R13: What do you think of the bands playing today then?
FV: Really good!
R13: I was loving The Dirty Great, I have to say! I thought they were very cool!
FV: I dunno, we're a bit worried because we're not as heavy as them. We're gonna do a shortish set and only play our heavier songs
R13: I can't see it being a big problem, a lot of the people in there have very random taste in music... you'll go down well! Plus you're going to stand out anyway- you're Scottish and drunk!
FV: (laughs) yeah, true...
R13: How long did it take you to get down here then?
FV: About 8 hours so we're a bit worse for wear. We're happy playing a shorter set. We've been up for 27 1/2 hours so we don't care... we know it's not going to be our best set but it won't be our worst!
R13: Well I'm sure you'll sound great to R13, because we've been drinking as well. You're set's going to be fun, it's going to be different and everyone's going to love it!
R13: What type of bands do you play with in Scotland and where on the bill do you normally get placed?
FV: Most of the time we're headlining... we've played with Kasabien, Wonderstuff, King Adora...
R13: Are those bands you listen to then?
FV: Not so much King Adora and Kasabien. We take support slots as they come really, so sometimes we're not playing with bands we'd like to. There are going to be some changes so that we're playing to the right audiences. We're trying to get a support slot with Nine Black Alps... Smother are a great band from Essex. We're trying not to have such random support slots. We like playing at King Tuts, but they've got a habit of not putting similar bands on the same shows, but it's a great venue. You're more than welcome to come up next time we're playing!
R13: How do you get on with the different crowds then?
FV: Oh, we get on with them well... and we've got a good home support.
R13: How did you go about building your fan base up?
FV: Email lists and bombarding people with abuse! "If you don't come, we'll kill your family!" (laughs) nah, there was a year and a half when we played every gig we possibly could. That built up a very loyal following.
R13: What about the distribution of your CDs? You're on your own label...
FV: We find bribery works really well! Usually sexual favours work... Or a shotgun to the pelvis! Nah, we've done well... we've got our EPs into the shops in Scotland and we've done well with radio play in Scotland. We're working with a demo label now. The less said about that the better... and we've got new management
R13: How do you fit that in around work as well?
FV: It isn't easy. Dave can't remember full time work- wasn't it when you were at college...before you dropped out? I finished work at 2am then we came straight here. I work in a bar and my managers really good about gigs.
R13: What about your music... how do songs get written?
FV: Sometimes we'll get a really good riff on the bass, which we can't ignore. A bass guitar can sound really lovely on it's own. We make sure that the songs we write are bloody good. They'll be rearranged loads, but when they're done they're great. If we're not sure about them we'll put them on the backburner and come back to them later. If we wouldn't buy it to listen to we won't use it.
R13: So what about the other bands playing tonight? What do you think of Fireapple Red?
FV: Apparently they played the Barfly in Glasgow... I dunno. I can't remember!
R13: What have the next few months got in store for you?
FV: We've got new songs... touring... we wanna go to T in the Park if we can get tickets! Who wants to go to the V Festival?! They've got Franz Ferdinand playing! Franz are the worst thing to happen to Scottish music ever! They're an 80's wannabe band!
R13: I'm so glad someone agrees with me. I bought the album ages ago...I can't even remember when... and I took it back.
FV: Also, the V Festival had Dido headlining. Come on...Dido! That defines the V Festival.
R13: So Franz Ferdinand didn't deserve all those awards then?
FV: No! They deserved to be taken out! Haha! Play on words there! (laughs) Nah, they're nowhere near as good as the NME thinks they are. NME think that The Libertines are good though! 90% of what they say is utter bollocks.
R13: What magazines do you read? Or at least respect...
FV: Room Thirteen! You update it every day and that's great. You can log onto it and there's always something different. Most websites update every month, every week... but yours is always up to date!
R13: What bands in Scotland deserve the recognition then?
FV: Us!
R13: That was a cunning plug...
FV: (laughs) No, there are loads of bands who are so much better than Franz Ferdinand but because we don't play in London it's difficult.