Your Loyal Subjects (Doug & Benn)
1) Who are you, who is in the band, who does what in the studio and on stage?
We are Your Loyal Subjects. The band consists of Doug MacDonald on Guitar and Vox, Benn Smith on the lead guitar and Mrs Drummy the drummer on drums. Doug records the band in his own humble studio (Edinburgh Recording Company). On stage the gentlemen get their taps aff and withered torsos oot, much to the drummer’s chagrin.
2) How long have you been writing and performing in this way?
We have been writing and performing this way for two years. And it’s all gonna change again after the album comes out (08/10/13).
3) How?
Doug writes the tunes in his bedroom like an absolute greyhound. He then presents his ideas to the ‘band’ who then savage them, strip them of ornament, pretension and corpulence. It has always been thus. Once we had a ‘jam’. It was shit.
4) How do you feel your studio/recording style informs the way you perform your music live? Does it make it easier or harder, better etc…?
We play the songs live first to see if they are shite or good. We then record them as accurately as possible compared the ‘live’ version. Live we tend to ignore the recorded version and focus on the moment, man. Apparently we are better live.
5) What’s been happening lately and what’s new with you?
Why funny you should ask. Our 2nd album AUSTERITY MEASURES is released 08/10/13 and we are playing at this amazing night called Limbo at the Voodoo Rooms this saturday with some other bozos who we will totally blow off stage. The album was a colossal nightmare to recording due to chronic noise complaints, total deafness in one ear and extensive drum editing. But hey it was worth it since it’s fucking brilliant. Don’t believe me? – yourloyalsubjects.bandcamp.com
6) When was the last time you played Edinburgh (and where)? What do you remember about that experience?
We last played Edinburgh in July at the last gig at the Jekyll and Hyde. We got our arses handed to us by the inimitable Marvin fae France. Better looking, better rehearsed, better keys, better merch. However we won the most ginger band of the night competition.
7) If you’ve played Limbo before, what did you like/rate about the experience? If you’ve not played Limbo before, what have you heard about it?
I last played Limbo in 2009 with previous drummer extraordinaire Oscar Manoni. The sound was amazing, so amazing in fact that we got really excited, sped up too much and played the whole set in 17 minutes.
8) What’s next, coming up after this gig, for you and what are you generally looking forward to right now…?
We will be plugging AUSTERITY MEASURES which is catchy as crabs (according to Echoes and Dust) and playing in Glasgow, no really we will.
9) How do you feel about Scottish independence and the whole ‘Yes’ campaign? Have you decided which way you’re voting yet (and, if so, what’s your decision)?
I’m voting AYE!
10) Is there anything else you feel strongly about that you’d like to tell us about?
I feel strongly about AUSTERITY MEASURES cause it’s pretty much a summary of what I’ve thought about and been through for the last two years of my life.
(Replies by Doug)
