Window Seats Explained

Window Seats
Landscape:yes
Origin:Belfast, Northern Ireland
Genre:Alternative rock
Years Active:–present
Label:Unsigned
Website:windowseatsofficial.com
Current Members:Jude McCaffrey
Elliot Russell
Tony Furnell
Past Members:Ryan Bradley
Ryan Lilley

Window Seats are a three-piece alternative rock band from Belfast, Northern Ireland.[1] They are the first unsigned Northern Ireland artists to be featured on MTV Rocks.[2] The band has self-produced seven music videos, single single releases and an EP under its own record label, Get Out Records.[3] The band was formed in 2007 and currently consists of members Jude McCaffrey (lead vocals, guitar), Elliot Russell (bass and Tony Furnell (drums, backing vocal).[4]

History

2007–2008: Formation

Jude McCaffrey, Tony Furnell and bassist Ryan Lilley formed Window Seats in 2007.[5] Writing and performing together, the band also recorded their music themselves. In 2008 this culminated in the release of a 3-track demo named "Local Superhero".[6] The title track received support from UK radio stations during 2008 and 2009, including BBC Radio 1[7] and BBC Radio Ulster.[8]

Lilley left the band in 2009 and was replaced by Ryan 'Didsy' Bradley, who McCaffrey and Furnell had initially met while attending college together in the early 2000s.

2009–2010: Early singles and videos

After Bradley's addition to the lineup, Window Seats began self-producing new single releases and a number of music videos.

In 2010, CD singles "No Show" and "Miss Midnight / Awake" were given much critical acclaim by the Irish press.[9] As music journalist Jackie Hayden described in Hot Press, "No Show bursts from the traps and runs riot all over your hi-fi before going into stop-start mode driven by demented, rasping drums." AU Magazine described the first track of double A-side "Miss Midnight / Awake" as "featuring some lovely, atmospheric production, a strident vocal performance from Jude McCaffrey."[10] Coinciding with these single releases, the band produced two music videos for "No Show" (both directed by Bryan Stewart[11] [12]) and one for "Miss Midnight" (directed by Jonathan Beer[13]).

2011–2013: Frozen Bones EP

In May 2011 Window Seats made their back catalogue available to download for free, alongside a new song, "Rat".[14] In a live review BBC producer Steven Rainey described the song as "head and shoulders above the rest of the set, possessing an effervescent guitar and bass melody that really causes the audience to pay attention, perhaps pointing the way forward for this band of indie-rock adventurers."[15] The band released a video for "Rat" in April 2011[16] but had already begun work on the next music video, an ambitious project to accompany the next single. In August the group performed a live session on BBC Radio, which they filmed and made available online.[17] [18]

"Local Superhero" video

In October 2011, after ten months of preparation, Window Seats released their next video and single, a reworking of "Local Superhero".[19] The video production was a collaboration between the band and more than 30 other contributors,[20] notably director Marty Stalker and prop builder Ciaran Larkin, and featured actor Denis Halligan, who had appeared in Game of Thrones and the film Killing Bono.[21] [22] The video was filmed in a set entirely built by the band and their team of volunteers, in the style of a comic book store with props and references from sci-fi and fantasy films and comic book series including Iron Man, Star Wars, Spider-Man and X-Men.[23] Many of the props and costumes (including arc reactors, light sabres, a proton pack and an Inception totem) were created by Ciaran Larkin.[24] [25] Filming took place during summer 2011 and included pyrotechnics on the set, with visual effects added to the footage later.[26]

The music video for "Local Superhero" was nominated for Best Production Effects at the Irish Music Television Awards.[27] BBC Radio 1 presenter Rory McConnell described the video as "the most awesome video ever". Like the band's previous singles, "Local Superhero" was released as a free download via their website.

EP release

In December 2011 the group released their debut EP Frozen Bones, which featured both "Local Superhero" and "Rat".[28] All tracks on the release were mixed and mastered by Neal Calderwood, who has also recorded albums for General Fiasco and Fighting with Wire, among others. Songs from the EP have received comparisons with Joyrider and west coast American rock bands Tad and Far.[29]

Window Seats launched Frozen Bones with a tour across Ireland.[30]

Television coverage

In January 2012, the "Local Superhero" video was picked up for broadcast on international music television channels MTV Rocks and Kerrang! TV. This made Window Seats the first ever unsigned band from Northern Ireland to have a video shown on MTV Rocks. The video was also named BBC Big Screens 'National Film of the Week' and playlisted on all 22 BBC Big Screens in cities across the UK.[31] It received further support from national television, including a feature in Ireland on TG4's magazine show PONC XL in February 2012.[32]

The video showed additional longevity in March 2013, when it was showcased on Channel 4's short film programme The Shooting Gallery.[33]

"Juliette's Letter" video

By February 2012, Window Seats had begun working on their sixth music video. This time the crew was much smaller, with the band taking on full responsibility as writers, directors, editors and producers.[34] Throughout the year the band worked on the video, in between live appearances across Ireland including Forfey Festival in County Fermanagh,[35] [36] Belly Bang festival in County Tipperary[37] and Belfast support slots with Duke Special and Delorentos.[38] [39] The "Juliette's Letter" video and single were launched in November 2012 with a 16-date tour across the UK and Ireland,[40] concluding with a showcase at the 100 Club in London.

