When we went up to Dunfermline to see St. Pauli take on the locals, there was also a concert headlined by Glasgow folk-punk band and St. Pauli supporters, The Wakes. The wakes, who were formed in 2006 were a natural choice for the concert that, let's be realistic, was really just for St. Pauli fans. Most of their songs are about the experience of Irish immigrants and the working class struggles as a whole, as a whole and they clearly share the same ethos as the football club. The band has released several albums, including "These Hands" in 2009, "No Irish Need Apply" in 2012, and "Venceremos" in 2016. Their music has gained a dedicated following, particularly in the Scottish music scene and among those with an interest in politically conscious music. Amongst their won songs that reference these themes, they also had renditions of 'The Saints are Coming' and 'Into the Valley' by local punk heroes, the Skids and socialist classics like ...
Fujiya & Miyagi first came to my notice when there was an upsurge in electronic music of this type while I was living in Korea from 2005 to 2007. At the time, I was more of a fan of Working for a Nuclear Free City, Hot Chip and LCD Soundsystem. However, F&M have evolved their style over time and although they themselves lament their decline in popularity in a couple of their songs over the last few years, I am a fan of the way they have developed. In fact I might have a slight preference for the latest two albums, Flashback (2019) and Slight Variations (2022), over their two more popular early albums, Transparent Things (2006) and Lightbulbs (2008). The band consists of David Best (vocals and guitar), Steve Lewis (synthesizers and electronics), and Ed Chivers (drums and percussion). The name Fujiya & Miyagi was inspired by a record player brand and a Japanese car brand. Musically F&M blend elements of Krautrock, electronic music and indie pop, although th...