Window Seats
{{Short description|Musical group from Northern Ireland}}
{{About|the Northern Ireland band||Window seat (disambiguation){{!}}Window seat}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Window Seats
| image = Window Seats live 2012-03-15.jpg
| alt = Window Seats performing on stage
| caption = Live at Queen's University Belfast Students' Union, 2012
| image_size =
| landscape = yes
| alias =
| origin = Belfast, Northern Ireland
| genre = Alternative rock
| years_active = {{start date|2007}}–present
| label = Unsigned
| associated_acts =
| website = [http://windowseatsofficial.com windowseatsofficial.com]
| current_members = Jude McCaffrey
Elliot Russell
Tony Furnell
| past_members = Ryan Bradley
Ryan Lilley
}}
Window Seats are an alternative rock band from Belfast, Northern Ireland.{{cite journal| last=Hayden| first=Jackie| title=First Cuts| journal=Hot Press| volume=34| issue=16| page=28| date=25 August 2010| quote=Window Seats, from Belfast, pack a wallop from the off. 'No Show' bursts from the traps and runs riot all over your hi-fi before going into stop-start mode driven by demented, rasping drums.}} They are the first unsigned Northern Ireland artists to be featured on MTV Rocks.{{cite news| last=McKeown| first=Brendan| title=Glass of '12; why Window Seats are local boys done good| newspaper=Daily Mirror| publisher=Trinity Mirror| date=2 March 2012| at=Box Office, p. 3| url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/GLASS+OF+%2712%3B+WHY+WINDOW+SEATS+ARE+LOCAL+BOYS+DONE+GOOD.-a0281730988| accessdate=16 March 2012}} The band has self-produced seven music videos, single single releases and an EP under its own record label, Get Out Records.{{cite web| title=Get Out Records| publisher=MusicBrainz| url=http://musicbrainz.org/label/ee0ca67c-cf24-404c-baf3-fbf3f9cdecc0| accessdate=17 October 2011}} The band was formed in 2007 and currently consists of members Jude McCaffrey (lead vocal, guitar), Elliot Russell (bass guitar) and Tony Furnell (drums, backing vocal).{{cite news| last=McCreary| first=Matt| title=One to Watch: Window Seats| newspaper=Belfast Telegraph| date=8 March 2012| at=Going Out| quote=What's the lineup? Jude McCaffrey (vocals/guitar) from Fermanagh, Tony Furnell (drums) from London and Elliot Russell. The band first met in college in Belfast in the early 2000s.}}
History
= 2007–2008: Formation =
Jude McCaffrey, Tony Furnell and bassist Ryan Lilley formed Window Seats in 2007.{{cite news| last=Roy| first=David| title=Shared Views [interview with Tony Furnell]| newspaper=Irish News| date=2 March 2012| at=Scene, p. 10| quote=Jude (singer/guitarist) and I met at college. We started playing together in 2007 with our friend Ryan Lilley, but he eventually decided to leave – though we're still friends and still play a lot of the songs he wrote with us. We knew Didsy (bass) from college as well... We're proud to be the first Northern Ireland band without label, promotion or management to get on MTV Rocks. It's fantastic that we've reached a whole new audience. We've started work on the next video and the pressure certainly is on. This time it's a much smaller production team, but the video is no less ambitious.}} Writing and performing together, the band also recorded their music themselves. In 2008 this culminated in the release of a 3-track demo named "Local Superhero".{{cite web| title=Release group 'Local Superhero (demo)' by Window Seats| publisher=Musicbrainz| url=http://musicbrainz.org/release-group/b995e28c-0095-414d-995f-cdf227ffe5bc| accessdate=7 February 2012}} The title track received support from UK radio stations during 2008 and 2009, including BBC Radio 1{{Cite episode| title=Rory McConnell| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/rorymcconnell/tracklistingarchive.shtml?20090409| accessdate=7 February 2012| series=BBC Introducing in Northern Ireland| series-link=BBC Introducing |credits=Presenter: Rory McConnell |network=BBC |station=Radio 1 |airdate=9 April 2009}} and BBC Radio Ulster.{{cite web| last=McCaffrey| first=Jude| title=Guest Blog – The Making of Window Seats 'Local Superhero' and other stories| work=BBC Across The Line| publisher=BBC Online| date=13 February 2012| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/acrosstheline/2012/02/guest_blog_-_window_seats_loca.html| accessdate=26 February 2012}}
Lilley left the band in 2009 and was replaced by Ryan 'Didsy' Bradley, whom McCaffrey and Furnell had initially met while attending college together in the early 2000s.
