Riding Shotgun with 1990s

y friends will tell you that I have a love of all things Scottish (yes, this adoration even extends to haggis). So it should come as no surprise that when a cheeky, irresistible Scottish band pops up on the radar, I am drawn to them. Enter 1990s (no "the" for this band, if you please), the latest dance-your-feet-into-bloody-stumps band to hit these shores from the well-stocked streets of Glasgow. They've got ties to some other Scottish band (Franz who?), but I think you'll find 1990s to be outstanding in their own right (I dare you to listen to "You're Supposed to be My Friend" and not dance). The doubly talented Jackie McKeown (of vocals and guitar) accepted the Shotgun challenge. Read on to gather valuable insight into 1990s (Celtic! Beyonce! Whisky!), and then make your way to the Rock'n'Roll Hotel this Friday to dance the night away.

Touring is: Non-musical and quite ridiculous...but very funny.

Our first gig was: Stereo, Glasgow, summer 2005, a happy event.

Our favorite venue to play is: Southampton Joiners...in the summer heat.

Hygiene on a tour is: imperative.

Our favorite thing about touring is: All the obvious stuff. It's too early to be witty so I don't mind sounding like a Miss World contestant..."I like travelling and meeting people in strange countries"

And the least favorite: Privacy and headspace...lack of.

City with the best audiences: Bologna, Amsterdam, Glasgow, Southampton, Sao Paolo, and a tent somewhere in Norway.

Band member most likely to disappear after a gig: Michael is most likely to disappear at any given moment.

The tour bus/van smells like: Roses and Teen Spirit.

Laundry is: a) washed regularly, b) washed irregularly, c) we go shopping a lot: Pre-tour mass wash, then we hit the discount stores for "supplies".

What's the most unusual item on your rider? We don't use the rider for studenty entertainment. A bottle of whisky is all that is required. It's not an EXACT science but TWO bottles is a BAD IDEA but one is never enough (or maybe it is).

Who controls the music in the touring vehicle? And what are you listening to on this tour? Kenny Barr is best for classic rock and decent adult sounds i.e. Steely Dan and Supertramp, maybe some Eagles. Michael likes soul music, me and Jamie are happy with Warren Zevon or Beyonce.

What's your favorite new watering hole that you've found while on tour? Daddies in Williamsburg...home of the Hurricane.

And/or the best place to cure late night cravings? The 8 Ball in Glasgow.

Most amusing memory from your current or most recent tour? I have no memory. Touring wipes the mind clean. It's scientology-on-the-move. I am clear. We are clear.

Favorite tour activity (other than the gigs themselves): Running, skipping and/or jumping.

Please name the city you wouldn't ever play in again? Or if not a particular city, which venue (if any) would you not mind seeing razed to the ground? Nottingham.

Apart from the obvious CDs, what's the merch item of yours you think people should shell out for? The bags...they're a joy. A design classic.

Any pre-gig (or post-gig) rituals? Not really.

Rangers or Celtic? Celtic. All three of us are fans.

In how many languages can you swear? One.

Have you been to the top of the Washington Monument? No.

What would you like people to be saying about 1990s in 50 years? "Put this on, I wanna dance."

If we weren't in 1990s, we'd be: Stacking shelves

What was your favorite thing about the 1990s (the decade, of course)? Very little. Pulp and Country Teasers. Dancing on
dangerously high levels of drugs. The Larry Sanders Show. Girls.

Please recite a line of poetry: Aye that Beckett, there's a bitter man. If the truth can't wreck it...Beckett can.

And finally, it's BigYawn's round. What's your poison? Rum and Coke.

More 1990s info can be had here: http://www.1990s.tv, and here: http://www.myspace.com/1990sband.

© 2007 BigYawn, all rights reserved