Live in Edinburgh This Week – 9th November 2008
Welcome to another week tending the fertile pastures of Edinburgh’s gig scene for shuffling indie kids. I’m working flat out to get the Sparrow session done for this week’s podcast so beyond tonight I will be hiding in the house for most of the week, I’m afraid, probably swearing at the computer and cursing analogue technology for being so fucking shit and chewing all my tape of the session. Frustrating. Really, very frustrating.
Still, I think we have time for one last session this year, but I will be renting a digital camera this time, instead of all this tape shit, so hopefully there won’t be any such problems in futre
Monday 10th November 2008: Samamidon & Meursault at the Bowery.
After the Bowery’s splendid opening party they keep the ball rolling this week with Samamidon supported by a largely solo set from Meursault’s Neil Pennycook. Samamidon’s All is Well is a gorgeously gentle acoustic album, so I’m really looking forward to this, as well as hearing what Neil sounds like with no accompaniment, except for a bit of banjo and backing vocals here and there.
Samamidon – Saro
Monday 10th November 2008: Rob St.John, Molly Wagger, Alison & the Mings & Simon Kempston at Henry’s Cellar Bar.
Rob is playing an electric guitar these days, and the hushed, breathy folk of recent years seems to be slowly yielding to a more confident, assertive attitude. His performance at the Bowery on Saturday was superb, and he has a new EP coming out shortly which is also sounding excellent, so I strongly recommend you catch him either this week or next, when he plays Cabaret Voltaire with Meursault and Sparrow & the Workshop.
Rob St. John – Wooden Rose
Alison & the Mings – Those Steep Slopes
Friday 14th November 2008: Rbrbr, Funkspiel & The Foundling Wheel at Henry’s Cellar Bar.
If you fancy something a little more experimental this weekend then Henry’s is the place to go, with some electronic pop stuff and then the thunderously deranged Foundling Wheel. Really, just go for the Foundling Wheel. I don’t know who stole Ted’s pills, but it seems to have had the desired effect.
The Foundling Wheel – Mixed Minds & Missteps
Friday 14th November 2008: Death Cab For Cutie at the Corn Exchange.
Given it’s nearly twenty quid for a band I actually have very little time for then it’s safe to say that I won’t be going. Still, a lot of people into the same sort of stuff as gets written about on this site like these chaps an awful lot, so I thought it worth mentioning. Their dreamy, hazy, downbeat, slightly electronic indie has never quite captured my imagination, despite being pretty much right up my street. Almost, just not quite. Oh well, so it goes.
Death Cab For Cutie – The New Year
i like death cab. i like them a lot up til transatlanticism. then i like plans a little. but their appearance on the OC and the subsequent requirement to produce polished pop tunes has ruined them a little for me. they used to be interesting and diverse, now they are not. however, i will be going along – mainly as i got a cut price ticket and look forward to seeing them live. and frightened rabbit are supporting so that’s good news.
Yes, I don’t dislike them by any means, but I never seem to get beyond a sort of passive enjoyment.
then come to Ryan Adams at the picture house a bargain at £24.50
bargain at £24.50? come on tom. I’ve seen him live twice. once solo and once with the cardinals and I don’t think that’s a bargain to see him. that’s a bargain to see radiohead not ryan adams. as for death cab matthew – agreed but some of the songs on transatlanticism are just stunningly good. like the title track for example.
My Tiny Robots are playing at the liquid rooms on Wednesday.
I like My Tiny Robots.
And it’s for charity.
And Vic Godard at the Citrus Club (eh?) on Friday is probably worth a mention.
As is the State Broadcasters, Little Pebble and Evan Chrichton at the Meridian on Saturday.
I think you’d really like the State Broadcasters in particular, Matthew.
i was taking the piss……however i’m still going as i think he is one of the best performers doing the rounds….plus i like his checky shirts
I forgot about Ryan Adams. I have a request in to review that gig, but I certainly am not paying £24.50 if I don’t get guesties. The last album wasn’t all that special, and nor was Easy Tiger.
And I really liked Little Pebble at the Bowery the other week, so if I’m finished the Sparrow Session by Friday I might just pop along.
he is good. i don’t disagree with that. i just disagree with your comment that was actually you taking the piss.
