George Glen

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A long day around 3 venues, but worth it all to catch some great new bands and end up with the highlight of the wonderful BC Camplight at the lovely Kings Hall. Started around 3pm with a snippet of Bikini Body in the Summerhall Gallery Bar, followed by the brilliant Deadletter. Deadletter were a real find and owned that room with cool tunes and great attitude. Will definitely see them again in Edinburgh … February I think.

Over the road next for Field Music, clever and interesting. Back to Summerhall for pit stop pizza with Chris and more snippets of Nani and Arny Margret before catching an unexpectedly tremendous set by The Joy Hotel in the Dissection Room. What an ambitious 7 piece band with equally big and ambitious songs. Loved them … added to must see again list.

Back over to Kings Hall for local hero Hamish Hawk. Wanted to see him again for a while. Great performance, will go far! But really all day I only was looking forward to BC Camplight and Brian Christinzio with his brilliant band did not let us down. What a showman and what superb songs. Was right at the front and when it got to the appropriate point in the set my ‘I’m In A Weird Place’ T-Shirt matched the song I got a point-out from Brian. Most chuffed! Incredible ending with the banging ‘I’m Desperate’ (see video below, thanks Lennyloon). Caught a few songs from Beak at Queens Hall, but baled out for bus home, tired but happy!

Attended by George, Chris, Andy, Jude, Douglas, Paul & Ann

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Just over 2 years since we first saw the fascinating Lewsberg from Rotterdam right here at Sneaky Pete’s. Their latest album is even more laid back and mellow and the set completely reflected that. Support band Order Of The Toad were really good and made a big impression … but this is the first time for ages I remember the headline band being deliberately quieter than the support!

And they sounded just great without bashing our ears. Less rocky and more contemplative, with violin added to arrangements, but still unusual, understated and thought provoking. Very good indeed. Love them!

Attended by George, Jan & Andy

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I saw The Nightingales as support a few years ago and was impressed so the years of waiting and rescheduling were well worth it to experience a typically ferocious performance.

A band with a long and storied history led by the illustrious Robert Lloyd. They wring a lot of variety and excitement out of a straightforward band setup, with songs twisting, turning and escalating. Not formulaic at all, though at odds with the standard formula described in the hilarious ‘Gales Doc’ song where Robert as the narrator describes The Nightingales creative process. Genius idea, brilliantly conceived and delivered. What a band … ‘sonically more interesting than most’!

Attended by George

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I first saw Do Nothing getting on for 3 years ago supporting another great Nottingham band Kagoule. That was my favourite gig of 2019, both bands superb. So after a long Covid induced hiatus and a re-arranged date a few weeks ago (also due to Covid) Andy and I were most excited to see a band we’ve enjoyed listening to a lot recently. And Do Nothing did not let us down. As they say ‘The results are in, and it looks like everyone gets a big old slice of nothing’ … (in their earworm song ‘Le Bron James’)!

The sardonic, barbed lyrics and spoken wordy delivery of Chris Bailey grab the headlines,  but the sharp post-punky soundscapes are driven by sinuous, riffy bass lines and shimmering chimey guitar … right up my street! What a great live band. We, and a busy Mash House crowd, loved it all and left very happy! Shout out too, for the promising support band Isabella Strange … must watch out for.

Attended by George & Andy

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Still got IT. Official! What a great show. A bit different from the magic set last time I saw them, this time the whole of their brilliant 3rd album ‘Coming Up’ and some bonus rarities as well as many more hits and favourites.

Brett just as energetic, animated and vocally spot on as ever. Sound was big and beefy, which was nice, but poor definition in bass and guitar sounds was a bit disappointing. So much great playing going on from Richard and Matt .. but not cutting through the mix very clearly. Oh well. A lovely time still had by all. I sang along at he top of my voice til almost hoarse.What a band!

Attended by George, Jeremy, Chris & Katie

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/nov/04/suede-review-a-sensory-assault-for-classic-lp-coming-up

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/suede/2021/usher-hall-edinburgh-scotland-b8a85ae.html

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Thanks to Douglas for inviting us to play two short sets at his party. My first chance to play a mix of original songs and dancey covers live with a great band I’ve just joined this year. A fine time was had by all and the band is now off and running, more gigs coming your way soon! See more at https://www.facebook.com/hanleyandthebaird

Attended by George, Karen & Jan

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I like their music I’ve heard and the packed, explosive young crowd were mad for it … but as tight and well crafted their songs can be, I didn’t get much subtlety and melody coming over live. Maybe it got lost in the massive wall of noise and OTT euphoria of the crowd. I was left a bit underwhelmed.

Attended by George, Andy, Douglas

https://www.theskinny.co.uk/music/live-music/reviews/fontaines-dc-o2-academy-edinburgh-22-oct

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John are John Newton (drums and vocals) and Johnny Healey (guitar), makes sense then! And their brutal, punky, thrashy, rifftastic noise blew our ears out, and we all loved it!

Attended by George, Andy, Douglas

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Two nights in a row (long story) but great to see Laura in Edinburgh again (after last night in Glasgow) and especially with Davie. We’ve seen her 4 times together, some magical evenings I’ll always treasure. In fact this was my 12th Laura Marling gig now. She’s a bit special to me and to Davie!

‘Special’ in a different, and not so good way, was the fire alarm interrupting her 3rd song, and the evacuation that saw us 45 mins outside. She graciously did not cut her set much shorter when we returned and was on top form yet again. I’ve included video below for a lovely new song ‘Your Girl’. So many brilliant songs and they just keep coming! Can’t wait for next album and next time live. A fun packed night rounded of by lots more beer and great folk music at the Royal Oak. Well from what I can remember!

Attended by George & Davie

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/laura-marling/2021/the-queens-hall-edinburgh-scotland-6b8d32aa.html

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I never miss Laura when she comes to Scotland. And it was great to bring Chris along since he has just got into her music. Lucky man … I think he was just as entranced as I was. I prefer her solo performances to those with a band so for me this was yet again perfect.

Highlight song for me was ‘Daisy’, a non-album song and never my favourite before, but this solo version perfectly showed off her superb playing, moving lyrics and beautiful singing. Stunning! I also hadn’t spent much time listening to her latest album ‘Song For Our Daughter’ but songs from that sounded marvellous, so I will now. Tremendous as always Laura.

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/laura-marling/2021/swg3-galvanizers-glasgow-scotland-2b8d3032.html