk, and acoustic in their music. The band are currently signed to 1965 Records and their first single, "Wasted Little DJs", was released on 12 August 2006. The single entered the MTV Two/NME charts on 9 July 2006,[1] eventually reaching number one on 13 August 2006. On the same day, the song reached number 15 in the UK Singles Chart.[2]
The View released their debut album Hats Off to the Buskers on 22 January 2007, which entered the UK Album Chart at number one the following week.[3] It was nominated for the 2007 Mercury Music Prize.[4]
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The View initially formed around a cover band at school, playing their own versions of bands such as Squeeze and the Sex Pistols.[5] Lead singer Kyle Falconer, guitarist Peter Reilly and bassist Kieren Webster attended St John's RC High School, while drummer Steven Morrison attended Harris Academy.[6] They began by performing a number of their own songs and cover versions at school talent contests. The deputy head teacher of St John's stated that he knew the band would go far and he told them to push for a record deal. The View entered the school talent contest 4 times but were only successful twice.[7] Following this, the band set up base to write their own material in a back room of The Bayview Pub, a bar owned by Falconer's cousin.[5] They progressed to play more cover gigs and weddings around the Dundee area, including the Centenary Bar in Central Dundee and a caravan park in Arbroath.[7] The band were later ejected from their base in The Bayview, following singer Kyle Falconer reportedly riding a scooter along the bar.[8][9]
The band continued to tour small venues around their hometown, and after their second billed gig at The Doghouse, they were signed to local independent Dundee record label Two Thumbs,[10] and released the self-titled The View EP in early 2006.[11] Alongside the EP, the band recorded a complete demo album at T-Pot studios in Perthshire and this was made available for download from the band's Two Thumbs management website. Videos were also made available to accompany some of the recordings.
During this period the band came to the attention of BBC Radio 1 presenters Zane Lowe, Edith Bowman and Jo Whiley as well as BBC Radio 2 presenter Dermot O'Leary who gave them airplay nine months before the album hit number one. The band's live performance of "Wasted Little DJs" (later to be their first single) featured on Zane's 8 February 2006 show, alongside established acts The Kooks and Be Your Own Pet.[12] Soon after, tracks from the debut EP began to be played on Radio 1 and other local and national stations. In particular, Jim Gellatly, at Xfm Scotland, featured the band heavily on X-Posure Scotland, his new music show.[13] A live acoustic session was recorded for the show broadcast 3 May 2006.[14]
In mid-2006, they began to record their debut album, with Owen Morris,[15] who had previously produced albums by Oasis and The Verve.[16] During the production of the album, co-writer and bassist Kieren Webster was voted as number six on the NME Cool List 2006 Top 50.[17] Titled Hats Off to the Buskers, the album was released on 22 January 2007 and entered the UK album chart at #1 on 28 January.[18]
Following the album's release, the band took part in the NME Awards Tour 2007, alongside acts such as The Automatic, The Horrors and Mumm-Ra[19] and "Wasted Little DJs" was voted Best Track of the year at the annual NME Awards 2007.[20]
Taken from the album, their first single, "Wasted Little DJs", was released 7 August 2006. The single is dedicated to a pair of blonde hairdressers from Dundee who go by the name "wasted little DJs". The girls set the trend for hairstyles in Dundee, and many of the band's female fans sport the same unique hairstyle. The first single entered the UK top 75 at #73 on the week before full release, due to download sales alone, and climbed to #15 the following week. Four weeks prior to release, on 9 July 2006, the single entered the UK MTV/NME video charts at Number 9,[21] climbing to Number 1 on 13 August 2006.[22] The single was the BBC Radio 1 Colin and Edith show's record of the week for week commencing Monday, 10 July 2006 and entered the BBC Radio 1 daytime playlist on 12 July 2006.[23] The band followed up with their second single "Superstar Tradesman", released 23 October 2006, also reaching #15 in the UK.
"Same Jeans", the third single from the album, was released 15 January 2007. It became their most successful single to date, reaching #3 in the UK Singles Chart and becoming a major hit for the band. Subsequent singles however, a double a-side of "The Don"/Skag Trendy and "Face for the Radio", failed to receive such chart success, reaching only #33 and #69 respectively in the UK Singles Chart. "The Don/Skag Trendy" is to date The View's last single to chart in the UK top 40.
