QnA with Pure Grief from Caithness before their live date in Inverness on Saturday

Caithness band Pure Grief are back live in Inverness this weekend with a date at Mad Hatters on Saturday. Margaret Chrystall asks some questions to catch up ...

Q When did you last get a chance to play Inverness?

A Inverness was our last gig before the world closed. It was at Tooth & Claw in support of Alkanes. Sold out, a great show.

Q Have you managed to do much live gigging in Caithness?

A We’ve played one show in Thurso since the pandemic began. A belated album/EP release.

Q Some bands I know found the whole lockdown thing meant they got some songwriting done, others found it wasn't a great environment for that. Where does the Pure Grief creative flow fall on that one?

A I was stuck in my house alone, trying to conserve food and electricity. I wrote many, many songs.

* Electric Gold was the lead single from the band's album Loyal To No One, Local To Nowhere.

Q I have yet to find anyone who found the pandemic in itself inspiring as a theme for songs – but perhaps you did. If not, was there any solace available from music for you?

A I wrote one song about the goings on, but upon stepping back and looking at it with fresh eyes it felt too political for Pure Grief. It has since been binned.

Q Looking frontwards now! What are your plans for the rest of 2022 - are you itching to get on with things and have you been able to get dates or recording organised?

A We’ve been having trouble with cancellations/postponements, but are doing our utmost to push forward. We would like to record more music before the end of the year. We’ll see what happens.

* The band call the video their "big-budget masterpiece" for Algae Ever After from their Cobra Cabana EP.

Q It sounds as if Saturday will be a great night at Mad Hatters – have you played with Chancers before?

A We had Chancers open for us when we last played at The Market Bar in Inverness. The possibility of them being on the bill for this show was brought up and we jumped at the chance.

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* Illegal Green Anchors was the lead single from Pure Grief's EP Cobra Cabana.

Q Is there anything you want to tell your audience before they head out to see you on Saturday – that you've won the lottery and the drinks are on you? That you've decided to move to LA to seek your musical fortunes there? That all that space stuff happening in Sutherland means you have been invited down to write an album to woo the Martians? You know, simple stuff!

A I’ll write any alien an album if I get a wee jaunt out in that rocket. Just me Elon Musk and Elton John, conquering the cosmos.

Pure Grief will play Mad Hatters, Inverness, on Saturday. Also on the bill is Chancers and The Trauma.

Facebook: puregriefmusic Twitter: @puregriefmusic

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