Donald phoned me up the other day asking if we could share some TwinsTown behind-the-scenes at Tpot Studios video and I think the best place to start is us having a bit of fun during the recording of Brankholm Brae.
Find on YouTube.
Stay alive!
Category: Tpot Studios
TwinsTown meet My Pet Rocket at Tpot Studios
“We left Oakley at five past ten and arrived here at quarter to twelve,” said Billy, as I claimed we’d been on the road for two hours. We’d been the lead car in a convoy to Tpot Studios, Path of Condie, but Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen were nowhere to be seen as we trundled through the Ochil Hills at 7mph.
The arduous journey, complete with leaving Donald behind after a pit stop in Milnathort, was worth it. Watch this video and see what you think.
You can also watch on Facebook here.
I Don’t Know What I Want For Christmas is the new single from TwinsTown and My Pet Rocket featuring Hugh Reed from Hugh Reed and the Velvet Underpants as Santa Claus and a special guest appearance from Billy ‘Rubber Duck’ George. 10-4 good buddy.
Watch out there’s a bear in the air…
Not really, but we do have a bear in the video, and it wouldn’t matter anyway, we’re all expert at foiling the pesky picnic police and their carnaptious covid constabulary.
If you don’t like TwinsTown and My Pet Rocket…
Ah, breaker one-nine, this here’s the Rubber Duck
You gotta copy on me, Pig Pen, c’mon?
Ah, yeah, 10-4, Pig Pen, fer shure, fer shure
By golly, it’s clean clear to Tpot, c’mon
Yeah, that’s a big 10-4 there, Pig Pen
Yeah, we definitely got the front door, good buddy
Mercy sakes alive, looks like we got us a convoy
C. W. McCall
‘Cause we got a great big convoy, rockin’ through the night…
PS3 for me please, if anyone is listening. I’m feeling lucky. Is Santa actually coming down?
Merry Christmas!
Stay alive!
12. Brankholm Brae
I just knew you guys had something special from the moment I met you.
Billy George, manager and vocals
My wee song previews for TwinsTown’s stunning debut album end here, with the title track, Brankholm Brae. It’s going to be emotional.
I’m buzzing with this album… love you all like brothers, the whole team. I mean it from the bottom of my big heart [Big Heart is track 6 on Side One].
Stuart Mackay, lead vocals and guitar
Being part of TwinsTown is great. We are like brothers. The brethren. Making Brankholm Brae has been one of the best experiences ever, and I think that goes for everyone involved. Even Harry has his mojo back.
Aye, actually enjoyed playing guitar for the first time in about 7 years.
Harry Dixon, bass and lead guitar
We’ve reached the end of an era.
- No more trips to Tpot Studios, Path of Condie.
- No more extraordinary feats of producing (and patience) from top sound man Robin Wynn Evans.
- No more extraordinary feats of everything (including huge patience) from top band manager Billy George.
- No more recording sessions watching Harry Dixon, Wayne Robertson, Mark Guyan, Donald Mackay and Stuart Mackay putting heart and soul into their work.
- No more mixing, trying to decide if Harry shouting “FLARE IT!” can be heard during Something New.
- No more drinking ’til the early sunrise, Monday morning long lies, nor holidays and alibis.
As for the mix. Fucking love it. It’s perfect for me, every track. I’m happy with the drums and the vocals. Wrath has a cool western reverb too.
Wayne Robertson, drums
Of course, you know what brothers are like. It’s not all love and bromance. There’s always the odd fall-out, tumble off a bar stool, black eye, and even the odd dressing down in a dressing gown. The quiet ones are always the worst. You know who they are, and THEY know who they are…
Honestly feeling a lot more confident about everything after [rehearsing] last night. Not going to lie, I was doubting my capabilities quite a bit, but now I can’t wait to get gigging.
Mark Guyan, keyboards and piano
Putting bumps into othewise flat roads is the worst “calming measure” ever. Speed bumps infuriate me. TwinsTown have the best calming measure ever. The Backbone is back! The King of All-In as I call him. B# to some, it’s Ben Sharp. The former TwinsTown man has returned for Brankholm Brae providing all with a sharp dose of reality, bass galore and angelic vocals.
