Natter with Shatterhand
SHATTERHAND are back better – and louder – than ever as they prepare to play their first local gig in five years.
In fact when the four-piece takes to the Grangemouth Music Festival
stage at
2 p.m. on Saturday – after Alana McLernon (12 noon) and Debrasco (1 p.m). and before Cameron Anderson (3 p.m.) – it will be the first time two of their members, the Portoninan McIntosh brothers, have played in the town for 20 years.
Shatterhand took time out of their rehearsals at The Bunker in Bonnybridge to talk to The Falkirk Herald about their enforced two-year break, the dark poetry of Bill Hicks, flying frontmen, bad Irish accents and a bass amp capable of levelling a block of flats while still on standby.
And If the band's name sounds like an obscure James Bond villain that's because it is – one of Blofeld's many aliases was Dr Shatterhand.
Amazing what you learn from a "melodic hardcore" band.
Forming in 1998, Stuart McIntosh (vocals), Dave McIntosh (guitar/vocals), Mike Crawford (bass/vocals) and Brian Hastings (drums), were a force of nature from the start.
Stuart said: "It just clicked – it just worked. It was great crack from the start and we just stayed together and got better. Through all these years we've just been four guys hanging out, having a good time."
"We struck lucky after we formed," added Stuart's brother Dave. "We landed a few UK tours with the some name bands on the scene at that time."
During their first spell together from 1998 to 2006 the band recorded four very different albums – 'Wreckage', 'Planting Seeds', 'Bone Palace Ballet' and 'Random Acts of Defiance', but things stalled after that.
Brian said: "A couple of us had some personal stuff to sort out and I had a serious shoulder injury, which didn't help."
Two years is like a lifetime in the music business – as the band discovered when they made their comeback in 2008.
Stuart said: "A lot of venues had shut down in the space of two years."
"The music scene is changing and evolving all the time," added Brian.
The energetic drummer found the comeback more difficult than his bandmates – he had to spend six months in the gym in an effort to return as the band's driving force.
He must be fighting fit now because his other band, Debrasco, are on stage at Grangemouth Festival just before Shatterhand.
"That's an hour-and-a-half of solid drumming," he grinned.
Mike's commitment to the cause saw him purchase some new bass equipment – which he tested in an ear-shattering lone session in The Bunker before unleashing it on the band.
"I couldn't try it out at home," said Mike. "My wife threatened to kill me."
When Mike, Brian and Dave got back together just over a year ago they soon realised something – someone – was missing.
Dave said: "The three of us jammed together in Brian's living room and it went absolutely nowhere. We were missing the direction Stuart brings to the band."
"I missed my mates," said Stuart.
"This guy's a legend when it comes to doing stupid stunts," said Dave, pointing at his brother. "He's constantly working out what things he can throw himself off of. There was that time at Dundee's Balcony Bar ... "
The self-confessed Bill Hicks fans have always packed their songs with political and social awareness – as well as some catchy chords and bouncy bass lines.
"But we never preach to people," said Stuart. "We've never been keen on preaching. We just say what we think at that particular time."
The band recently recorded two new singles, 'Burden of Proof' and 'Full Circle', which are set to be released by Unsane Asylum Records and they have been back on the road again playing gigs all over the UK and the heartland of their humour, Ireland.
The second phase of their musical career continues in York Arcade on Saturday. Go and see them – they will shatter your expectations. In a good way.
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Weather for Falkirk
Wednesday 30 May 2012
Today
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Temperature: 11 C to 17 C
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