The Down & Outs

60's inspired indie outfit The Down and Outs opened their set with Runrig's 'Loch Lomond' entertaining a practically full tent. Their vibrant sound brought a real mixture of people to their set from punks to fashionable scenesters, proving they have the real potential for mass appeal, especially when taking into consideration the fact that their slot clashed with indie giants Idlewild.

With their songs packed full of "ooop ooop ooops" and "sha la la laa" they cry out The Small Faces, Frank Wilson and The Ronettes. If they manage to stay true to their pop deluxe roots then there is massive potential for this underdeveloped band.
- The List

The Down And Outs Soundhaus 16.5.07 By Amy Mackintosh

I'm going to let you all into a little secret. Soundhaus, as well as being a music venue, is also a time machine. Yes, a time machine. On numerous occasions throughout The Down And Outs' set there, I wasn't quite sure what decade it was. From 50s to 60s to 70s and back again, the band embodied and embraced the musical landmarks of each decade and made them their own.

It is all very well for me to tell you that they sound like early-sixties Beatles, The Kinks, with just a touch of The Buzzcocks thrown in for good measure; but you've probably heard that all before about umpteen sub-standard indie outfits. Until you've seen the head-bobbing, waltz-dancing, retro-fest that is The Down and Outs, you just won't understand how good they are.

So they might not be avant-garde in their 'sound', but they are witty, they are intelligent and they are entertaining.

Lead vocalist/ guitarist Clark is clearly a natural frontman, with a self-assurance that would not be out of place in a more established band. The Down and Outs have a charm that grabs you from the get go, and holds on throughout their performance.

Stand out tracks were debut single 'Easy Come Easy Go' (the first time I heard the opening chords I could have been convinced that it was 'Dedicated Follower Of Fashion'), upcoming single 'Julie Andrews', and a rather unexpected but equally wonderful cover of 'Long Tall Sally'.

If this band doesn't go the distance, it will be a great injustice. The Down and Outs are pure entertainment, whatever the decade.
- Flukey-Orange

In a hedonistic daze I stumbled across The Down & Outs and was fairly impressed. I was wondering if my first impressions were duly deserved or was it down to the fact that I wasn't exactly 'with it', shall we say?

Looks matter. I'm not saying it's the most important thing but when a band looks right it certainly helps. The Down & Outs are fairly iconoclastic. Nothing particularly special or standout but they fit together and suit each other, none the less.

Opening track 'forever In Your Shadow' seems like a pretty good place to start. It's toe tappingly infectious with lyrics like "Can't even pull a pint nevermind a girl". Full of fun and dancing beats, it certainly won't be drawing any comparisons to Radiohead.

Perhaps the most standout tune for me was 'She's My Baby'. This could be for the fact that I'm a sucker for anything that lends its self to 60's doo wop. However, it comes with a twist, tinged with a country sound that adds to the warmth and beauty of this simple song.

Special mention has to go to Fisher on bass and not just for his musical abilities. Not since I saw Interpol play the very same stage have I seen such moves displayed by a string player. If I thought Daniel Kessler was a showman then I'd say that Fisher would give him a run for his money, slinking and sliding all over the stage.

'Julie Andrews' is obviously a bit of a crowd pleaser as it whips a fair few folk into a flurry of jumping and skipping. Infact, it's not just the crowd, the stage becomes bombarded with the La Fontaines. Cute, if not a litte staged. I can definitely envisage this track getting people strutting on the dance floor in clubs up and down the country in the not so distant future.

Back for an encore with 'Coming Down' guitarist Chris proves his worth as the unsung hero of the band with some impressive fretboard work. Holding it up at the back is Chris, thrashing away with tonnes of energy and enthusiasim.

The Downa & Outs perform with the self assured confidence, which is lacking in so many of Scotland's bands. Lead singer Clark is a massive asset to the band, he exudes charm, which is a priceless quality. He plays as though he belongs on stage, taking advantage of this by having fun. He is enigmatic which draws you into the band and leaves you wanting more.

It's fair to say that they draw massive comparison to The Libertines. This is not a bad thing but I fear it will be banded about all too often and become a lazy way to desscribe them. They are much more though. They are classic indie pop, they are dipped in doo wop, they are 60's Merseyside, they are 70's punk, they are damned hard to sum up. Probably best you go and see them yourself, I doubt you'll ask for your money back.
- www.glasswerk.co.uk

Single of the Week on Xfm, Scotcampus 2007 and The Skinny This week on XFM Julie Andrews is Jim Gellatly Single of the week on his xposure show! Tune in to hear it Mon-Thurs.

Jim's Cut - scotcampus summer 2007 issue

"It was actually through my xfm buddy Heather Suttie that i first heard about The Down & Outs. She'd met one of them and passed on a demo. Next i knew she'd dedicated a large section of her column in the Sunday Post to the band. After romping home on XFM's uploaded competition for new bands, coupled with airplay on my X-Posure show, the momentum is certainly starting to build for their debut single 'Julie Andrews' set to appear on Social Club Records. It's basically classic singalong indie and as i've taken to playing tracks from The Sound Of Music at the end of my DJ sets, the subject matter's perfect!"

The Skinny - July 2007

Jim Gellatly's X-Posure Top 10
1. The White Stripes - Icky Thump
2. Reverand and the Makers - Heavyweight Champion of the World
3. The Cribs - Men's Needs
4. The Down & Outs - Julie Andrews - The Skinny

The Down and Outs follow, and immediately place themselves at the opposite end of the upbeat indie guitar band spectrum. Its poppy, catchy and reminiscent of classic British pop, with the same urgent but oh so close to falling apart feel of the Libertines.

Their songs are the kind that you start to sing along to on the very first listen, because they just feel so completely natural. And their live energy and charm firmly places them up among the best.

Their guitarist is resigned to a chair this evening due to a footballing injury, but it doesnt seem to flatten the bands performance any although we can tell by the smiles that there are little bits they dont think theyre pulling off so well.

Front man Clark introduces Stop The Press by saying that if anybody wants a little waltz, to come and find him. And for those who havent seen The Down and Outs before, he means it! Mid way through, the song breaks in to a waltz and Clark goes in to the crowd in search of a partner. Aww bless. Its the kind of old fashioned, chivalric but slightly tongue-in-cheek behaviour that youd expect from The Beatles in A Hard Days Night. Those cheeky but loveable scamps

Closing with what will be their debut single, Julie Andrews, The Down and Outs take a pop at those who take life a bit too seriously, and ought to just lighten up and learn a thing or two about fun from Mary Poppins. But after that performance, well be smiling and in a giddy daydream for some time, with or without a spoonful of sugar.

If The Down and Outs are the cute litter of puppies at the pound, The Boyfriends look more like the old mongrels that nobody wants to take home. - YoungScot Magazine