The Hostiles

The Hostiles

The Hostiles are a Glasgow-based ska band from South Ayrshire, formed in Ayr in 2001. The group plays punk and ska, with a sound rooted in west coast US ska punk and shaped by distorted guitar riffs, low-slung rhythms, shouted vocals, trumpet and trombone.

The band begins with brothers Josh and Chris, who grow up in the United States listening to Reel Big Fish, NOFX and No Doubt before moving to Ayr in their teens. In Scotland they meet local musicians such as Callum Douglas on drums and Steve Bruce on trombone, while Ruaridh Crumlish later completes the line-up on trumpet. The Hostiles work as a five-piece.

They build a strong live reputation and share stages with acts including Less Than Jake, Spunge, Mad Caddies, Zebrahead, Sonic Boom Six, The King Blues, Random Hand, Leftover Crack, Neville Staple, The Toasters, Fishbone, The Damned, The Beat, Strike Anywhere, Streetlight Manifesto and Capdown. They also tour the UK with Reel Big Fish.

Recordings

After a run of early EPs, The Hostiles release their debut full-length album Always Looking Forward in 2009. It is recorded at Maybank Studios with Matt Harvey, produced by Tim G of Sonic Boom Six, Random Hand and MTV Mash-Up, and mastered by Peter Miles, who also works with The King Blues, Failsafe and The Skints. A release-night show in Glasgow supporting Catch 22 is followed by an 18-date tour, after which the album finds a home on Cardiff label Go Steady Records.

The album helps establish the band as one of Scotland’s respected ska groups. In 2010, tracks by the band appear on compilations in Japan, the USA, the UK and Italy. The following year they undertake a four-week European tour. In 2012 they issue the Late Nights…and Early Hours EP, which shows a harder-edged sound, while they prepare a second full-length release.