Ross is a teenage friend I met at a Sound Engineering training course at Edinburgh College. He clearly has the talent and drive for a career in music. A singer/songwriter with jaunty, upbeat songs has played many gigs as a solo artist but I think this was the first gig with his new band and the bigger sound suits his approach well.
Good stuff, and though he has got more development in front of him, watch out for great things from Ross in future!
Attended by George & Piotr & Robert
With no Scottish dates planned, 5 years since her last album and 3 1/2 years since I last saw her … I couldn’t risk missing Cara this time, so Manchester it had to be! I’m so glad I travelled down for a great performance showcasing many of the song from her new ‘A Thousand Hearts‘ album that is fast growing on me.
As always it’s her wonderful, unique voice and her delightful Irish delivery that never fails to win everyone over. Sensitive and beautifully played arrangements are a big part of her appeal too and that’s where partner Sam Lakeman comes in with superb assistance from Ed Boyd on guitar and Niall Murphy’s All Ireland Champion fiddle. Cara also plays a mean whistle in a few songs. The latest album and this set are much more guitar oriented than in the past, so less opportunity for Sam’s piano, and I would have loved to add accordion and whistle/flute player as in earlier shows this year, along with a longer set … all minor quibbles though!
The songs are heady mix of old Irish/Scottish traditional songs and some great original material in that vein, but with more modern arrangements. Nice touches of humour from all of the band add to the smiles, including Sam’s amusing interesting facts. Did you know all windmills go counter-clockwise except in Ireland? I’m not convinced by that one!
Of the new songs ‘My Donald’ (see video below) and ‘Moorlough Mary’ impressed me most with ‘Bright Morning Star’ the new singalong hit! Her stunning rendition of Dougie MacLean’s ‘Garden Valley’ with Sam on piano, raised a tear or two and was the absolute highlight for me though. An emotional ‘Parting Glass’ finished off a fantastic evening all round.
It was great to chat with Cara and Sam afterwards with a pint of Guiness and I obviously couldn’t refuse her request for a selfie with me! ;o) This great review from earlier in the year says it all better than I could! http://www.folkradio.co.uk/2014/04/cara-dillon-live-at-the-islington-london/
9/11 Attended by George
Not a band on my radar before this, but their 30+ years independent history and huge back catalogue (originally on cassette only) has contributed to their legendary status. Worth checking them out while I still can! http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozric_Tentacles
Guitarist Ed Wynne is the only surviving original member with his wife Brandi on Bass and son Silas on keyboards. It’s the combination of the awesome Balázs Szende on drums and Brandi’s hypnotic bass that really drives their sound now, which has been labelled ‘Psychedelic’ or ‘Space Rock’, and that about sums it up (see video below).
Their 2 hour set comprises of long songs nicely supported by a brilliant psychedelic animated light show back drop … but it didn’t feel that long since they keep the grooves interesting and changing, even though I confess to zoning out now and again. Good stuff! Call me old fashioned though (‘You’re old fashioned’) but I like a nice tune, a melody, a nice bit of singing and a wee story as well …… OK, I’ll get my coat! :o)
7.5/11 Attended by George & Andy. Nice to meet Dario, Mike and Richard too.
A drizzly Monday evening after a busy day and I didn’t really feel like a night out. Trust Bob Log III to blow my tiredness away and entertain the pants off a packed house in Sneaky Pete’s … I’ve not smiled, laughed and danced so much in ages!
‘Who is this Bob Log III’ I hear you say? Well that’s what I would have said a wee while ago. From Tuscon, Arizona, he was in a duo called Doo Rag but for the last 20 years now he has toured the world as a one man band. Dressed in a human cannonball suit and a motorcycle helmet with an old telephone receiver glued in as a mike, he is all wirelessed up so he can (and does) play from anywhere in the room, and outside! With raucous slide guitar, distorted vocals and both feet banging real and electronic drums it’s a big sound. See – http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Log
Starting playing from the dressing room, he played his first song moving through the busy crowd. For the 2nd song he had us all blowing up balloons, which he burst in time to the music. For the 3rd song he launched an inflatable boat on top of us and crowd surfed on his back in the boat all around the room, and against the ceiling, while still playing his song! What a start. The audience roared with approval and he just kept on pounding out his delta blues punk slide guitar madness. Brilliant!
The music doesn’t have much subtlety or variety, but that doesn’t matter ’cause he carries it off with his funny banter and boundless energy. A great laugh but he really gets everyone moving especially in his song where he plays with an audience member on each knee and still batters the drums! 11/10 for effort and sweat and I’m so glad I dragged myself out to see him … but maybe once is enough!
7.5/11 Attended by George & Andy No videos yet so a couple from other shows below –
What a weird, in a good way, gig! I’ve always been a huge (early) Genesis fan and saw Steve Hackett play a fine concert in Edinburgh in 2012. This gig was part of Steve’s ‘Genesis Extended’ tour with an entire set of a Genesis songs.
See the setlist below … A 2 hour run through the best of Genesis and lots of my favourite songs especially ‘Fly on a Windshield’ and ‘Firth of Fifth’. Great to Steve playing these again in a similar set to the unforgettable night when I saw Genesis back in 1977.
