Angaleena Presley visited us only a few months back and left a lasting impression. I don't think I saw a single tweet or comment on Facebook about her debut shows over here in July, that
wasn't singing her praises. People wanted her back and, thankfully Angeleena granted our wishes in swift fashion, announcing new dates in the new year.
We were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to ask Angaleena a few questions about last summer, the reappearance of the Pistol Annies and more!
SC: You only just toured over here. It must feel great to have the opportunity to come back over here so soon, yeah?
AP: It feels absolutely amazing. I had been dreaming about Europe since I was a little girl, almost like I was destined to spend time there. When I finally got the chance to go, it felt like home right from the minute I stepped off the plane. I'm looking forward to clocking a lot of hours in the UK and eventually all over Europe.
SC: Of course this is only one date, as part of the Celtic Connections festival. Can UK fans expect to see more of you in 2016?
AP: YES, I announced the tour yesterday! I'll be over there in January. The fans in the UK seem among the most loyal variety so I have faith that they'll provide the support that I need to visit as often as I can.
SC: Let’s talk about the last time you were in Glasgow because that was a truly special night. I still remember that night very fondly and it has to be one of the best concerts I’ve been to and I know others left feeling the same. For your first ever UK show, you killed it. Were you expecting such a warm reception?
AP: I had no idea what to expect and I was a nervous wreck. When you play solo acoustic, you might as well be naked. I always say it feels like getting in bed with the audience. I can honestly say that Glasgow was one of the most intimate and special shows of my career and I think it always will be. When I get nervous I forget lyrics and when it happened, they embraced it whole heartedly. They laughed at all my jokes and they were as quiet as mice during my darker moments. It's definitely one for the history book of my little life and I can't wait to do it again. You know, I'm a McCoy of the original Hatfield's and McCoy's... I have Scotland in my blood and the connection I felt was as real as it gets
SC: You had a pretty full on week of shows in July. Did you get the chance to do much sightseeing?
AP: Yes, I brought my son, sister and niece with me and we squeezed in everything we could. The London Eye, Tower of London, The Mona Lisa, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, and lots of train rides
SC: Miranda and Ashley are also headed over in 2016 as part of the Country to Country festival. Do you think we might get to see the three of you together over here one day?
AP: I sure hope so. The whole time I was there I kept thinking how inspired we would get, tooling around Europe together. It would definitely spark interesting song ideas
SC: Of course, you girls reunited recently on Miranda’s tour and finally put an end to all the speculation about the hiatus that ranged from ‘they drifted apart’ to ‘they hate each other’. I think one of the more popular ‘stories’ was that you and Miranda were sworn enemies. What did you think of the rumours?
AP: I thought they were exactly what I'd dream up if my favorite girl band suddenly canceled a tour. I think we need to put labels on things so our brains can figure out how to sort through them. I try not to get caught up in celeb gossip. The music is what I connect with and try to stay focused on.
SC: Miranda’s tour featured some talented ladies. Was it always the plan to use this tour as a chance to bring the Pistol Annies back or was it simply impromptu?
AP: No, we never really planed anything. That's what was so special about it. We just started hanging out and then things began to happen. Songs happened, a record happened, shows happened and then it started happening all over again. We never put much thought into it and we kept doing it until it became too much to manage alongside our solo careers. We looked at the calendar in September and realized there was a weekend where we could all be in the same place at the same time so we took advantage of it. I'm sure that's what we'll keep doing.
SC: Your album, American Middle Class has received a lot of praise both here and in the States. A lot of people want to know if you’ve started thinking about, or even started work on the follow-up. So…have you?
AP: I've noticed a few blossoms in the vine... I feel like my records grow from seeds that get planted in my soul. Once the fruit is good and ripe, It'll be harvest time. To me, a record is a cohesive body of work, not just a collection of songs. So, yes, I definitely have a direction and now I'm just waiting for it to take shape
SC: American Middle Class is a very personal album, with songs such as ‘Knocked Up’ and ‘Drunk’ being directly inspired by your personal life and songs like ‘Pain Pills’ inspired by the community you grew up in. Would it fair to say that the album is kind of your own diary?
AP: You bet. I worry about putting all my business out there until a fan comes up to me and says it helped them feel like they weren't alone. I tell the truth about my pain and joy because I don't know how not to.
SC: Finally, what artists/albums are listening to right now?
AP: I'm in love with Sound and Color by Alabama Shakes and I also love Robert Ellis's Lights from the Chemical Plant. I've been listening to both of those records like it's a school project. The writing and the originality of the production are top notch.
Angaleena's critically acclaimed album,
American Middle Class is available to buy now and she returns to the UK this coming January. Check out below for dates and tickets.
January 17th - The Louisiana, Bristol
January 18th - Greystones, Sheffield
January 21st - Tron Theatre, Glasgow (Celtic Connections w/Noah Gunderson and Anderson East)
January 22nd - The Ruby Lounge, Manchester
January 23rd - Bodega, Nottingham
January 24th - Con Club, Lewes
January 25th - Bush Hall, London
John Davidson and Jacob Bryant, of John and Jacob, have just finished touring in the UK as the special guests of the brilliant Striking Matches but their Edinburgh date, a remnant date of their own headlining UK tour that unfortunately didn’t happen, was proof that these guys – as well as the other 3/5ths of the band – should and will be headlining more dates very soon.
With only one full album to their name – their self-titled debut, John and Jacob – one could be forgiven for thinking that this would be a set on the shorter side…but one would also have been very wrong. Their set lasted over an hour and a half and was comprised of album tracks, EP tracks, covers and some pretty special songs from their next album – some material that the boys themselves confessed they were playing for one of the first times. ‘Norway’ was one of the new songs and looks likely to be the single they’re going to lead their new album with and it had the room captivated. If you haven’t been lucky enough to hear this track on their travels then definitely keep an ear out for it in the future…this could, and if all is right with the world, should be a very big song for these guys.
‘Be My Girl’, arguably one of their most popular songs – no doubt, in some respect, thanks to the TV show Nashville- went down a treat and ‘I’d Go Back’ had everyone one in the audience united in one big, and beautiful choir. But the highlight of the night was when the boys unplugged their guitars, jumped off the stage and took to the floor to perform ‘Breaking the Law’ in the middle of the crowd. It was loud and it was rowdy and I couldn’t help but feel incredibly lucky to be a part of this night. And I had only paid a little over £12 to be a part of it…I would have happily paid much, much, much more.