Yep, tunes sound banging… we’ve all put in good work.
Ben Sharp, bass guitar and vocals
Although when it comes to the good, the bad and the ugly of TwinsTown, the B-Sharp man doesn’t stand alone in the good category. Who can forget Donald and Stuart saving Jim on the bridge in the Wölves’ video for Animal.
You are my fucking hero… a life saver! [Donald to Billy].
Donald Mackay, lead vocals and guitar
Last night a DJ saved my life… yes, I can remember when Billy was a DJ. He played one of my office parties at Murrayfield and had a longstanding residency in the classic Somewhere Else famously run by the late Jim Kirkpatrick and Bob Dick. I wonder what those two toun legends would say about TwinsTown now. It probably doesn’t bear thinking about.
The more I listen, the more I like it.
Joe Graham, PR and photography
Brankholm Brae does grow on you. Arguably the title track more than any other. I just can’t get Brankholm Brae out of my head, it’s indie pop gold from the very first verse…
I’m moving on, I’ve left the nest
I’ve found a safe haven and I’m taking a rest at the Brae
TwinsTown
Track 12 Brankholm Brae is unashamedly sweet and sentimental. Donald and Stuart issue an open invitation to visit and stay at Brankholm Brae, their home. It brings a tear to my eye thinking of the lonely twosome heartbroken, their kind invitation dashed on the rocks by Covid-19’s social distancing.
You can come along in the morning
You can come at night or day
You can come along without warning
You can come to mine and stay
At the Brankholm Brae
TwinsTown
Kindness is the best and there’s tons of it whenever you visit Double Trouble at the Brae. I can testify to it personally and I won’t mention the neighbours.
Don’t be a stranger
It doesn’t matter what the neighbours say !!!
TwinsTown
With the album sorted thoughts are turning to music videos now.
Do you have any ideas for a video that aren’t like a David Lynch meets Quentin Tarantino on acid collaboration?
Billy George, manager and vocals
Personally, I like vampires and cowboys.
Everybody loves a cowboy! We need to do a western for Wrath of the Rum. We can use Erin’s horses.
Stuart Mackay, lead vocals and guitar
Wild, wild horses, I hope.
As well as videos, thoughts are turning to gigs, streaming or at least live recordings.
I think Ben needs to play the bass for the first two it would be like The Beatles without John Lennon playing those songs without your guitar parts Duke, especially Spitfire [Donald to Harry].
Donald Mackay, lead vocals and guitar
As I mentioned previously, I’ve been tuning into Stevie Agnew’s Sunday Sesh on Facebook Live. Food for thought. I can tell TwinsTown are hungry, itching to get going, on something or another.
Absolutely love you and your playing… [Harry to Ben].
Harry Dixon, bass and lead guitar
Videos, gigs, and of course thoughts are also turning to singles. That really will be a difficult choice. Billy was considering Johnny Depp for the first single but…
I might change my mind in the morning though. Such is the fluctuational appeal of this wonderful collection of songs.
Billy George, manager and vocals
I’m the same as Billy, there’s just so many good tunes that there really is no obvious first single. At the moment I favour Dive In which is track 7 on Side Two.
Anyway, we’re almost at the end… of the previews, only the previews.
I think the songs speak for themselves, Joe… I like folk guessing what they are about.
Stuart Mackay, lead vocals and guitar
Aw aye, thanks for that, Stuart. Now you tell me, AFTER I’ve written the 12 wee previews. Grrr!
Only joking, I think everyone has their own idea of what a song is about. It actually doesn’t matter what the writer or writers intended. One of the beautiful things about music is that one song can mean different things to different people.
Music for me, and I like music.
Anonymous
Coming soon…
You’ll never guess… it’s only Brankholm Brae, the stunning debut album from Dunfermline indie rockers TwinsTown.
Watch this space for details.
Stay alive!
6. Big Heart
Side One ends with Big Heart featuring my favourite bass line on Brankholm Brae, the stunning debut album from Dunfermline indie rockers TwinsTown. I had the pleasure of being there, at Tpot Studios, as Harry Dixon was laying down the bass. The versatile guitar man looked stressed, although his playing was unaffected and the end result is excellent.
