The Spook School Reveal Surprise New Live Album 'The Farewell Show Live From The Moon (Glasgow Art School) 2019'
“The Spook School are that rare and beautiful thing: a band with something to say” – The Guardian
“A cathartic celebration of newfound self-assuredness” - UNCUT Magazine
“Accessible and utterly irresistible...clutching a vital message” - CLASH
“One of the most exciting and important bands of their era” – Allmusic
“Excel at crafting irresistible power-pop moments” – Pitchfork
“A blueprint for a brighter indie future” – The Line of Best Fit
“Witty and eloquent…filled with hooks” – DORK Magazine
“An arsenal of anthems for the outsiders” – DIY Magazine
“A masterclass in indie-pop authenticity” – Loud & Quiet
“A band we’re very grateful to have” – UPSET Magazine
“Hook-heavy queer-pop brilliance” – The Skinny
“An absolute joy to listen to” - Stereogum
The Spook School Reveal Surprise New Live Album
The Farewell Show Live From The Moon (Glasgow Art School) 2019 Released 8th November 2023 via Alcopop! Records
Stream and share - https://bfan.link/the-farewell-show-live-from-the-moon-glasgow-art-school-2019
Stream on Bandcamp - HERE
December 2023 Upgraded Dress Up 10 Year Anniversary Reunion Live Dates On Sale Now
Glasgow indie-pop royalty The Spook School are elated to announce a new surprise live album, with The Farewell Show Live at The Moon (Glasgow Art School) 2019 set for release on 8th November 2023 via Alcopop! Records.
Bootlegged by Alan Laing at the band’s farewell show way back in 2019, commenting on the release drummer Niall McCamley says: “After finding out we had been lovingly bootlegged over the years there was something very cathartic listening back to that final show. The ability to be able to share that with people beyond those walls really tickled us. The laughter, the voices cracking, the love we have for each other and the continued surprise people would turn up and sing along with us. These December shows are one offs (two offs?) but who knows what will happen next. We have loved being back playing together and sometimes the Moon can be a lonely place to be. The future is a scary place. For now let’s stick to the present and enjoy these shows together!”
“I love this band,” adds Alcopop! Records label boss Jack Clothier. “Everything about them. From the glorious explosions of indie pop brilliance live, to the vital, vital tracks which explore gender, sexuality, abusive relationships and living in the modern world. We are truly blessed as a community to have them return from the moon for two final shows in December. In the meantime, thank you The Spook School (and Alan Laing) for giving us this to get excited with..."
The news comes ahead of the band’s very special Glasgow and London reunion shows this December 2023 to celebrate 10 years of their Fortuna POP! debut album Dress Up, with remaining tickets for both dates on sale now (see below for listings), with the shows recently upgraded due to exceptional demand.
Support will come from new label mates Problem Patterns in Glasgow, with friends cheerbleederz and Get Wrong joining the London bill.
Commenting on the shows, the band said: “Ten years ago four silly sausages went to Soup Recording Studio in London to haphazardly play their semi-tuned instruments. The result was a debut album called ‘Dress Up’ released by Fortuna POP! To celebrate this anniversary we would like to invite you to two live shows. In Glasgow on Dec 8th, and London on Dec 16th, The Spook School will briefly return from the Moon to play for the inhabitants of Earth. Tickets are on sale now. We can’t wait to see you again. xxx”
The Spook School’s genre-defining and critically acclaimed third and final studio album, Could It Be Different?, was released in 2018 on Alcopop! Records (UK) and Slumberland Records (US), hailed by many as one of the most important indie records of the year and seeing the band championed as leading lights of the UK queerpop scene.
With support from international press, radio spins from BBC Radio One, BBC6 Music and Amazing Radio, not to mention a bundle of Spotify playlist additions, Could It Be Different? was a storming continuation of the band’s knack for noisy, tuneful and triumphant queer pop songs about identity, sexuality, and the self, citing influence from the likes of The Buzzcocks, T-Rex and the noisier end of C86.
The band’s vocal support for trans rights and inclusivity were years ahead of the public discourse, and cemented their place as one of the most beloved queer acts of their time.
