...And in Tonight's Society... It’s a cold Glasgow night in February 2007, Im on my way to see my friend’s band play MacSorley’s pub in the city centre, all I know is they’re an acoustic outfit consisting of my friend and German tutor Doro and her partner Roxanne. Having never met any of the assembled motley crew of students, my first impression is one of Oh Shit, I’ve walked straight out of 2007 into 1977, there’s the quiet ones who I’m convinced are stoned, and the far too talkative ones overly keen to impress, who are either pissed or still waiting for their maturity to catch up with their biology. So I buy a drink and take my seat in time for Doro and Roxanne plus one other, their friend and landlady Luci to take to the stage, They are at this time known by the highly imaginative name of - wait for it - Roxanne & Dorothy!!!!!!!!!! As they take to the stage the place becomes no quieter than what it was an hour ago, everyone is still talking over each other, most haven’t even noticed the girls pick up their guitars and compose themselves ready to perform, then it happened --- like something out of a movie, a voice from amongst the bar room banter declares ‘WHEN WILL YOU STOP – accusing me’. Silence falls upon the entire pub, faces turn like rabbits caught in the headlights of an oncoming truck, they focus their stare towards the stage, some jaws drop open in disbelief, others put down their pints and sit up straight, no mean feat at the best of times in a Glasgow boozer, the custodian of this voice in the night, powerful and precise in its delivery is Roxanne, she is small and slight in build, which begs the obvious question. How in all that’s holy can one so fragile looking produce such an attractive and awe-inspiring sound? If ever an answer was instant it had to be that these girls are here to have a good time and if it’s the last thing anyone in that pub ever does, they are going to listen. The song starting tonight’s performance is now a personal favourite of mine ‘Preaching the Blues’. And so begins a voyage of discovery enlightenment and friendship, which has led to the writing of these words and you, very kindly taking the time to read them. And so we fast-forward to today, I have to say when asked by the girls to write their first ‘official biography’, I was honoured as well as a little stunned, Why me? Why not someone who has known them far longer than myself? After all that February night in 2007 was the first time I had saw them in what I was quickly to find out, their element, the explanation given to me as most things with this band is delivered in stereo, Doro gets your right ear, Roxy gets your left, after 20 minutes and 3 shots of Jack Daniels later all becomes clear, they don’t have anyone else who will take this task on --- for free!!!!! A few days later after a little research and more of Tennessee’s finest export, I begin to put pen to paper, or rather fingers to keys, it’s a chilly but dry Glasgow September day in 2008, and Salon Society are preparing for their next high profile gig, their fifth this year alone. As the girls explain 2008 has been the year things really got moving for them, it started in January when they played an awesome set at the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow as part of the Celtic Connections festival, then after taking a few months away in order to write and rehearse new material, as well as a visit to Germany to film their first promotional video in Doro’s home town, for the excellent ‘Don’t Die Inside’, they stormed back onto the scene with what has to be considered one of the best appearances at the Glasgow West End Festival in June, since then they have made the Glasgow music circles sit up and take notice, July saw them celebrate the release of their first single ‘Undone’, with a memorable concert at The Liquid Ship in Glasgow’s West End, released on Doro and Roxy’s co-owned independent record label First Aid Records, later the same week Scotland’s biggest selling Sunday Newspaper – The Sunday Mail gave them 4 out of 5 stars for this quiet but inspiring song, beautifully written by Doro, since demand was high they also released Undone onto the itunes website as well as their own My Space internet site. At this point most young bands starting out would be resting on their laurels – and quite rightly too, but not these girls, within Salon Society there are no days off for good behaviour, everything is done in 5th gear, if you can’t give 110% then join another band, if you think you might struggle with the songs, then join another band, these 3 amigos are without question one of the hardest working and determined bands on the scene today and to prove my point, they win a competition organised by The Sunday Herald a weekly broadsheet newspaper, to play the Hydro Connect Festival at Inverary Castle in August, where they surprised and delighted the assembled audience, reaffirming their status as one of the most promising up and coming acts in Scotland today. And so onto their fifth big gig of the year, this time it’s King Tuts Wah Wah Hut in Glasgow city centre, made famous as the starting point of many a well known band, Oasis and The Fratellis to name but two. What’s more Salon Society are being invited to play these gigs by the movers and shakers of the local music business, such is the buzz around this band. In October they are due to play the Glasgow ABC2, another large venue before moving onto the GRV in Edinburgh in November; no doubt there will also be a few visits back to their ‘home from home’ at The Liquid Ship squeezed in amongst this insane schedule they set themselves. So where did this all begin, were they transported down in the dead of night by some orbiting spacecraft? Were they the triumphant result of some American Government experiment? The answer is of course a resounding No. Only Mother Nature has the power to produce 3 such talented beauties. Luci Jones – Drummer, Guitarist, Backing Vocals, Percussionist and Songwriter. Described as the brains of the band, she is the one who makes sense of the anarchy that sometimes surrounds young up and coming bands, she is also very good at maintaining the structure and point of purpose within the Salon Society inner sanctum, as well as giving us a few catchy tunes to boot, check out the excellent ‘Star Crossed Lovers’ quickly becoming yet another of the sing – a – long parts to the bands live show, We have her parents Angie and Keith to thank for this blonde bombshell from Brighton, the eldest of 2 children she certainly has made her mark on the world, arriving in Glasgow in 2002 to work as an outdoor instructor in Drumchapel, Luci cites The Beatles as a big influence on her