Glasgow’s Annie Stevenson will be playing their first overseas shows in Italy next month after they made some new fans supporting Italian band “The Afterglow” in Scotland recently. Lead guitarist Nick Scroggie spoke to Dear Scotland about his expectations for the gigs and more:

Interview with Nick Scroggie of Annie Stevenson

Dear Scotland: Where are you now and what did you do last night?

Nick Scroggie, Annie Stevenson: At home in Carluke, birthplace of General Roy creator of ordinance survey maps and home to legendary Motherwell FC footballer Dougie Arnott no less.

Last night we had a great night playing Glasgow’s Maggie Mays along with “We are Jawbone“. Check them out. Great band, great bunch of guys!

Dougie Arnott, Motherwell 1991

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mayw2gV7Q-o

Dear Scotland: Paul McCartney said he got into music to avoid a job – and get lots of girls. What made you get into music?

Nick Scroggie, Annie Stevenson: Cant really disagree with Sir Paul lol  Simple answer is I like it and there’s nothing to beat performing in front of a Marshall stack turned up to 11, though sadly the sound  engineers tend to turn it down to about 6.

Dear Scotland: What is your favourite youtube clip?

Nick Scroggie, Annie Stevenson: At the moment it has to be the one about Linkin Park play The Scunthorpe music festival, by cartoon character Jerry Jackson.  Very funny it is too.

Jerry Jackson gets messy at Scun-thorpe music festival

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ha4xY7ED9dw

Dear Scotland: What is your favourite song of yours to play right now?

Nick Scroggie, Annie Stevenson: Tom’s just written a new song which we’ve introduced into the set called  “Theres something wrong with me” which is a good one, We haven’t recorded it in any shape or form at the moment it’s kind of developing out of the live performance but its working well.

Dear Scotland: You’ll be playing a few shows in Italy in June, are there any other places outside the UK that you’d like to play?

Nick Scroggie, Annie Stevenson: We’ll play anywhere which will have us. Seriously though the big country over the pond is the place most acts want to play and we’re no different. We landed  these gigs thanks to a couple of support slots we played for an Italian band called “The Afterglow” who played a few dates in Scotland recently. They liked us and have arranged for us to go over and play these gigs in the summer.

Dear Scotland: Are there any Scottish musicians, past or present, that have influenced you?

Nick Scroggie, Annie Stevenson: Loads of good stuff has come out of Scotland in fact I recently went to see Ironman 2 and part of the soundtrack includes “Pick up the Pieces” a blast from the past from Dundee’s Average White Band, there you go.

But for me best of all were The Sensational Alex Harvey Band. I was given their 1975 live album a few years ago and the whole theater of it all just knocked me out. I love the fanfare at the start (“Justly, Skillfully, Magnanimously”)  when he walked on stage that night, bearing in mind that  Scotland had just been stuffed 5 – 0 by England at Wembley earlier that day and Led Zeppelin no less were playing up the road at Earls Court, and he says with typical Scottish Swagger and pride “I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce you to “MY” Band, The sensational Alex Harvey Band”. Have a listen to it, that’s attitude for you.

SAHB – Live in America

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENt04F03-3M

Dear Scotland: Do you feel more Scottish when you are abroad, or do you adapt well to new places? Anything you miss about Scotland?

Nick Scroggie, Annie Stevenson: We haven’t actually been abroad as a band before so this is a whole new experience. I’m sure we’ll miss square sausage, plain bread and Irn Bru. Looking forward to it though. Be interesting to see if there’s any significant differences between playing Turin on a Friday night and playing Sauchiehall Street.  All that sunshine might be a bit of a drag : )

Dear Scotland: What will be your first words on stage in Vercelli on June 18th, the first gig of the tour?

Nick Scroggie, Annie Stevenson: Would we get away with saying “Good evening Vercelli, its great to be back to one of our favourite places”? Maybe not but I’m hoping to pick up a few phrases in Italian from the guys in The Afterglow though they may well set me up to say something inappropriate !!!!

Dear Scotland: What should the Scottish national anthem be?

Nick Scroggie, Annie Stevenson: Probably been said before but its hard to see past “500 miles” by The Proclaimers Its known all over the world and would get any occasion off to a great start!

The Proclaimers – 500 Miles

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69AvNm8zubo

Dear Scotland: What is the best after-show experience you’ve had?

Nick Scroggie, Annie Stevenson: Well that would be telling but we have a song called “15 dogs pour down” which alludes to a delicate experience a band member who must remain nameless had after one particular gig. Apart from that my lips are sealed.

Dear Scotland: And finally, many many years from now, when you finish your farewell world tour, is there one place to where you would like to retire?

Nick Scroggie, Annie Stevenson: Hmm tough one perhaps I should consult one of the General’s maps to find the ideal place.

Annie Stevenson – Live in Glasgow 7 May 2010

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiR1Ro4AQtU

www.myspace.com/anniestevenson

Photo Credit : Westy 45