= 2009–2010: Early singles and videos =
After Bradley's addition to the lineup, Window Seats began self-producing new single releases and a number of music videos.
In 2010, CD singles "No Show" and "Miss Midnight / Awake" received critical acclaim from the Irish press.{{cite news| title=Entertainment| last=McCallion| first=Claire| newspaper=Community Telegraph| date=5 May 2011| page=14| quote=In 2010, previous releases 'No Show' and 'Miss Midnight / Awake' received much critical acclaim from the Irish Press.}} As music journalist Jackie Hayden described in Hot Press, "No Show bursts from the traps and runs riot all over your hi-fi before going into stop-start mode driven by demented, rasping drums." AU Magazine described the first track of double A-side "Miss Midnight / Awake" as "featuring some lovely, atmospheric production, a strident vocal performance from Jude McCaffrey."{{cite journal| last=Jones| first=Chris| title=Window Seats: 'Miss Midnight'/'Awake'| journal=AU Magazine| issue=66| page=65| date=June 2010 |url=https://issuu.com/iheartau/docs/au66-online/65| accessdate=16 October 2011}} The band produced two music videos for "No Show" (both directed by Bryan Stewart{{cite web| title=Window Seats – No Show| publisher=NME| url=https://www.nme.com/nme-video/youtube/id/ba6bY3eZobI| accessdate=16 October 2011}}{{cite web| title=Window Seats – No Show – Official Video| publisher=NME| url=https://www.nme.com/nme-video/youtube/id/5Iw0nrYcfks| accessdate=16 October 2011}}) and one for "Miss Midnight" (directed by Jonathan Beer{{cite web| title=Window Seats – Miss Midnight – Official Video| publisher=NME| url=https://www.nme.com/nme-video/youtube/id/joS84V5P9tI| accessdate=16 October 2011}}).
= 2011–2013: ''Frozen Bones'' EP =
In May 2011 Window Seats made their back catalogue available to download for free, alongside a new song, "Rat" and an accompanying video.{{cite news| last=Roy| first=David| title=Noise Annoys: From a window| newspaper=Irish News|date=29 July 2011|at=Scene, p. 10| quote=Rat is currently available for listening and free downloading purposes at windowseats.bandcamp.com, along with their previous two singles Miss Midnight/Awake and No Show. They're a generous bunch, these Window Seats boys. It seems they are hard at work on an ambitious music video for forthcoming tune Local Superhero.}}{{cite news| last=McCusker| first=John| title=The Scene| newspaper=Ulster Herald| page=9| date=14 April 2011| quote=The video for their new single 'Rat' will be released online on Monday, April 25.}} In a live review BBC producer Steven Rainey described the song as "head and shoulders above the rest of the set, possessing an effervescent guitar and bass melody that really causes the audience to pay attention, perhaps pointing the way forward for this band of indie-rock adventurers."{{cite web| last=Rainey| first=Steven| title=Single Launch... Seven Summits, Window Seats, Morning Claws| publisher=BBC Online| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/atl/review_specific400285.shtml| accessdate=16 October 2011}} In August the group performed a live session on BBC Radio, which they filmed and made available online.{{cite episode| title=Across the Line| series=Across the Line| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b013024v| accessdate=17 October 2011| airdate=8 August 2011| minutes=30| network=BBC| credits=Presenter:Rigsy}}{{cite web| title=Window Seats – Juliette's Letter (Acoustic BBC ATL session) video| publisher=NME| url=https://www.nme.com/nme-video/youtube/id/UXL20__ynKk| accessdate=15 October 2011}}
== "Local Superhero" video ==
In October 2011, after ten months of preparation, Window Seats released their next video and single, a reworking of "Local Superhero".{{cite episode| title=Robb Murphy in session!| series=BBC Introducing| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b015mscw| accessdate=10 October 2011| credits=Presenters: Rory McConnell and Phil Taggart| network=BBC| airdate=10 October 2011| minutes=36| quote=(RMcC) It is the most awesome video ever ... (PT) This week I went to see Window Seats in the Menagerie in Belfast ... They've spent ten months getting a video together.