Uncle John & Whitelock - There Is Nothing Else

[Marv Orange]

Found out about this band the other day, they are a Scottish band who released 1 album, There Is Nothing Else, in 2005 and have since gone kaput.

The vocalist reminds me of Ian Curtis (and someone else that I can't put a finger on) thanks to his angsty loudness. The music is blues or rock on most tracks. While listening to it I got flashes of Inspiral Carpets, Acetone and Joy Division.


Like I said the bands dead know but you can listen to some of the tracks at their myspace http://www.myspace.com/unclejohnandwhitelock but I do recommend you give the album a try.

So any thoughts? and if you can tell me who else the vocalist sounds like I#d appreciate it and might be able to get some sleep.

[CaledonianGonzo]

I saw them a few times live (supporting other bands, festivals, that type of thing) and it was always good fun.  In fact, I didn't even know they'd split up....

[9]

There was a very brief discussion of them in November:

http://www.cookdandbombd.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=12521&highlight=uncle+john

And one of my pals wrote a nice blog about their last gig:

http://www.saidthegramophone.com/mt-search.cgi?IncludeBlogs=1&search=uncle+john+and+whitelock&IncludeBlogs=1

Their last gig in Edinburgh was suberb. The first half an hour was probably the best first half hour of a gig I've ever seen. The frontman looks like a satanic David Bowie - you just can't take your eyes off him. At the end of the gig he mentioned that "the reason we're stopping is this is doing my fucking head in". I guess being in a band as underappreciated as Uncle John - putting everything into shows and being ignored by the mainstream press, must be unbearable. I hope they keep making music.

A note about race: A lot of people found some of their lyrics questionable (it's mentioned in Sean's blog above) but I never believed they had any dubious intent. Although it is worth noting that during the last Edinburgh gig my friend turned to me - after noticing the lyrics and the handful of skinheads at the front - and said, "Ever get the feeling that you've walked into a White Power rally?" Personally I thought it was just another use of powerful imagery - very much in Patti Smith's 'Rock n' Roll n**ger' vein.

Anyway, they were the hands down the most interesting, talented and inspiring band in Scotland. If they'd have found a decent producer for that first album they could have done great things.

Bugger.

[Marv Orange]

There was a very brief discussion of them in November:

http://www.cookdandbombd.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=12521&highlight=uncle+john

Thanks, that first post answered my question. Mark E Smith is the other person he reminds me of.

[Pie Pie Eater]

Their last gig in Edinburgh was suberb.

I totally wanted to go to it but didn't realise it would sell out. Saw them at the Bongo Club a while back and it was great. I think the record's really good too, although maybe a bit too long.

Oh and the singing reminds me of Birthday Party-era Nick Cave. In fact as a band I think they are like a cross between The Birthday Party and MC5. On acid. (joke)