Following a productive June which has seen them play shows in Edinburgh, Stirling, Perth and Bathgate we spoke to Euan Purves, frontman of superb Scottish punk group "Pleasureheads". We discussed the Scottish scene as it stands right now and what could be done to improve it, their underrated track "Swedgehammer" and the best piece of advice he's ever been given.
Pleasureheads play next in Aberdeen this Saturday (22nd June) at The Cellar before appearances at XPONORTH Festival in July and in Dundee on July 5th.
You’ve been playing a lot of fantastic gigs lately, both supporting and headliners. Is there a different mentality you head into a live performance with, depending on whether it’s a support or headliner?
We try to go into each gig with the same intensity, regardless of where we are on the bill: I've been to plenty of shows where one of the support bands has completely stolen the spotlight away from the main act. As far as we know, it's a brand new audience standing in front of us who will form their impressions based on our performance. We always want to play a memorable set but, of course, during a headline you realise people have bought tickets to see you specificity, so the pressure's dialled up somewhat.
The Scottish scene has seen a lot of ups and downs over recent history. What do you think needs to be done to get people out to local gigs?
People need to realise that the biggest bands on the planet right now started out playing dingy venues to a handful of people. Sure, some exploded overnight but the vast majority put a serious graft in, playing venues up and down the country. There's a good possibility that you'll discover a new favourite band if you make an effort to support your local scene, especially with the high level of artists Scotland is producing at the moment.
What makes a good live performance for you?
When everyone's up for a party; plenty of dynamic playing and enthusiasm from the band, as well as the audience dancing along, cutting loose and forgetting themselves for the course of the show.
One of your songs that always stands out to me is “Swedgehammer”. It starts off a little different to a lot of your songs, did the song always exist in it’s slow build to pounding conclusion style?
We had previously recorded a version of Swedgehammer years ago but we fell out of love with it and it promptly disappeared from the set. However, when it came time to record Excuse the Filth (EP), Johnny Madden suggested we revisit the track, which we were sceptical about at first. Initially we thought about playing it acoustically but it made a lot more sense to have it end in a crescendo with the whole band kicking in at the end, like a grand finale before the curtain closed on the EP. I reworked some of the lyrics to focus on the imagery the title conjures up, mainly the hedonistic nature of the band and the impact this sort of lifestyle could be having on ourselves. Overall, I'm very proud of the track with the improvements we made and am glad that it has once again found a way into our setlist.
Some of your songs almost feel like protest anthems in a way with them touching upon political content. Does the political situation in the country right now make it easier or harder to make music?
Despite how polarised and chaotic the political landscape is in current times, I don't think it has much impact on creating music. We like to draw on observations and issues that resonate with us personally and occasionally, these will coincide with greater societal concerns. I have a lot of respect for artists who wear their political heart on their sleeve, however, nothing makes me cringe more than hearing redundant points being made in so-called "protest songs". Expressing your hatred for the Tory government in front of a crowd of mainly-young music fans is basically preaching to the choir, and isn't going to bring about any substantial change.
What do you feel is the biggest problem facing music in Scotland right now?
The lack of Scottish music festivals is incredibly disheartening. I think the whole nation was in mourning when T in the Park called it a day, but now with the recent cancellation of Electric Fields, the problem is even apparent. I attended the event the last three years and I will sorely miss the feeling of community in the camp-site, as well as the opportunity to see a mix of international and local acts in a sunny field in Dumfries. More has to be done to fund and support camping festivals north of the border to allow people to have the proper summer music experience, a stone's throw from home.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
"Don't release your demos."
At the time I was told this, we as a band were very eager to put out music as soon as it was recorded, regardless of the sound quality. Now we realise it's worth the wait to get the studio and meticulously work on every single element of the track until it's exactly as we want it.