A State of Mind, the award-winning podcasters, invited Donald and Stuart to represent TwinsTown, performing a few songs and being interviewed. Apparently the podcasters had met the twins before, when they gatecrashed a Kyle Falconer interview, and knew what they were getting into. Hard to believe, I know.
Later, I discovered top podcaster Paul John Dykes is originally from Oakley. The world makes sense for once. These days I’m glad when something, anything, makes sense.
Donald and Stuart Mackay at A State of Mind Unplugged I.Donald and Stuart Mackay at A State of Mind Unplugged II.Donald Mackay at A State of Mind Unplugged.Stuart Mackay at A State of Mind Unplugged.Paul John Dykes, award-winning podcaster, A State of Mind Unplugged.John McMulkin, taking a break from waging war against criminals with his indestructible supercar, KITT.Top cameraman Kelvin focusing on Stuart as Donald tunes up.Stuart Mackay and Stuart Rae preparing for a car crash interview at A State of Mind Unplugged.Stuart Mackay interview ready, in helmet and goggles.
A State of Panic, I mean preparation, A State of Preparation
To prepare for the podcast I watched A State of Mind Unplugged featuring Shambolics. Unsurprisingly deeply earnest in parts (not in a bad way), it had iconic captions to introduce interview segments.
SHAMBOLICS ON… THE BEATLES & KIRKCALDY
My mind boggled. Imagine the TwinsTown captions… taboo doesn’t even begin to describe my thoughts. Unpublishable even on this liberal blog.
In the end diplomacy and clever editing won.
TWINSTOWN ON… FIFE TODAY CALLING YOU ‘A FORCE OF NATURE’
Cut to the Chase, FFS!
This is well worth a watch and thank you A State of Mind Unplugged.
Stuart Mackay post-interview celebration at A State of Mind Unplugged.Cheers!A State of Mind studio I.A State of Mind studio II.A TwinsTown State of Mind.A TwinsTown State of Mind including me.
Watch Craig giving it laldy by clicking the link above.
Craig Birrell, before giving it laldy in the official video for Anthemesque.
Directed and filmed by our PR and photographer, Joe Graham, at Whanga Records’ rehearsal and recording studio at 2a Chalmers Street, Dunfermline, Craig gives an amazing, dramatic performance, like a modern-day Richard Burton. Sorry young yins, let’s say Joaquin Pheonix or Daniel Day-Lewis instead. I watched There Will Be Blood recently and Day-Lewis was astounding.
Actually, there was blood in Anthemesque. I was agog. I only said that because I love that word, agog. I fully expected spectacular method acting and full commitment from Craig. I’ve not known him long but he is an extremely talented writer, producer and performer who gives it his all, every time.
It’s an angry song…
Craig Birrell in a scene from the official video for Anthemesque.
Thanks go to Whanga Records’ marketing executive, Mariam Ahmaz, who sourced the still working TV for scenes reminiscent of the Sex Pistols or the Clash. I think we forgot to switch it on though. I’ll take the blame for that. Apologies to Mim who was working in The Old Inn and missed out on her usual cameo role.
Thanks also go to Harry Dixon. The Duke appeared in the Anthemesque video; he’s the one fiddling while Rome burns, or more accurately, playing bass whilst Birrell destroys Whanga.
TwinsTown’s Harry ‘The Duke’ Dixon crowns Craig Birrell with a straw hat at Whanga Records, Dunfermline.
We asked Harry to look disinterested as Craig’s mad turn grows but I couldn’t fit him into the main shot. Like the true professional that he is he worked his way in and fulfilled his role perfectly. Respect to The Duke, the Robert De Niro or maybe Keanu Reeves of TwinsTown.
I love Harry Dixon in Anthemesque. The Duke! Flare it!
Coming soon
Craig co-founded Whanga Records with Stuart Barrett and big Barrett is rock ‘n’ roll too. Look out for him in the forthcoming 1/4 Chubz video for Cut Me Down alongside band mates John Simpson and Trroyy Lleggatt (spelling from Facebook – that can’t be right!?).
I expected Cut Me Down to be the first music video directed and filmed by me for a few years now, however I was delighted when Craig asked me to do Anthemesque in only 24 hours and fortunately I was available at short notice.
Apologies to the 1/4 Chubz, although I’m sure that, like me, they don’t mind accommodating a friend and musical colleague.
In the meantime you can watch both Whanga founders in TwinsTown’s official video for Callum Paterson’s Broken Song. Barrett is on the bass and Birrell is pretending he knows how to work Big Daddy’s camera (although he knows now as I gave him a crash course after he bought his own camera).
TwinsTown’s new single Welcome to my World, the second from their forthcoming debut album Brankholm Brae, has been played on The Mickey Bradley Record Show on BBC Radio Ulster. We love the Undertones and Mickey’s show. He’s dead pan funny. Big thanks to @MickeyUndertone.
…officially completely original…
Michael Bradley
You can listen immediately below:
TwinsTown’ Welcome to my World on BBC Radio Ulster’s The Mickey Bradley Radio Show.
Apparently Briana Corrigan cited unacceptable laddishness when she left The Beautiful South. I was surprised to read that as both The Housemartins and The Beautiful South struck me as being bastions of political correctness.
When Graeme Galloway of Stirling City Radio decided to seek similar he turned to Dunfermline and our very own Fife bastions of political correctness were happy to oblige.
Briana, have no qualms, even the slightest traces of unacceptable laddishness have been edited out of this broadcast.
Tracklisting
UFO Space Disco – Birrell or Biscuit
Top of the Pops – Birrell or Biscuit
Welcome to my World – TwinsTown
Dive In – TwinsTown
Birrell or Biscuit, Whanga Records and TwinsTown on Stirling City Radio with Graeme Galloway. Pictures from Whanga Records HQ, Chalmers Street, Dunfermline, and TwinsTown’s video shoot for Dive In at The Blue Pools, Powmill.
Contrarian
Of course, ever the contrarian, Stuart Barrett immediately set about his Whanga Records podcast.
Briana, do not, I repeat, DO NOT, click the link below (and this is the post edit version).
twinstown913695285.wordpress.com 