Glasgow-based band Parka have been tipped to be Scotland's hottest new export.
Tonight in their hometown, their signature colours black and yellow grace King Tuts as the band
launches their debut album Attack of the Hundred Yard Hardman in true celebrity style.
Accompanying Parka at their Glasgow album launch party are Edgar Prais and Alexis
Blue. Edgar Prais are an Aberdeen trio whose fun and eclectic songs have earned them support
slots with the likes of Good Shoes and the Kaiser Chiefs. Their tunes are pop defined,
similar to Green Day or Blink-182, and combined with the vocals of over-excited front
man Kristoffer, a.k.a. Oscar Montague, Edgar Prais could well be a pop band for the future. They certainly
have the night off to an excellent start.
Second support slot goes to Alexis Blue, a Liverpool band who have the potential to fill
a bigger venue than King Tuts. With great tracks such as Passive/Aggressive and Your Easy Life,
Alexis Blue are bound to get some success somewhere along the line, if not in the very near
future.
The atmosphere before Parka enter the stage is buzzing as the wait
for the new album is over. The time for Parka to show arrives and one very fashionably
coordinated band launch straight into an amazing set. You can see the band are as excited as the
crowd to be playing their new album on home turf.
The
sax adds a touch of ska to the Kasabian-like keyboards and frenzied vocals of frontman Matt Thomson and
the combination of a electro-indie band with a sax and extra percussion gives Parka
an exhilarating, fast and slightly bizarre feel.
The debut single Better Anyway could be this summer's
sing-a-long anthem and the other songs played tonight offer a similar experience, and that desire to sing
along to the music will surely rocket Parka to the top of the festivals this summer for sure.
DJ in the Corner features vocals from ex-Republica singer Saffron (the band
previously turned down Kate Nash as the female vocalist on this track) but Saffron is
unfortunately absent from their live performance. Instead Parka employs another showbiz friend in
the form of Chewin' the Fat funny man Tom Urie to provide vocals to the track this
evening.
Tonight's album launch party has been a show business event, with a well decorated hall, balloons
and glow sticks, and a few celebrity friends thrown in for good measure. Jumping on Parka's
bandwagon would be wise for those who did the same for Fratellis and the Pigeon
Detectves. Be warned - Parka will be the hottest name this summer.
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