A couple of weekends ago, I was hired to photograph the athletic competitions at the Maine Highland Games. My good friend and frequent Fiver contributer Kate was kind enough to accompany me. All the bagpipes and kilts got us to thinking: “What non-Proclaimers popular music groups has the land of cabers and haggis given the world? Who are the ones whose clan ancestry might come as a surprise?” Well, Kate was good enough to come up with the answer, and compiled:
Top 5 surprisingly Scottish bands
1. The Fratellis
My first association when I hear “the Fratellis” is the villainous trio that pursued the Goonies throughout their adventure. So, this has got to be an American band, right? Wrong. The Fratellis is based out of Glasgow and was awarded the Best British Breakthrough Act at the 2007 BRIT awards. Understandably so, given the unending infectiousness of their hits “Flathead” and “Chelsea Dagger.”
2. The Beta Band
Rob Gordon might be able to sell 5 copies of the Beta Band’s “The Three EPs” at Championship Vinyl merely by playing “Dry the Rain” in the store, but how many of those patrons will know that this fabulously unique band is Scottish? I din-uh.
3. Aztec Camera
Let’s take a trip back to the 80s and early 90s, shall we? Dig back in your memory banks and I’m sure you will recall such tunes as “Oblivious” and “Somewhere in My Heart.” Founding member and lone mainstay Roddy Frame and his revolving lineup of bandmates? You guessed it … Scottish.
4. The Jesus and Mary Chain
I have a fond personal memory of the frontman of this particular band becoming exasperated with the crowd at Lollapalooza ‘92, showing his displeasure by cursing, tossing down the microphone, and storming off the stage. Little did I know then that the band would be part of a top 5 list of surprisingly Scottish artists to which I would contribute many years later.
5. Belle and Sebastian
My first erroneous thought was always that this band was French, likely because the band name was inspired by a French children’s story, and a cartoon that aired on Nickelodeon here in the US. However, this band most definitely deserves name association in its own right with its excellent Scottish indie pop. Many people obviously agree, as the group was voted Scotland’s greatest band in a poll by the List, an Edinburgh-based entertainment listings magazine, in January 2005.
Who do you find surprisingly Scottish?
Wow, the first mention of Aztec Camera on the Fiver and it wasn’t even from me! Will wonders never cease?
I’m glad I was able to bring Aztec Camera to theFiver, Andrew. :) I was told that I was the first person other than you that John had heard use the words “Aztec” and “Camera” together!
Nice Fiver list. I do enjoy the obscure, where-did-that-come-from nature of some of these lists! Yay Kate!
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