Review by Taf Rock for MPM
Images by Euan Robertson
The sharp witted, snappily dressed Kevin McDermott is quite possibly Scotland’s best kept secret. A secret that needs revealing to the public at large. Manos Arriba could well be the single that sets the musician well and truly on the path to widespread recognition.
Performing in a variety of guises since forming Popgun in 1982 – an outfit that metamorphosed into The Suede Crocodiles – Kevin’s musical journey has seen him open for bands as diverse as 10,000 Maniacs, The La’s, Sting, Rod Stewart, Status Quo and Jethro Tull.
Friday 8th March sees the release of Kevin’s latest single, the second to be lifted from his forthcoming full length Sniper Davey album due for release later in 2024.
‘Put your hands up’ (the literal translation of Manos Arriba) ‘surrender to me’. The song brings into focus the operating methods of the gambling industry and how members of the public are teased and tempted to part with hard earned cash by the prospect of landing a big jackpot – in all likelihood the gambler will descend into a pit of misery as loss follows loss the misery eating away at them whilst they persist and keep on playing the gambling game and chasing the dream.
Joining Kevin on the release is brother Jim on percussion, Mick Slaven on guitar, multi-instrumentalist Nick Blythe and Tom McNiven on trumpet.
The seductive hypnotic nature of the colourful Spanish/Latinate music featuring a mix of trumpet and flamenco guitars mirrors that of the endless online gambling ads tempting the addict as they ‘sell an illusion of one being nine’. The message urging you ‘come on, come on’. Kevin himself stars in the entertaining and revealing video for the song which graphically portrays the barrage of tempting messages put before unwitting individuals.
Kevin McDermott may well have hit the jackpot himself with this entertaining tune. ‘Put your hands up’ and ‘surrender’ as you help unveil Scotland’s best kept musical secret to the world.
The track can be streamed and purchased via Bandcamp https://kevinmcdermott.bandcamp.com/track/manos-arriba
Website: https://kevinmcdermott.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kevinmcdermottorchestra
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kevinfrancismcdermott?igsh=ZTQzN3ExZ254YWd3
