Shambolics are a 4 piece ‘Dreamy Rock & Roll’ band from Dumfermline in Scotland who say they are inspired by the best guitar based music from the 50s onwards. Taking influence from all sorts of genres they claim to base themselves on 1960’s phsycedelia, 1970’s harmonies, 1980’s clean guitar chimes and 1990’s melodic anthems.
The band is made up of Lewis McDonald on Vocals/Guitar, Darren Forbes on Vocals/Guitar, Jordan McHatton on Vocals/Bass and Jake Bain on Vocals and Drums.
Shambolics were the proud winners of the ‘Best Rock/Alternative Act’ catagory at the ‘Scottish Alternative Music Awards’ and they are currently signed to Alan McGee’s Creation23 record label.
Their debut release Chasing a Disaster”” on Creation23 is currently available on limited edition pre-sale at https://creation23.tmstor.es/ this is the second pressing of the debut release from the band with the first pressing having completely sold out in record time. The single is due for release next week on Friday 1st November.
SHAMBOLICS are also doing amazingly well with their live performances with two Scottish gigs in November both selling out with a matter of hours.
Darren Forbes from the band recently caught up with us and had a little chat about all things SHAMBOLICS
Hello and welcome! Please tell us a little bit about yourselves. Who are you, what’s your role within the band and how did you all meet/form?
Hi, we are Shambolics a ‘Dreamy Rock & Roll’ band from Fife, Scotland. I’m Forbes and I play guitar, do a bit singing and write some tunes. We’ve known each other for a long time but we formed in 2015 around the same time I got ‘Eggman Studios’. We’ve been grafting in there ever since.
Who/What are your musical influences? What sort of genre would you consider your music to be?
We have an eclectic taste in music and have many different influences but our main influences are guitar based bands such as The Beatles, The Stones, Fleetwood Mac, The Smiths, The Stone Roses, The Las, Oasis and Arctic Monkeys
What’s your favourite song of yours and why?
Chasing a Disaster is probably up there. Its an anthemic singalong tune but still has a bit of balls to it as well. It’s always a wild one live as well.
What do you consider the best lyric you’ve ever written to be?
I get bored and cringe at everything I write after a few months so its hard to choose.. but probably a new tune called Social Star. Obviously its too long to type out every lyric but the main lyric in the Chorus goes.. “Your a Social Star.. But nobody knows who you are”. It relates to society nowadays. Everyone is way too concerned about their social status rather than living in the moment and spending way too much time buried in a device. It also highlights these people who spend hours and hours a day building all their socials and seem to be stars on social media but nobody actually knows who they are.
What’s your favourite song of all time by any other band/artist and why?
Hard to choose a favorite song of all time. would either have to be Live Forever by Oasis or Imagine by John Lennon. 2 of the greatest songs ever written in my eyes.
What are you listening to at the moment?
This changes every week. At the moment I’ve been right into Amy Winehouse. And obviously the usuals who I always listen to The Beatles, Oasis, Stone Roses etc. But I go through phases of who I listen to.
What’s going on with you at the moment? Do you have any gigs planed or upcoming events?
We have a 5 date UK tour coming up from the 6th – 10th November. The Edinburgh & Glasgow gigs sold out within a matter of hours of going on sale. Hopefully we will announce some bigger things at the back of these gigs.
What’s been the best gig you’ve played so far and what would be your dream gig to play?
Its hard to tell cause we’ve played some class gigs that have been wild. Obviously all the Scottish ones are good cause the atmosphere is always electric. The gig where Mcgee (Alan Mcgee from Creation23Label records) signed us is up there as well.
Our dream would be to play stadiums or some massive outdoor shows.
Who would you most like to share a stage with (past or present)?
The Beatles & Elvis.
What’s the best thing and worst thing about being in a band?
The best thing is being 4 close mates who are living some of the best moments of their lives. We have some proper mad times.
Its fucking great being in a band. But if I had to choose the worst thing it would be being skint as fuck all the time and living off buttons. But this is the risk you have to take to go for it in a band. I’m sure in a few years time those buttons will turn to gold!
What three words best sum you up as a band?
Dreamy Rock & Roll
FOLLOW SHAMBOLICS HERE
Social media links
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/shambolicsmusic/?hl=en
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/shambolicsmusic/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/shambolicsmusic
Thank you Forbes from Shambolics for taking the time to talk to The Songbird xx
THE SONGBIRD 