The Sparrow what? Sorry?..
it was!!!!…..saying that which piss taking fucker made a lot of people here pay £100 to go and see him in all his glory
i know it was!!!!!
Fucking hell, is this some sort of exclamation mark usage competition or something?
na, just me and tom’s usual crap banter.
I could have sworn someone said the words Sparrow and Session in the same sentence.
But, nah, must be imagining things…
Wow, that Samamidon is quite nice! That voice and a banjo, well, I’d be there in a heartbeat if I lived in the gorgeous town of Edinburgh. Why must you always turn me onto good acoustic music on sunny afternoons that is so far away? And yes, I totally agree on Death Cab, they never grabbed me, but who knows? In 10 years I might look back fondly on them and gather their discography up in a fit of melancholy and proclaim them to be genius on my blog! Such is the fickle way of a music fan, eh?
rbrbr are great fun. they had dancing ninjas!
also, punch and the apostles are playing limbo on thursday i think.
and there’s always the ‘fuck up your monday’ black diamond express session at the jazz bar on sunday night from midnight. rock.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!crap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!banter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!huff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Which Tom are you?
Not Sexy Tom, because Sexy Tom says so in his username.
Punch & the Apostles and Black Diamond Express both get plenty of points from me – I rate both, although I’ve only seen the latter live, and that when extremely juiced. Nic, following your link, those pictures are fucking superb.
Tart, I am sorry, but Sam is almost certain to be around your neck of the woods shortly. I am just back from the gig and it was bloody amazing. I have yet to hear anyone capture that kind of rich, reedy pathos properly on record. Strictly for the live set, and one of the best gigs I’ve been to for ages. Not that this helps, but if you get the chance to go and see him, really make sure you do.
I quite like Death Cab. Never seen them live, though, so I don’t know if they’re worth 20 squid.
Excellent night at Henry’s last night, the highlight for me undoubtedly Simon Kempston (www.myspace.com/simonkempston) and his ensemble – a fine young prince of contemporary folk/acoustic music, definitely destined for greater things.
Well done Alison for putting on a great night of music.
On tomorrow night’s TWR show we have indepth interviews with Lucky Delucci, Tim & Sam’s the Tim & Sam Band with Tim & Sam, Pelle Carlberg + The Kabeedies.
The show has been pre-recorded because… we’re off to see Ida Maria & V.V. Brown @ The Point (we’re interviewing them both). Yay.
Then we have the Swn festival Friday-Sunday (LOTS of interviews + gigs).
& the rest of November is packed with far too many gigs/interviews (Nat Johnson, Parenthetical Girls, Vivian Girls, Emmy the Great, + Cars Can Be Blue. Anyone want a job?
“fine young prince”? is that a press release?
JF_1980 sounds a bit like Simon’s Mum.
When JF_1980 describes Simon Kempston as being like a
Perhaps he’s referring to Minneapolis’ most diminutive funkster.
Perhaps we should start referring to him as The Artist Formerly Known As Simon Kempston.
You Edinburghers think you’re such hot shit with your Samamidon and your Rob St. John. Well, actually, you are kind of hot shit, aren’t you? Well, I’m going to see Robyn Hitchcock next week and I can’t fucking wait. So nyah. I often dream of trains as well, so I expect top flight entertainment.
I like Robyn Hitchcock.
I should have invested in more of his stuff when I was a wee whipper-snapper, but I do recall that Respect got throughly worn out in my late-teen tape deck.
Serpent At The Gates Of Wisdom – what a track.
ooo! i got points!
Sorry, to clear things up I’m a fan first & foremost but also a friend of Simon’s (I became a friend through being a fan), and definitely not his Mum. Felt the pre-gig coverage was a little biased in favour of Rob and post-gig, was probably a little over-enthusiastic in trying to redress this balance!
Nice site though, will definitely be visiting again – only came across it through googling Simon’s name – yes, work can be a very dull place!
Keep up the good work,
J.
I saw robyn hitchcock support jeff tweedy once. didn’t think much of him.
