Live radio date for The Number

Oct 13 2009 by Andrew Welsh, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

RISING Perth stars The Number are preparing to rock the nation tomorrow night.

The Fair City outfit will be playing a live session on Radio 1 Scotland’s Vic Galloway Introducing show, just after midnight.

Boasting influences that include Mogwai, The Prodigy and Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Number is made up of ex-members of previous Perth bands Cholo, JARD and Airraider, and is fronted by former Our Name Is Legion vocalist Lisa Cruickshank.

Having only formed around a year ago, gaining airplay at this early stage has come as a massive boost to the ‘sleaze-rock’ six-piece.

The Number’s drummer Martin Hodge says the band was “really chuffed and proud” on being asked to go to the BBC’s Glasgow studios.

“This is a big deal for us and we’re all excited about playing,” Martin (26) tells Music Scene.

“We just got a phone call a couple of weeks ago from the show’s producer.

“We had sent in a CD a few months back but heard nothing. It turned out he had never got round to listening to it, then he decided the day he heard it that he wanted us in.”

Former Perth Academy and Perth College student Martin said the band was created - in time-honoured rock ‘n’ roll fashion - in the wake of break-ups elsewhere.

“There are so many bands on the go around the Perth music scene and The Number came together through that,” he explains.

“I’ve always played in bands, although I played guitar before I joined Airraider. I didn’t really play drums then but I had a kit.

“I started by making it up as I went along and we went on to play lots of gigs with Our Name Is Legion.

“When both bands fell apart I joined up with them and we got a few new people in from elsewhere.

“So far this is definitely the band that’s done best. Gary (Varga) played in Cholo who were on the brink of big things, but didn’t quite make it.

“They played at T in the Park but never did a radio session.”

Martin, who lists Smashing Pumpkins’ Jimmy Chamberlain, Foo Fighters leader Dave Grohl and Bloc Party’s Matt Tong as his drumming heroes, reckons it’s easy to see why The Number stand out from the crowd.

“We are totally different from any other Perth band,” he insists.

“There are loads of electronic acts about here, likewise rock, metal and punk bands.

“We are rock but electronic at the same time, and a six-piece, which is quite unusual. Also, we have a female singer which is rare among bands with guitars.”

And the received opinion is that singer Lisa could be a potential star in the making.

“She’s what makes us stand out more than anything,” Martin adds.

“Yes, she’s a striking, attractive girl fronting a group of guys, but she has got amazing vocals and is a great lyric writer.

“Lisa’s got total attitude and has got stage presence. She’s definitely the focal point at live shows.”

For the Radio 1 session the band plan to play established favourites Interchange, the Batman-inspired Why So Serious? and Girl Called Amphetamine, the title track from their recent self-financed EP.

Showing their adventurous side, they’ll also debut the new song Lamb To The Slaughter and will chat with influential jock Galloway.

Fittingly, then, it’s The Number’s sheer sense of fun that Martin says he hopes listeners will hit on most.

“Making your own music is great, as is being in a band that is so committed,” he declares.

“We practise two or three times a week and are always recording and writing new material.

“The only thought in our heads is playing over and over again and last month we completed a mini tour which included eight shows over 12 days.

“We put everything into each gig. Even when there are only two or three people there we go on and play like we are playing to 100, just for the fun of doing it.”

After experiencing dark days when their previous alliances unravelled, The Number’s members are clearly now riding a wave of optimism and aiming high.

“For me, this session is just the tip of what we could do,” insists Martin, who works for a Perth-based net fabricator.

“For the first time ever I feel like I am in a band that has the potential to go far. It’s definitely about playing music that is listenable but instantly catchy at the same time.

“Being a six-piece there are so many layers to it as well, and there is a lot going on in the songs.

“I just think that if we can sustain this we’ve definitely got a chance of reaching a wider audience.”

Check out the band’s profile at www.myspace.com/thenumberperth