Terry McDermott & The Bonfires

IT’S been a long week for Terry McDermott, the popular Scottish runner-up in last season’s American TV version of The Voice.

He’s in the back of a van with his band The Bonfires being driven from Glasgow to Dundee, before their Inverness gig tomorrow (Friday).

But this time last week, he was in a Hollywood TV studio, back on The Voice in front of around 11 million people, to showcase his brand-new single.

Terry laughed: “I performed on the show and there is actually an after-show video online where they are literally saying to me ‘Terry you’ve got to get in that car now and go to the airport!’.

“That was it! That was where my journey home began!”

There’s been an understandable bout of jetlag in between leaving America – where New Orleans is now Terry’s home – and reaching Scotland and his hometown of Pitmedden near Aberdeen.

Terry’s excitement about his return to tour Scotland with his new EP Palmetto Heights has just one shadow.

His wife Malyn – who Terry reveals is completely “unimpressed” with his life as a musician – is awaiting a big moment for the family.

“If she’s unimpressed in the first place, then she’s even more unimpressed at the moment because she’s eight months pregnant with a little girl who will be born when I get back to New Orleans – that’s the idea – when I get back.

“I’m hoping my daughter is going to cooperate!”

It was for his wife and six-year-old son Liam that Terry first embarked on The Voice odyssey.

Having gone to America nine years ago with Scottish band Driveblind and moved on to new band Lotus Crush, in early 2012 Terry suddenly found himself with no work.

He explained: “ It was a strange twist of events.

“I was supposed to be going on tour for the summer with Lotus Crush.

“But two of the guys in that band also played in the American band Candlebox – multi-million record-sellers in the 90s. So when they were offered a tour, they wanted to take it.

“I was left with a rather large hole in the summer and no work and that’s not a fun place to be when you are trying to keep a wife and kid.

“Trying to make a living in music is hard enough.

“But about 48 hours later I got the phone call that was, I guess, the life-changer.”

The show’s producers had heard about Terry through his relationship with Driveblind’s major label.

“The producers said ‘Your name’s come up, would you be interested in being on a national TV show?’

“I only asked the one question – is it a paying gig? – and the answer was yes. So that was that.”

Terry quickly became an audience favourite, finally runner-up to Cassadee Pope.

He admits the love from America was a surprise.

“I didn’t expect it in the slightest.

“I think the cynic in me suggested it would be unlikely the US would take a teuchter from the North East of Scotland to their hearts, but they did!

“When we started getting to the live shows I could sense the support and I thought ‘Maybe I’ve a shot at this.’

“It started to dawn on me that I might have underestimated what was possible.”

Now he has a legion of fans – dubbed the “McHobbits”.

Terry laughed: “They named themselves!

“And the reason that name came about, as far as I can tell, is my shaggy hairstyle’s not so common in the States.

“They also noticed a passing resemblance to a hobbit and the same genius who decided that also noticed my Scottish nationality – so they put the “Mc” in front.

“So it’s bizarre, but despite the comedy name they are a fervent and passionate fanbase.

“At Sunday’s show in Aberdeen there were McHobbits who had flown all the way from Vancouver to be at that show and at Tut’s in Glasgow and they’ve now decided to stay on so they are travelling around Scotland to catch all the shows.

“I was standing filming a segment for BBC Alba on Sauchiehall Street in Glasgow where the set up is you are busking.

“We started, a crowd formed and sure enough four or five stepped forward from Canada and the States and said ‘We loved watching you on the show’.

“That’s a reminder of how far-reaching the series is.”

With his established music career Stateside and the exposure Terry got in The Voice, you’d expect he’d have been snapped up by a major record label.

But he knows the old world of Driveblind and major label strategies won’t be the same for Terry McDermott & The Bonfires.

“Now it’s very much the wild west. But provided you have an audience and some knowhow and of course you have to have a wee bit of talent, I think, to make the music sound good.

“But if you can keep focused, you can be your own engine.

“That’s what we are focusing on – keeping the momentum going.

And having absolutely as much fun as we possibly can!”

Terry co-wrote his first post-Voice single, Pictures, with an Australian songwriting friend and got it to number one in the iTunes and American singles chart within a week of writing!

But he wanted something different for his new four-track EP Palmet - Highland News

IT’S been a long week for Terry McDermott, the popular Scottish runner-up in last season’s American TV version of The Voice.

He’s in the back of a van with his band The Bonfires being driven from Glasgow to Dundee, before their Inverness gig tomorrow (Friday).

But this time last week, he was in a Hollywood TV studio, back on The Voice in front of around 11 million people, to showcase his brand-new single.

Terry laughed: “I performed on the show and there is actually an after-show video online where they are literally saying to me ‘Terry you’ve got to get in that car now and go to the airport!’.

“That was it! That was where my journey home began!”

There’s been an understandable bout of jetlag in between leaving America – where New Orleans is now Terry’s home – and reaching Scotland and his hometown of Pitmedden near Aberdeen.

Terry’s excitement about his return to tour Scotland with his new EP Palmetto Heights has just one shadow.

His wife Malyn – who Terry reveals is completely “unimpressed” with his life as a musician – is awaiting a big moment for the family.

“If she’s unimpressed in the first place, then she’s even more unimpressed at the moment because she’s eight months pregnant with a little girl who will be born when I get back to New Orleans – that’s the idea – when I get back.

“I’m hoping my daughter is going to cooperate!”

