music words | Elena Scialtiel photos | Stefano Blanca Sciacaluga
SMOKE & MIRRORS Dead City Radio to rock the GMF
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he ‘hardest’ hard rock band to grace the Gibraltar Music Festival this year, according to frontman James Culatto, Dead City Radio is the local group which will build up the mood for the grand finale of Kings of Leon, Madness and Kaiser Chiefs. Being cast for the Festival came as a surprise for the recently formed band. In their half-hour slot, they are tipped to play their hit ‘Keep Em Coming’, whose video features dizzying shots of the Rock on the Rock Club’s sancta sanctorum, and other tunes popular with their fans, but also have a couple of surprises lifted from their forthcoming EP, to premiere on the prestigious Radio Gibraltar stage. James, besides being the group’s voice and rhythm guitarist, is also its lyricist. He writes ‘meaningful lyrics’ inspired by his own life experiences or stories he hears: “I write stuff that people can relate to, and even if they don’t empathise with my mes-
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE AUGUST 2015
sage, they can give it their own interpretation and eventually they will say ‘oh yeah, I understand where he is coming from’. You need to make a connection with your audience if you want them to appreciate your lyrics.” He modestly admits he is no poet and doesn’t see his lyrics as stand-alone poetry, without the melodies his band composes, but he always likes to tell a story in a way that prompts some soul-searching. “I don’t rhyme love with above,” he says: he’d rather go for the unlikely pair trust/ lust, as he does in Smoke & Mirrors, or for explicit lyrics to put a harrowing message across, like in Keep Em Coming. This song is about stopping giving in to peers’ pressure and taking life in one’s hands, and it was originally composed for his previous group, Voodoo Monkey, who went on an indefinite hiatus two years ago. Soon, James got the itch, or a tickle in his throat, for being out of work and play and
founded a new band, which, after some changes in its line-up, has settled into a four piece, with Michael Gomez (formerly Moonshine) on drums, Robin Batchelor (James’s pal from Finger Lickin’ Good old days) on lead guitar, and Daniel Ghio (Orange Peel, Karma 13) on bass guitar. Actually, Daniel will be the first musician ever to have to spread himself across two GMF acts, as Karma 13 will be on stage the previous day. “We are playing on Sunday 6th September, and we are exactly where we want to be: the Radio Gibraltar stage.” They admit they are not main stage material, but they aren’t chillout seaside stage material either. So, a bit like Goldilocks - and James’s core fan will surely remember his ‘lion mane’ years! - he is ticking off his bucket list this special gig that is the coronation of almost thirty years on stage. After Voodoo Monkey, James enjoyed a spell with Finger Lickin’ Good, a great 57