Ryan Drever: My band of 2009

Bronto Skylift, who we first featured in the run-up to their T in the Park show, give rock fans everywhere hope for the future of their genre, argues Ryan Drever...


I've been lucky enough to worm my way into an unholy number of gigs this year, and found myself awestruck and frustrated by the vast number of kick-ass Scottish acts that have previously escaped my attention. Rather than punish myself for being so far off the ball I'm playing an entirely different sport: I took it upon myself to make up for lost time.

In my valiant quest I saw so many great bands that truly blew my mind that it would be difficult to pick just one, but in terms of the most fun I had and perhaps the most ridiculously over the top show I've had the privilege to be a part of, I would have to nominate Bronto Skylift.

Tearing up stage after stage from festivals to caravans, sometimes playing Glasgow three or four times in the same week and nearly always ending up on the floor, in the crowd or on the tables, Bronto spent 2009 scaring some, charming others and deafening most with their brilliant, pounding noise.

It's perhaps not always the easiest thing to listen to on record - though the band's EP The Bearded Fish and The Jackalope gets a good step closer - but there is no denying the draw of the band's audacious live presence and home-spun artwork.

Not to be confused with a two man novelty act, this pair possess enough chops to charm (or rather, melt) the ears off anybody yet to be convinced. Well, it worked for me.

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