Glasgow

Glasgow
On Earth
(Indie)

Glasgow soars above all expectations on their latest album, On Earth. The Craft brothers, Sam and Jack, create their own world within an orchestral land full of imaginative lush lyrics and hypnotic beats that will keep your head bobbing through each song. The brothers sound like the product of Weezer, Blink-182, Letters From Cleo, No Doubt, and an orchestra having a bastard hippie love child together. Track five, “Slave,” sounds like a cute little ditty from off The Flinstones, and most will easily relate to the honest lyrics. Within each track, the listener can find complex musical compositions that interact with the listener and the singer equally, searching to find just the right balance. This can be heard in “Samurai” in which the guitar licks capture the lyrical story behind the beats and symphonic harmonies. Incredibly, like molecular science, the brother’s unique songwriting process works elevating the local rock music scene to a new level. A personal favorite on this CD is “Strangers,” which has some lyrics very reminiscent to that of the New Orleans vaudeville scene in the French Quarter, along with beautiful violin work that only a street performer could mimic for spare change. There’s also a really neat ending on the last track. Pick up a copy and enjoy On Earth. –Kevin McKee - Where Y'at Magazine

As a true fan of weirdo music, I need more than the missionary position-style of song most indie-rock bands give up. I was met halfway by Glasgow, a band set to release its debut album, On Earth, on February 6th at Republic. The name of the group comes not as a tribute to the city in Scotland but from a diagnostic tool used for measuring the severity of a coma—it’s a purposefully obscure
honorific that adds to their wanting to grab the audience’s attention not just musically but also aesthetically. The group took a recent hiatus from performing to write and record On
Earth, a decision that enabled them to focus more on the writing process and make sure they accomplished their goals for composition. The band is lead by brothers Sam and Jack
Craft, with help from bassist and multi-instrumentalist Cory Schultz and drummer Eric Rogers, two members they share with Antenna Inn. The eleven-track On Earth takes chances with noisy soundscapes and classical string ensembles, with some of the more notable tracks being “Volcano,” a song that sounds of several decades past of pop rock and serves as an example of how musicians borrow from one another and “Dinosaur,” which has a great progressive intro akin to Queen that is used as the main theme. Listening to the album, it’s evident the group put much thought into the layering and harmonizing of the vocals. This idea is heard at different points on the record and is especially realized on “Monkey,” which also has a fun lead guitar riff that is simple enough to disregard yet sophisticated and thoughtful enough to respect. “Samurai” has plenty of little tricks via scale play and good mood-setting, and is a personal favorite. Bandleader Sam Craft took the time to trade e-mails with ANTIGRAVITY about the recording, playing music with his brother and the phenomenon known as The Rock of Love Bus.

Is being in a band with your brother easy?

Being in a band with my brother is extremely easy and practical. We are always around each other to discuss band matters; we can finish each other’s thoughts—both verbally and musically— and if Jack ever tried to beat me up, I’ll just tell Mom!

When you write a song, is it more of one instrument bringing an idea to the table for foundation, or are all
minds working in the same room?

Most songs start with me bringing in the chords, melodies, lyrics and
a vague idea for a groove. Jack and I bounce ideas off of one another,
and then we bring it to our rhythm section to make it rock.

What were some of the highlights and downers during the
recording process?

A huge highlight was recording at Chris George and Daniel Majorie’s amazing Living Room Studio in Algiers. Another highlight was bringing in a ton of old car parts to drum on for the song “Slave,” as well as getting to direct a choir for the final track. A huge downer was during the vocal tracks. I was really sick and my throat hurt, so I did the old Mom recipe of a tablespoon of honey. I ended up guzzling the whole honey bear and started puking in between takes. I think I ruined their carpet. No pain, No gain.

What do you think of Bret Michael’s’ Rock of Love Bus?

I am without television so I had to Wikipedia this one. I got halfway through the synopsis before I started beating my head against the coffee table. How can this be? Where is the justice? I hope Obama doesn’t let such unchecked perversions of the
media persist in 2009. God help us!

Glasgow will release On Earth on February 6th with a show at
Republic.

-Interview and article by Brian Serpas
- AntiGravity Magazine

By Morgan Mitchener

No, it's not the street name or the middle school in Baton Rouge; it's the skillful band Glasgow from New Orleans.

Although, in Baton Rouge, we know Glasgow as the street that connects Perkins and Hyacinth, it takes a new form in this indie rock band. Ironically enough, the band's name was chosen for its obscurity, and although it doesn't fulfill its purpose in that department, it does give a fresh and unfamiliar sound to the music scene.

Classically trained brothers Sam Craft and Jack Craft started Glasgow together and later added members George Elizando and Jon Arceneaux to make a quartet. Together, they comprise the musical fusion that is Glasgow.

Their music is a compilation of traditional jazz, classical music and rock. They transform classical music by using an electric violin combined with other traditional rock instruments, which is what gives Glasgow it's hybrid and interesting angle on music that not many other bands have.

Layering music is one of the band's unique abilities. Embedded within the lyrics, are references to musical puns and jokes in a way that is open to interpretation.