Top producer Robin Wynn Evans, owner of Tpot Studios, recently completed the final mixes of all 12 tracks and Harry’s work on Big Heart shines.
Harry, best known as a lead guitarist, who likes to “FLARE IT!” giving his pedals laldy, seems concerned and self-conscious on bass, but he doesn’t disappoint.
Harry aside, the other TwinsTown boys aren’t too shabby either and I love the Big Heart lyrics.
You’ve got a big heart
What’s the use, it’s been nothing but heartache and abuse
You’ve got a big heart but you don’t use it
It’s been nothing but a burden and nuisance
TwinsTown
Yes, TwinsTown have a sensitive side. Big Heart tells us they’re all lovely, sensitive wee souls, fragile in the face of heartbreak and lost love. It comes like an antidote to the proceeding song Johnny Depp and ultimately looks on the brightside.
For the sake of brevity (Big Heart is one of Donald and Stuart’s longest reads) I can’t reproduce all the lyrics here. However, trust me, the lads are pouring their hearts out and on tender hooks everyday.
You’ve got a big heart, open up and let it loose
Your keeping it tighter than a knot in a noose
You’ve got a big heart but you’ve no patience your pulse has done a runner on another palpitation!!!
TwinsTown
The Big Heart exclamation marks are the songwriters’ own work and they make me think happy endings are a surprise in the works of TwinsTown. Anyway, surprise, surprise, here comes the sun, it’s the optimistic song ending…
Get high on a Monday, fly onto Sunday, try and maybe one day I’ll,
I’ll get by!!!
TwinsTown
Okay, just getting by isn’t the happiest of happy endings but in the context of completing Side One it’s positively glowing.
Welcome to my World is full of betrayal and trauma. Spitfire is war; a rockin’ anti-Nazi classic. Johnny Depp reminds us there’s a world of abuse and calculating narcissists out there.
Then comes Big Heart sending love and kisses to all, and hope, don’t forget hope. Let’s hope Side Two can live up to the rollercoaster ride that is Side One.
Helter Skelter!
Coming soon…
Brankholm Brae, the stunning debut album from TwinsTown, is out of the studio, Tpot Studios, Path of Condie, to be exact, and publishing plans are ongoing.
In case you’re wondering why I have wee road signs for the songs, Brankholm Brae is a road in Rosyth and we expect the cover art for the back of the album to be a photograph of the whole band pictured with the actual Brankholm Brae road sign. Unfortunately, due to Covid-19 I can’t get everyone together for a photoshoot. My camera is snapping lonely snowdrifts and the like.
Stay alive!
4. Something New
As I suspected when posting yesterday, the final master mixes for TwinsTown’s Brankholm Brae arrived last night.
Appropriate really, as the next song to be previewed here is track 4. Something New and it’s the song introducing the band’s current line up, featuring Mark Guyan, Wayne Robertson and Harry Dixon.
The twins are back, that’s a matter of fact
And they’re back with Mark and The Wasp and The Duke
What you see is what you get
And what you hear man, you’ll never forget
TwinsTown
Along with Wayne on drums and Harry on guitar, piano man Mark Guyan has added a touch of class to proceedings, a whole new dimension.
I had a wee listen to the new mixes on arrival but I’ll be blasting them later today.
On Something New one wee update incorporated by producer Robin at Tpot is making Harry’s “Flare it!” shouts a bit more prominent.
The green light on Brankholm Brae is drawing ever closer.
Something New also finds Donald and Stuart dreaming of good times to come. Given our current Covid-19 crisis I think we all need the power of dreams right now. Something New either already is, or will be, a reality for many of us during 2021, and hopefully it’ll be something good.
All the best from TwinsTown.
Stay alive!
3. Last Romance
The third track on Brankholm Brae, TwinsTown’s stunning debut album, is Last Romance and it has a cracking intro.
Barefoot, we were walking down The Glen like The Flintsones
Singing “yabba-dabba-doo!”