It was for his wife and six-year-old son Liam that Terry first embarked on The Voice odyssey.

Having gone to America nine years ago with Scottish band Driveblind and moved on to new band Lotus Crush, in early 2012 Terry suddenly found himself with no work.

He explained: “ It was a strange twist of events.

“I was supposed to be going on tour for the summer with Lotus Crush.

“But two of the guys in that band also played in the American band Candlebox – multi-million record-sellers in the 90s. So when they were offered a tour, they wanted to take it.

“I was left with a rather large hole in the summer and no work and that’s not a fun place to be when you are trying to keep a wife and kid.

“Trying to make a living in music is hard enough.

“But about 48 hours later I got the phone call that was, I guess, the life-changer.”

The show’s producers had heard about Terry through his relationship with Driveblind’s major label.

“The producers said ‘Your name’s come up, would you be interested in being on a national TV show?’

“I only asked the one question – is it a paying gig? – and the answer was yes. So that was that.”

Terry quickly became an audience favourite, finally runner-up to Cassadee Pope.

He admits the love from America was a surprise.

“I didn’t expect it in the slightest.

“I think the cynic in me suggested it would be unlikely the US would take a teuchter from the North East of Scotland to their hearts, but they did!

“When we started getting to the live shows I could sense the support and I thought ‘Maybe I’ve a shot at this.’

“It started to dawn on me that I might have underestimated what was possible.”

Now he has a legion of fans – dubbed the “McHobbits”.

Terry laughed: “They named themselves!

“And the reason that name came about, as far as I can tell, is my shaggy hairstyle’s not so common in the States.

“They also noticed a passing resemblance to a hobbit and the same genius who decided that also noticed my Scottish nationality – so they put the “Mc” in front.

“So it’s bizarre, but despite the comedy name they are a fervent and passionate fanbase.

“At Sunday’s show in Aberdeen there were McHobbits who had flown all the way from Vancouver to be at that show and at Tut’s in Glasgow and they’ve now decided to stay on so they are travelling around Scotland to catch all the shows.

“I was standing filming a segment for BBC Alba on Sauchiehall Street in Glasgow where the set up is you are busking.

“We started, a crowd formed and sure enough four or five stepped forward from Canada and the States and said ‘We loved watching you on the show’.

“That’s a reminder of how far-reaching the series is.”

With his established music career Stateside and the exposure Terry got in The Voice, you’d expect he’d have been snapped up by a major record label.

But he knows the old world of Driveblind and major label strategies won’t be the same for Terry McDermott & The Bonfires.

“Now it’s very much the wild west. But provided you have an audience and some knowhow and of course you have to have a wee bit of talent, I think, to make the music sound good.

“But if you can keep focused, you can be your own engine.

“That’s what we are focusing on – keeping the momentum going.

And having absolutely as much fun as we possibly can!”

Terry co-wrote his first post-Voice single, Pictures, with an Australian songwriting friend and got it to number one in the iTunes and American singles chart within a week of writing!

But he wanted something different for his new four-track EP Palmet - Highland News

Singer-songwriter Terry McDermott, the runner-up winner of the third season of NBC's “The Voice,” returned to the reality singing competition to perform his radio single “Pictures.”
The song was a commercial success since it peaked at No. 1 on the rock charts on iTunes. Terry co-wrote this tune with Todd Burman, a former member of the Australian band Juke Kartel.
Sporting a leather black jacket and black pants, Terry sang with a lot of heart, as his stage was graced in photographs. His vocals were haunting yet dynamic and his range as a vocalist and songwriter is incredible. In this performance, he emerged as a young Paul McCartney and he was able to command the stage.
His performance was well-received by the audience and all four coaches, including Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, Shakira and Usher.
He released his follow-up single “In Your Eyes” on May 24 and similar to “Pictures,” it was co-written by Terry and Todd.
Presently, he is out on tour with his band, the Bonfires, which is comprised of Dave Rosser on guitar, Alex Smith on bass, Eric Bolivar on drums and they will be performing shows in Europe, one of which will be a stop in Terry’s hometown of Aberdeen, Scotland.
For more information on Terry McDermott, visit his official website.


Read more: http://digitaljournal.com/article/352341#ixzz2hZX8r8Ct - Digital Journal

Singer-songwriter Terry McDermott, the runner-up winner of the third season of NBC's “The Voice,” returned to the reality singing competition to perform his radio single “Pictures.”
The song was a commercial success since it peaked at No. 1 on the rock charts on iTunes. Terry co-wrote this tune with Todd Burman, a former member of the Australian band Juke Kartel.
Sporting a leather black jacket and black pants, Terry sang with a lot of heart, as his stage was graced in photographs. His vocals were haunting yet dynamic and his range as a vocalist and songwriter is incredible. In this performance, he emerged as a young Paul McCartney and he was able to command the stage.
His performance was well-received by the audience and all four coaches, including Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, Shakira and Usher.
He released his follow-up single “In Your Eyes” on May 24 and similar to “Pictures,” it was co-written by Terry and Todd.
Presently, he is out on tour with his band, the Bonfires, which is comprised of Dave Rosser on guitar, Alex Smith on bass, Eric Bolivar on drums and they will be performing shows in Europe, one of which will be a stop in Terry’s hometown of Aberdeen, Scotland.
For more information on Terry McDermott, visit his official website.


Read more: http://digitaljournal.com/article/352341#ixzz2hZX8r8Ct - Digital Journal