Band to blow cobwebs away in Thurso
THE cobwebs will be blown away tonight as the Halloween weekend plays host to a feast of rock at Skinandi’s in Thurso.
Grunge rockers Healthy Minds Collapse are returning to the Far North to headline the gig, and will be supported by Inverness band Kobi, Wick outfit Always the Sixth and Kathy Shanks.
Healthy Minds Collapse singer guitarist Andy Malcolm said it’s great be back in Caithness.
“We like it here, I don’t know what it is, it just feels good to up here playing,” he said. “There’s an atmosphere and by that I’m not saying that every time we’ve played here that it’s been the busiest but the people are always really nice.”
The Fife three-piece, completed by Andy’s brother, Colin, on drums and bassist Angus Schroder, have just launched their new album, Butterfly Skin, and Andy promised an energetic show as they finally unleash their new songs on gig-goers.
Healthy Minds Collapse burst onto their local music scene in 2007 with their own modern take on ’90s grunge and have not looked back since, playing several high-profile festivals as well as visiting Thurso on several occasions.
The debut album comes after the band’s manager was head-hunted by Elton John’s record label, Twenty-First Artists.
“When our manager was asked what acts she was looking after she told Elton John it was us and the Dykeenies,” explained Andy.
“He heard one of our songs called ‘Radiowave’ which is on the new album.
He basically closed his eyes for the whole song and at the end opened his eyes and said he could see it being a hit song in America.”
From there the three piece went on to support the singer in Perth.
Next thing they knew the young men from Methil were signed to the label and having lunches with the superstar and the likes of James Blunt.
“We come from different backgrounds, there’s no doubt about it, so it’s kind of strange,” said Andy. “The one thing I can say is that Elton John’s a genuinely nice man. He swears a hell of a lot though, more than I do, and I thought I was rock and he was pop!”
Doors open at Skinandi’s at 7pm and tickets cost £5.
Butterfly Skin is out now on download from iTunes and Amazon. CD copies should be available in around a month’s time from the band’s official website.
Check out the band at: www.healthymindscollapse.com, www.myspace.com