Live in Edinburgh This Week – 19th July 2009

Greetings my Summery flock of Toads, how are we all doing this fine morning? Or afternoon of course, depending on where you might be located.
I was advised once by Johnny Pictish not to put on gigs during July or August because getting people out to them was a near-impossibility. I don’t know if this is just Edinburgh or if it applies universally, but certainly the promoters of this fair city seem to have taken it heart because there is really is sweet Fanny Adams happening in the next couple of weeks on the live circuit.
Maybe people are gearing up for the Festival. It wouldn’t surprise me because after last year’s programme being thinner than a model’s forearms this year’s August schedule is shaping up to be extremely good indeed. We’ve got Retreat back (only for a day this time, unfortunately) and Trampoline‘s Festival lineups are looking really rather excellent too.
It has to be said, as well, and despite my general tendency to bash corporate enterprise and side shamelessly with the DIY, the ramshackle and the home-grown, that the lineup for this year’s Edge Festival is also looking rather good. After scrapping the generally excellent T on the Fringe, they seemed to have some pretty significant teething problems with the rebranded (but essentially identical, as far as I could tell) product last year, but there are some terrific bands booked for this year, so August promises to be utterly exhausting, but in a very good way indeed.
So what is there actually going on this week? Well here’s about the best that I could find, but please have a scan through the comments because if I’ve missed anything then someone’s bound to point out the error of my ways.
Wednesday 22nd July 2009: Be a Familar & Tango in the Attic at the Electric Circus.
I have to confess that I am not entirely convinced by Be a Familiar, but they seem to be generating a good vibe about the place and picking up quite a lot of interest. A pleasant evening of somewhat twee guitar-pop beckons.
Friday 24th July 2009: Found (well, Ziggy and Kev) & Dead Boy Robotics at Sneaky Pete’s.
After playing a stripped down set at the Toad Night on Saturday Found are at it again, this time performing with just Ziggy and Kev, and if Saturday is anything to go by it should be brilliant. Dead Boy Robotics new stuff is apparently a bit less techno than previous, and apparently this is a good thing, so it should be very interesting to see what they’re up to.
Found – Turnstile
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Sunday 26th July 2009: The Shipping Forecast Garden Party at the Peartree with Ross Clark, Mitchell Museum, Little Pebble and Randan Discotheque.
A pleasant afternoon spent in a pub beer garden with lots of great music – if I weren’t going to be at Wickerman this weekend I’d be at this thing without a second thought because it looks brilliant – say a little prayer for good weather. There’s a good mix of pop and acoustic and Little Pebble is one of the most underrated performers in Edinburgh if you ask me.
Mitchell Museum – Exciting But Drunk
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.


Another Little Pebble spectacular on Thursday – Leith Tape Club:
“We have..on Thursday 23rd July 2009..
Wounded Knee
Drew works with vocal loops – it’s more than mildly hypnotic in such a good way.
Freakflag
Jess plays in the Memory Band and Monty Casino to name but a few. She is bringing her Freakflag experience all the way from London.
Big Chief Little Conk
Lets just say, this guy sounds like someone you know. Tickets = Buy.
My Lady of Clouds
Aka Katie Stewart bring her new writing name to the stage.”
Upstairs at the Isobar, £5
Tickets may be in short supply, though – best check before you arrange anything.
PS. I’m not on commission for Little Pebble nights, honest.
Well spotted, Corrie. The little fella’s everywhere this week.
Ross Clark is great BTW just so y’all know
Damn.
I’ve gone and associated Tango In The Attic with Fleetwodd Mac’s FM-friendly AOR classic album Tango In The Night, and BBC daytime TV mainstay Cash In The Attic.
So now, if I went to the gig, I would be a little disappointed if I didn’t see Mick Fleetwood dusting off his antique shooting stick and guessing the value of Stevie Nicks’ set of vintage toby jugs.
I think I read somewhere that the name was a strange amalgamation of Tango and Cash & Cash in the Attic.
Ah, right.
I can just see the drunken conversation now.. Imagining that the phrase Cash In The Attic actually referred to keeping Kurt Russel up there amongst the insulation foam and boxes of christmas decorations.
And obviously Tango In The Attic leads on logically from there. I see how their minds work.
I just had to IMDB that movie to figure out which one was Tango and which was Cash. That film’s twenty years old! Damn.
you’re making that up Bart?
Strangely, no.
http://www.scotsman.com/under-the-radar-bands/On-the-radar-Tango-in.5434955.jp
Cheers for the wee noise up Matthew, it really is appreciated.
I spent a year pretty much in bed and Cash in the Attic was one of my favourite programmes, I did also like Sunset Beach and Watercolour Challenge so if you haven’t seen the show don’t take it as a recommendation.
Unlike my dubious choice of daytime tv viewing, Tango in the Attic are really good.
Also Matthew, I like the stroke around your picture.
I do have a good, firm, bold stroke these days, it’s true.
Apparently the same can be said of Mick Fleetwood and his antique shooting stick.
Oh why can’t we have the attractive ones to think about in this discussion? No offense, Matthew, but Mick Fleetwood is uglier than Tom Waits!
It’s okay, Tom Waits is not a handsome man.
I’d still shag him though.
Besides, I thought you were of the Lesbanian Persuasion these days, Tarticus? Surely Stevie Nicks is eminently munchable.
July 25th – Electric Circus
TV21 and Panda Su, no?
Yes, definitely that one.
I am having a bit of difficulty with the Electric Circus’s listings at the moment actually. Their website still isn’t up and running properly and the listings which go to places like the Skinny are done too far in advance to contain much useful information.
It’s a bit frustrating, because I feel like I’m forever ignoring them, when in actual fact I just don’t have the relevant information readily enough to hand.
Oh no darling, I’ve gone both ways for years — and I’ve worn out my Stevie Nicks fantasy at about age 16.
Now how was your little party anyhoo? xoxo
can i just add – slightly off topic – that if there’s anyone here who wants to be added to the trampoline mailing list they can drop me a message at mini50records@googlemail.com and i will add their name so they can get regular updates on whats going on.
shameless self promotion. apologies.
Shameless indeed. And fine. But shameless.