For those people that haven’t heard of the Scott Gordon Band could you tell us a bit about the band your story?
We’re a 4-piece roots band playing original blues ‘n’ western! Jazzy drums, wild harmonica, rollin’ basslines, blues-infused songs, finger-pickin’ acoustic guitar, lap slide, down-home vocals, a Norn Iron accent, and a whole lotta excess attitude! 🙂 I come from Belfast but had been living near Bournemouth, and a couple of mates and I would get together in my kitchen on a Monday night and drink wine and try and play a few tunes. After a while, we had a set of mostly old traditional folk and blues tunes, and we did a gig or two as a result. Then I started trying to write and I loved it. Once I moved up to Oxford I was playing the odd music night here and there on my own. Over time I tried (and succeeded) to recruit the genius musicians that are now solidified into the good old SGB!
Who inspired you to get on stage and perform?
Not sure, to be honest. I always loved the music that I still love, but I s’pose I never thought I’d be good enough to actually write and play the music myself. After what I’ve written in the previous point, I kinda kept going and now I love to play gigs – fantastic buzz!
Are there any particular artists or albums that have inspired you and informed your sound?
Well, Woody Guthrie’s social conscience, Lightnin’ Hopkins for the music, Howlin’ Wolf for the voice, Stiff Little Fingers’ attitude, and Dr John for just being the funkiest damn man that ever walked! Certainly from a finger-pickin’ and songwriting point of view, Eric Bibb is a huge influence. I’m sure people might not hear that when they listen to our stuff, but I reckon that’s because emulating someone always comes out with a wee extra stamp of the person doing the emulating!
Do you have any songwriting rituals?
Not really. What tends to happen is the tune on the guitar comes first. Then I’ll hear that tune, chord progression, finger-pickin’ sequence, or whatever and it’ll sound sad, happy, funky, frivolous, sexy, silly, bluesy, whatever, and write lyrics that suit. More or less that’s what has happened so far. As close to a ritual as I have is to work and work on a tune until it expands out into something, then fit the words in.
Could you tell us a bit about the writing/recording of the ReverbNation winning track “Headin”?
That was another one where the riff came from me listening to Eric Bibb. It doesn’t sound remotely like him, I don’t think – he’s very spiritual and gospel/blues where Headin’ (for me) is definitely what I like to call a dark, dustbowl country song. Again I just worked on the opening riff and drew it out into other fingerpickin’ parts and then also a middle 8. Lyrically, I think it’s probably my favourite that I’ve written – I wouldn’t change a single line! In a nutshell, it’s about escapism, but for me, it’s pretty heavy duty and so it’s a damn site deeper than that!
Are there any plans for an EP or album coming up?
Not just plans, but we’ve done it! Yeeeeeyyyyy!!! Ulster Americana, the debut full-length record from the Scott Gordon Band will be available for download from Soundcloud and to order on CD by the end of September 2021. We should hopefully eventually have vinyl as well, but the pressing takes a veeerrrrrrrry long time at the minute. Watch this space!
scottgordonband.soundcloud.com
www.reverbnation.com/thatscottfella
What’s it like to be back on stage performing after the year we’ve all had?
It’s great to be back with people up close and personal, I have to say, but certainly, we didn’t really stop anyway – during 2020, we did socially distanced busking, recording, writing etc. throughout the whole time. If people can’t come to the party, bring the party to the people!
Here at Artistic Echoes, we are always on the lookout for new artists fo you have any to recommend?
I strongly recommend Mojo Demon, my mates’ great wild rockin’ bluesy band. They’re on Soundcloud amongst other things.
What plans do you have for the rest of the year?
Gigs, busking, recording, and making the very most of our new record as we possibly can. I’m hoping we’ll get radio play etc., and hopefully, more things will come from that.
As a final note, I like to say thanks a million for having us on Artistic Echoes!
Find out more:
ReverbNation: https://www.reverbnation.com/thatscottfella
Soundcloud: https://scottgordonband.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThatScottFella/
