Whether it’s dreaming of ‘Sally Cinnamon’ to wondering ‘What Katie Did’ next, the greatest romances and tragedies of pop have been populated with muses plucked from the real-world and immortalised forever in an alternative world of song. With their latest single, Fife four-piece SHAMBOLICS continue this great tradition as they introduce us to ‘Sandra Speed’; a girl as “lonely as a winter… frail, pale and as white as snow”.
Through painterly descriptions and melodies as sweet and uplifting as you’ll ever hear, here the Shambolics tell the story of a girl fallen on hard times; a character at once vividly familiar, but frozen perennially out of reach.
“I wrote the song in our studio staring out the window and seeing the very thing happen right outside,” reflected frontman Darren Forbes. “The song is about a vulnerable girl who has mingled with the wrong crowd and lost herself.”
Set to a reverb washed score, all swirling guitar breaks, sugar-spun melodies and cloud-busting choruses, ‘Sandra Speed’ recalls the starry-eyed indie reminiscent of Aztec Camera to Blossoms and The Stone Roses, delivered with the fresh-faced signature of one of Scotland’s sharpest new prospects.
“Soaring guitar pop that recalls everyone from The La’s to Blossoms and beyond, their lyrical flair touches on small town life and working class culture.”
– CLASH
Released as a digital-only single on Alan McGee’s Creation 23 label, ‘Sandra Speed’ directly follows the roaring success of their debut, ‘Chasing A Disaster’, a track that marked the band’s signing to the label with a highly-demanded SOLD-OUT 7” vinyl run and multiple plays by Steve Lamacq on his BBC6 Music Show.
“One of the best Scottish artists out there. A classic creation band. Big tunes and they look great!”
– ALAN McGEE
Hailed by label owner and mentor Alan McGee (who famously signed classic acts Oasis, Primal Scream, Jesus & The Mary Chain to his Creation Records label) as “one of the great Scottish bands”, Shambolics were signed to Creation23 in the Summer of 2019 and are already proving to be winning hearts quickly with their artfully honed and irresistibly dreamy rock’n’roll sound.
Earning critical acclaim early on from press tastemakers including BBC Scotland (Vic Galloway), This Feeling, Radio X, Virgin Radio (Edith Bowman) & Fred Perry Subculture, the band have been compared to some of the classic masters including The La’s and The Beatles. Repeatedly selling out shows at some of Scotland’s most legendary gig spaces including Glasgow’s King Tut’s and Edinburgh’s Mash House, last year the band also took their successes on their debut UK headline tour, playing to packed rooms with winning receptions every night.
From sharing huge stages touring with the likes of The Sherlocks and The View, the band have also cut their teeth playing at some of the UK’s biggest festivals including Isle of Wight Festival, Tramlines Festival, Reading & Leeds, Y-Not Festival (Derbyshire), Truck Festival (Oxfordshire) and more.
As the prospect of a bright 2020 comes into focus, Shambolics now set their sights on a spring and summer filled with festival shows with which to showcase their new electrifying material. Catch the band at the following dates and venues:
2020 LIVE DATES
Saturday 14 March 2020 – Glasgow, St. Luke’s – ** HEADLINE **
Friday 10 April 2020 – Leeds – Rewired Festival
Thursday 30 April 2020 – Birmingham, Dead Wax – ** HEADLINE **
Friday 1 May – Sheffield, Record Junkee – ** HEADLINE **
Saturday 11 April 2020 London – Rewired Festival
Saturday 2 May 2020 Liverpool, Sound City Festival
SHAMBOLICS ARE:
Lewis McDonald – Vocals/Guitar
Darren Forbes – Vocals/Guitar
Jordan McHatton – Vocals/Bass
Jake Bain – Vocals/Drums
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