Making Waves From Scotland
Those who know me well, know that I invest an insane amount of time and research into preparing for SXSW each year. The fest brings hundreds of artists to the city that I call home, and I’m always determined to make the most of that opportunity.
Part of my process for preparing for SXSW includes making a playlist of every artist that I am interested in seeing that particular year. By the time the fest arrives, I always end up with a jam-packed list of targets. The logistical issues of that schedule inevitably leads to me missing out on seeing someone on my list.
One such band is Fatherson. This Scottish rock band first made my list in 2015 in the wake of their debut album, I Am An Island. They had a sound that was similar to many British rock bands of that time, but Ross Leighton’s voice really resonated with me. Alas, I did not get to see them, and the years rolled on, with them unfortunately falling off my radar for a shameful amount of time.
Man, did they make me regret not paying attention. In late 2018, while doing my normal research routine for the coming year, Fatherson comes up on the list. I thought I recognized something familiar in Ross’ vocals, but their music had evolved well beyond anything I remembered (so much so, that I didn’t even recognize it was the same band).
I was listening to their most recent release, Sum of All Your Parts, and I knew IMMEDIATELY that they were one of my new favorite bands. Each song on the album is anthemic, and uniquely different from the song before. This creates a vibrancy and fresh feel, even on repeat.
I was not going to make the same mistake twice. They ended up in my top 5 targets for 2019, and I made sure to get to their show 2 bands prior to their slot just to be safe. It was worth it. I was in love with their studio album, but their live performance was an infinitely better experience than what initially hooked me.
I’m not sure any recording can truly do their anthems justice, but check this live performance of “Reflection.”
Trust that I will shout it from the rooftops when their tour finally brings them back to the states. I can’t comprehend how they aren’t massive already. Hopefully together we can help remedy that.
Spread the music. Spread the love.
Cheers,
Travis