TwinsTown
TwinsTown love a pop culture reference and as a fan of The Flintstones I have a yabba-dabba-doo time whenever Last Romance kicks in.
Fred Flintstone first came to our screens in the early 1960s and, beyond the intro, Last Romance continues the sixties feel with a storyline inspired by Neil Simon’s romantic comedy Barefoot in the Park.
Barefoot, a massive hit on Broadway, was turned into a 1967 feature film starring Robert Redford and Jane Fonda.
Redford’s uptight lawyer doesn’t know which way to turn as freewheeling Fonda puts him in a twirl.
The song bounces along, much like the movie, with knockabout humour and snappy lines. This is TwinsTown in top form and Last Romance sits alongside the first two tracks, Welcome to my World and Spitfire, in a triumphant opening to Brankholm Brae. All the signs say this is going to be a truly great record.
In turn, these three songs are smooth, rockin’, and funny. They contrast with and compliment each other in equal measure, and the only way to go is to go on listening.
Coming soon…
TwinsTown’s Brankholm Brae is coming soon. The final master mixes should arrive any day now. Producer Robin Wynn Evans is busily working on them at his Tpot Studios in Path of Condie.
While waiting, remember to have a yabba-dabba-doo time and if you do choose to walk barefoot through The Glen please only go with one other person / household, stay 2 metres apart at all times, and don’t dare have a drink. They’ll call it a picnic!
Stay alive!
Dovv releases new single Backstreets of Your Mind
Better late than never. Not Dovv aka David Stevens, but us, TwinsTown.
On 4th December 2020 Dovv released Backstreets of Your Mind, a stunning new single, immediately striking favourable comparisons with The Boss himself, Bruce Springsteen.
A little less immediate is our reaction, but we love it!
Let us take you back a week and relive the Facebook announcement.
*DEBUT SINGLE*
‘Backstreets of Your Mind’ is now available on all major streaming platforms.
Recorded & Produced by Alex Burrell at EFR Studios.
Video by the talented Iain Davidson.
Share away!
All the love, Dovv.
https://open.spotify.com/track/5e2AT8yFPsK1etajKfwayq…https://music.apple.com/…/backstreets-of…/1540667739https://youtu.be/jKvw9oG2vFk
Dovv, 4th December 2020
Well done Dovv and all involved, including Ben Sharp of TwinsTown fame. Until very recently I didn’t know about Ben being “the king of all men”. Playing poker in the video for TwinsTown’s Double Trouble, I thought Ben was singing the king of all in. ‘All in’ being a well known poker move. Some might say my only poker move. I suppose we call him B-Sharp for a reason.
You can watch Ben in Double Trouble action with TwinsTown here: https://twins-town.com/video/.
Shortly after offering his devoted following a royal salute, Ben the king of all men joined The Stevie Agnew Band sans Stevie Agnew on stage at The White Gates.
“This boy is called Ben,” and he fairly gets around. Next up here the B-Sharp man is at Tpot Studios, Path of Condie, laying down backing vocals for Brankholm Brae, the forthcoming debut album from TwinsTown.
Before I go and to set the record straight, Ben says he prefers the king of all in. Bad news for me, I fancied that title for myself.
Don’t think I’ve forgotten about Dovv and Backstreets of Your Mind. I’ve often seen David playing The Old Inn and he is always superb. The last time I spotted him was on stage with Oskar Braves at Oakley Miners’ Welfare Club or The 1925 Community Club as I think it is now known after a recent rebranding. They smashed it at what was a great night featuring an audience with music mogul and Creation Records label owner, Alan McGee, telling stories of his work with Oasis, Jesus and Mary Chain, Primal Scream and The Libertines, amongst others.
I love the Oskar Braves photograph above. If anyone knows who took it please let me know. It’s brilliant.
The video for Backstreets of Your Mind is good too. Here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKvw9oG2vFk.
Please support Dovv and all our outstanding local musicians. These times are tough.
Stay alive.
