“NO GOT A TITLE OR F*** ALL, BUT IT’S A TUNE”- AN EVENING WITH THE STOTES
If one was in search of an escape from the chill of a fraught October evening, the vibrating bass snaking its way from the depths of Sauciehall Street may have acted as a sirens call for the cities alternative rock fans. Nice N Sleazy opened its doors in 1991, and remains an insanely popular destination for those from all different walks of life, a million genres of entertainment finding home in its event space. On this particular night, the speakers blared unmistakably with sound of a little booze and a young passion for music, and The Stotes biggest headline show yet was about to begin.
NWT came across The Stotes on a hunt for new music a few months ago, and was stuck on the name before anything else. Immediately, this was reminiscent of The Strokes, but maybe that comes from a narrow mind and subconscious reliance on naming conventions. The band is formed of 4 boys in their late teens/early 20s, and came together to make music after years of school and college, seemingly a rite of passage any blossoming young band must face.
Photography Courtesy of Emily O’Neill
NWT- Where do you find inspiration? Any particular artists you try to emulate in your music?
The Stotes- “Most of our music comes out through jamming ideas in the studio and taking inspiration from our own life experiences. Our biggest influences are bands like The Beatles, Pearl Jam, and The Libertines.”
Their gig at Nice N Sleazy was a double headliner, shared with local Glaswegian band, The Neapolitan. Between the two bands, the accents came strong and fast, the city's influence burning in the back of the lead singer’s throat.
NWT- Is the Scottish accent something you feel is lacking or would want to see more of in the music industry?
The Stotes -“Singing like that just came naturally to me. It would be nice to see more Scottish artists singing in their natural accents”
During their set, which was the longest they had yet to perform, the band let out banger after banger. They previewed an unreleased and untitled track that got the crowd bouncing, before delving into the territory of covers. They put on a roaring rendition of “Teenage Kicks” by The Undertones, a song that allowed them to branch more into a punkish realm than their other material.
Overall, the energy in the room was electric with support, from both the crowds and the other bands that had played before. With a sound mature beyond their years, The Stotes are a promising notch in the Glaswegian rock belt.