Stop me if you think you’ve heard this one before.
I’ve written about Father Sculptor a couple of times on this version of the blog, but they were all over the old, original version of TVV that was blown out of the water by Blogger back in July 2013. If you don’t mind me recapping……
It began in February 2011 when I went along to a gig at King Tut’s at the suggestion of Drew (Across The Kitchen Table); there was a huge buzz about a band called Spector and we both wanted to see what the fuss was about. To be honest, they were dull and not worth bothering about.
But we were both taken by the appearance of one of the support bands – Father Sculptor – and in the subsequent review of the gig on the old blog I raved about them. To my total surprise, an e-mail appeared in the Inbox a few days later from the band, not only thanking me for the kind words but telling me they were avid readers of The Vinyl Villain, and it had meant a lot to them to get a mention.
Thus began regular exchanges of correspondence – I was usually among the first to get a listen to their new material which they would in due course post online at their website, always without fail giving it very positive mentions on the blog. The bands consisted of five young men, all studying in Glasgow, although none were actually from the city. In time, they began to get a wider press with positive write-ups in the NME and The Guardian newspaper, as well as a range of web-based music outlets.
The band scrimped and saved towards their ambition of actually making a physical record instead of merely making things available as downloads, and I was thrilled, delighted and honoured when they asked if I could promote a show for them in Glasgow for the launch of what would be a self-financed debut EP on 12″ vinyl.
The gig took place in Stereo on Saturday 13 April 2013. There was a more than decent turnout and the boys played a terrific set. I spent some time with them the following morning, during which it hit me that while they were possibly on the verge of greatness, there were some things that could easily tear them apart. It felt that they weren’t a completely cohesive unit in the social sense, and so there were bound to be fall-outs, especially given how young and relatively inexperienced they were; furthermore, they would soon be reaching a stage when they were no longer students and facing the situation of needing to find employment of some sort or other, which was more than likely to impact on their continued abilities to rehearse, write and possibly record.
I’ve no idea what happened next. It turned out that the EP was their only physical release and Thomas David (vocals), Joseph (guitars), Felix (drums), Matthew (keyboards, vocals) and Phil (bass) must have, as I feared, gone their separate ways.
Just about everything can be listened to over at this YouTube page. But I thought it would be worth offering up the songs from the EP:-
mp3 : Father Sculptor – Basilica
mp3 : Father Sculptor – Sault
mp3 : Father Sculptor – The Swim
mp3 : Father Sculptor – Lowlands
mp3 : Father Sculptor – Swallowed In Dreams
So much potential that was never realised……but then again, the music industry is littered with such stories.
THE NEW VINYL VILLAIN 
Father Sculptor, much like Johnny Reb before them, seemed to revel in the art of falling apart. I didn’t get a chance to see Father Sculptor live but I was witness to Johnny Reb a number of times and what a divine sonic shambles they were. They really knew how to own a stage – no matter how small. Like JCs involvement with Father Scupltor, I felt privileged to promote Johnny Reb in a live setting. It was no surprise that they ‘split’ but it was a sad day for live music in Glasgow. I recall Phil, I think late 2011, giving me a CD of the new band’s – Father Sculptor’s material (same members). I was suitably impressed. I recall all of the guys as being chaotic and charming – yet focused on their studies. Phil, it was clear, was the driving force. He was exceptionally skilled in his role.
With so much dross out there (now as then) it seems quite shameful that neither Johnny Reb nor Father Sculptor, went on to greater things.
Thanks for this wonderful memory-jolt JC.
Flimflamfan