We are busy...

...discussing the final mixes!!

Crazy times 'PROMENADE' is getting finished - our debut album release is coming closer - get your tickets now, album launch on Friday 30th October 2009! It's £5 well spent!

Come, enjoy, love and live! xxx

OXJAM at Pivo Pivo, 23rd April

Wow, you know when a plan comes together it really blows your mind, to think that this city is filled with what I reckon is some of the best musicians the UK has to offer. They come on stage before you, humble and unsigned and then let rip a roaring cascade of talent before your eyes and you're just so glad to say that differences are there to be rejoiced in. I'm talking of the OXJAM event Salon Society pulled together to celebrate the diverse range of musical genres this fascinating city conceals. From hip hop to women drumming groups to solo singers and electronic remixes that take your breath away to the bands that lace the underground with vibrancy so bright you need your shades to see in the usual dark. OXJAM rocked and we managed to raise nearly 400 quid for the charity :)

King Tuts 25th March

So in the usual tiny room that is the token backstage equivalent of a green room Salon Society shared the space with two other bands. One of which had just returned from the infamous South by South West Music festival in Texas. As I sat there with the American band Jessica Lea Mayfield's guitarist playing a killer classical riff on an old acoustic sat crossed legged on the floor I felt a sense of observing history in the making...

The gig went down a treat, though we somehow managed to blow a guitar amp - how on earth we managed that considering we're not exactly a rip roaring rock band I've know idea? The sound wasn't bad which is always nice, and the general vibe was that even our manager seemed a wee bit more impressed than usual. Though it was later said I was thought to be singing about wanting to undress a woman in a locker room? erm... not that I recall :) A good gig we did enjoy!

Philosophising on Roxy's couch...

I can't think of another way how to spend a lovely evening other than amongst the best band mates in the world, with a bottle of wine, plenty of cups of tea, central heating and on a cozy couch in a quirky flat in the heart of the West End...
As I am plucking a Dobro guitar following the melody of the night, I am listening to 'their' conversation... how I love being the one-woman audience of a conversation between Luci and Roxy... What stuff they come out with, very inspiring indeed! From parenting and attachment theory to the best childhood memories, from Johnny Cash to Disney's Fairytales, from anecdotes about the Gorgeous Doro to the pleasures of one's secret world and positive thinking...
Definitely a piece of art in itself... I shall pluck a few more tunes whilst enjoying their stories...

By Doro

In-Store Gig at the Apple Store Buchanan Street

It’s a Sunday afternoon and the Apple Store has a steady flow of customers browsing its shelves. For the first time the store has decided to offer a platform for acoustic acts to grace the ears of the local shoppers. Salon Society are a band playing the first event today and they appear to have caught the attention of both staff and shoppers. A small group gathers to listen to the bands interplay of clever harmonies and gentle rhythms in combination with their renowned catchy melodies. Guitar player Dorothee manages to promote the Apple products in between songs raising a smile all round. The understated theatrical performers enhance the atmosphere in store from that of a lazy afternoon browse for shopping to a quietly exciting venue for up-coming artists to stimulate the customers at what is becoming a popular event.

Independent Music Reviews, Elizabeth Flame
Photograph by Justin Moir

Under Maggie Mays

Last night we played Maggie Mays and apart from the sound being shite the vibe of the French Connection gig was excellent. To my surprise it had attracted a decent crowd of willing listeners who were hugely supportive of the acts. The Up-coming Suspire played a fantastic set and the band over from France were an absolute highlight. We rocked out enjoying the atmosphere ploughing on despite not hearing anything on the monitors. Over all the event was an attempt to offer one lucky band a chance to do a gig in France but one got the impression there might have been less hassle involved if a few french promoters were contacted directly by the band themselves. Perhaps its not that easy a few would chime? Another annoying thing that's been cropping up recently is the unclear role of the promoter whose job is it to bring in the crowd the artist or the promoter? any opinions feel free to speak up :)

Kember & Jones

So we've finished at the studio it looks like like we're heading for a 12 track album not quite half way through yet. Im sitting outside the scrumptious Kember on byers road (fingers are freezing) with Ash - we've ordered a glass of milk as it cost 50p! and some humous on toast :) Thinking back to yesterday evening about half way through I fell asleep on the couch when I woke up our track 'Dont die inside' was sounding very cuban in its harmonies and piano parts....toast just arrived be back later :) Feels a bit Post man Pat esk sitting here with a glass of milk watching a fire engine zoom past.

p.s Congratulations to Duffy on her Brit award victory, man I cant wait till we get there :)!