In early 2006, the band signed to James Endeacott's new record label 1965 Records, part of the Sony BMG group and linked to Columbia Records. A rare live version of "Screamin' n Shoutin'", recorded at the University of Abertay Dundee, headlined the NME/1965 Records cover CD featured with the NME issue dated 25 November 2006.
The band released their second album Which Bitch? on Monday 2 February 2009. In its initial week of release it debuted at #4 in the UK albums chart, but fell to #27 the following week and was out of the top 40 another week later. The first single from the album, "5Rebbeccas" did poorly in the UK charts peaking at just #57. It was followed by "Shock Horror", which despite having significantly greater airplay charted even lower at #64. The album's third and last single "Temptation Dice" missed the top 100 altogether. Limited Edition copies of the album featured a DVD containing their full length documentary, Dryburgh Style, a gig from the Glasgow Barrowlands and all music videos released up to 'Shock Horror'.
The third album was rumoured to be completed in April 2010. The View have since cancelled a live performance at Delamere Forest due to 'recording commitments'. In an interview with Scottish newspaper The Daily Record, bassist Kieren Webster said the album is being produced by Youth, who has worked with the likes of The Verve and Primal Scream.[24] They produced Sunday, a track from the forthcoming album, available as a free download from their website on Monday 1 November.[25] On 17 December 2010, the View informed on their website that the album's name would be The Best Lasts Forever and it would be released on 14 March 2011; however, on 13 January 2011, they announced the album would instead be called Bread and Circuses.[26] They also announced that they would release the first single from the album on 6 March, and that it would be entitled 'Grace'.[27] The song charted outside the UK top 100. Afterwards, the already downloadable 'Sunday' was re-released in June 2011 as part of the 'Cutting Corners EP' which also included album track 'Happy' along with two new tracks, 'Sideways' and 'Alone' which both have had positive reviews from fans. The EP also includes the Tim Hutton remix of 'Sunday'.
In an interview with NME after T in the Park 2011, frontman Kyle Falconer said that they had begun to write songs for the fourth album, and that it could be out by Christmas. However he later admitted that these comments were rather over-enthusiastic, and the album would be ready around the summer of 2012. In autumn 2011, their website announced they were going to record demo's in T Pot studios, the same studio they recorded the demo's for Hats Off To The Buskers.[28]
Their biggest performance so far was at BBC Radio 1's One Big Weekend in Dundee on 14 May 2006 and this was followed, soon after, by their second major festival appearance at T in the Park on 8 July 2006.[29][30][31] They played again in 2007, when they also performed at the Glastonbury Festival.
On 26 August and 27 August 2006, The View were a last-minute addition to the Reading and Leeds Festivals. The NME reported the fans' chant of "The View, The View, The View are on Fire!" could be heard ringing loudly around the packed tent.[32] They also played both festivals in 2007.
On 22 July 2006, the band appeared , live in the studio, in an 18 minute long segment of the Dermot O'Leary show on BBC Radio 2. This featured an interview with the band as well as live performances of "Face for the Radio" and a Ska version of the Squeeze classic "Up the Junction".[33]
On 9 August 2006, the Zane Lowe show on BBC Radio 1, featured the band in a live session and interview. "Same Jeans" and "Up the Junction" were performed live from the Maida Vale studio. On 15 August 2006, the Janice Long show on Radio 2 featured the band live in the studio. The View performed acoustic versions of "Claudia", "Same Jeans" and "Superstar Tradesman".On 26 October 2006 the band's complete 30 minute set for the BBC Electric Proms was broadcast live on Radio 1's Zane Lowe show.[34]
On 11 August 2006, The View performed "Wasted Little DJs" live for the first time on national UK television, on the Channel 4 show "Transmission".
On 10 November 2006 the band appeared on the BBC2 show Later with Jools Holland alongside Kasabian, Damien Rice and Smokey Robinson among others.
In 2007, the band performed shows in Australia and performed "Same Jeans" on the talk show Rove Live. Instead of waiting on-stage to shake hands with the host, the band immediately left the stage, leaving Rove McManus with a simple pat on the back from Steven Morrison.
