Live in Edinburgh This Week – 2nd March 2008
It’s another solid week of gigs this week, with a couple of lesser-known groups popping up and the chance for me to see new discovery The Byrons play at the ARK, which promises to be good. Mrs. Toad’s away this week, so I have free reign to go out as many nights as I please – whee! Have fun, Toadlings.
Wed 5th March: The Byrons & Foxgang at The ARK.
So, a couple of days after I write about them , here are The Byrons, playing their Blur-y brand of, um, what, post-rock? They’re joined by Foxgang who are also pretty good – beatier and a bit more upbeat – so it should be a good night.
The Byrons – Anglais
Foxgang – Cheesewire
Thursday 6th March: The Occasional Flickers at The Bongo Club.
When I first heard their music I thought ‘gosh this twee pop sounds right up Cloudberry Records‘ street’ and lo and behold who has a Cloudberry single to their name? Yup, you guessed it. Well they’re playing with The Afterglow and Exit Music at the Bongo Club on Thursday.
The Occasional Flickers – Rucksack
Friday 7th March: Meursault at Henry’s Cellar Bar.
This is their album release actually. I’m not sure if there’s a label involved but if not, fuck it. Who needs labels these days. So I am set for plenty of beers and some rather dark banjo-meets-electronica goodness.
Meursault – Salt Pt.2
Sunday 9th March: The Beat at the Liquid Room.
The Beat! The fucking Beat! I won’t be going, because reunion tours for ageing ska legends tend to be overpriced and a poor compensation for being too young to have caught it the first time round. But The Beat, people!
The Beat – Stand Down Margaret (Whine & Grine)
The Beat – Mirror in the Bathroom
Here’s something I’m not clear on regarding the Beat. According to American listings, the English Beat are in Los Angeles on March 20. According to MySpace and your listing, the “New English Beat” are in the UK on March 20. Does this mean Dave Wakeling and the other members are separate and touring as two different versions of the (English) Beat? I get the feeling the version currently touring the UK is pulling a “From the Jam.”
Well their MySpace pager explains it thus:
So it looks painfully complicated, but it does indeed appear that the group has split into two.
Great week, eh? Meursault and Occasional Flickers in particular. I’ve downloaded pretty much all the b-sides from the Cloudberry website after your post, and “Rucksack” is an addictive little confection, ain’t it? I think the best of the lot is “Good Friday” by The Arc Lamps, though. Straight out of the Sarah Records songbook. Just a perfect poptune.
Jesus H. Foxx snigle launch with Copy Haho in support is probably going to be the greatest gig that ever was.
Also on Saturday afternoon Tracer Trails are doing a thing at the old st paul’s church
It’s free, and has wounded knee and withered hand randan disco and other stuff:
http://www.myspace.com/thevillagefete
And then that same evening Rob St. John is opening for Hush Arbors and Jack Rose at Henry’s Smeller.
Also, I’ve applied for a second mortgage to see Neil Young tonight.
He better be good.
Cloudberry are phenomenal, C&B. They have a bit of a signature sound, which is a good thing in many ways, although not in every one. I’m definitely looking forward to getting my hands on a Meursault CD too, although I’ve not heard much that I assume would be on it.
Hi Bart, I was going to mention Jesus H. Foxx, but I find some of their vocal habits a bit annoying. That’s tonight at Henry’s isn’t it?
And I only found out about the Village Fete thing this morning, but I was going to write a post about that one all by itself later in the week. It’s a good week though, indeed. My poor liver. A couple of orange juice gigs (as opposed to Orange Juice gigs) might be in order to keep me from an early grave!
[On re-reading my comment, I should have probably mentioned - Jesus H. Foxx and Copy Haho are at Henry's tomorrow night. They both could represent Scotland in an ass-kicking contest.
http://www.myspace.com/jesushfoxx
http://www.myspace.com/copyhaho
Also, I’m not entirely sure what a “snigle” is.
It does look like a good gig actually, although I’m in two minds about going along. Still, a bit of nice fresh vinyl, two great bands and the company of a bearded ginger one-man carnival of smut. What could, erm, possibly go wrong?
Yes, I think the Jesus H Foxx singer’s delivery does tend to divide opinion.
He reminds me of Stephen Malkmus in a lot of ways.
And I like that.
And they’ve started to play gigs with a second drum kit.
And everyone knows the old saying:
“when you double the drums, you double the fun.”
what old phrase is that bart?? did you just make that up?!
No, it’s a well known musicians phrase.
Like:
“More bass, less haste.”
and
“Solo recorder? That’s out of order.”
Just bought Nick Cave’s new album – am rather excited about this and a Neil Young show all in one day!! I’m like a child! It’s a little too much for me to cope with – this on top of Bart introducing me to Playdoh who have a song called Trampoline! What a wonderfully joyous day! I am hoping to make it along to Jesus H. Foxx tomorrow evening but am devastated to be missing Meursault on Friday for a fucking dinner with my wives friends! grrr.
That’s what comes from having wives who have friends. You should have married an anti-social old harridan like I did.
i seem to have the opposite trouble of you fellas. i have to drag my husband out to shows. *sigh*
In the sense that he always wants to come, or never does?
I can never get Mrs. Toad along so I always end up hanging out with these reprobates instead.
define reprobate please…..
….my wife loves going to gigs but gets a bit tired of the number of shows I want to go to!