I Cant Believe Theres No Shutter

Shutter may be a 2008 American remake of the 2004 Thai horror film of the same name. The remake was directed by Masayuki Ochiai of course and was released on March 21, 2008.  I’ve seen it – its ok.  The Shutter I’m going to show you photos of and talk mince about here, however, were a 4-piece beat combo from Inverness.  I’ve seen them too – they were fucking astounding !!

This week it seems I’m on a nostalgia trip for the bands that got me very excited up here in the Highlands but are no longer with us…….dem Lushrollers first, there’s another post hopefully coming this week along the same lines but today its the turn of Shutter !!  (and before anyone mentions it – I know I’ve used the whole movie reference to lead into a post  before – I’m a copy and paster not a bloody journalist so gimme a break – I do this for fun)

Shutter consisted of a group of friends, a fraternity even:  Matt Campbell and Pete Macdonald, now of Little Mill and brothers Will and James Roberts.  Together they created  “a pulsating instrumental post-rock listening experience“. Now, I have no idea what a “post-rock listening experience” should sound like (I’m 45 ffs) but if it was Shutter then I’m hooked.  It’s just a shame that they no longer exist on the Inverness Music Scene (I really fucking hate using that phrase but still need to think of something else to call this organic musical monster that pulsates round the Highland capital)  Watching Shutter live offered a distinctive and varied combination of musical flavours and grooves. (it says here and I concur)

I discovered Shutter late – really bloody late – too late to be honest.  Only managed to see them 3 times and successfully managed to miss the epic Pillars album launch at Inverness Ironworks and their swansong gig at Eden Court in aid of CRY. (Cardiac Risk in the Young)  I caught them at Rob Ellens Potting Shed Stage at Belladrum 2010, Madhatters later that same year and my personal favourite of the 3 gigs, last Januarys Ceol-Mor gig which was a sonic assault like I haven’t experienced in a long time and I’ve seen Sigue Sigue Sputnik (no really I have).   Photos from all three of the gigs feature here. (Matt himself is a pretty nifty ‘tog too and James Roberts can design the fuck out of stuff  and also handy with a camera)

 

During their career Shutter shared stages with some rather special bands including Deftones, Aereogramme, Pelican, Red Sparowes, The Twilight Sad, 65 Days of Static and Gallows and appeared at Tartan Heart Festival, Rockness and Celtic Connections.

“Sometimes we switch off the lights and play,” revealed Pete Macdonald, when asked about what being in Shutter is like.  Why?  “Just to see what it’s like to play in the dark.”  One of my favourite bits from their shutter.tv website and this is the other.  “Out of all the bands I’ve played in, this is the one that feels right. On a personal level, it’s just amazing. We’re all best friends” says Pete.  Fellow Guitarist Matt Campbell adds: “I like to use the word ‘brother‘.  The Brotherhood of Shutter !!

Debut album Pillars is available to download here – go on – have a listen.  You wont be disapointed – if you are then you have no soul and should have all your music related  equipment removed from your cave.  Contact me and I can have that organised for you 🙂

This is Music said of the album “Wagner with a touch of feedback.”  and “Effortless synchronicity at play” was how The Skinny described it.  Pretty damned accurate descriptions there !!  Ive seen synchronicity play effortlessly (have I?  have I really though ?) and the likes of Sedona and Pillars of Creation are perfect examples – they dont just take your breath away they positively batter it out of you !

Pillars of Creation

The Others 

Sedona

As always Im not going to get into the whole describing of Shutters music and the interplay blah blah guitarists and solid blah blah rhythm section – thats why I provide you with the links to go and read it for yourself on the Shutter pages.  There you can listen to audio clips and theres even a free MP3 on the main site as well as galleries featuring photos from more than just the 3 gigs that I managed to drag my sorry ass to 😦

SHUTTER.TV     SOUNDCLOUD     FACEBOOK

I live in hope of wee reunions (Ill be 50 in a year or 5 if you fancy a gig lads? – I could jam on tambourine).   At least I still have The Little Mill to rip my inner ears out,  shake my spine and trample on my kneecaps – phew !!

I still cant believe theres no Shutter……………………..

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© al donnelly / houdi unless otherwise stated – but you knew that already didnt you cos I keep fucking harping on about it……….

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