In mid-2006, the band began a UK wide headline tour. During this tour the band played their first headline show in Scotland at the Liquid Room on 1 September 2006, they then went on to play dates with other major acts and feature in the MTV Two Gonzo tour.[35][36] Documenting this, a half hour long special "On Tour With The View" was broadcast on MTV Two on 18 November 2006.
During the tour, The View played with the Underground Heroes at the Tap'n'Tin in Chatham. At the end of the night The View and Underground Heroes joined forces on a version of 'Same Jeans'. The union prompted the band to be called 'The Underground View'.
In December 2006, the band played gigs in Tokyo, Japan and made their first trip to the USA, in January 2007, playing dates in New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles.[37] A follow-up U.S. tour due in March 2007 was postponed because of visa problems. This was reportedly due to singer Kyle Falconer's arrest for cocaine possession in August 2006.[38] Falconer was convicted of cocaine possession and fined £1000. The tour was rescheduled for May 2007. This tour has now been cancelled. Falconer also said that the band were now completely banned from Japan in an interview with Tim Lovejoy on the website channel bee.[39]
The band announced a national tour in April 2007 to mark the album release. Tickets for the entire UK tour sold out within 1 hour. In August, they headlined the NME/Radio 1 stage at the Carling: Reading and Leeds festival.[40]
The band announced a 6 date national tour for December 2007 to support their new album due out in 2008. They played the 2nd at Edinburgh Liquid Rooms, 3rd at Leeds Cockpit, 4th at Brighton Concorde 2, 10th at London Astoria, 11th at Stoke Sugarmill and the 13th at Dundee University.[41]
The View played at V Festival in 2008 and shortly afterwards announced an expansive 36 date tour for the end of the year, this tour showcased the, then new, tracks from Which Bitch?. The 28 November date at Glasgow barrowlands is featured in full on the bonus DVD included with Which Bitch? limited edition albums. In addition to this the gig on 24 October at Nottingham Bodega was rescheduled for January after Kyle Falconer was too intoxicated to perform on the night.
The View appeared at Reading and Leeds Festival in August and at the Isle of Wight Festival on 12 June 2009.
They also Played To a jam packed King Tut's Wah Wah Hut Tent On The Friday Night at T in The Park on 10 July 2009.
They supported Mando Diao through Europe in summer and fall. Prior to this a they played a sell out tour of Britain including Newcastle University.
They played in the Falls Festival Australia December 2009.
The View toured in early March 2010, visiting Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester and Edinburgh. The tour showcaseed new material from their upcoming album. In addition to this Kyle Falconer played an acoustic, charity solo show in Liverpool on 27 February. On 23 February 2010, it was announced that the band will play at T in the park 2010 on the Main stage. The band have also been confirmed for Maynooth university festival, 'The Gathering'. The View played an intimate venue tour during November and December 2010 playing material from the new album. The tour began in Scotland in Aberdeen, then proceeded in England, before finishing back in Scotland at Velocity in Dunfermline.
The first gigs that The View played in 2011 were at King Tut's in Glasgow, on 25 and 26 January. They were both sold out. A tour to promote the new album was announced on 31 January, and will begin on 4 April. It will involve three Scottish gigs; the Caird Hall in Dundee, Aberdeen Music Hall and Barrowlands in Glasgow. On 21 March 2011 it was announced they would attend the Reading and Leeds festival. On Friday, 8 July, they played on the main stage at T in the Park.
| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications (sales thresholds) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | IRE | |||
| 2007 | Hats Off to the Buskers
|
1 | 3 | |
| 2009 | Which Bitch?
|
4 | 33 | – |
| 2011 | Bread and Circuses
|
14 | 88 | – |
| Year | Album |
|---|---|
| 2006 | The View EP
|
| Year | Album |
|---|---|
| 2011 | Cutting Corners EP
|
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | |||
| 2006 | "Wasted Little DJs" | 15 | Hats Off to the Buskers |
| "Superstar Tradesman" | 15 | ||
| 2007 | "Same Jeans" | 3 | |
| "The Don" / "Skag Trendy" | 33 | ||
| "Face for the Radio" | 69 | ||
| 2008 | "5Rebbeccas" | 57 | Which Bitch? |
| 2009 | "Shock Horror" | 64 | |
| "Temptation Dice" | – | ||
| 2010 | "Sunday" | – | Bread and Circuses |
| 2011 | "Grace" | 123 |
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