The View’s frontman cleans up and grows up
What happens when a group of rambunctious Scottish musicians are given a record deal while still in their teens and then score a hit with their first album? Indie popsters The View fell willingly for the clichés of sex, drugs and rock‘n’roll, and threw themselves into a life of boozy mayhem. The View’s debut, Hats Off To The Buskers, came out in post-Strokes, post-Libertines 2007, and its scruffy melodies took it to No.1 on the charts, propelling the young Scots into indie stardom. Relentless touring, plus the attendant relentless partying, built a solid fan base which has been sustained over the band’s five-album career. For singer Kyle Falconer, the road of excess led him into police custody twice — once for cocaine possession (a conviction that prevented the band from getting visas to tour the US) and once for a drunken incident on a plane that forced a diverted landing and a hefty fine for the singer. Heeding this £25,000 (just over one million baht) wake-up call, Falconer followed Libertines singer Pete Doherty’s footsteps to Chon Buri’s Hope Rehab facility, and his new solo album No Thank You is primarily concerned with themes of addiction and recovery. The album — available now on all the usual streaming services — showcases Falconer’s rich voice and his knack for writing hummable harmonies. He describes it as “a country Fleetwood Mac singing Squeeze songs”, and the album has reached No.1 on the UK Record Store Chart. “I’ve had the idea of doing a solo record for years,” Falconer told Life via email. “The sound is totally different [from The View] and we needed a break. We’ve been in the same band since we were 14. I played everything myself on the new album so there was no interference with my opinions, which felt liberating. And I had the chance to finally have full-on strings on everything.” Back in Thailand for a spot of recording, Falconer will play his first show on Thai soil at Bangkok’s Play Yard tomorrow. The set will feature a mix of solo and band material, with Falconer backed by guitarist Stevie Anderson. Support comes from Penny Time’s Daniel Didyasarin and Mattnimare’s Pree.