}} The video production was a collaboration between the band and more than 30 other contributors,{{cite news| title=Window Seats – Local Superhero video| last=McCallion| first=Claire| newspaper=Community Telegraph| date=13 October 2011| page=13| quote=Combining the efforts of 36 Northern Ireland-based contributors over the course of 10 months, it is the band's largest production to date, and one of the most ambitious videos undertaken by a DIY band in Ireland.}} notably director Marty Stalker and prop builder Ciaran Larkin, and featured actor Denis Halligan, who had appeared in Game of Thrones and the film Killing Bono.{{cite journal| title=Irish band plan major video launch| last=Whinnery| first=Damien| journal=The Big List| publisher=Flagship Media| issue=215| date=26 August 2011| url=http://www.thebiglist.co.uk/news.asp?newsid=53077| accessdate=17 October 2011}}{{cite web| title=Denis Halligan| work=IMDb| url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4102014/| accessdate=17 October 2011}} The video was filmed in a set entirely built by the band and their team of volunteers, in the style of a comic book store with props and references from sci-fi and fantasy films and comic book series including Iron Man, Star Wars, Spider-Man and X-Men.{{cite journal| title=Window Seats Q and A...| last=McFee| first=Edwin| journal=The Big List| publisher=Flagship Media| issue=217| date=9 November 2011| pages=24–25}} Many of the props and costumes (including arc reactors, light sabres, a proton pack and an Inception totem) were created by Ciaran Larkin.{{cite web| title=Interview with Jude from Window Seats| work=boostthemusic.com| date=19 October 2011| url=http://www.boostthemusic.com/buzz/interviews/interview-with-jude-from-window-seats/| accessdate=11 January 2012}}{{cite news| last=Poole| first=Amanda| title=Meet the man who says: I can make ANYTHING| newspaper=Belfast Telegraph| date=20 February 2012| page=8}} Filming took place during summer 2011 and included pyrotechnics on the set, with visual effects added to the footage later.{{cite web| title=The Window Seats Music Video| last=Stalker| first=Marty| publisher=Scattered Images| url=http://www.scatteredimages.co.uk/2011/08/09/the-window-seats-music-video/| accessdate=17 October 2011}}
The music video for "Local Superhero" was nominated for Best Production Effects at the Irish Music Television Awards.{{cite web| title=Window Seats – 'Frozen Bones'| work=imro.ie| publisher=Irish Mechanical Rights Organisation| location=Dublin| date=28 November 2011| url=http://www.imro.ie/imro_article/window-seats-frozen-bones| accessdate=28 November 2011}} BBC Radio 1 presenter Rory McConnell described the video as "the most awesome video ever". Like the band's previous singles, "Local Superhero" was released as a free download via their website.
== EP release ==
File:Window Seats - Frozen Bones (EP artwork).jpg
In December 2011 the group released their debut EP Frozen Bones, which featured both "Local Superhero" and "Rat".{{cite news| last=McKeown| first=Brendan| title=Windows to our world...| newspaper=Daily Mirror| publisher=Trinity Mirror| date=30 December 2011| at=Box Office, p. 3| url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Windows+to+our+world..+ULTIMATE+ULSTER.-a0275950276| accessdate=9 February 2012}} The EP was mixed and mastered by Neal Calderwood (General Fiasco, Fighting with Wire). Songs from the EP received comparisons with Joyrider and west coast American rock bands Tad and Far.{{cite web| title=Window Seats – EP Review – Frozen Bones| work=boostthemusic.com| date=7 January 2012| url=http://www.boostthemusic.com/buzz/reviews/window-seats-ep-review-frozen-bones/| accessdate=11 January 2012}}
Window Seats launched Frozen Bones with a tour across Ireland.{{cite episode| title=Window Seats| series=BBC Music Showcase| publisher=BBC Online| airdate=28 November 2012| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/showcase/clips/p00m695n| accessdate=26 February 2012}}
== Television coverage ==
