For my third BBC Introducing session spectacular, I was delighted to welcome a musically-ambitious but down-to-earth Glasgow band into Studio 1 at the BBC Pacific Quay buildings in Glasgow. On the strength of two phenomenal but fairly low-key singles on the fledgling label Flowers in the Dustbin (named after a Sex Pistols lyric, fact-fans!), I was intrigued to see how The Deadline Shakes' progressive arrangements and close-harmony singing would work in a live setting, and I was pleasantly rewarded.
The Deadline Shakes - Boy
Admitting to their love of
rock-opera and dismissing any pretensions of being 'cool' or hitting the
'zeitgeist', they revelled in what they do best... writing excellent songs and
performing them well. I'd described them before as having the lush harmonies of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and the angular guitar lines of The
Strokes, but there is so much more than that as you can see. With delicacy and
dynamics, they performed the two single tracks Boy and Sweeten the Deal alongside a cover of Sorrow, made famous by David Bowie but originally by The
McCoys, showing their unashamed love of 1960s 1970s pop.
The Deadline Shakes - Sweeten The Deal
With a nice line in
polite, self-effacing banter and real musical chops, The Deadline Shakes were
great guests and promise loads on their forthcoming debut album. I know Steve
Lamacq at BBC 6 Music and others have also seen their potential as well. Enjoy
the tracks here and search them out LIVE when you
can.