Band members

Former members

Timeline

Discography

Artist:Window Seats
Ep:1
Singles:6
Music Videos:7
Option:1
Option Name:Demo

Singles

YearTitle[41] Chart PositionsAlbum
UKIRLUK RockUK Indie
2008"Local Superhero (demo)"————Non-album singles
2010"No Show"————
"Miss Midnight / Awake"————
2011"Rat"[A]————Frozen Bones EP
"Local Superhero"[A]————
2012"Juliette's Letter"————
2015"Stickle Bricks"————Non-album single
"—" denotes a title that did not chart.
Notes

Music videos

YearTitleDirector
2010"No Show"Bryan Stewart
"No Show"Bryan Stewart
"Miss Midnight"Jonathan Beer
2011"Rat"Sean Duncan[43]
"Local Superhero"Marty Stalker
2012"Juliette's Letter"Window Seats
2015"Stickle Bricks"Alan Stewart[44]

Awards

IMTV Awards

"Local Superhero" was nominated for Best Production Effects at the 2011 Irish Music Television Awards.[45] The video was directed by Marty Stalker.

|-| 2011| "Local Superhero"| Best Production Effects| |}

IOV Awards

"Local Superhero" was awarded second place in the Best Music Video category at the 2012 Institute of Videography Awards.[46] The video was directed by Marty Stalker.