musical aspirations, First picking up a guitar at age 12 she moved onto the drums at the tender age of 19, she enjoys spending time with her partner and listening to almost any good music with a steady beat, she admits however to being a bit of a Indie Rock chick. She first met Roxy and Doro in 2006 when they were renting a room in her flat, friendship blossomed as well as a keen interest to start a band. Dorothee Weber - Guitarist, Drummer, Backing Vocals, Percussionist and Songwriter, she enthusiastically carries the mantle of being the willpower and driving force of the band, when challenges show themselves they tend not to last long with the forever resourceful Miss Weber on board, she is also the artist responsible for a lot of the bands promotional material, from adverts for concerts to single covers. Born in Reutlingen south of Stuttgart in Germany to parents Gabriele and Siegfried, the youngest of 3 girls, Doro declares a band from her youth, The Kelly Family, as her main influence, first starting to play guitar at aged 8, being classically trained before taking on her other passion the drums at 10, which she enjoys when she just wants to rock out and make some noise. She first arrived in Scotland in 2006 to study for a HND in the Music Business at the cities Stow College, She enjoys keeping fit by running the city streets and parks with her training partner, feeling it gives her the energy she requires to live her otherwise busy life. Also spending quality time with her partner and cosmic soul mate Roxanne is very high on her agenda. Roxanne Claxton – Vocalist Extraordinaire, Guitarist, Pianist and Songwriter, proudly displays her position as the heart of the band, when listening to Salon Society’s music you can at times feel your heart strings stir and your mind drift to another realm, then you realise you are being seduced by Roxanne’s heaven sent ability to bring passion and commitment to even the most ordinary of songs, not to say any of their songs are mundane in nature, quite the opposite, check out the haunting beauty of ‘Jasmine’, penned by Roxanne herself. It has been said on more than one occasion she could make Happy Birthday sound interesting. Born in Derby to parents Jayne and Joe, the eldest of 6, Roxy as she is known to her nearest and dearest, arrived in Scotland in 1998 were she attended St. Modans Secondary School in Stirling, in 2006 she moved onto the famous RSAMD – The Royal Scottish Academy for Music and Drama in Glasgow where she excelled in her studies, forever the lateral thinker of the band she is the one who invariably finds the 7th side to the cube or the shades of grey on an otherwise black & white canvas, before all of this however she took a gap year in 2003 where she visited Belgium, whilst working on a Community Volunteering Project she met a fresh faced blonde German girl named Dorothee, the two girls struck up a relationship which is source of immense strength to them both, conquering many an obstacle, and always coming away smiling. Once discovering each other’s love of music, they started a band Yellowish in 2005, their first ever public performance was in an Irish pub in Tuebingen, Germany (check out U-Tube). To an audience of around 100 people they performed a few covers as well as some of their own material, songs like ‘Careless’, ‘Smile’ and the wonderful ‘Wings to Fly’ were leashed upon the world for the first time. Less than a year later both girls find themselves in Glasgow taking part rather ashamedly in a Battle of the Bands at the Jumpin Jaks night club, the result of this competition was never relayed to me, all I know is they don’t like speaking about it too much. The remainder of 2006 and early 2007 was spent performing anywhere that would give them stage time and more new songs were conceived and nurtured for a few months. After an inspiring conversation with Roxy’s dad, ‘Salon Society’ was born, named after the Parisian upper-class socialites of the 1700’s, most famous of the ‘salonneires’ was Marie de Vichy-Chamrond Marquise du Deffand, who would host salons that attracted scientists, writers, wits and all those who were of any consequence in the world of letters and society. Our 3 musical musketeers had the songs, they certainly had the determination as well as the talent, and the only way now was up. The message of this new band would be one of Creative Communication, 3 women showing the male dominated music world that it takes more than testosterone driven antics to get noticed in this world, sometimes a woman’s touch is every bit as effective, not that they are interested in competing or trying to replace what the all male bands are doing, they are only providing the listening public with a rather delicious alternative. Although at the core of Salon Society are 3 outstanding women, there have been and will continue to be others who will step into the light with them, occupying the position of lead guitar is Archie Dickson, formally of Glasgow 80’s rock band Glasgow, a journeyman in the craft of guitar, his riffs and solos will surely help take this band down their chosen path to success faster than even they are prepared for. Currently a full time lecturer at Glasgow’s Stow College, he enjoys spending time with his wife Mags and their 2 sons. Other musicians, whatever their instrument, are always welcome to bring their own touch to the already magical potion created. And so Ladies and Gentlemen there we have it, from extremely humble beginnings, through the trials and tribulations set before them, 3 young unassuming musicians embark on a quest to make their dream come true, this time next year they could very well be performing at a stadium near you, in every glossy music magazine, never off the television, but if they’re not one thing is for certain they will still be working hard to ensure that their songs are out there and being listened to on many a mp3 player, the places they perform will still quickly fill up, such is the infectious brand of Salon Society’s music and you too will see what has been for myself as they’re friend, confidante and sometime guardian angel, an intriguing and enjoyable voyage of discovery. Bands come and bands go, as do friends and lovers, and the experience of each is what shape us all, assists us in evaluating the world around us. If ever you give yourself a treat, you will not go wrong by finding out about this marvellous little band, unsigned they may be, almost unknown – for now. Soon everyone will be singing their words, wearing the shirts and claiming to be the ultimate fan. Well my friend, let’s see who’s first to lay claim to such an accolade, you or me.
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