"The music speaks for itself, we just make it come alive," said Sam Craft.

The band's most recent album entitled On Earth defines their personal message, which is to not take yourself too seriously.

"When you take your craft too seriously, that is when art becomes destructive," explained Sam Craft.

The band really does keep it light both literally and comically. Each track is less than four minutes in length and bears names like "Dinosaur" and "Samurai."

The band is also known for it's impromptu performances where they interact with the crowd by jumping off stage to play music amongst their fans and by throwing things into the crowd like candy.

The band strongly supports IN Exchange, which is a not-for-profit fair trade that aids in supporting local artisans from being overtaken by big business and focuses on empowering the little guy.

Catch Glasgow coming to Baton Rouge, Saturday, July 4, at Louby's House (Jonathan Loubiere's house) at 380 College Hill Drive. The show starts at 7 p.m. and is for all ages. Visit glasgowband.net for more information on the band.

The Web site links you to their MySpace and Facebook page for all upcoming shows and venues.

Originally Published: Issue 806 - July 1, 2009 - Tiger Weekly

Glasgow is a band hailing from New Orleans, and their songs break genres and expectations, giving audiences an unfailingly adventurous musical experience.

Their latest album, ...On Earth, combines a classic rock sensibility with a classical music mindframe, a sense of humor with a serious understanding of music theory and a playfulness with an ability to play with music in unexpected ways.

The result is something we don’t hear much on our stages these days. Glasgow is worth discovering.

-Cody Daigle - Times of Acadiana, Lafayette, LA

"Stranger" - Glasgow

After hearing "Stranger" for the first time, I found myself not being able to stop listening to it for the greater portion of my summer. A snarling guitar riff and sprite violin accents set up a slight sense of urgency leading into the song's anthemic chorus. Vocalist Sam Craft, who croons like a baby David Byrne, tells of faces painted with blood, girls breathing fire, and women getting cut down the middle. Although I'm not really sure what it has to do with "talking to strangers" who "will take you by surprise", the enigmatic lyrics simply add to the enjoyment I get from this song.

-Dominique Minor - Blue Lace

Concept albums are risky business for any artist. Viewed by some as masterful and others as pretentious, the concept album is one of rock’s more polarizing landmarks. Luckily, local indie rock favorite Glasgow manages to mostly avoid self-importance on its third release, On Earth.

On Earth is set up thematically to loosely follow the history of our planet, most obviously in the opening four tracks: “Blackhole,” “Volcano,” “Dinosaur,” and “Monkey.” Striving to musically match such a vast concept pushes Glasgow to expand its scope, straddling Queen-sized epic rock and the Talking Heads meets Pixies indie quirkiness that is the band’s trademark. While the new sounds sometimes stretch the vocals a bit too thin, the musicianship of the band sells the stylistic variety of On Earth.

Glasgow takes the storytelling opportunity to the songs themselves, often throwing out traditional song structure to dart off in unpredictable directions. The gamble pays off on “Liar,” a blazing rocker that runs through thrashing indie rock, swing, an electric fiddle solo and a bridge reminiscent of Sgt. Pepper-era Beatles before triumphantly banging back the main riff. On the other hand, “Robot,” a futuristic tale of a mail order android bride, ends on a bridge to nowhere that just putters out as if the band simply ran out of ideas for the song.

On Earth’s track listing proves to be its main drawback. The song order makes thematic sense, and vocalist Sam Craft’s lighthearted, off-the-wall lyrics convey the story of the record but keep each song self-contained. However, the strict adherence to the chronological history concept shapes the dynamics of the album like a musical bell curve; the spacey, mid-tempo tracks serve as bookends with the upbeat songs crammed in the middle. While a different sequencing may have helped the musical presentation, ultimately, On Earth plays out a lot like human history: sometimes great, a bit imperfect, and worth the effort.

-Rory Callais - Offbeat Monthly

David Amram is responsible for Glasgow. The multi-instrumentalist represents a life and work that combines the traditions of the classics with the popularity of the modern. The first composer-in-residence of the New York philharmonic is also famour for his collaborations with Beat Generation writer Jack Kerouac, and though his fame isn't what it once was when the Beats were viewed as a cultural force, he still inspired brothers and bandmates Sam and Jack Craft. And he's not the only unlikely influence either. Glasgow and its new album, 'On Earth', make a good case for a broad, classical education.

The roots of Glasgow and the Craft brothers' musical talent are steeped in family tradition. As young boys, Sam and Jack started experimenting with a variety of instruments they found in their home. They were fortunate to have parents that met while in the Tulane Marching Band; their love for music meant they would foster the emerging talents of their sons. Eventually, Sam came to focus on the violin and Jack the cello.

It was not long before the Craft brothers followed their father to the rehearsals of the New Leviathan Oriental Fox-trot Orchestra. The Orchestra revives authentic music from the 1890s through the early 1930s and was co-founded by Tulane student George Schmidt. Schmidt may be better known for his artistic exploits, but for Jack Craft, he was another source of inspiration. "If you can capture his charisma, you can do anything," Jack says. Today the brothers still rehearse with their father and the Orchestra. Their talent was fostered by the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts and fine-tunes with full scholarships to Loyola University.