|-| 2012| "Local Superhero"| Best Music Video| |}

External links

Notes and References

  1. Hayden. Jackie. First Cuts. Hot Press. 34. 16. 28. 25 August 2010. Window Seats, from Belfast, pack a wallop from the off. 'No Show' bursts from the traps and runs riot all over your hi-fi before going into stop-start mode driven by demented, rasping drums..
  2. News: McKeown. Brendan. Glass of '12; why Window Seats are local boys done good. Daily Mirror. Trinity Mirror. 2 March 2012. Box Office, p. 3. 16 March 2012.
  3. Web site: Get Out Records. MusicBrainz. 17 October 2011.
  4. News: McCreary. Matt. One to Watch: Window Seats. Belfast Telegraph. 8 March 2012. Going Out. What's the lineup? Jude McCaffrey (vocals/guitar) from Fermanagh, Tony Furnell (drums) from London and Elliot Russell. The band first met in college in Belfast in the early 2000s..
  5. News: Roy. David. Shared Views [interview with Tony Furnell]. Irish News. 2 March 2012. Scene, p. 10. Jude (singer/guitarist) and I met at college. We started playing together in 2007 with our friend Ryan Lilley, but he eventually decided to leave – though we're still friends and still play a lot of the songs he wrote with us. We knew Didsy (bass) from college as well... We're proud to be the first Northern Ireland band without label, promotion or management to get on MTV Rocks. It's fantastic that we've reached a whole new audience. We've started work on the next video and the pressure certainly is on. This time it's a much smaller production team, but the video is no less ambitious..
  6. Web site: Release group 'Local Superhero (demo)' by Window Seats. Musicbrainz. 7 February 2012.
  7. Rory McConnell. 7 February 2012. BBC Introducing in Northern Ireland. BBC Introducing . Presenter: Rory McConnell . . . 9 April 2009.
  8. Web site: McCaffrey. Jude. Guest Blog – The Making of Window Seats 'Local Superhero' and other stories. BBC Across The Line. BBC Online. 13 February 2012. 26 February 2012.
  9. News: Entertainment. McCallion. Claire. Community Telegraph. 5 May 2011. 14. In 2010, previous releases 'No Show' and 'Miss Midnight / Awake' received much critical acclaim from the Irish Press..
  10. Jones. Chris. Window Seats: 'Miss Midnight'/'Awake'. AU Magazine. 66. 65. June 2010 . 16 October 2011.
  11. Web site: Window Seats – No Show. NME. 16 October 2011.
  12. Web site: Window Seats – No Show – Official Video. NME. 16 October 2011.
  13. Web site: Window Seats – Miss Midnight – Official Video. NME. 16 October 2011.
  14. News: Roy. David. Noise Annoys: From a window. Irish News. 29 July 2011. Scene, p. 10. Rat is currently available for listening and free downloading purposes at windowseats.bandcamp.com, along with their previous two singles Miss Midnight/Awake and No Show. They're a generous bunch, these Window Seats boys. It seems they are hard at work on an ambitious music video for forthcoming tune Local Superhero..
  15. Web site: Rainey. Steven. Single Launch... Seven Summits, Window Seats, Morning Claws. BBC Online. 16 October 2011.
  16. News: McCusker. John. The Scene. Ulster Herald. 9. 14 April 2011. The video for their new single 'Rat' will be released online on Monday, April 25..
  17. Across the Line. Across the Line. 17 October 2011. 8 August 2011. 30. BBC. Presenter:Rigsy.
  18. Web site: Window Seats – Juliette's Letter (Acoustic BBC ATL session) video. NME. 15 October 2011.
  19. Robb Murphy in session!. BBC Introducing. 10 October 2011. Presenters: Rory McConnell and Phil Taggart. BBC. 10 October 2011. 36. (RMcC) It is the most awesome video ever ... (PT) This week I went to see Window Seats in the Menagerie in Belfast ... They've spent ten months getting a video together..
  20. News: Window Seats – Local Superhero video. McCallion. Claire. Community Telegraph. 13 October 2011. 13. Combining the efforts of 36 Northern Ireland-based contributors over the course of 10 months, it is the band's largest production to date, and one of the most ambitious videos undertaken by a DIY band in Ireland..
  21. Irish band plan major video launch. Whinnery. Damien. The Big List. Flagship Media. 215. 26 August 2011. 17 October 2011.
  22. Web site: Denis Halligan. IMDb. 17 October 2011.
  23. Window Seats Q and A.... McFee. Edwin. The Big List. Flagship Media. 217. 9 November 2011. 24–25.
  24. Web site: Interview with Jude from Window Seats. boostthemusic.com. 19 October 2011. 11 January 2012.
  25. News: Poole. Amanda. Meet the man who says: I can make ANYTHING. Belfast Telegraph. 20 February 2012. 8.
  26. Web site: The Window Seats Music Video. Stalker. Marty. Scattered Images. 17 October 2011.
  27. Web site: Window Seats – 'Frozen Bones'. imro.ie. Irish Mechanical Rights Organisation. Dublin. 28 November 2011. 28 November 2011.
  28. News: McKeown. Brendan. Windows to our world.... Daily Mirror. Trinity Mirror. 30 December 2011. Box Office, p. 3. 9 February 2012.
  29. Web site: Window Seats – EP Review – Frozen Bones. boostthemusic.com. 7 January 2012. 11 January 2012.
  30. Window Seats. BBC Music Showcase. BBC Online. 28 November 2012. 26 February 2012.
  31. Culture Café: Interview with Jude McCaffrey . 7 February 2012 . Culture Café . Presenter: Vanessa Monaghan . . . Dublin . 1 February 2012 . 28 . 13:23 .
  32. PONC XL. 24 February 2012. Presenter: Colmán Mac Séalaigh. TG4. Cúla 4. Cúla 4. 21 February 2012. 6:51. Irish. [Translation] Music for story 2 this week, as we look at the band Window Seats. This is a band from Belfast, who came together in 2007. During December 2011, they released the EP 'Frozen Bones' and last month they released the video 'Local Superhero'. A great video and great music coming from the lads from Window Seats and this video was to be seen on the channels MTV Rocks and Kerrang! TV. Here's a small taste... You can get more info on this brilliant band from their website 'windowseatsofficial.com'. They're on Twitter and Facebook as well, check out those pages soon..
  33. Here Comes the Night . 12 March 2013 . The Shooting Gallery . . 12 March 2013 . 13 . 1 .
  34. News: Window Seats include Bogan's on extensive tour. Ulster Herald. The Scene, p. 2. 1 November 2012. The unsigned trio... have announced a clutch of dates, including a showcase at London's legendary 100 Club... The video for their next release 'Juliette's Letter' promises to be just as special. This time the band not only produced, but also wrote and directed the video..
  35. Web site: Music – Forfey Festival. forfey.co.uk. 18 February 2013.
  36. Web site: Deadline Extension!. forfey.co.uk. 31 May 2012. 18 February 2013.
  37. News: Belly Bang is back at The Piper. South Tipp Today. 20 August 2012. 18 February 2013.
  38. Web site: Gifted Live takes place in Belfast tonight. 7 June 2012. hotpress.com. Hot Press. 18 February 2013.
  39. Web site: DELORENTOS & Window Seats this Sat 15th Dec. overave.com. 18 February 2013.
  40. Web site: Gig of the Week: Window Seats. 31 October 2012. BBC Across The Line. BBC Online. 18 February 2013.
  41. Web site: Window Seats. MusicBrainz. 17 October 2011.
  42. Web site: Watch: Window Seats – Local Superhero. AU Magazine. 10 October 2011. 15 October 2011.
  43. Web site: Duncan. Sean. Window Seats "RAT" Music Video. Redcap Productions. 17 October 2011.
  44. Web site: Cunningham. Aaron. Watch: Window Seats – Stickle Bricks. chordblossom.com. 30 November 2015. 2 December 2015.
  45. Web site: IMTV Video Music Awards 2011: Nominees Announced!!!!!!. irishmusictelevision.com. 21 November 2011. 7 February 2012.
  46. Web site: IOV Awards 2012 – The Results. iov.co.uk. 16 November 2012. 18 November 2012.

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