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The Sound Of Music
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![]() To increase the mystique surrounding the band, the Pipettes are known only by noms de guerre - Gwenno, Riot Becki and Rosay. We know that Gwenno's real name is Gwenno Saunders, because she had a previous incarnation in Wales fronting Welsh-language TV program Ydy Gwenno'n Gallu...? The Cassettes probably don't appear in the publicity because frankly the girls are easier on the eye and why wreck a good media angle? Smart lad. The Pipettes wrote an album's worth of songs and headed into the studio. Their album was issued on the very trendy Memphis Industries label and was produced by Andy Dragazis (better known to Sound of Music aficionados as Blue States and another fine contributor to the Memphis Industries label). Writing credits on the album go simply to the Pipettes, which leads one to believe the girls aren't simply for decoration as might be feared. Gwenno is reputed to be the main songwriter. ![]() At this stage you're probably wondering why I've picked The Pipettes for inclusion in these hallowed columns. Well, recently I got an e-mail at short notice telling me that they would be doing an in-store appearance at Tower Records in Wicklow Street at lunchtime the next day. Now, in-store appearances can be lethal for bands. There are no backstage areas or green rooms in which vast quantities of drugs can be ingested. They get to perform live in front of their fans, close enough that people can tell if they're miming and without a cordon sanitaire of bouncers. It's a nightmare for the promotions people also. If too many people show up there's a minor riot and police baton charges. If too few people show up, the band's management are annoyed at your having wasted their precious time and you will be known forever afterwards as Artie Fufkin in the business. Anyways I show up about one o'clock. There's a small crowd milling about waiting for the performance to start. There's a slogan on the inlay for The Pipettes' album which declaims that theirs is "music by teenagers, for teenagers". This would appear to be a big fat lie. While the girls are just out of their teenage years and looking none the worse for it, their audience has not fared so well. In fact there were so many guys in their late thirties in casual clothing with a bit of a paunch and retreating hairline that I was tempted to wonder aloud who was minding the comic book store while we were all here? ![]() Anways the performance gets the green light and the girls take their place on the dais to perform three numbers. While a little thinner live than the output on the album (and obviously without the sweeping string arrangements), the girls acquit themselves creditably. Having finished, they put the keyboard away and remain in their seats to, well, talk to the fans, sign autographs and stuff. To my utter surprise, the assembled Comic Book Store Guy group turns and leaves immediately. Where are they going I wonder - it didn't look like they had anywhere important they needed to be in a hurry. Anyways, their loss is my gain. I bought a couple of copies of the CD and took them for autographing. Because there was no assembled throng, I got to talk to the band for about five minutes. They were lovely and friendly. They posed for photographs. They were happy and optimistic. They were exited about their tour and they were very, very polite when talking to me. I felt very old. |