The View (band)

Formation and early touring (2005–2006)[edit]

The View initially formed around a cover band at school, playing their own versions of bands such as Squeeze and the Sex Pistols.^[4] Lead singer Kyle Falconer, guitarist Peter Reilly, bassist Kieren Webster and original drummer Michael Annable all attended St John's RC High School,^[5] They began by performing a number of their own songs and cover versions at school talent contests. The deputy head teacher of St John's stated that he knew the band would go far and he told them to push for a record deal. The View entered the school talent contest four times but were only successful twice.^[6] Following this, the band set up base to write their own material in a back room of The Bayview Pub, a bar owned by Falconer's cousin.^[4] They progressed to play more cover gigs and weddings around the Dundee area, including the Centenary Bar in Central Dundee and a caravan park in Arbroath.^[6] The band were later ejected from their base in The Bayview, following singer Kyle Falconer reportedly riding a scooter along the bar.^[7][8]


The band continued to tour small venues around their hometown, and after their second billed gig at The Doghouse, they were signed to local independent Dundee record label Two Thumbs,^[9] and released the self-titled The View EP in early 2006.^[10] Alongside the EP, the band recorded a complete demo album at T-Pot studios in Perthshire and this was made available for download from the band's Two Thumbs management website. Videos were also made available to accompany some of the recordings.


During this period the band came to the attention of BBC Radio 1 presenters Zane Lowe, Edith Bowman and Jo Whiley as well as BBC Radio 2 presenter Dermot O'Leary who gave them airplay nine months before the album hit number one. The band's live performance of "Wasted Little DJs" (later to be their first single) featured on Zane's show of 8 February 2006, alongside established acts The Kooks and Be Your Own Pet.^[11] Soon after, tracks from the debut EP began to be played on Radio 1 and other local and national stations. In particular, Jim Gellatly, at Xfm Scotland, featured the band heavily on X-Posure Scotland, his new music show.^[12] A live acoustic session was recorded for the show broadcast 3 May 2006.^[13]


On 26 and 27 August 2006, the View were a last-minute addition to the Reading and Leeds Festivals. The NME reported the fans' chant of "The View, the View are on fire" could be heard ringing loudly around the packed tent.^[14] They also played both festivals in 2007.


In mid-2006 the band began a UK wide headline tour. During this tour the band played their first headline show in Scotland at the Liquid Room on 1 September 2006, they then went on to play dates with other major acts and feature in the MTV2 Gonzo tour.^[15][16] Documenting this, a half-hour-long special On Tour With The View was broadcast on MTV2 on 18 November 2006. In December 2006, the band played gigs in Tokyo, Japan and made their first trip to the United States, in January 2007, playing dates in New York City, San Francisco and Los Angeles.^[17]