An interview from a couple of weeks ago with Black International.
How did the act form & how long have you been playing on the Edinburgh scene?
Craig and I started the band way back in 2006 to play some songs I’d written in my bedroom; we booked our first show at the Wee Red Bar in October that year and things started moving from there. We’ve had our share of bad luck which meant we lost some of our initial momentum a couple of years in; bass players coming and going, personal injuries and illnesses… we had quite a run of negative occurrences for a while! The current lineup has been in place since the start of 2010 when Gavin joined, and we’ve made a lot of progress since then. Things feel a lot more stable now, it’s nice to feel like the whole thing isn’t going to fracture at any moment.
Who are the best bands on the local scene – the ones you go and see, the ones you’d actually buy CDs from?
Recently I’ve enjoyed seeing the Young Spooks, Snide Rhythms, Jackie Treehorn, Muscletusk… anything with a bit of spunk or imagination. We can all get bored quite easily at gigs, it’s nice when something out of the ordinary grabs your attention.
What’s your favourite venue for playing in, and what’s your favourite venue for watching a gig in?
Our favourite venue for both is probably the Wee Red Bar, we’ve played there over half a dozen times since that first gig. The staff are lovely, there’s never any hassle, you can book the venue for free on a Friday, the PA system is decent… the list goes on. If Edinburgh University decide to shut it down based on the recommendations of some accountants, we and many other groups will be absolutely gutted; the place has a cultural significance that can’t be quantified by a guy in a suit, and it would be disastrous for local bands if it closed.
Where/when (and why) was the best gig you’ve played in Edinburgh?
Our second ever gig was at a night called Dfrnt Drum at Cabaret Voltaire and was particularly crazy for some reason, it definitely sticks in my mind. We played on the floor at about 2:30am to people who’d never heard us before and were really getting into it. Plus we got paid, were given free beer and the use of a dressing room; it completely spoiled us very early on.
If your act was an animal, Pokemon, mythical creature or superhero – which one would it be?
If we’re talking mythical creatures, then probably Medusa, as she’s a bit sexy, a bit ugly and a bit dangerous all at the same time. I’m referring to the music, obviously, not us personally. We’re just straight up sexy without the other bits.
