Pretty Blue Guns: got the T-shirt, now for an album

(62 reads) Avontoer is over. One of the resounding successes of the two-week, coast-to-coast rock ’n roll road show was actually more sartorial than sound based. The Pretty Blue Guns might’ve been on their first ‘toer ever, but they were the ones whose merch seemed the most popular (or at least, like them, the most noticeable). Gaggles of groupies proudly sported their celebratory vests at gigs. It even inspired the idea of a wet T-shirt competition that Andre fell in love with, but has yet to act on. In the interim, in what could be seen as an effort to justify the next great band shirt, they’ve written a whole album. Who said fashion is fickle?

About two months ago, the Pretty Blue Guns gave me their wish list for recording studio, and having the connections that they do, they’ve landed the luck to have the dream realised. Come 8 Feb, they’ll (once more) be setting aside all thoughts of reality for a week to record at Sunset Recording Studios with engineer Jurgen Von Wechmar. The studio has done work for Breyten Breytenbach , Chris Chameleon, Leslie Rae Dowling, Nine, Die Melktert Kommissie, and Springbok Nude Girls. Yee Haa!

Until then, they’re tying together the elements of inspiration, learning the songs and are in pre-production with Schalk Joubert. Will some of the strumming between tent flaps from the ‘toer make it onto the album? We certainly hope so. Will it be better than the precocious ‘Dirt’?

Drummer (and secret guitarist) Lucas Swart is adamant. “We intend to make this album exactly the way we want to, and push ourselves to the best of our ability. It has to be the best album ever. Well, we are aiming high, at least... it IS a garage rock album, after all.”

Long Live smokey garage sleeze and sarcastic, self-effacing wit. Catch The Pretty Blue Guns with Ashtray Electric 14 Jan @ Zula if you believe your ears before you believe teen thread trends.