The Backline Newsletter - Issue 46

The Backline Newsletter
Issue 46 - Thursday, 23rd April 2026

Editorial

There is a moment every band hits where the question shifts from can we do this to how far can we take it. That shift is uncomfortable. It demands reinvention. It asks for honesty. It forces you to look at what is working and what is not, then decide whether you double down or start again.

This week’s Q and A with The Zebecks captures that exact point. A band formed in school. Years of graft. Big festival slots. Local impact. And now a reset. Not because it failed, but because growth sometimes means shedding skin. Scottish music thrives on that hunger. The willingness to go again. To rebuild. To sharpen the sound. To aim bigger.

If you are in a band reading this, take note. Momentum is not always linear. Sometimes the strongest move is stepping back, recalibrating and coming back louder.

Spotlight Q&A

This Week’s Feature Band: The Zebecks

1. Who is in the band, and what do they play?
   Since we were 16 years old, a good seven years ago now, the band consisted of myself, Dan, at the front, Hayden on guitar and additional vocals, Max on bass guitar and Aiden in the engine room behind me. Recently, the boys decided to pursue their lives outside of music, so I am flying solo for the next wee while ahead of a big relaunch.

2. Describe your sound in five words or less.
   If The Killers were teuchters.

3. What was your first gig as a band?
   The first show we ever played was our school talent show in 2019, a few months after forming the band. I already had an original song called Violet and went on to win by performing it. I have the song title stick and poked on my left arm, a decision I made in student halls and am still questioning.

4. Biggest show so far and how did it feel?
   Our biggest show by crowd size was Tenement Trail 2025 with around 500 people there. In a figurative sense, our biggest show was playing Liverpool Sound City earlier that year. Performing at a major festival in Liverpool as boys from Elgin, 400 miles away, gave me major imposter syndrome. After that passed, I felt proud and validated for the hard work we had put into the band. The venue was at capacity with a queue out the door, which was mind blowing. Nearly a year later we still have Zebecks fans spreading the word around the city.

5. Which Scottish venue feels like home?
   King Tuts Wah Wah Hut. We headlined a local showcase back in 2022 and have been part of many great shows there since. Most notably, we headlined Summer Nights 2024 on a Saturday and brought out Declan Welsh for a song. That night felt like we made a real impact on the local scene and that people who had overlooked us were starting to take notice. I thank King Tuts, its bouncy stage and beautiful sound for that.

6. If someone has never heard of you, what song should they start with?
   Start with Persona. It is the most recent song we released and a good indication of where I am taking the sound. I want to make arena ready Scottish indie rock with emo influences and that track was the first time I stumbled onto that soundscape. I have not released anything since, but the music I have written and recorded dives further into that world. It may not be the most obvious choice from the current catalogue, but if you like Persona you will love what is sitting in the private SoundCloud link titled Unreleased Demos.

7. One band or artist you would love to open for?
   Twin Atlantic. They are a huge influence and being in front of their dedicated fanbase who love alternative music sung in an unapologetic Scottish accent would be huge for my growth. Also, I would be front row after my set singing every word.

8. What is your relationship with social media like?
   I have a love hate relationship with social media. I have been told for years that my band did it well and I have been at the helm of it since school, adapting to algorithms and content styles to promote the band. It worked for a long time. Recently, trying a new strategy resulted in targeted hate online. Sometimes the algorithm pushes you to the wrong audience and once they engage, it snowballs. Platforms do not protect mental health particularly well and carefully worded cyber hate often slips through filters. It is tough, but it is still a tool I use when it benefits the music. I do not believe every artist must rely on it. My focus now is using it sparingly and putting my energy into making better music. I have had reels with millions of views and it has not necessarily moved the career forward.

9. One moment you genuinely thought you were going to get kicked out.
   We shot a music video for Breakthrough in my old student flat and Aiden briefly played drums in the living room. We warned the downstairs neighbour and said it would only be a few minutes. Within seconds of the first hit, neighbours three floors below were at the door screaming. I thought I was going to get evicted or have the police called, but I managed to talk them down. You can still see the thirty seconds of drumming we managed to film in the video.

10. Do you trust wireless?
    We have used wireless in ear monitor systems for nearly three years. They are a huge addition to the performance. I do not fully rely on them, but the show would not be the same without them. Being able to time the set precisely and add studio layers to the backing track invigorates my love for performing live. I am a perfectionist and having tones and transitions dialled in during rehearsals removes inconsistencies. It allows me to focus on my voice and guitar. I understand they are not for everyone, but they help me achieve an arena level sound that would otherwise require multiple extra players. Technology can fail, and we have recovered when it has, but when used well it elevates the show. Bands should still be able to stand on their own without it. Think of it as another layer, like stage presence, tone and lighting.

Connect with :
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Essential Gear: Pearl Chad Smith Signature Snare

Short Description
A steel 14 by 5 inch snare built for punch, crack and serious projection. Designed with Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, this drum delivers power without losing sensitivity. It is loud when you need it and articulate when you do not.

Why We Love It
The snare is the voice of the drum kit. When it sounds right, the whole band feels tighter. When it does not, everything feels smaller. The Pearl Chad Smith Signature is unapologetically bold. It cuts through guitars in small venues without needing to be mic’d into oblivion. Rimshots snap. Backbeats land with authority. Ghost notes still speak. For rock and indie bands playing real rooms, that balance matters. You want presence without harshness. This drum gives you that.

What It Does
The steel shell delivers brightness and attack, while the 5 inch depth keeps it responsive. It tunes high for that classic crack, but still holds body at medium tension. It records well. It projects live. It does not disappear when the guitars get loud. Most importantly, it reacts consistently night after night, which is exactly what working drummers need.

Best For
Rock, indie and alternative bands who rely on strong backbeats and dynamic control. Drummers who want one snare that can handle rehearsal rooms, club gigs and bigger festival stages without swapping out halfway through.

Bonus Tip
Do not overtighten it chasing volume. Let the shell resonate. A well tuned medium tension snare with confident rimshots will sound bigger than one cranked to within an inch of its life.

Gig of the Week

Brooke Combe – 24th April, Saint Lukes, Glasgow

Brooke Combe has quietly built one of the most compelling live reputations in Scotland. Soulful, sharp and completely self assured on stage, she blends classic influences with modern bite. Saint Lukes is the perfect room for her. Intimate enough to feel every vocal run, big enough to let the band stretch out. Expect tight grooves, serious presence and a crowd that knows every word.

Best of the Rest

The Skids – 24th April, Barras, Glasgow

A Barras headline show always carries weight, and The Skids in that room feels right. Decades of influence, razor sharp riffs and songs that still hit with urgency. If you want a reminder that great songwriting outlives trends, this is your ticket.

Creeper – 27th April, Cathouse, Glasgow

Theatrical, loud and fully committed, Creeper turn every show into an event. Cathouse will be packed and sweaty in the best way. Big choruses, dramatic moments and a crowd that gives it everything back. If you miss this one, you will hear about it.

Wrap Up

This week is about evolution. Bands changing shape. Artists reassessing. Drummers investing in the backbeat that holds it all together.

If you are building something, keep building. If you need to reset, reset properly. Scottish music moves because people care enough to push it forward.

See you down the front.

Get Involved

Got a story from the rehearsal room, a feature you would like to see, a gig pick, or a gear review you want to share, or just want to plug some great Scottish music, suggest a band or get featured? Have you attended our gig pick - write a review we may feature it a future issue.

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