Salons in the Studio

It's a cold February night here in the under ground Elba studios us four Salons sit working away on our album. We didn't decide to create an album we just felt something organic happening and as we have more songs than we know what to do with it makes sense to keep recording. We love this tiny place the cosy hidden atmosphere and stain glass window just by the picture of Hendrix. Our sound engineer reminds me of Christina Aguilera' husband (Jordan Bratman). The multi talented Steven sits behind his desk focusing on the process as we each pile in and out of the sound booth. Un be known to the rest of Glasgow we quietly lay down our wee tracks down, a unique musical montage to grace a few ears with later in the year.

The misadventures of one crew member in a Salon Society day.(See below for reference)

So where to begin, Roxy asked me to take her to the car park to meet Doro and Luci, so i guess i will start from there. So we arrive, with time to spare, as i always tend to be early for everything and tend to stand about waiting on people, but anyways thats beside the point. So we arrive early, the other girls are a wee bit late as it is valentines day and the girls were bringing Roxy a gift each and flowers . But you see in this simple act my day gets a whole lot more interesting, because in their haste to get out of the door a gift is misplaced, left behind. The girls arrive at the car park, and if it had been a movie, screeching tires would have suited the moment perfectly as the came flying towards us at great speed. Both jump out the car, and Roxy jumps out of mine and they greet each other with hugs, now it is still unknown on all parts that a gift has been misplaced, but as the girls exchange gifts it slowly dawns on everyone that one is missing. But the girls don't have time to go back to see if it had been left in the street and long gone or just forgotten, still in the flat and safe. So Doro turns to me puts on the best pleading look she has and asks if i will go and see if its still there, so i am given keys to the flat and sent on my way.

So in true style i go screaming out of the car park, and have a mad dash to the flat down some busy streets, with very slow drivers and some very bad ones to boot.
So i arrive at the flat, walk up and down the street looking under all the cars to see if it was there getting pretty strange, worried looks from passers by, but it wasn't there so into the flat i go, praying my arse off that it will be there. Now i had been warned that the boyfriend of Luci's flatmate might be in the flat, and he was, he got quite a shock while he was doing the dishes, with me standing there. i quickly explained, but that somehow didn't ease him, anyways the gift was in the flat on the dinning room table right next to the door. So i grabbed it, made a quick exit before it got any weirder, phoned Luci, and made my way.
Which involved me trying to drive into Glasgow on a Saturday afternoon (not easy) parking my car, and walking up a not so nice hill to meet them in a coffee shop. But it was worth the trip to see how happy Roxy was with her gift and how relived Luci looked to not have lost it.
So that was my wee story in a mad day, which later on involved me carrying a fair amount to stuff (symbols, bags, etc) before promptly going home for a good cuppa and a sit down.
See the blog below for a full account of the day not just my wee bit, hope you enjoyed the misadventures of one crew member in a Salon Society day.
By Ash

Valentines with Live and Unsigned

Valentines was so much sweeter than what I had anticipated it would be in the run up to the day. The band met on the top level of the Glasgow city centre car park in the open air to rehearse before our audition at 'Live and Unsigned'. My red dress clung tight to me as I enfolded myself in my 70's carpet coat. Luci and Doro looked fantastic in their matching black shirts and red ties with drum sticks and guitars in hand. I had my mic in my black shoulder bag and was slightly concerned as to how it was going to be set up once we entered the room. Practicing our harmonies over looking the city felt like we were about to shoot a music video with one crew member (our mate Ash, who incidentally had to drive off hastily to find my missing gift from Luci*see blog above). The Audition was fantastic later in the day we looked like a band spoke like a band and pulled out all the stops to present the best of Salon Society. The judges looked impressed one panel judge asked us how far we were along in recording our first album? (nice one) as we left the room I over heard the comments "good, very good". So why wasn't Salon Society selected? Oddly we left feeling a strong sense of victory and as we glided towards Pizza Hut I felt more like a rock star than I had before I went in. Un-logical as it was having not been chosen all of us had a sense we were further along in our band journey than what we give ourselves credit for :)

Later that day I visited Waterstones as my sister jokes if I feel a problem arising or am in need of an answer I hit the local bookstore. I picked up this booked called the secret which speaks about the law of attraction (fascinating stuff) from there my fingers fell upon a little black book called the 'book of answers' which I hadn't used before, asking in my head if the band will make it the answer I opened up was 'don't be ridiculous'! which in my opinion can be interpreted either way 'don't be ridiculous of course you will" laugh (well you got to keep going eh). Then I asked it "will we get a record deal?" the answer it gave was "maybe"(dead pan sigh) so having had this depth of insight into the bands future I read a bit more in 'the Secret' and carried my answers out with me.

Salon Society

Hi all,
Welcome to the interesting start of the new blog where you can enter into the chaotic thought world that consists in the band. A step by step journey in words and maybe pictures to give you more than just a key hole insight into what an upcoming Glasgow band experience as we venture further into the music industry forest.

Come, enjoy.