Glasvegas

THEIR mix of Proclaimers, Jesus & Mary Chain and Phil Spector, had them among the top tips for greatness this year -- and Alan McGee calling them the best Scottish band in 20 years -- but five months in and they're barely out of the traps.
The album, one of the most anticipated by this writer in years, is finished but won't hit shelves until September, says guitarist Rab Allan.
"We finished recording it about two weeks ago and we're just getting some mixes through and it's sounding amazing."
"The only people that don't seem to like that we sing with a Scottish accent are from Glasgow. Which is a bit strange. It's probably something to do with The Proclaimers."
On their MySpace site they cite Elvis Presley, Spectorism, 62 Lily Street and Creation Records as influences. Phil Spector and Alan McGee's record label - once home to the Jesus & Mary Chain - are self-explanatory but what's the address?
"It's where James (Allan, singer) and Denise (Allan, manager) grew up."
James and Denise are siblings, Rab is their cousin
And Elvis?
"He's just the greatest rock n roll star ever. When me and James (Allan, singer and guitarist) started playing guitar it was Oasis. And obviously you find out who their influences are. It just keeps going back. And Elvis was the first superstar."
Better that he self-destructed at 42?
"It's sad that he died but I always think it's better to do that. James is going to disappear when we do this album. I've not decided yet if we're going to kill him or if he's going of his own will."
Who is the most likely to do an Elvis and burn out first? Maybe drummer Caroline McKay according to their MySpace blog, throwing up out of a cab window in New York.
"She is sick everywhere," says Rab.
"She's got a steady diet of alcohol that she maintains every day. If anyone was to do an Elvis it would definitely be Caroline."
Rab and James knew bassist Paul Donoghue so he was a natural to draft in to the band nearly three years ago but Caroline Mckay was recruited to play drums just because of the way she looked.
"We thought she looked pretty good so we taught her how to play the drums."
The album was co-produced by James Allan and James Allan and Rich Costey, the Franz Ferdinand, Interpol and Muse producer who discovered Glasvegas via their MySpace page.
"He was there before everyone. He got in touch and said when we do an album he wants to work on it with us. I didn't know who he was until I looked him up on the internet. When it came round to doing the album they asked who we wanted to work with. And Phil Spector's in jail anyway."
Alan McGee saw them with Carl Barat at King Tut's in Glasgow, the very venue he discovered Oasis.
"He just loved it and has been a fan of the band. It's funny because Oasis were the first band we loved, the reason we started a band. So at the time it was just surreal. Now he's just Uncle Alan. His enthusiasm is pretty close to what my mum's is. Which is a lot."
Are they concerned about the hype that surrounded them this year?
"For us nothing has changed, we don't feel any pressure," he says, simply.
Or having to tour these songs for what may well be the next two years?
"I've wanted to do this since I was 13. And I'm 25 now. And it's the best thing in the world. Last week two days in a row we had an hour and half's sleep but no-one's moaning. I've worked in a call centre. I've worked in a warehouse lifting meat from one box in to another, so you could say we're pretty grateful for the position we're in now."

A new single Geraldine, which follows the limited edition releases It's My Own Cheating Heart That Makes Me Cry and Daddy's Gone, is due out June 23 and will feature a cover of The Korgis Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime.
Glasvegas appear at the Rescue Rooms on Sunday at 12.30am as part of the Dot to Dot Festival 2008.