Live in Edinburgh This Week – 18th October 2009
It’s busy week, in the absence of Mrs. Toad, and ends with me actually DJing twice in the space of two nights towards the end of the week as well once at some point on Friday, although I’m not all that sure where – Cabaret Voltaire I think – and then the following day at the Bowery at MarchéMarché , which should be good fun. I have been promised that on no account am I expected to motivate people to dance, which probably helps matters considerably.
Oh, and I’ve just realised that I am approaching a hundred kilos in weight – 215 pounds, or 15 Stone 5 for those of you still living in the dark ages – so it might be time for just a little less beer, slightly fewer biscuits and for yours truly to get off his fat arse and do some exercise. Bloody hell, reality can be a bastard when it prevents you doing exactly what you want when you want, can’t it.
Tuesday 20th October 2009: Findo Gask & Everything Everything at Cabaret Voltaire.
Everything Everything I don’t know so well, but Findo Gask are a band who I really love, despite their distinct lack of material, considering the length of time for which the band has existed. They have a couple of terrific singles to their name – electronic, danceable and infectious as fuck, with just a little sadness in the mix as well – and the only time I’ve seen them they were excellent, but that was a while ago now. So I’ll be along on Thursday as much to see what they’ve been doing with their time, as to take the chance to enjoy their live show again.
Findo Gask – Va Va Va
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Tuesday 20th October 2009: Bat For Lashes & Yeasayer at The Picture House.
Personally, I think Bat For Lashes are pretty fucking dismal, honestly. However I know a lot of my readers will be really up for this, so I thought I’d better mention it, just in case anyone was unaware this was happening.
Wednesday 21st October 2009: Mitchell Museum & The Scottish Enlightenment at Electric Circus.
These White Noise gigs start so bloody late they can fuck those of us with day jobs over for the rest of the week. Still, I like Mitchell Museum, and the Scottish Enlightenment are returning to the fold after a very quiet couple of years. They have a new album to show for their silence though, and have sent me a few songs through to sample, which I appreciate. I’ve listened to them through a couple of times now, but not enough to really have anything clever to say about them yet, so I’ll just include one below and let you decide for yourselves.
The Scottish Enlightenment – Necromancer
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Wednesday 21st October 2009: Clues, Munch Munch & Over the Wall at Electric Circus.
I know nothing about Clues, bar this one promo song, and that the press bumph mentioned some famous bands like Arcade Fire and so when talking about their history. So not much information, but the song itself sounds very promising.
Clues – Perfect Fit
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Thursday 22nd October 2009: Maps, Epic 26 & The Foundling Wheel at the Ark.
I quite fascinated by Maps, more from the descriptions I’ve heard than anything else. I don’t actually know their music at all, despite their Mercury nomination a couple of years ago, but a band described as sonter shoegaze indie electronica sounds like a worthwhile punt to me. Another plus is that these lot should be loud enough to silence the general chattering which the odd shape of the Ark tends to invite.
Friday 23rd October 2009: Meursault, Jesus H. Foxx, Y’All is Fantasy Island & the Occasional Flickers at the Bowery as part of the Oxjam Festival thingy.
The Bowery lineup is obviously the most Toad-friendly, with two of our bands on the bill, but there’s stuff happening all over the city on Friday. It’s called Oxjam Take Over Edinburgh, I think, and one ticket gets you a wristband which will get you into everything – from the in-store performances at the Oxfam Music shop in the centre of town during the day, to this, to Sneaky Pete’s to Cabaret Voltaire and all sorts.
Full lineup and tickets here.
Meursault – The Furnace
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Saturday 24th October 2009: MarchéMarché at the Bowery.
This is actually a craft fair, not a gig, but yours truly shall be DJing at the event, so that’s all the excuse I need to plug it to within an inch of its life. Promises promises, as Mrs. Toad is no doubt muttering to herself at the moment.
Saturday 24th October 2009: My Latest Novel at Cabaret Voltaire.