JF_1980 – don’t worry mate, we’re just taking the piss. The coverage was indeed biased, but only because of ignorance. I know Rob, but not any of the other bands so I couldn’t say very much about them.
People frequently appear in this thread and correct, interject and generally nitpick so feel free to jump in. I don’t want spam, but recommendations are always welcome.
see above
i know Simon K quite well also…..didn’t feel like redressing the bias tho…..sorry Simon!!!
Simon is far from shit…..Rob is the the dog’s knob tho
hey….my last 2 posts never showed?
is it just me or is this thing not working?
Aye, Samamidon was pretty damn good. Started well, I was concerned it was going to get a bit dull but man he went surreal, experimental, brilliant.
Thanks Matthew. I would definitely recommend Simon’s music to you.
Can’t agree with Tom (the one whose attractiveness is dependent upon which computer he’s seated at) but it’s all a matter of taste. I quite enjoyed Rob’s set actually, the band worked well together but personally I prefer more distinctive melodies & on Monday (may have been the sound) I stuggled to hear the lyrics.
£24.50 seems a fair price for Ryan Adams, by the way – cheaper than the Stereophonics, Deacon Blue or David Cassidy…
I wouldn’t quibble with paying £24.50 for such an established and world famous artist, per se. What I would vaguely resent about it is the fact that I could get into up to five gigs around here for that kind of cash.
Admittedly, if you only go to hometown gigs then variety can suffer a bit, but I still think that I’d get better value for less money by going to three small local shows than splurging £24.50 on Ryan Adams. Mind you, I saw him once before and he wasn’t all that great, so maybe I’m biased.
aye but that is the beauty of live music……sometimes it’s great other times shite
I find that expectations also tend to increase with cover charge, meaning that I’m far less likely to be disappointed by a £5 gig than £25 gig. And if I am, it’s much easier to be philosophical about it (unless it was so bad that I incurred physical and/or emotional damage).
That’s true. If I shell out for something and it’s shit then I get into a kiddie-snit remarkably easily. Big baby.
I missed one.
Ross Clark & Fantasy Island at Sneaky Pete’s tomorrow (Friday) night.
This Is Music moving venue and dropping its door tax to 99p is also a bit of an event in itself.
Insert your own witty jibe about the current financial climate here.
Ross Clark is awesome…..if you’re not paying £24.50 to go and see Ryan Adams then 99p is more than a bargain to see this chap
Spoke with Dylan last night – we’re meeting up for a beer & some Broken Records on Saturday (via Swn fesitval). Last night’s gig was orgasmic: both Ida Maria & V.V. Brown were on top form; the first lot, Birdpen, were very interesting too.
The V.V. Brown interview went brilliantly, she is a very smart & articulate person & her current state of play & end goals have been very intelligently thought out. Sweet, she was. Ida Maria, every inch the indie party girl, was delicious. The guys arounf her, the tour manager et al, were superb & really generous in helping us out. However, I left the interview to Fisk (he was desperate to talk with her as we’d missed so many previous attempts) & it went, apparently, tits up (not yet had time to listen to the playback). Firstly, apparently, he got to starstruck (horny, I think the real phrase is) Ida had to set the equipment up for him. Then it quickly became clear that his choice of interview space (above the stage, in a glass walled room i.e. NOT sound proof) was shit & the soundcheck below was bleeding rather profusely into the interview. Then the battery ran out on the recorder (he’d not checked the life of it before starting). Then all his questions descended into mad stuttering rambles (his words, not mine, as, like I said, I’ve not had time to listen to it yet) about God, sex, feminism, female singers, the 1990s & Christ knows what else. In summary, he ‘fell in love with her’ & might as well have been holding his dick in his hand rather than a mic.
Then, to cap the evening off, when she encored “I Like You So Much Better When You’re Naked” he stripped off to the waist (much to the be/amusement of surrounding gig goers) & danced like an acid casualty; she saw him, gestured to him to join her on stage but he crapped out & missed his chance. He actually began his interview with the question: “would you prefer me to be naked while we do this?”
All in all, a fantastic night. I hope the interview is as chaotically brilliant as it sounds.
That sounds like pure radio gold! That bloke is worth every mad penny.