Eryka to support hot new band in gig at King Tut’s

Jan 22 2009 by Chris Clements, Hamilton Advertiser

A BLANTYRE band are hoping to hit the big time as they support one of the hottest acts in the world next week.

Four-piece rock outfit Eryka will be providing support for Radio 1 regulars the Airborne Toxic Event at King Tut’s in Glasgow on Friday, January 30.

And, while they are not top of the bill, the band certainly hope that the up-and-coming LA quintet’s reputation will help raise their own profile.

Eryka bassist Kenny McInally said:: “This gig is certainly going to be one of our biggest, mainly due to the band we are supporting.

“The Airborne Toxic Event have been getting a lot of airplay and they are pretty big in America as well. I think for that reason alone it’ll be a big gig. The tickets we were allocated have already sold out and as far as I know the overall tickets are going fast as well.”

Kenny (28) joined the band two years ago, just as the group changed their name from Merchant City to Eryka, having already played some successful gigs at King Tut’s.

The current line-up - consisting of singer/guitarist Ryan Fletcher (25), guitarist Paul Mosley (24), drummer Ross Morgan (25) and Kenny, all from Blantyre - have been together for two years.

Kenny said: “We all like different types of music, but if someone were to ask us what we sound like, I would like to think we strive to sound like an early U2 from the 80s, but with a rawer edge to it.”

Kenny has high hopes for Eryka but knows the odds are stacked against them. However, that won’t stop the lads from trying.

“We would definitely like to go all the way with the band, but with the ways things are going in the industry, and with CD sales dropping, it is pretty hard,” he said.

“Playing music is something we enjoy doing but we are not one of these bands who play a different gig every month. We try and leave a couple of months between gigs so that when we do play we can have a good crowd at them.”

The band also play at Whistlebinkies in Edinburgh on Saturday, February 21, and are set to confirm an April gig at the Classic Grand, Glasgow.

For more info about the band, visit their site on www.eryka.co.uk.