Live in Edinburgh This Week – 31st August 2008
Well the Meursault Session is up and my interviews are all sorted but one, so maybe I can take the foot off the gas just slightly for the time being. This week I have two tasks: write up the Builders & the Butchers interview and record a podcast for the weekend. Oh, and maybe deal with the Broken Records movies from a little while back.
I’ve requested interviews with Micah P. Hinson, the Wave Pictures, David Thomas Broughton and the Pictish Trail for End of the Road, and so far have a yes from PT, no reply from DTB, and am having my traffic credentials examined by the MPH gatekeepers. Is my penis big enough? Do I drive a shiny enough car? Is Mrs. Toad pretty enough? Are you lot the right sort? Christ this is fun – the music industry is so fucking hierarchical it’s just ridiculous. To be fair though, the lady I’m talking to about Micah P. Hinson and the Wave Pictures seems really nice, so hopefully we might get somewhere with that.
In the meantime, there are plenty of opportunities to wreck your liver and empty your pockets in Scotland’s capital this week:
Friday 5th September: Wounded Knee, Black Diamond Express & others at the Drill Hall in Leith.
There’s a handful of really good bands playing this particular night, apparently hosted by Benbecula Records, who are one of the best little labels around these parts.
Black Diamond Express – Nemo Saltat Sobrius
Saturday 6th September: Euchrid Eucrow, Emily Scott & the Wee Rogue play the Gentle Invasion night at Henry’s Cellar Bar.
Bart’s Gentle Invasion gigs are always a treat, but he sent me some marketing blurb for this one that might have backfired: apparently Euchrid Eucrow, apart from the man himself, comprise musicians from not only the (brilliant, in my view) British Sea Power, so far so good, but also the (dismal, in my view) Bat For Lashes. Ah well, Bartski, can’t win ‘em all. Still, it sounds intriguing, Emily Scott is lovely, and I haven’t seen The Wee Rogue since his first tentative step onto the Edinburgh stage some three years ago at an Out of the Bedroom night.
Euchrid Eucrow – A Horse is Not Just For Christmas
Also, Glasvegas play the Liquid Room on Sunday, but the ungrateful bastards have sold out. Bugger.
Glasvegas – Geraldine (Demo)
That’s about all I could find to personally get excited about this week. A bit thin, eh. I may need help on this one.
The rubix night at the GRV on Thursday looks okay.
Zoey Van Goey, We See Lights, Meursault and the Occasional Flickers.
That seems all right, doesn’t it?
Also, some Wilco ‘side-project’, the Autumn Defence, is playing cab vol the same night. Though I don’t know much about them, other than their a wilco side-project, which means it’s probably worth checking out.
Also, don’t give me any shit about Bat For Lashes and then go on to recommend Glasvegas.
Did you fail to get tickets in time? Oh well, you can always recreate the experience by sitting at home and punching yourself in the face.
The Rubix night does look good – I find the GRV website to be a nightmare of looks over usability though, so I tend to be slack about checking it.
Autumn Defense aren’t terrible, but there’s a complete lack of spirit to their stuff as far as I’m concerned.
Glasvegas may well turn out to be one-trick ponies, which it does sound like they are in danger of doing, but at least they have managed a couple of good songs, which is more that Bat For Lashes ever did. So fucking there.
glasvegas sound and look like some 80s cover band. i am not impressed. their tunes are alright but i’d rather listen to deacon blue than them anyday, and that’s not something I’d ever do – so there. i’ve never heard bat for lashes on record but saw her support radiohead at glasgow green and was mightly impressed. as for the autumn defense – well being an obsessive wilco fan I am tempted to go along. whilst i think the latest album is alright I would say it’s not really anything like wilco and certainly not something I would have on repeat play – lack of spirit is harsh though and something probably more associated with simple minds, I mean glasvegas. however, if you like sweet harmonies and summer fluffy tunes they might be for you. probably rather go to Rubix night though. but may just stay in.
oh, and some band called the kays lavelle are doing a set at the village in leith on friday night. well 2, maybe 3 of them. but i wouldn’t expect you to mention that – even tho I text you an invite! cock.
)
The Kays who?
(Sorry, what I mean is that if I don’t write it down immediately I don’t remember it. I used to be really good at filling in upcoming gigs on my work calendar, then I never forgot stuff. I should start doing that again, because it would make this weekly post a million times easier)
oh and plush is supporting autumn defense. i don’t know if anyone remembers this guy but he released an album all the way back in 1998 of really minimal and intimate piano songs. he was also in High Fidelity – he’s the guy at the piano behind Jon Cusack when he’s talking and is about to release a new album which apparently has been out in Japan for ages and ages. from what i recall of his debut it was a unique album of piano only tunes. minimal, sparse and lovely and he may be well worth checking out.
i’m not pushing the kays show on people as I don’t really know the other artists. but i am pushing it on friends in the sense that it would be a nice way to spend a friday evening – getting drunk in a cosy little leith boozer. and it is a lovely little pub.
It’s a great pub, I haven’t seen you guys for far too long, and I am signing up now.
there’s only 2 of us, maybe 3 playing. but we will try and make it as bleak as possible for you. I’m thinking “dirge” tastic.
) actually have no idea what we’re playing yet. will figure that out nearer the time. i’ll even buy you a beer or 2 mr toad.
and i like your picture looking across waverley stations roof. very nice indeed.
Any new members making their onstage debut with the Kays Lavelle that night?
Or is that going to be a closely guarded secret surprise?
I’ll sign up too – it’s staggering distance from home. (Ten minute walk there – an hour walk home.)
Oh, and by the way, Euan..
I got your text, and thank you very much indeed for that, even if sometimes your efforts just go in vain with other people…
Can you two fuck off and make kissy kissy elsewhere please.
Dylan, it will be hard enough getting the established members together so I don’t think there will be any new faces on Friday no. but we will hopefully be airing a few new tunes on the night or at least the bones of new tunes.
bitter bitter bitter mr toad.
MPH interview, hmm? A West Coast musical retrospective podcast, eh? Methinks I’m going to have to start copyrighting my to do & did done tings…
Gosh, did you think of interviewing Micah P. Hinson too? Shit, I thought I was the first person ever.
You’re doing EOTR again, then? I’m going to actively try to meet some of these faceless people (ie you and Tim Growl) this year.
Yep, we should definitely arrange some sort of meeting – like noon on Saturday by the pie van for example. I’ll wear my Toad t-shirt for ease of recognition.
Mmmm… Pie.
Half twelve so I can see Absentee first? You’re on. I’ll probably be wearing a BSP No Lucifer T-shirt, but then so in all likelihood will half the festival.
So you’re ‘working’ at EOTR then? You really need to relax maaaannn.
But yeah, meet up! I have your number.
That pie van better not sell out too early this year.
I am doing fuck all on Sunday, but at the moment it looks like I have four interviews to arrange. That’s not too onerous actually – the hard work comes when I get home and have to write it all up and edit it.