In January 2012, the "Local Superhero" video was picked up for broadcast on international music television channels MTV Rocks and Kerrang! TV. This made Window Seats the first ever unsigned band from Northern Ireland to have a video shown on MTV Rocks. The video was also named BBC Big Screens 'National Film of the Week' and playlisted on all 22 BBC Big Screens in cities across the UK.{{Cite episode |title=Culture Café: Interview with Jude McCaffrey |url=http://nessymon.com/2012/02/01/culture-cafe-on-rte-2xm-playlist-and-podcast-show-28-feb-1-2012/ |accessdate=7 February 2012 |series=Culture Café |credits=Presenter: Vanessa Monaghan |network=RTÉ |station=2XM |location=Dublin |airdate=1 February 2012 |number=28 |time=13:23 }} It received further support from national television, including in Ireland on TG4's magazine show PONC XL in February 2012.{{cite episode| title=PONC XL| url=http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1393288195001?bckey=AQ~~,AAABLI1nnlk~,0ZsOdcYbRQ-k3qPdG61OnjTN6_E5MMZZ&bclid=1315636898001&bctid=1465155054001| accessdate=24 February 2012| credits=Presenter: Colmán Mac Séalaigh| network=TG4| series=Cúla 4| series-link=Cúla 4| airdate=21 February 2012| time=6:51| language=Irish| quote=[Translation] Music for story 2 this week, as we look at the band Window Seats. This is a band from Belfast, who came together in 2007. During December 2011, they released the EP 'Frozen Bones' and last month they released the video 'Local Superhero'. A great video and great music coming from the lads from Window Seats and this video was to be seen on the channels MTV Rocks and Kerrang! TV. Here's a small taste... You can get more info on this brilliant band from their website 'windowseatsofficial.com'. They're on Twitter and Facebook as well, check out those pages soon.}} In March 2013, it was showcased on Channel 4's short film programme The Shooting Gallery.{{Cite episode |title=Here Comes the Night |url=http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-shooting-gallery/episode-guide/series-13/episode-1 |accessdate=12 March 2013 |series=The Shooting Gallery |network=Channel 4 |date=12 March 2013 |series-no=13 |number=1 }}
== "Juliette's Letter" video ==
By February 2012, Window Seats had begun working on their sixth music video. This time the crew was much smaller, with the band taking on full responsibility as writers, directors, editors and producers.{{cite news|title=Window Seats include Bogan's on extensive tour| newspaper=Ulster Herald| at=The Scene, p. 2| date=1 November 2012|quote=The unsigned trio... have announced a clutch of dates, including a showcase at London's legendary 100 Club... The video for their next release 'Juliette's Letter' promises to be just as special. This time the band not only produced, but also wrote and directed the video.}} Throughout the year the band worked on the video, in between live appearances across Ireland including Forfey Festival in County Fermanagh,{{cite web
| title=Music – Forfey Festival
| work=forfey.co.uk
| url=http://forfey.co.uk/festival/?page_id=48
| accessdate=18 February 2013
}}{{Dead link|date=July 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite web
| title=Deadline Extension!
| work=forfey.co.uk
| date=31 May 2012
| url=http://forfey.co.uk/festival/?p=775
| accessdate=18 February 2013
}}{{Dead link|date=July 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Belly Bang festival in County Tipperary{{cite news| title=Belly Bang is back at The Piper| newspaper=South Tipp Today| date=20 August 2012| url=http://www.southtipptoday.ie/lifestyle/entertainment/belly-bang-is-back-at-the-piper-1-4170253| accessdate=18 February 2013}} and Belfast support slots with Duke Special and Delorentos.{{cite web
| title=Gifted Live takes place in Belfast tonight
| date=7 June 2012
| work=hotpress.com
| publisher=Hot Press
| url=http://www.hotpress.com/news/Gifted-Live-takes-place-in-Belfast-tonight/8965099.html
| accessdate=18 February 2013
| title=DELORENTOS & Window Seats this Sat 15th Dec
| work=overave.com
| url=http://uk.overave.com/2012/2428983718
| accessdate=18 February 2013
}} The "Juliette's Letter" video and single were launched in November 2012 with a 16-date tour across the UK and Ireland,{{cite web
| title=Gig of the Week: Window Seats
| date=31 October 2012
| work=BBC Across The Line
| publisher=BBC Online
| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/acrosstheline/2012/10/gig_of_the_week_window_seats.html
| accessdate=18 February 2013
}} concluding with a showcase at the 100 Club in London.
