RM Hubbert

RM Hubbert

RM Hubbert at the Arches, Glasgow, 2011.
Background information
Birth name Robert McArthur Hubbert
Also known as Hubby
Born (1974-05-12) 12 May 1974
Glasgow, Scotland
Origin Glasgow, Scotland
Genres Acoustic guitar, flamenco, post rock, punk
Instruments Flamenco guitar
Years active 2008 – present
Labels Ubisano, Chemikal Underground
Associated acts El Hombre Trajeado
Website www.rmhubbert.com

RM Hubbert (Robert McArthur Hubbert, born 12 May 1974 in Glasgow, Scotland), commonly known as Hubby, is a Scottish guitarist and singer. Best known for his solo work as RM Hubbert and as a member of Scottish post rock band El Hombre Trajeado, he has been an active member of the Glaswegian DIY music scene since 1991.[1]

Musical career

Hubbert's first band was formed in 1991 under the name Me, Hubby & Thom. The band's drummer, Thom Falls, also played drums for Glasgow band The Blisters, notable as the first band of future Franz Ferdinand guitarist and singer Alex Kapranos. Kapranos and Hubbert became friends whilst running The Kazoo Club at The 13th Note in Glasgow after the original promoter quit. Hubbert later joined The Blisters on second guitar. He then joined Glaswegian hardcore band Glue in 1992 until the group split in 1995.[1]

El Hombre Trajeado formed in 1995 with Stevie Jones, Ben Jones and Stef Sinclair,[2] El Hombre Trajeado released three albums; Skipafone (Guided Missile Recordings, GUIDE33CD, 1998), Saccade (Human Condition Records, HCCD0031, 2001) and Shlap (Lost Dog Recordings, ARFF004, 2004) before disbanding in 2005.[3] Although the band rarely toured, they supported artists such as Nick Cave, Sebadoh, Tortoise, Mike Watt and The Delgados around the UK.[4] They recorded three radio sessions for John Peel on BBC Radio One between 1998 and 2001.[5]

Originally planned as a distraction to take his mind off of the death of his parents, the nine solo guitar pieces that make up his debut album First & Last are based on flamenco structures and techniques, albeit with a modern approach to melody.[6] Hubbert self-released First & Last as a limited edition handbound book with CD on the DIY label Ubisano in 2009. The release garnered good reviews, leading to the long running influential Scottish record label Chemikal Underground signing him in late 2010.[7] Chemikal Underground reissued First & Last on 12" vinyl and CD in early 2011.

Hubbert's second album for Chemikal Underground, Thirteen Lost & Found, is predominately made up of collaborations with other Scottish musicians such as Aidan Moffat, Emma Pollock and Alasdair Roberts. The album was conceived as a way of reconnecting with old friends whilst getting to know newer ones better.[8] This album also saw Hubbert work again with Alex Kapranos, who acted as producer.

A prolific live performer, Hubbert has toured extensively around the UK and mainland Europe both on his own and in support slots for the likes of Mogwai, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, The Twilight Sad, Franz Ferdinand, Bill Wells & Aidan Moffat, King Creosote, Emma Pollock and Thee Silver Mt Zion.[9]

Thirteen Lost & Found won the Scottish Album of the Year Award in 2013, beating albums by Emeli Sande, Calvin Harris, Django Django and The Twilight Sad amongst others and picking up the £20,000 prize.[10]

Breaks & Bone, Hubbert's third solo album - and the first on which he also sings - was released on Chemikal Underground in September 2013. It was short listed for the 2014 Scottish Album of the Year Award alongside albums by Biffy Clyro, Chvrches, Mogwai and Boards of Canada amongst others.

Ampersand Extras, consisting of unreleased recordings, b-sides and rarities, was released in September 2014 through Chemikal Underground.

In April 2016, Hubbert released his fifth album for Chemikal Underground, Telling the Trees. Envisaged as a companion piece to Thirteen Lost & Found, Hubbert went about writing and recording Telling the Trees in as opposite a manner as possible. Collaborators were chosen that he did not previously know and the songs were written remotely and in isolation [11]. It was shortlisted for the 2016 Scottish Album of the Year Award alongside Mogwai, Honeyblood, Ela Orleans and the eventual winners, Sacred Paws.

Discography

Singles

EPs

Split Tour EP with Emma Pollock (Chemikal Underground Records / CHEM188CD / 2 September 2012)

Albums

First & Last (Chemikal Underground Records / CHEM156 / 28 February 2011)

Thirteen Lost & Found (Chemikal Underground Records / CHEM166 / 30 January 2012)

Breaks & Bone (Chemikal Underground Records / CHEM200 / 27 September 2013)

Ampersand Extras (Chemikal Underground Records / CHEM217 / 13 October 2014)

Telling the Trees (Chemikal Underground Records / CHEM238 / 29 April 2016)

References

  1. 1 2 "The Quietus - Features - A Quietus Interview - Finding Time: Glasgow, DIY & The Odd Tale Of RM Hubbert".
  2. ↑ "BBC - Radio 1 - Keeping It Peel - 01/03/1998 El Hombre Trajeado".
  3. ↑ "El Hombre Trajeado".
  4. ↑ http://www.greenman.net/artist/rm-hubbert
  5. ↑ "BBC - Radio 1 - Keeping It Peel - El Hombre Trajeado".
  6. ↑ "Interview: RM Hubbert in his own words". 3 February 2012.
  7. ↑ http://www.ubisano.com/artists/rm-hubbert/
  8. ↑ "RM Hubbert Interview". 9 February 2012.
  9. ↑ Hubbert, RM. "RM Hubbert".
  10. ↑ "The SAY (Scottish Album of the Year) Award".
  11. ↑ "Dinner and a show". Line Of Best Fit.
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