Live in Edinburgh This Week – 22nd February 2010
So more sold-outy stuff this week, with Johnny Flynn already inaccessible at Cabaret Voltaire on Friday. I am actually going to interview him for the site, but I think I might have forgotten to include a guestie on my request, so I may have to hide in the toilets after the interview to avoid being thrown out for lack of a ticket.
This is the last week for the Communion Compilation Competition as well. By the end of the week I will pick the best pictures of hipsters being extremely hip and we shall have a public vote on the Friday Fives, with the winners getting their hand on a splendid twin vinyl 12″ compilation of performances from the Communion night, run by Ben from Mumford and Sons and Kevin from Cherbourg. Just email me your extremely hip persons to songbytoad at hotmail.co.uk
Monday 22nd February 2010: Xiu Xiu, Meursault & the Foundling Wheel at Electric Circus.
I know more about this gig from the general excitement of the Meursault lads than any real knowledge I myself have of Xiu Xiu, which is minimal. Still, they may well be playing a lot of new songs, so those of you wanting a taste of what’s to come on the new album could do a lot worse than pop along to the Electric Circus tonight.
Wednesday 24th February 2010: The Soft Pack, Banjo or Freakout & William Douglas at Cabaret Voltaire.
The Soft Pack first came to my attention as The Muslims a year or two ago, and I’ve been sort of lazily following them ever since. This is basically old school, garagey indie-rock, but when they nail it with a killer melody, which they are capable of doing then it’s very good indeed. They can be inconsistent, I have to confess, but I’m really looking forward to seeing them live.
The Soft Pack – Extinction
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Thursday 25th February 2010: Golden Ghost, Thomas Truax & George Thomas at the Wee Red Bar.
This is a really varied lineup, and well worth coming along to. Golden Ghost is just plain lovely, and whilst I’ve never seen George Thomas with the Owls, I have seen him solo and he was one of these guys who seemed to make a virtue out of being quite shy, with self deprecating wit helping to put across the warm personality of his music. Thomas Truax is an SL Records staple, and his self-made musical machines have to be seen to be believed – they’re pretty much worth the price of admission on their own.
Golden Ghost – Small Metal Objects
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Friday 26th February 2010: Forest Creatures, Cheer, Fordell Research Unit and King Rib at Henry’s Cellar Bar.
I know pretty much nothing about this lineup, apart from what you can tell from a very quick skim of the respective MySpace pages. Because a lot of this is quite slow-build stuff I can’t tell you much beyond the fact that Fordell Research Unit in particular sounded rather interesting, so if you’re looking for something slightly off the beaten track this week, this might be a good bet.
Have massive fear of Xiu Xiu selling out, hot footing it to ripping. Aaaaaaggggghhhh why have I not already bought tickets?
Anyway, yeah, that should be a great show. The Soft Pack I think I’ll also try and get along to, I enjoyed the 12″ I recently got through the post and Banjo or Freakout were pretty amazing when they played at Sneaky Pete’s.
i just heard the story about how the ocean colour scene gig at the picture house was cancelled just before they went onstage because some twat forgot to pay the powerbill and the power got cut. is this true?
Looks like it, Michael.
Obviously no-one had 50p for the meter.
Or another 50p they were prepared to spend to see Ocean Colour Scene.
I saw The Soft Pack at ATP last year and while I thought they only had one song they fairly went for it and battered through their set like their lives depended on it, which was impressive as they had a fairly graveyard time slot (teatime, main stage).
Hoping to get along to Golden Ghost et al, unless work wipes me out again this week, which isn’t beyond the realms of possibility. George Thomas was all lovely wonky charm at Homegame last year.
The Kays Lavelle and White Heath at Queen Charlotte Rooms, Leith, Friday 26th Feb for Leith FM.
Crisis averted, ticket secured. Now back to fighting with computers…
The Queen Charlotte Rooms look amazing actually, I didn’t even know they were there.
Yeah, really beautiful looking. Not sure how long they’ve been doing shows. If they are good though it’s a great bonus for Leith.
AH!
going to miss the kays again! i have tickets for johnny flynn. ill definately be at the roxy gig! it looks amazing too.
It’s a shame that the show was cancelled. We’re gutted. But I think the idiots throwing drink at the stage were really the worst bit. Especially the 6 foot 4 beardy guy abusing a pregnant women in front row
that’s ok. roxy gig does look amazing. i can’t wait for the live performance of the shutdown by alan bissett and adam stafford. that will be special.
eh?
at the expense of slighting euan (sorry euan), i highly recommend cheer who is playing at the braw gig at henrys on friday. highly recommend.
That one does look good.
Not at all. I have heard good things of Cheer.
So So Modern, Sneaky’s, Wednesday
Sorry if I’m being dim but what’s the Roxy thing?
so so modern are brilliant actually. i saw them at the bongo club a couple of years ago and they blew me away with thier synth wizardry. and im not normally blown away by synth wizardry.
All wizardry is impressive. If I did some yoghurt wizardry no doubt all would be stunned. Cat wizardry is particularly good.
Its not really a gig but its music related – Aidan Moffat is reading poetry at the central library thurs 25th at 6.30pm. To book a place send an email here readerdevelopmentedinburgh.gov.uk
sorry readerdevelopment@edinburgh.gov.uk