Joe blogs: TwinsTown lockdown lyrics
Be careful what you dream of
It may come up and surprise you
Christopher Adrian Layhe / Robert Ian Mcnabb
So goes the opening line of Hollow Horse by The Icicle Works. It’s bound to fill our manager, Billy George, with good Christmas cheer. I know it’s one of his favourites. I think I’m right in saying that, under the guise of Honk Promotions, Billy booked lead singer Ian McNabb for a brilliant gig at PJ Molloy’s.
There was a technical issue during the first four songs and Ian McNabb walked off. Issue resolved, McNabb returned from the green room and started the gig anew. He played the first four songs again, continued on for ages and brought the house down.
I remember it being really loud for a lone singer/songwriter. No bad thing when the sound quality is top notch, which it was once the technical was fixed.
The chorus of Hollow Horse is memorable too.
We’ll be as we are
When all the fools
Who doubt us fade away
Christopher Adrian Layhe / Robert Ian Mcnabb
The feel good factor for Wayne…? I’m thinking Jump by Van Halen.
I get up and nothin’ gets me down
You got it tough, I’ve seen the toughest around
And I know, baby, just how you feel
You got to roll with the punches and get to what’s real
Alex Van Halen / Edward Van Halen / David Roth
Aztec Camera recorded a very gentle cover version of jump and Wayne can choose.
I’m torn over a selection for Mark. I’m thinking piano, keys, synthesizers, the mellotron and “the fucking Jennings” as Mark calls his favourite instrument at Robin Evans’ Tpot Studios, Path of Condie.
The Door’s Light My Fire or People are strange, The Beatles’ Strawberry Fields Forever or Lady Madonna, or Baba O’Riley by The Who? No, I’ve got it, for Mark it’s A Whiter Shade of Pale by Procol Harum.
We skipped the light fandango
Turned cartwheels ‘cross the floor
I was feeling kinda seasick
But the crowd called out for more
The room was humming harder
As the ceiling flew away
When we called out for another drink
The waiter brought a tray
Gary Brooker / Keith Reid / Matthew Fisher
As the BBC have shown us this Christmas, changing a famous Pogues song, it’s okay to butcher other people’s lyrics. Here’s my alternative chorus for Procol Harum’s classic.
A night out with Big Daddy
We both ended up in jail
My face, at first just ghostly
Turned a whiter shade of pale
Joe Graham (TwinsTown EDIT)
I know Kirsty MacColl sang “haggard” instead of “faggot” on Top of the Pops and a few years ago Shane McGowan couldn’t be arsed arguing about it. However, Fairytale of New York is a classic and MacColl is singing in character; a marginalised and bitter character. In the voice of that character, the lyric is true. The BBC = lyric police.
Rant over, it’s Donald time!
You can’t touch this
You can’t touch this
You can’t touch this
Break it down!
Stop, Donald time!
Rick James / Alonzo Herbert Miller / Mc HammeR
Okay I made a wee change there too. MC Hammer’s Hammer Time has been compromised. Anyway, my actual choice for Donald is of course Elton John, but not Sacrifice, oh no, it’s I’m Still Standing.
Don’t you know
I’m still standing better than I ever did
Looking like a true survivor, feeling like a little kid
Elton John / Bernie Taupin
Yes, Donald is still standing – no thanks to Stuart.
Talking of Stuart…
The walls are closing in at night
Ain’t a friend in the World in sight
The boss man like to mess my day
Someday soon, gonna make him pay
Gonna hit him heavy gonna hit him hard
Wreck him in his wreckin’ yard
Wreck him in his wreckin’ yard
Gonna wreck him in his wreckin’ yard
stevie Agnew / Chris smith
Yes, you can count on toun legend Stevie Agnew to put a smile on Stuart’s face.
Last but not least, Harry. Last Christmas is too obvious a choice. Staying with George Michael I’ll pick Careless Whisper for The Duke.
I feel so unsure
As I take your hand and lead you to the dance floor
As the music dies
Something in your eyes
Calls to mind a silver screen
And all its sad goodbyes
Andrew J. Ridgeley / George Michael
Wayne told me that George Michael wrote Careless Whisper and added Andrew Ridgeley to the songwriting credits to ensure his Wham! band mate never had to worry about money.
C’mon Donald and Stuart, fingers oot! None of us want to worry about money either.
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