The niggle for me though was I couldn’t help thinking I was just watching a very good covers band. Though the songs were very well played, apart from Steve the band individually were just not as good as the originals, even though the brilliant keyboards player was amazing. The singer obviously tried hard, but is obviously no Phil Collins. Still … a really good, faithful/professional performance and a treat to hear such great blasts from the past.
Attended by George, Andy and Rick 8/11
I couldn’t miss the chance to see my favourite Norwegian in her natural habitat during her solo ‘songs and rarities’ tour, and I was not disappointed! Last time I saw her was a fantastic night with a full band that blew Oran Mor away. This couldn’t have been more different – a solo performance with a reverent and hushed sit-down audience too rapt to even drop a pin during the songs. This made for a recital like atmosphere leaving all the focus on her simple arrangements of new, old and rare songs … and that wonderful voice which is spellbinding in any environment!
Ane managed to fit in an amazing 23 songs (I counted later) … Great to hear some of my old favourites get an outing including ‘The Fall’ (joined by Alice Boman), ‘My Star’ and ‘Gillian’. She also does some pretty special covers too including my faves ‘Tunnels’ by Arcade Fire, ‘Big In Japan’ by Alphaville, topped by a stunning version of Beyonce’s ‘Halo’ with a back projected virtual Linnea Olsson on Cello! I even saw Ane pick up an electric guitar for the first time (for me) to play ‘So You Did It Again’ and a brilliant version of ‘Changing of the Seasons’.
All in all a very memorable night, a full retrospective on her great career so far. So glad we went all the way to Oslo to see it which made it all the more special.
Attended by George & Karen 9/11
I hardly dared disturb the occasion with the odd camera shot, so I can see why no videos on YouTube. So a couple from other dates on the tour –
http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/ane-brun/2014/o2-shepherds-bush-empire-london-england-5bcd2f44.html
The last time we will ever see Jim Jones Revue since they are breaking up after this ‘Last Hurrah’ tour. So sad, but all good things have to come to an end :o(
Probably the best sound we have had for JJR which helped make a great show. Usually JJR are so loud you can’t hear a word Jim sings/shouts … but this was loud and clear. The enthusiastic crowd wouldn’t have cared anyway, really getting into it and bringing the house down like Glasgow crowds do. A great set too, with nearly all their best songs, I was hoarse the next day from shouting along … except ‘Elemental’ … me and Jan were most disappointed!
So farewell to the Jim Jones Revue, the finest, loudest, sweatiest rock and roll band in the world. We will miss you. ‘Say YEAHHHHHHHHHH’!
Attended by George & Jan – 9/11
With Jan heading to Australia this was our last chance to catch TSDBTB before she goes. So Kirkcaldy it had to be and what an odd gig at the Duchess pub but … the band was great, the sound was spot on and it was a great laugh watching the Friday night pub crowd getting down to a bit of Bowie ;o)
Two sets full of Bowie hits allowed for lots of singing along and Jan even had a good chat to Mr Bowie at the end … hopefully we will see them again with her when she comes back!
Attended by George, Karen & Jan 7.5/11
After an initial slow burn I’ve been loving First Aid Kit’s new album Stay Gold and, since I always try to catch them in Scotland since the first time they played in Sneaky Pete’s, I was really looking forward to this one. FAK are two young Swedish sisters Klara & Johanna Söderberg who write and play really good Folk/Americana with wonderful harmonies.
First memory of the night was for a bad reason when support act Jo Rose keeled over in his last song, a seizure of some kind by the look of it, a big hold up but he was helped to walk off stage and was said to have recovered. Blimey, what a shock! Never seen that before at a gig.
A long delay allowed the heat in the packed Fruitmarket to build up to something ridiculous, I don’t expect to sweat so much at a folk gig! FAK were of course superb. Klara and Johanna are wonderful performers and never sing below perfect, backed up with drummer and pedal steel player their live sound has filled out like the size of halls they now play. Even though they are more successful and songs are more polished, the new songs show they continue to improve. I can’t help preferring their early, more intimate, innocent(?) gigs in small venues, but their growing popularity means those days are long gone and good luck to them!
8/11 Attended by George & Karen
http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/first-aid-kit/2014/old-fruitmarket-glasgow-scotland-1bcfcd54.html
Just 3 days before the Scottish Independence referendum was brilliant timing for the YES campaign organised ‘Night for Scotland’ at the beautiful Usher Hall. Everyone was so up for it of course and that made for a great atmosphere with obviously much tub thumping and flag waving … and why not!
Compered by Ricky Ross and Elaine C Smith, music acts were, in order – Eddi Reader, Ricky Ross & Lorraine MacIntosh, Stanley Odd, Mogwai, Amy McDonald, Franz Ferdinand and Frightened Rabbit. A great menu of Scottish music. Best of the night for me were Stanley Odd with some brilliant Scottish Hip Hop and Franz Ferdinand who had everyone up on their feet dancing like mad and singing their hits. Brilliant night, a great buzz.
Attended by George & Karen … not appropriate to mark overall, but 8/11 for SO & FF !
George Glen 