I haven’t had a chance to see these guys at all recently, and I’ve heard hugely variable reports from the gigs they’ve played here recently. The last album was no better than decent, in my view, but I loved Wolves and I still really want to catch them when I can.
My Latest Novel – All in All in All is All
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Really wish I was around in Edinburgh this week. Would have been great to see Scottish Enlightenment. Also Everything Everything who are pretty ace too. Hohum. It’s boring down in London……..
I wish I wasn’t in Dresden when Maps was playing. I might actually have been motivated to go to a gig for the first time in ages.
As for My Latest Novel – they were fowled up by dreadful sound at Sneaky’s, then I saw them support Mum and they sounded lovely…but they always look so miserable that it’s difficult to get on their side. I know they’re serious artists and all that, but you almost feel inadequate as a crowd when they sound great, but they’re still being misery guts all over the place. I’m sure if they lightened up they would have a better time and get a better reception live. Back in the day when they all used to stompy along to Ghost in the Gutter with a smile on their face, it was all much better.
Clues are very good fun by the sounds of the album, I’d reccommend that yin. However, I am having difficulty motivating anyone into joining me on Wednesday, and I will feel very conspicuous dancing to Over the Wall alone. So if anyone is going, let us know..
There’s a Music Like a Vitamin thing on tomorrow night. It’s a bit of a weird line-up, but only a fiver to see Frightened Rabbit and a rather intriguing Euros Childs/Norman Blake collaboration at the Picture House. So probably worth a look.
My Latest Novel are dreadful shite!
MartinMoog – I might be in Glasgow on Wednesday, but if not I’ll be at Electric Circus.
Becky – I’ve seen them be both brilliant and really quite bad too, so I’ve no idea where I stand on their music at the moment.
Bart – that sounds bloody weird and very good. Well spotted once again sir!
you forgot this bit toad
Chutters – correct
Well I really like Wolves. Not at all convinced by the last one though. How were they at the QH with Broken Records.
average at best…..the others with me kinda liked them….but there is no accounting for taste is there Bart?
Friday will be fawesome, that said it’s a great week for gigs, but maybe the very best of the week will be in the Oxfam store on The Royal Mile with Scott FRabbit and Neil Meursault, then the whole Oxfam thingy kicks off properly with Conquering Animal Sound at 4 in City Cafe which will also be amazing.
Matthew you’re right, in Cab Vol for the night if that’s ok, only until 10, then you can sprint to The Bowery!
I’m pretty sure at the time you described them as “nearly good”.
Matthew, is that you agreeing to dance with MartinMoog as long you’re not in Glasgow?
the others with you “kind of liked” them. Graeme told me they were excellent after that gig. Just cause you don’t like them Tom doesn’t mean they are shite. The new album is excellent in my opinion and I will be going to see them on Saturday for sure.
Euan, just because you like them doesn’t mean they’re excellent.
Just kidding, I don’t have an opinion here, I’m just antagonising.
they are shite……..the nearly good term was just to pacify those with no taste, in order i could go to the bar.
in my opinion they are shite…..seen them live 3 times….heard the records and they are bland shite…..like them if you want….but in my opinion that would be a waste of your ears.
i’ll meet you all outside for a fight!
Haha! A waste of your ears!
Brilliant!
Mind if I use that, Chutters?..
Just because some of you don’t like and some love it doesn’t mean it might be good, I’ll have you know.
as long as you don’t use it in my company and try to pass it off as your own….yeah you can use it
I am no longer playing with Maps on Thursday. Electric Circus is rebooking me for a later date. Thanks for the plug anyway, though.
Ted
matthew,
i heard rumours there is live music and not just “yours truly” tickling the vinyl at marche marche…well apparently anyway, according to michael jesus h.foxx?
moog – i will see what one can do about shaking one’s booty to over the wall…
not that i wouldnt be content with listening to your skills…
FRabbit this evening.
Alison – whoops, yes probably. I have to confess I never even looked at the flyer simply because I was committed to going along anyway. What a muppet. Again.
Withered Hand are playing in Avalanche at 5, this afternoon.
Go, go, go!