Song, by Toad

Erm, this example of tactless verbal bumbling will not surprise my regular readers in the slightest. So here we go.

I was at the End of the Road Festival and just happened to bump into Reuben Taylor, who plays accordion and piano with James Yorkston & the Athletes. I’d chatted drunkenly with him at the last Fence Homegame so I said hello and we had a brief chat which included the following excruciating exchange:

Toad: You’re playing today aren’t you?
Reuben: Yes, over at the Bimble Inn, but we clash with Lambchop so I don’t know how well we’ll do.
T: Oh yes, I’m going [starts to realise this is not going to go well] to be, er, at Lambchop myself too…
R: *Doesn’t look impressed*
T: Well, erm, you guys ar, er, local and I’m going to get, ah, more chances to see you later so I thought, um… [tails off embarrassingly]
R: Well London’s not exactly local, Edinburgh’s 400 miles away.
T: Well, er, it’s more… [Tails off, forgetting to mention that Toad Hall is in fact in Edinburgh. Tries to pretend conversation hasn't happened.]
R: *Efficiently changes subject*

What absolute diplomatic genius, I think you’ll agree. I feel such a prat. What I meant to say would have sounded a bit more like this:

‘Seeing as I have seen James & the Athletes four times in the last couple of years and, given I live in Edinburgh am likely to see you just as often in the next couple of years, and given I have never seen Lambchop and may not get the chance again for ages, I think I am going to have to opt for Lambchop on this occasion. Hope the gig goes well though, and I will definitely be in your audience again very soon, clapping and cheering like nobody’s business’

Which I think we can all agree sounds an awful lot better. So, in a desperate attempt to make good my bungling I am going to introduce you to the splendid Mr. R. Taylor through what else but the medium of popular song.

Reuben Taylor – Fanfare From his De-Fence Records single, shared with Jon Hopkins, which can be bought on vinyl here and is very much worth a fistful of your sheckles.
James Yorkston & the Athletes – 6.30 is Just Way Too Early (Reuben’s String Arrangements) Off this single.
James Yorkston – Rosemary Lane I can’t swear it’s Reuben on accordion but it’s pretty likely. From the unspeakably beautiful EP, Someplace Simple which you have to buy – absolute genius.