Today, 6th October, Glasgow laptop-rock duo MEMES return with ‘Heavy Night’, the pair’s first new music since the self-titled 2020 debut EP ‘Memes’.
Praised by key press and radio outlets alike, including Pitchfork, The Skinny, BBC Radio 1, BBC 6Music, KEXP, Amazing Radio and BBC Radio Scotland, MEMES; hailed for their rattling, furiously infectious brand of indie-punk, are cousins John and Paul McLinden.
Since forming in 2019 with a difficult-to-Google name, several gigs in Glasgow and London, a few single releases, favourable comments on the music, unfavourable comments on the ‘dancing’, a BBC live session for Steve Lamacq and many more gigs, the band released their self-titled debut EP on Fierce Panda Records in 2020.
Now in the studio with producer and collaborator Darwin Deez, the pair share the new single ‘Heavy Night’ – a documentation of the happenings outside of John’s window on Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow. Inspired by the steady streams of people making their way home via Glasgow’s nightlife hub, the bustling cut pairs MEMES’ knack for addictive lyricism with jagged, fast-paced guitars and lashing percussion.
“John lives on Sauchiehall Street, which is the hub of nightlife in Glasgow. We often practice in the flat and watch the steady stream of people making their way home after a heavy night.” says Paul.
“We see them starting their evening, clean cut, well-dressed and in buoyant mood, then at the end they fall out of pub doors in dishevelled, disorientated states. It’s that disintegration that became the inspiration for this song.
The song is dedicated to the people who spill the contents of their takeaway trays onto the pavement, who stare blankly at bouncers when told they’ve had too much to drink, and who can’t articulate their addresses when they lean in the windows of private taxis.”
2021 has seen MEMES showcase virtually at festivals from SXSW in the US, to The Great Escape, Wide Days and c/o pop in Germany. With a stream of new releases planned into 2022 and a run of UK & EU live shows scheduled for the remainder of 2021.
MEMES – 2021 Live Dates:
7th October – UK – Dream Bags Jaguar Shoes, London
8th October – UK – Focus Wales, Wrexham
9th October – UK – Twisterella, Middlesborough
13th October – FR – Le Supersonic, Paris
14th October – BE – Super Fourchette, Brussels
15th October – BE – Le Salon, Silly
16th October – NL – Left Of The Dial, Rotterdam
18th October – NL – Paradiso, Amsterdam
19th October – DE – Haldern Pop Bar, Rees
21st October – UK – The Waiting Room, London (w/ Sprints)
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