Band members
- Jude McCaffrey – lead vocals, guitar (2007–present)
- Elliot Russell – bass (2015–present)
- Tony Furnell – drums, percussion, backing vocals (2007–present)
Former members
- Ryan Lilley – bass, backing vocals (2007–2009)
- Ryan Bradley – bass, backing vocals (2009–2013)
=Timeline=
{{#tag:timeline|
ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:20
PlotArea = left:200 bottom:80 top:0 right:0
Alignbars = justify
DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy
Period = from:01/01/2007 till:{{#time: d/m/Y }}
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy
Legend = orientation:horizontal position:bottom
ScaleMajor = increment:1 start:01/01/2007
Colors =
id:vocals value:red legend:Lead vocals and guitar
- id:guitar value:green legend:Guitar
id:bass value:blue legend:Bass
id:drums value:purple legend:Drums
- id:Lines value:black legend:Studio albums
id:Lines2 value:gray(0.5) legend:Extended plays
BarData =
bar:Jude text:"Jude McCaffrey"
bar:Ryan text:"Ryan Lilley"
bar:Ryan2 text:"Ryan Bradley"
bar:Elliot text:"Elliot Russell"
bar:Tony text:"Tony Furnell"
PlotData=
width:8 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
bar:Jude from:01/01/2007 till:end color:vocals
bar:Ryan from:01/01/2007 till:28/02/2009 color:bass
bar:Ryan2 from:01/03/2009 till:11/04/2013 color:bass
bar:Elliot from:01/01/2015 till:end color:bass
bar:Tony from:01/01/2007 till:end color:drums
LineData =
- EP release
at:02/12/2011 color:lines2 layer:back
}}
Discography
{{Infobox artist discography
|Artist = Window Seats
|Image =
|Caption =
|Studio =
|Live =
|Compilation =
|Video =
|Tribute =
|EP = 1
|Singles = 6
|Music videos = 7
|B-sides =
|Soundtrack =
|Option = 1
|Option name = Demo
}}
= Extended plays =
= Singles =
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Title{{cite web| title=Window Seats| publisher=MusicBrainz| url=http://musicbrainz.org/artist/2ed534d7-fddb-450b-8d1e-96dada4a34bb| accessdate=17 October 2011}} ! colspan="4"| Chart Positions ! rowspan="2"| Album |
| width="80"| UK
! width="80"| IRL ! width="80"| UK Rock ! width="80"| UK Indie |
|---|
| 2008
| style="text-align:left;"| "Local Superhero (demo)" |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |rowspan="3" align="center"|Non-album singles |
| rowspan="2"| 2010
| style="text-align:left;"| "No Show" |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |
| style="text-align:left;"| "Miss Midnight / Awake"
|align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |
| rowspan="2"| 2011
| style="text-align:left;"| "Rat"{{anchor|ref_A1}}[A] |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |rowspan="3" align="center"| Frozen Bones EP |
| style="text-align:left;"| "Local Superhero"{{anchor|ref_A2}}[A]
|align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |
| rowspan="1"| 2012
| style="text-align:left;"| "Juliette's Letter" |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |
| rowspan="1"| 2015
| style="text-align:left;"| "Stickle Bricks" |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |rowspan="1" align="center"|Non-album single |
| colspan="7" style="font-size:90%"| "—" denotes a title that did not chart. |
{{refbegin}}
;Notes
- A {{anchor|endnote_A}}^ a b Issued as a free download single from the band's official website.{{cite web| title=Watch: Window Seats – Local Superhero| work=AU Magazine| date=10 October 2011| url=http://iheartau.com/2011/10/watch-window-seats-local-superhero/| accessdate=15 October 2011}}
{{refend}}
=Music videos=
| class="wikitable" border="1" |
| Year
! width="200"| Title ! width="130"| Director |
|---|
| rowspan="3"| 2010
| "No Show" |
| "No Show" |
| "Miss Midnight" |
| rowspan="2"| 2011
| "Rat" |
| "Local Superhero" |
| 2012
| "Juliette's Letter" |
| 2015
|"Stickle Bricks" |
Awards
=IMTV Awards=
"Local Superhero" was nominated for Best Production Effects at the 2011 Irish Music Television Awards.{{cite web| title=IMTV Video Music Awards 2011: Nominees Announced!!!!!!| work=irishmusictelevision.com| date=21 November 2011| url=http://irishmusictelevision.com/?p=855| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111129071127/http://irishmusictelevision.com/?p=855| url-status=usurped| archive-date=29 November 2011| accessdate=7 February 2012}} The video was directed by Marty Stalker.
{{awards table}}
|-
| 2011
| "Local Superhero"
| Best Production Effects
| {{nom}}
|}
=IOV Awards=
"Local Superhero" was awarded second place in the Best Music Video category at the 2012 Institute of Videography Awards.{{cite web| title=IOV Awards 2012 – The Results| work=iov.co.uk| date=16 November 2012| url=http://www.iov.co.uk/showarticle.pl?id=93480| accessdate=18 November 2012}} The video was directed by Marty Stalker.
{{awards table}}
|-
| 2012
| "Local Superhero"
| Best Music Video
| {{won|2nd}}
|}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://windowseatsofficial.com Window Seats official website]
- [https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/artists/2ed534d7-fddb-450b-8d1e-96dada4a34bb Window Seats on BBC Music]
- {{YouTube|u=windowseatsofficial}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Alternative rock groups from Northern Ireland
Category:Musical groups established in 2007