Edinburgh Live Listings Scottish Bands Unsigned: black diamond express duty free kays lavelle lanterns on the lake laura lewis and the tea dance orchestra limbo lipsync for a lullaby meursault sara and the snakes
by Matthew
12 comments
Toad 2.0
Live in Edinburgh This Week – 20th July 2008

It’s a bit crowded with interesting things this week, with everything kind of happening at once, making it a little difficult to decide what to go to. Then there’s always Mrs. Toad of course, who has the selfish habit of complaining when I spent every night of the week out doing musicky things, the unreasonable old bag.
We’re off on a big holiday shortly too, so there is a fair bit of organising to be done and so far I am not proving particularly adept. Ah well, organisation was never a strong suit, but I guess we’ll be just fine. Going away is hardly a tricky business, especially if jabs aren’t involved. So what will I probably be skipping this week, in preparation for my parents’ visit on Friday?
Wednesday 23rd July 2008: Lanterns on the Lake, Lipsync For a Lullaby & Laura Lewis & the Tea Dance Orchestra at the Voodoo Rooms.
I don’t know much about these chaps, but Lipsync were highly recommended to me quite recently, although by whom I can’t remember. It was probably Bart “There is No Such Thing as a Shit Band” Owl I should imagine, but I’m not sure. Lanterns on the Lake are a Newcastle bunch who play rather dreamy pop, Laura Lewis is a local concern, who sounds quite breathless and just a little twee, and Lipsync deal in guitar soundscapes, so it sounds like a really diverse bill and a very decent night out indeed.
Lanterns on the Lake – This Year
Thursday 24th July 2008: Meursault & The Kays Lavelle play Duty Free at Cabaret Voltaire.
I like these Duty Free gigs – they’ve put together some pretty good lineups, despite the freeness, and this week sees a couple of very good Toadpals Meursault and The Kays Lavelle on the bill, along with a couple of other bands I don’t really know: Barnowl and Ross Clark.
The Kays Lavelle – The Chemistry Between
Thursday 24th July 2008: Sara & the Snakes & Black Diamond Express play Limbo at the Voodoo Rooms.
I’ve wanted to see Black Diamond Express for a while, but they don’t play that often and when they do I have an annoying habit of being otherwise engaged, which may well happen again this time, which is really frustrating. Sara & the Snakes likewise, really. I’ve seen their guitarist Andy do a solo set and he was absolutely outstanding but I’ve never seen the full band which is a little bit frustrating.
Black Diamond Express – Jack
Nope, he keeps being on bills that I can’t make (bastard) and then occasionally dropping out of gigs I can make. It’s unfortunate but just one of those things.
He’s dead good.
Isn’t Gambas Pil Pil a spicy prawn dish of Portuguese origin?
It sounds more than a little bit like it, I’d say. Bart, you don’t have this confused with a gastroblog do you, by any chance?
This is soupçon by toad, right?
lipsync for a lullaby are decent. i saw them play at henry’s with pablo a wee while ago. pretty epic (in a good way). ross clark’s decent too.
You have seen Ross Clark – he was playing at our single launch at the Bongo Club.
Oh crap. I may have been somewhat distracted by the celebrations and the, erm, beer I suppose.
Holy Shitsticks, Black Diamond Express has been the best thing I’ve heard all week. Thanks, mate.
Excellent news, always happy to spread the good word. I’ll know more if I ever get the chance to see them live.
I think I’ll pop along and see the lovely Mersault boys this evening.. It’s especially attractive as I haven’t caught the Kays Lavelle yet..



















Dont think it was me that recommended Lipsync.
Not that I wouldnt have, as theyre really rather good. Just dont think theyve ever come up in our little chats.
Ed Stack had them play the pearly doors recently – could it have been him?
Barn Owl Ive wanted to for a long long time, so very excited about Thursday. They used to be called “On this day we met gambas pil pil”, which I always thought was a great name. (Not that I dislike Barn Owl, though. I feel a kindrid spirit at work.)
Also, havent you seen Ross Clark before?