Live in Edinburgh This Week – 24th May 2009
This week I discovered Women’s Shoes Syndrome. I wore leather shoes for the first time in something like six years on Saturday and Christ am I paying the price now. I’m sure the women reading this are most likely to be making comments along the lines of men not being able to take the suffering and not really understanding the concept of pain and childbirth is shit etc etc etc but that really isn’t my question. My question is Why? Honestly, if it’s always this painful, why the fuck do you bother? It’s the equivalent of a child burning itself on the stove. If, after repeatedly causing yourself considerable pain, you do not cease to do the thing which causes you pain then what the fuck is in your head? That’s crazy talk. Meet your new friend, Mr. Pair of Trainers – comfortable, soft and will never bite you angrily in the heel for no reason. Christ, how much better do you think these things make you look, that you’re prepared to go through this every goddam time?
In other news, tonight I will be commencing work on a painting for the next Toad Records release, because it really is high time that was finished. One thing that will be finished this week is my run of shows on Fresh Air. It’s the end of term and the station shuts down over the Summer, so Tuesday will be the last Song, by Toad show until some time in September, I think – maybe even October. This is a shame as I find the Fresh Air shows tremendous fun, but it’s hard enough to get students into university during term time, never mind the holidays, and it is a student radio station after all. Gigs… well, maybe towards the end of the week. Limbo looks good this week, and there’s no way I am missing Meursault and Honeytrap on Friday.
Monday 25th May 2009: Zoey Van Goey & We See Lights at the Bowery.
Zoey Van Goey have a new album out round about now, which is encouraging news. I know scandalously little about them, but their indie-pop is very much respected amongst people whose opinions I trust, so if you have some time tonight this should be a good evening.
Zoey Van Goey – City is Exploding
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Thursday 28th May 2009: The Lovely Eggs, Second Hand Marching Band & The Pineapple Chunks play Limbo at the Voodoo Rooms.
The Lovely Eggs, from what little I know about them (ie: a cursory MySpace listen) seem like they are completely mental, but in the best possible way. The Pineapple Chunks have a similar, slightly spasmodic element to them, but where this fits with the loveliness of the Second Hand Marching Band alt-folk hydra is a little beyond me. Should be a good night though.
The Lovely Eggs – Sexual Cowboy
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Thursday 28th May 2009: St. Deluxe, Gothenburg Address & Bronto Skylift play Skinny Dip at the Bongo Club.
Whilst this lineup doesn’t excite me very much (anyone championed by Alan McGhee is to be treated with deep, deep suspicion) what is interesting is seeing the Skinny start to move into gig promotion. Given their involvement with music retail in the form of Ten Tracks, their involvement with the local music scene is becoming pretty varied, it seems. Good on them.
St. Deluxe – New Wave Stars
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Friday 29th May 2009: Meursault, Honeytrap & X-Lion Tamer at Sneaky Pete’s.
I am really excited to see Honeytrap at long last. They were one of the first small bands I ever discovered after Song, by Toad finally drifted into its current guise. Infuriatingly, I found out about them something like a week after they’d played Henry’s, and it’s been something like two years of waiting before I’ve had a second chance to see them live. I will not be passing this one up.
Honeytrap – Broken Violin
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Saturday 30th May 2009: Cancel the Astronauts, Moustache of Insanity & Conquering Animal Sound play The Gentle Invasion night at Henry’s Cellar Bar.
Moustache of Insanity pretty much lay their cards on the table with their choice of name, and Conquering Animal Sound is the first outing for a new project involving Jamie from the excellent Japanese War Effort. Headliners this month are Edinburgh indie boys Cancel the Astronauts, who have a new EP available for sale, called I am the President of Your Fanclub, and Last Night I Followed You Home. Freaks.
Cancel the Astronauts – Country Song
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Loving the Lovely Eggs, deadly scorpion, digital accordion and a De Lorean all in the same song. Works for me
You;ve been wearing women’s shoes for years Matthew.
And their knickers.
Wearing women’s shoes is one of the cheif reasons I converted to rug munching as you so thoughtfullly call it. In fact, Saturday night whilst trying not to dance to Prodigy (because for the first time in ages I dug out the fucking women’s high heeled shoes) I actually got hit on by some youngish rocker and had to run away to the ladies room after telling him I was leaving after this song and he saying “great, I’ll go with ya!”
Honestly, I know I talk a lot of shit on this site, but guys rarely hit on me at gigs. It’s those damn shoes!!! Never again. The tits can peek out, but no high heels. What is it with that?
ah fuck! If I knew Zoey VanGoey played tonight I’d so have been there. why didn;t I read thise earlier? bollocks!
Tart – so maybe it is worth it after all – depending on your goals.
Ravie – there’s so rarely anything going on on Mondays that I’m not surprised. I didn’t go either, but I got some painting done, so I feel virtuous.
Will somebody talk to me if I pop along on Thursday? If I can’t persuade Andy out I’ll be the one struggling with the ridiculously large Don DeLillo book.
Yes of course – my pleasure.
I’ve often found that’s a great way to make sure you meet people for the first time, “You will know me by the cut of my suit, the smell of my cologne and my ridiculously large Don DeLillo.”
I’ll more than like be there Becky, it’s been ages since I saw you anyhow.
Yey! It has been a very long time.
I’ll be the one twatting about with an accordion (of the acoustic variety)
Matthew, did you paint the man and meat picture in your…dinning room(?)?
As I first thought, that should have been dining, sorry.
ah fuck! If I knew Zoey VanGoey played tonight I’d so have been there. why didn;t I read thise earlier? bollocks!
No, Tim, I didn’t. Our next door neigbour’s son painted that. Nice though, eh?
Yeah, tis.
That’s how I know Bowery Ruth, actually. I met her at her cousin Tom’s exhibition opening.