On the 25th of May, Fife band Shambolics kicked off their latest tour with a sold-out show at the infamous King Tut's Wah Wah Hut in Glasgow. We caught up with the band to see what 2019 holds for the boys and to find out some of their best tour stories. We also accidentally stumbled upon Forbes’ great love for the old easy-listening folk duo, The Alexander Brothers (the interview then ended with the band giving us a great rendition of one of their most famous songs).
Shambolics gigs are renowned to be fun, energetic and just a great time in general. The band are down to earth and really appreciate all the support they receive in the Scottish scene which is always great to see. Although their Edinburgh gig is sold-out, we highly recommend you snap up some tickets for their shows in Dundee on the 6th of June and Aberdeen on the 7th of June- but be quick because they’re well on their way to a sell-out tour.
How does it feel to be back at a sell-out king tuts?
Jordan: It’s good to be back because obviously we’ve not released anything lately so it’s good that there’s still a hype for the band.
Lewis: It’s good to still be selling out these places and that there’s still a good buzz.
How are you feeling about the tour in general? Any specific dates you’re excited for?
Forbes: We’re buzzing for Edinburgh because it’s sold out already.
Lewis: Aye Edinburgh because it’s sold out in advance and tonight obviously, tonight will be fucking brilliant.
Jake, you’re not long in the shams, how does it feel to be part of the band?
Jake: It’s been great, the boys have been accommodating.
Lewis: Accommodating, well that’s the first time anyone’s ever said that about us.
Jake: I do feel like one of the boys though, I’ve been welcomed with open arms.
Forbes, you obviously run Eggman Studios in Dunfermline, what do you offer there?
Forbes: I run it with Scott here and another Scott actually, we record and we offer rehearsal spaces too.
Scott (roadie for Shambolics): We’ve been doing a lot of acoustic sessions recently with bands, we did one with Vandal Palace recently.
Forbes: Yeah it’s mostly with local bands just now but we’re trying to branch out more.
What can we expect from Shams in 2019? Will there be any more tunes released soon?
Jordan: Aye definitely, i’m not sure when but there are definitely new tunes on the way.
Forbes: Maybe by around the end of the year there’ll be a new tune, there will definitely be new tunes in 2019. Wait it is 2019 eh?
Jordan: Aye it’s 2019 (the whole dressing room at king tut's is now laughing).
Forbes: Aye 2019, there’ll be new music at the end of the year.
Who are your favourite Scottish artists in the scene right now?
Forbes: Donnie Munro and The Alexander Brothers- research them.
How did you come up with the name Shambolics?
Forbes: Because the band is an absolute shambles.
Lewis: We’re late to everything, our equipment always breaks, and I don’t even know what else.
Forbes: Aye exactly, just an absolute shambles.
Lewis: We really are just Shambolic.
What’s the weirdest or wildest thing that has ever happened to the band on tour?
Forbes: There are some weird things that have happened before.
Lewis: I fell on my face and burst my face once.
Jordan: That was bad, the shower curtain was a mess.
Lewis: It was like a scene from Psycho. That was probably the most embarrassing thing I’ve done.
Jordan: We’ve nearly died a few times too.
Forbes: We were driving to play a gig in London once and two wheels popped off. Remember we almost flipped the van in Sheffield too? That was scary.
Lewis: Aw aye, in Sheffield because you went up the big hill and the van was tipping. If it wasn’t for the suspension, we were fucked.
Jordan: Mind that boy in Germany had all those photos of us too?
Forbes: There was this old man in Germany who came up to us and he couldn’t speak English, but he had all these photos of us and just said sign, sign, sign. It was in Kiel on a Monday night as well, it was weird.
If you could have a drink with any Scottish musician dead or alive, who would it be?
Forbes: The Alexander Brothers.
Lewis: I’d have a drink and a good sesh with Bobby Gillespie.
Jake: That’s a good shout. Gerry Rafferty would be a good one too.
Jordan: Kyle Falconer would be a good one. Even though I’ve already done that but I could do it again. No wait- Marti Pellow, I’ve changed my mind.
If you could choose one song to play every time you walked into a room for the rest of your life, what would you choose?
Forbes: Nobody’s Child by The Alexander Brothers.
Lewis: Kickstart My Heart by Mötley Crüe.
Jordan and Jake: Aye, Kickstart My Heart.
If you won £1 million on the lottery what would you do?
Forbes: I’d put another ticket on and win another million.
Lewis: I’d be away to Amsterdam, that’s the first thing I’d do.
Have any of you got any party tricks?
Jordan: Lewis has a magic trick.
Lewis: I do but I’ve not got my cards with me.
Forbes: It’s a shambles.
Lewis: It takes about half an hour, I don’t even know how to describe it.
Jordan: It’s one of those show us your card things but it takes half an hour to get there. No one cares by the time you get to the end.
Any last words?
Jordan: Just thank you.
Forbes: Thank you and Goodnight.
Lewis: Enjoy your night, have a good one tonight.
Jake: Aye, enjoy your night.
Forbes: If ye canny get it up ye, get it doon ye.
Lewis: Aye, write that.
Find out more on the band and snap up some tickets here:
Tour tickets: gigsinscotland.com/shambolics
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shambolicsmusic
Twitter: https://twitter.com/shambolicsmusic
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5Zxk4WkmkKRjPyjmmCRAUR?si=N4CnYM3OSbycq-4czg3w4w
You can also see more on what Eggman Studios offer here: https://www.facebook.com/eggmanstudiosfife/
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