Live in Edinburgh This Week – 10th February 2008
What a frustrating week in gigs – both Monday and Wednesday have overlapping shows I would love to go to, and sadly I can’t do both. Although according to Rob himself I could perhaps nip from the Wee Red Bar just in time to catch him onstage at 10.30 at Henry’s. Depends on your priorities of course.
Monday 11th February: Monkey Swallows the Universe at Cabaret Voltaire.
The Casket Letters was a low-key masterpiece, and this will be the last chance to see these guys play as they have called it quits for reasons as yet unknown. Lush, gorgeous, folky indiepop and absolutely not to be missed.
Monkey Swallows the Universe – Chicken Fat Waltz
Monday 11th February: Art Brut at The Hive.
Fucking arse. MStU on the same day and unfortunately something had to give, and it was Art Brut. Their slightly bizzare brand of fit-pop is oddly fascinating, deeply patchy and occasionally brilliant. I’d be there in a heartbeat if not for the bloody clash with the above gig. Arse.
Art Brut – Bang, Bang, Rock & Roll!
Wednesday 13th February: Broken Records at The Wee Red Bar.
Who? I hear you ask? Broken Records? Why’ve you not mentioned them before? Okay okay, I get the picture. But they’re great, they’re playing live and they have a single on the way – what’s not to love? Thanks again to Euan and Bart from Trampoline for another great lineup too – I don’t know anything much about support acts The Sweetheart Revue or Dead Beat Club, but I will be there early and make sure I find out!
Broken Records – Slow Parade
Wednesday 13th February: Rob St.John at Henry’s Cellar Bar.
There are a few others playing as part of the Hollow Heart Parlour monthly acoustic night, which I know nothing about, but really think I should investigate. Rob’s gorgeous EP of hush-folk was one of the highlights of (late, late, late) 2007 and there are only a couple of copies left. Because of the dash from the Broken Records gig I will miss the support, but if you are more acoustically minded get there early for Lindsay West, Ainslie Henderson and Anna K. Jarosz (who is, with all due deference to my glittering princess Mrs. Toad, rather fit. Sheesh sometimes I wish I wasn’t quite so shallow and predictable. Unfortunately I don’t wish it quite enough to actually stop being shallow and predictable, it seems.)
Rob St.John – The Acid Test
Thursday 14th February: The Phantom Band at Henry’s Cellar Bar.
I know nothing about The Phantom Band apart from the fact that they have just been signed by legendary Glasgow label Chemikal Underground, and that acoustic genius Rick Redbeard plays guitar for them. They sound nothing like him unfortunately, so here’s a wee reminder of how bloody great his music is. That’s his sister on backing vocals – what a bloody gorgeous voice.
Rick Redbeard – Blood
Saturday 16th February: The Low Miffs at Henry’s Cellar Bar.
You have to see these lads. Literate (very literate in fact) spiky, ambitious, and a wee bit retro. I have very, very high hopes for The Low Miffs this year.
The Low Miffs – Cressida
If a week like this doesn’t get me a fucking divorce then nothing will – especially when you factor in the fact that I am dragging Mrs. Toad through to Glasgow on Friday to see Frightened Rabbit and Popup, and then trying to talk her into recording an anti-Valentine’s podcast on Tuesday evening. Oh yes, that reminds me: apparently it’s bloody Valentine’s Day on Thursday. Fuck that for a game of soldiers.
The Dead Beat Club are actually quite good. They’re a favourite of Hope’s & we’ve played them a number of times on the show.
Their track Circa 1985 is very sweet indeed, evoking Edinburgh in the 1980s with all the nostalgia of one of those (albethey frankly awful) composite retro-clip I Love The 19..’s TV shows.
If you happen to shake a hand, & you’re in a sober enough remembering state, say howdy from Hope, TWR & Amelia over in Vancouver, CA.
Ta.
Excellent, I will swing by and say hello then. Quite looking forward to that gig actually – the recent Trampoline ones have been excellent.
My my my. The embarrassment of riches. Sounds like you’ll need to TiVo Spongebob Squarepants this week.
I’ll TiVo the little yellow prick right up the arse.
Circa 1985 was actually used by a secondary school English class as part of a “poetry” section…..I’m shameless in my love of their music. If they play Mercy Killing my night will be complete! Matthew, thank you as always for your kind words about Trampoline. Keep an eye out for shows later in the year – the art side of trampoline is coming back in full force so there will be a lot of exciting shows in the future combining music and art.
Oh, and don’t want to make things more complicated for you – but was at Rob’s gig at Collective gallery last week and he was stunning……..not to be missed! If I didn’t have to clear up I’d probably rush over myself. I might even still.
I have it on good authority that (the impossible to pronounce) Eunoia – who are playing with the Low Miffs on Saturday night – kick ass. Also the shortest word in the english language to contain all the vowels. A stellar evening of literate rock, then.
This sounds like a top night all round actually, but I’ll definitely try and make it on time and this time not get too plastered to actually talk sensibly to Leo & the boys!
I also don’t think it should be overlooked that Lindsay West is rather brilliant as well. And (I think) playing after Rob on Wednesday. And also, by all standard definitions of the term that I’m aware of, ‘fit’.
I feel so ashamed of bringing that up. She is, though.
I should follow up/explain in more detail re: the Howdy, really. Otherwise it might look like a random fan/stalker thing.
DBC were good enough to furnish Hope with a ton of music for the show way back whenever & my little Capuchin Monkey on that there Island in Vancouverland sent a note asking where she could get a CD, what with her loving their stuff, & they very graciously sent over a copy of their album. I got in touch & told them they’d made a young lady very happy indeed & they were genuinely happy their music had mad someone smile.
That’s it, really.
Be appreciated if you did manage to say wotcha on our behalves.
Nah, I like the stalker angle better.
Like a school playground, this.
I will be playing with my magnificantly attractive and bearded backing band at 10.30pm, so the move from the art college to henry’s (probably accompanied by me, bart et al) is easily done. If you would like cheap tickets to Henry’s, email me your name, and I’ll put it on the door.
can we hold hands when crossing the road? and will there be an adult present?
Frightened rabbit.. how good?
we have had them up here a few times. love them!
Bart, Rob, behave.
Iain – indeed excellent. I’ve only seen them once, but I have to confess I preferred the album – more idiosyncratic somehow.