Over the years they have also shared company and talents with Teresa Andersson, Eddie Bo and Cowboy Mouth. Maybe it was their early introduction to contemporary music or maybe it was the mere boyhood dream to be rock stars, but the Craft brothers would eventually find their way from the Orchestra hall to the indie rock scene.

To follow their dreams in the rock world would be an interesting feat with a cello and violin, but the Crafts put their skill sets together and learned to complement each other, forming Glasgow. To create a more edgy, hybrid sound, the Crafts would include two prominent musicians from the local progressive rock scene. "We wanted a musician, not just a bass player or drummer" said Jack Craft and they found that in Eric Rogers on drums and Cory Schultz with bass.

The Crafts consider themselves "a product of their experience," Jack says, and so is Glasgow. All their interests fold together in the band.

"Imagine a rock'n'roll version of a Handel Oratorio, sung on a Vaudeville stage," Sam Craft says.

You might not hear that. Take any song from the new 'On Earth' on its own and it sounds like slightly daring, guitar-oriented indie rock. Taken as a whole, though, the ambition becomes more evident. The Crafts aspire to have their music be an experience, drawing inspiration from none other than classical composer Wagner. They don't share his politics or grandiosity, but his concept of "Gesamtkunstwerk" or "total artwork" makes sense to them. "His medium was grandiose, Romantic opera, and ours is a little rock album but he is an inspiration in any event," Sam says, "if only because he's a badass who wasn't afraid to go into uncharted territory with his music."

'On Earth' progresses as a story with a beginning, middle and end. "Monkey" tells about the corruption of innocence and the eternal battle of good versus evil as well as rising up, according to Jack. This idea coupled with obscure musical quotes from some greats such as Holst, Haydn, and Beethoven give listeners something different at every level.

They were born 17 months apart and can be very twins-like, but they're not the same person. Jack wants Glasgow to make "obscure, weird things into something they would like." Sam, on the other hand, wants each song to "be taken at face value, accessible and catchy." In language videogamers will recognize, Sam says there are "the Easter eggs of theme" to be discovered in the album.

As high-flown as the Crafts' inspiration seems, they still know Glasgow's a rock band, and a less academic side of their personalities comes out in it. Glasgow is a mix of intellectual concepts intertwines with the simplicity of rock'n'roll dreams. When asked why he plays the electric violin, Sam said, "It's like an electric guitar. It plays fast and looks cool."

As that's a crucial other side to Glasgow. For all of the David Amram, New Leviathan, Holst, Wagner, jazz, classical and otherwise in their background, Sam and Jack Craft want to look cool, play fast, and swagger a bit, just like anyone who has ever picked up a guitar. Glasgow combines those things for the Craft Brothers, and is exactly what it set out to be: "A band that can make a lady out of rock," Sam says.

By Rebecca Brych - Offbeat Magazine

The brothers Craft grew up in a self-described “instrument orphanage,” a place where it was second nature to pick up that old recorder, trumpet or guitar and just have at it. This musical exposure in such formative years spurred the brothers not to lay their focus on a single instrument-although later Sam studied the violin and Jack the cello at Loyola- New Orleans— but to branch out and explore all possibilities afforded them with such a variegated musical upbringing. Not content to shy away from opportunity or challenge, the brothers contributed over the years to many different groups and collectives, including the New Leviathan Oriental Foxtrot Orchestra, Antenna Inn and Silent Cinema. Jazz and classical roots are only part of the story of Glasgow’s emergence however, because Glasgow is a rock band—“Classic rock-meets-Rachmaninov and rock n’ roll-meets-Jelly Roll Morton.” Over the past year or so, Sam, lead vocalist, violinist and guitarist and brother Jack, lead guitarist, cellist, keyboardist and singer (joined later by drummer Eric Rogers and multi-instrumentalist Cory Schultz), have worked out the kinks in their newest batch of songs and sat down in an Algiers studio using a twenty-four-track to record 'On Earth', a record that grabbed me instantly, both out of warmth and familiarity but also because of its utter unclassifiability. Listening to 'Earth' in its entirety once or twice is simply not enough to even begin to crack the core—from the clean, crisp Duane Dennison slink of the lead guitar on “Monkey” to the purposefully buried percussive responsorials on “Slave” and on and on, each listen presents something new or previously understated. And on top of that, the final track, “God,” features a nine person choral rendition of Martin Luther’s number as arranged by Bach and conducted by Sam, “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.” That being said, no matter the complexities, this record is above all else fun, and why shouldn’t it be? The Craft Brothers are a couple of relative youngsters playing rock music. With a keen ear and appreciation for everything from Storyville ragtime to ELO, Luther and on, On Earth is sure to open many minds (and doors) to “the prodigious Craft Brothers,” whom I assure you have not heard the last from. —Dan Mitchell


- AntiGravity Magazine