ottawa concert preview

old blue eyes is back - trashcan sinatras pull the business together for another album and tour

ottawa xpress

by jennifer tattersall
september 23, 2004

Scottish indie popsters, Trashcan Sinatras, are hitting the road and the airports with their first album and tour after eight years of down time.

The band has been producing an ornate mix of jangly pop and slower numbers in a similar fashion to James or Aztec Camera since the late '80s, scoring attention with the witty and hooky singles, Obscurity Knocks and Only Tongue Can Tell. But as the momentum was reaching top energy, the band's label, Go! Discs, went bust, leaving them stunned and unable to keep that driving force alive.

Until now. With the release of a new album, Weightlifting, it's obvious that a large segment of the band's fan base hasn't strayed.

"It's great. We kind of knew there were a few people that were waiting on it," says guitarist Paul Livingston from a hotel room in Atlanta where the band planned to kick off the current tour. "We're just really glad that the people seem to love it."

Such quick embraces are extra sweet since the band released this album on their own, which involved not only the usual financial constraints, but also the matter of pulling together all its members. The years following the label collapse were a challenge to the band's motivation.

"We didn't really do very much, to tell you the truth," explains Livingston. "There were a few years where things were really bad. It was all linked to business stuff, winding down the business and things like that. It was just kind of depressing. Then there were things, now and then, that

gradually made us realize we should get back to work. Now everyone's here and we're ready to rock," he says with a laugh. "We can't wait. We haven't done a tour like this in over 10 years. So we're looking forward to it."

THE TRASH CAN SINATRAS

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 AT 9 P.M., $15

ZAPHOD'S

Originally appeared in the Ottawa Xpress.