Christ almighty, summer has been a bit rubbish hasn't it?
We’d gathered up all our pennies from the winter months to throw at the ice-cream man, but we can't because Mr Sunshine has decided to stick two fingers up at us and bugger off. It means we can't don our Speedos and make ourselves toasty brown. Or lobster red depending on your preference.
At this time of year, there is always a song that’s drilled into our heads and dubbed the ‘summer?s anthem’. Usually featuring a girl with boobs the size of beach balls, it's always rubbish. We want to hear something that's fun, full of spirit and jolly. Without further ado, we present The Candle Thieves to you.
As we know, the rising temperatures should be making us all flock to the beach and overdose on burnt BBQ food. Lovely ladies should also appear from literally nowhere and then return to their hole in the ground when the sun goes away. Fat blokes with hairy manboobs should also be whipping off their shirts and jiggling their stuff around when playing football.
Whilst people are indulging in all of these activities, they need some sort of song to accompany it. But radio and TV pump just out the same old-sounding dance record that oddly resembles every other song that is played throughout the day.
We want some kind of diversity, something that sounds original but could feasibly be popular too. The Candle Thieves make a delicious blend of music that’s quirky without being up its arse and contains silly amounts of fun. Now we don't know if the songs on their MySpace have been deliberately titled for the summer season, but we don't care.
The Sunshine Song is what everyone should hear in the morning. It's utterly charmless and features nuggets of good feelings. Rainbows, flowers, sunshine, smiles and flattering remarks about people are all on this song. We think there is a screeching trumpet in there, but our knowledge of wind instruments is a bit rubbish. But plenty of clapalongs and tremendously well worked piano is crafted alongside gentle strums of the guitar. All you need for an ace song really.
The Candle Thieves use instruments that your everyday megabucks musician wouldn't be associated with. Simply knowing that they use toy instruments such as the piano indicates to us that they are all about having fun. Scott McEwan and the mythical Glockenshiels make up the band who simply want to make uncomplicated songs without any ego or drama attached.
Only two songs are on their MySpace player. The second is called Sharks and Bears. You may not think it's not a very summer-related title – however people go camping in the woods where bears live and occasionally get mauled. Sharks always come and say hello when the oceans warm up, though sharks do tend to take a quick bite out of people. Not good ? unless you're the shark.
The band are heading out to gig soon, but it's not your average sort of tour. Known as The Garden Parties, The Candle Thieves will literally come and play in your front or back garden. we're not sure how you get an invite but the fact that you can have a band perform right in front of you is a rare opportunity. Would Metallica do that? Of course not, well, only if you gave them a large cheque.
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Sunny says
Grooving to the “Sharks and Bears”; what is not to love about that tiny white piano? That sassy little 45 second burst of harmonica? They’re sort of a musical version of a psychedelic recreational party “enhancement”.
It was a cute little burst of trumpet or something in “The Sunshine Song”.
Really enjoyed this, I think I love them.
We’ve actually formed a ‘Garden Party’ type band – it is great fun playing in other peoples’ yards, country clubs, streets and pool side gardens. No mowing involved just lots of noise.
Glockenshiels says
Hi, thank you for the wonderfully kind words! I love my tiny white piano too but hey, it’s not the size that counts! ;o)