The Stagger Rats

The Stagger Rats

The Stagger Rats are a Scottish alternative band formed in winter 2008 by Daniel Paylor, Kai Wallace, Callum Easter and Craig McMullen. They are based around Edinburgh and Glasgow and aim to move away from the established indie sound. Jack Sandison, from Shetland, later joins on bass, and the line-up includes Paylor and McMullen on guitar and vocals, Easter on organ and vocals, Wallace on drums, and Sandison on bass and vocals.

Style and activity

The band is associated with a sound described as gypsy death funk. They perform in Edinburgh, Glasgow and elsewhere, and their live set includes appearances at a number of music festivals across the UK. At one stage they share bills with Gomez, The View, Gil Scott-Heron and The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster.

Recordings and releases

The Stagger Rats release the single “See Through Spiders”, which also features in the film PIMP, directed by Robert Cavanah and starring Danny Dyer, Billy Boyd and Cavanah. They also have three tracks placed in the film, and they film a video for “See Through Spiders”. In 2011 they release “Fuzzy Fuzzy”, “I’m In Love”, and a cover of The Sensational Alex Harvey Band’s “There’s No Lights On The Christmas Tree Mother, They’re Burning Big Louie Tonight”. Their album Scorpio Leisure follows in 2012.

Reception

The band receives attention for their Scottish accents, sharp suits and swagger, and their music is described as distinctive within the Scottish scene.