Saturday 29 November 2014

2014 review by Vigo Thieves

Anyone who has read this blog will know what a huge fan I am of Vigo Thieves. Having spent considerable time with them over the last 2 or 3 years I am also a big fan of their bassist Gordon Phipps - a guy with a huge passion for life and music.

I caught up with Gordon to find out what bands, albums and tunes he had enjoyed through 2014. As always, he's turned me on to some crackers, I particularly like the White tune.



1. What singles/songs that have been released in 2014 have stood out for you? 


My memory is pretty fucked but here goes:

Atom Tree - Die for your love - First heard on the TITP bye bye balado video. Majestic song. Seen them live at electric fields too.

Augustines - You got nothing to lose but your head - Heard loads of people talking about them but never heard them until I heard this awesome piece of emotive rock.

Crash Club feat. Ian Mackinnon - Recondition - Brilliant groove to the track and great vocal from Ian

Jim Valentine - Make you Mine - Class sleaze rock tune

White - Living Fiction - Bumped into these guys at Loopallu and told us they'd started a new band. Checked this track out and was blown away!



Kasabian - Bumblebee - Bombastic track which was obviously made to be played live and loud

2 Bears - Not this time - Discovered on 6music. Missed them at Tut's because Barry wouldn't go with me

Jamie T - Zombie - Great come back track with a bouncy chorus

The Stepkids - Moving Pictures - Another 6 music discovery with a great hook laden chorus

2. What albums released in 2014 have you enjoyed?

Courteeners - Concrete Love - Absolutely love this band and it was an honour tour with them. That Friday night at The Barras will live with me for a long time! Also seen them live at Bellahouston Park supporting The Killers.



Catfish And The Bottlemen - Great to see these boys finally getting signed and releasing a cracking debut album.  Caught them live this year at Broadcast early on then on the T Break stage at TITP not long before us.

First Aid Kit - Another superb album from the Swedish sisters. Full of soaring melodies and harmonies. Saw them live at The Old Fruitmarket at what was a truly stunning gig in a unique venue.

3. What old music/bands have you discovered/gone back to in 2014?

Fleetwod Mac - Rumours - A band I have never got into then I was in HMV and Rumours was one of the cds you could buy at the counter for £2.99 so I thought why not? Totally loved it and it soundtracked many a summers road trip!



Monaco - Delved into one of Hooky's side projects a bit further. Everyone knows 'what do you want from me' but there is a lesser known track called 'Shine (someone who needs me) which is just a phenomenal piece of 90's pop. Almost like discovering an unreleased New Order gem.

The National - High Violet - A band I was initially put off of because it seemed like music for beard scratchers but how wrong was I? Stevie and Barry have been into them for ages (both beardy) I finally succumbed when Stevie bought me a ticket to go see them at the Usher Hall. I bought High Violet and was blown away. I now have it on double gatefold vinyl as well!

4. What has been the musical highlight of 2014 for you?

All Vigo Thieves gigs because I'm selfish like that:

  • 02 ABC 29th March - Pyro and beach balls!
  • King Tuts 30th April - Supporting the Fratellis for the Sunday Mail Centenary Fund
  • T in The Park 13th July - Always a pleasure to play at Scotland's biggest and best festival
  • KOKO London 25th July - Epic 12 hour journey down on one of the hottest days of summer but what a phenomenal gig!
  • Sneaky Pete's Edinburgh 26th September - First sold out show in the capital was one of the sweatiest gigs of the year!
  • Loopallu 27th September - First on, no bother. Great crowd turned out to see us in our earliest gig of the year 12.30pm!
  • Glasgow Barrowlands 31st October - Supporting Courteeners. Massive crowd in for us. Special moment seeing all the VIGO DAFT tshirts in the crowd!

5. What are you plans for 2015?

To be alive and keep spreading VIGO DAFTNESS around the country!

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