Live Dates:
08.12.23 - Warehouse SW3G, Glasgow (tickets)
16.12.23 - The Dome, London (tickets)
The Farewell Show Live From The Moon (Glasgow Art School) 2019 Tracklisting:
1. Still Alive
2. I'll Be Honest
3. Less Than Perfect
4. Burn Masculinity
5. Body
6. History
7. The Cameraman
8. I Only Dance When I Want To
9. Speak When You're Spoken To
10. Keep In Touch
11. Gone Home
12. Binary
13. Are You Who You Think You Are?
14. Try To Be Hopeful
15. Go Your Own Way (Fleetwood Mac cover)
16. I Want To Kiss You
The Spook School online:
https://thespookschool.com
https://www.facebook.com/thespookschool
https://twitter.com/spookschool
The Spook School are:
Nye Todd – guitar & vocals (he/him)
Adam Todd – guitar & vocals (he/him)
AC Cory – bass & vocals (they/them)
Niall McCamley - drums (he/him)
More info on Could It Be Different?:
If a debut LP is an artist’s introduction to the world and their sophomore release is their now or never moment, their third is their most cathartic: they’ve made it out, they’re here. Glasgow, Scotland’s indiepop optimists The Spook School, despite personal and political obstacle, made it out, and their latest full-length Could It Be Different? is here. It’s been a journey of self-discovery and feel-good realism; modern, dance-friendly indiepop fueling the fun. They made a name for themselves for their exultant and empowering pop, and now, they’ve shown real growth in nuance.
The Spook School are Nye Todd (guitar/vocals), Anna Cory (bass/vocals), Adam Todd (guitar/vocals) and Niall McCamley (drums). Since forming in 2012, they’ve released two records to critical acclaim: 2013’s Dress Up, a gender-binary eradicating release—noisy, cheery pop critical of social construction and its limitations, and 2015’s Try to Be Hopeful, a celebration of queer and trans identities from a place of newfound self-assurance. The band, whose name originates from the Glasgow School, have lived a lot of life since then: Could It Be Different? was written from space that follows aplomb. “You’re comfortable with yourself, as much as you ever can be but you have to live with that person anyway,” Nye says of the record, “There are more questions than answers. That’s why the title works well—it has that insecurity to it.” Adam agrees, “It also comes from a place of feeling like everything definitely isn’t alright now,” pausing. “Maybe things could change?”
Could It Be Different? Is, well, different—it’s a collaborative album of personal storytelling that works through life’s hardships with positivity—even at their most beaten down, The Spook School manage to find hope free of naivety. That’s clear the second the album opens with “Still Alive,” and its ascending chorus (and soon-to-be crowd favorite) of “Fuck You, I’m Still Alive,” written by Nye after surviving an emotionally abusive relationship. The song avoids villainizing the past, instead, it celebrates the present and welcomes the unknown future.
The energy of working through the wicked exists all over Could It Be Different? “Bad Year” makes personal connections with universal ennui, the debilitating feeling of an atrocious political climate and the desire to do better. “I wrote the lyrics the day after the Brexit vote in the U.K. I was feeling very despondent,” Nye explains. “There’s this pressure when something bad happens, to immediately be able to cope and know exactly what to do. Sometimes you need to take a moment for understanding before making a contribution.” In “Body,” the band struggles with image while coming to terms with the criticality of self-love. For Nye, it’s a present journey after learning to embrace his trans identity. “Less Than Perfect” and closer “High School” recall youthful insecurity and the road to becoming comfortable with who you are—self-consciousness isn’t something we all grow out of, but it’s something we all can relate to—adolescence can be traumatizing, but learning to love yourself is invaluable.
Could It Be Different? is a human release—a record full of the insecurities and anxiety that arrive after self-awareness, in learning something new and potentially frightening about yourself. But at it’s heart is joy—there’s no desolation on the LP, because The Spook School manage to find light in moments of darkness. All things glum must pass—even if hope comes only in the form of acceptance. “We try to take sad songs and not shy away from them, but come out thinking ‘things will change.’ Otherwise everything would be dreadful and I feel bad enough as it is,” Niall laughs. “We need a bit of light in our lives.” Adam agrees, “We started this for fun. We want our shows to be fun. We want the people who come to our shows to feel welcomed, and to have fun. There’s a bit of party in our songs, no matter what the subject matter is.” Why cry when you can dance?
